Originally Posted by Raistlin
All of you people criticizing the older FF games: your opinions are automatically ruled invalid by the glaringly obvious fact that EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU COMPLETELY IGNORED THE BEST FINAL FANTASY EVER MADE.
Ok, now, back to point:
The older games are better, not because they are older, but because they are better. I don't particularly like all of the older ones, but they are all solid RPGs. The problem with going into 3D is the tendency to over-emphasize graphics and to over-dramaticize the plot(look at FF8).
Now, to FF9. This one really irritates me because it's supposed to be a nod towards older games. Then why isn't it in 2D? Because graphics sell. When you try to sell an RPG based on looks, it's going to anger some gamers who don't give a damn about graphics, and just want a good game. However, 3D graphics doesn't automatically mean a crappy RPG. Suikoden III is in 3D and is a fantastic RPG, easily the best on the PS2. But the graphics were not meant to sell S3.
Why is FFT the best game then? All of the effort of the game development was geared towards the plot and characters, the battle system, the magic/job system, and extras(you know - the stuff that matters), and it shows by having the best plot, battle system, and magic system out of all of the FFs. Look at some of the newer FFs, and see how much focus went into each of those categories.
FF8: over-dramaticized, corny plot, irritating characters, normal battle-system, equally irritating magic system.
FF9: wanna-be classic FF, lack of serious character development, normal battle-system, decent magic system.
I haven't beaten FF10(played about a third of it, according to a friend of mine) and X-2 just makes me sick by the mere fact of its existence, therefore I won't comment on either of those.