Ok, first off, I just wanna say I'm with Mr. Cactuar, i understand everything you've said.

The original poster, while extremely eloquent (although I would rather call it superfluous) is the perfect example of fans of Final Fantasy who like to be overly nit-picking and generalizing with the games they don't like, and then build up this artificial intellectualism to justify why they like another installment better. The internet is a sad thing.

I think this quote best illustrates what I mean:
Quote Originally Posted by lovedovey View Post
As for FFVersusXIII, the music in the trailer while competent does sound a bit like a poor man's opera--watered down for an audience that doesn't know of Bellini or Puccini.
Hilarious. If you're going to scrutinize a FF because one musical piece would not satisfy the connoiseurs of its genre... You may want to seriously re-consider why you're playing video games.

Also, because your post concerns the aspects of music, story, artistic direction, and characters, everything you have to say is absolutely meaningless outside of what it is that you personally prefer. I understand that may be your entire point, but during my time on these forums I've seen far too often presumptuous and cynical pricks (for lack of a better word) pass off opinion as undisputable fact.

I guess I'll leave it at that because in all likelihood this was meant to garner reaction more than anything.