For me, this title is quintessential classic Final Fantasy. The tried and true ATB system with a phenomenal jobs system makes for some the most engaging battles in this era of Final Fantasies. Because I want to obtain all the abilities I possibly can, the game constantly sees me switching jobs which means battles stay consistently fresh. This pays off once you start getting into late/post game because you have a wide-range of strategies at your disposal. If I had to pick on one thing, it would have to be the distribution of AP throughout the game. I do wish the game was a little less stingy with how much it gives you after every battle. That way, you can reach the final dungeon with more freedom of options for your party. Thankfully, the Advance version has the 199 AP enemy "exploit" so I gladly maxed out my jobs that way.

Usually when people talk about this game they focus on the gameplay seeing as it's its standout quality. But while the story might not be much to write home about coming after a game like IV, I'd be lying if I said it didn't appeal to me. It might be because I was looking for a laid-back Final Fantasy experience but this game has a neat story going for it. As usual, your party is pretty diverse, I was definitely not expecting a majority female party. Each character has their own personalities that make them likable; Farris being a standout for me. The game's tone, in general, seems to be more lighthearted than other entries. It's got a nice sense of humor that I think gives this game an identity of its own.

One final thing I should mention is that the Advance version here has abysmal sound quality. If you're gonna play it, use the soundtrack restoration mod.

Final Fantasy V gave me everything I was looking for. Even if I might prefer VI overall, this is not an entry you should skip.