In response to Vratar's question, I started with Final Fantasy VII and it was the game that got me into the series (I hadn't even heard of Final Fantasy before that), yet Final Fantasy VIII is my favorite, with Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy VI in second and third place respectively.
To elaborate on that, VII isn't in my top three -- or even four -- favorite games in the series (Tactics is my fourth favorite), despite it being the first I played. While it's true for many folks that the first they played is their favorite and that the rest they will judge in reference to the first, I had the benefit of my older brother telling me that VII was vastly different from previous games in the series and that VIII was not likely to be a repeat of VII.
While I did judge VIII in reference to VII for the first half an hour or so, it quickly became apparent that VIII was altogether something different and something that had to be judged based on its own merits and in relation to my personal preferences of what I would enjoy, not in relation to anything else. I've since judged each Final Fantasy that I have played/watched accordingly.
By the way, Mercen-X, Final Fantasy VI had two hidden characters, as well. VII wasn't cracking any molds with that. |