Help me, nerds!

[Benjirino~!]

I'm currently enjoying my playthrough of FFXII...a hell of a lot (how did I NOT like this game when I first got it).

Rhetorical question, but the answer for me was that it doesn't feel like a Final Fantasy, at least not early on. It's actually a great game, but the general feel of the game, tactics, and actual interesting story doesn't begin until Balthier and Fran enter the plot. The first 10 hours are basically one stretched out tutorial. After that, it's beautiful landscapes, character development, and tactical employment of the gambit system ahoy!

[Flying Arrow]

^ Yeah, it was slow going for me for the first bit of the game. It's not until I got the full party and the freedom to set out on my own that the whole game finally clicked for me. It took a bit, which is my only real criticism, but when XII clicks it clicks really hard.

[Fynn]

Don't play FFIX yet! You need to have played the previous ones to seriously appreciate it. My girlfriend made that mistake. She jumped into it right after VII and VIII and was very disappointed - it's the nostalgia and shout outs, deconstructions and reconstructions of previous FF tropes that make this game incredible!

[Crop]

Thanks chaps, it's narrowed it down to 2. I think I'll give IX a miss for now because, as Flynn said, I hear they have a lot of throwbacks and I don't want to miss any.
I'd say it's a toss up between Tactics and VI. I'll probably flip a coin in the end when I buy next week.

[Del Murder]

lol

If you play FFVI you will know why I am laughing at that.

[VeloZer0]

lol

If you play FFVI you will know why I am laughing at that.

That played out so well that I am almost considering changing my recommendation from FFT to FF6.

[Fynn]

Shh! Don't spoil it

Anyway, yeah, go with VI. As much as I love Tactics, it may be too far of a detachment from the other FFs. It is similar in spirit to XII, but much darker. The story is wide and complex, and the battle system is just overwhelming at times. Of course, all of these factors are what make this game incredible, so if that's your thing, you might as well go with it. However, I would recommend VI simply because its a bigger classic, IMO, and a bigger must-play. It's not as ambitious as Tactics, sure, but it makes up for it with its wit and just plain awesomeness.

Also, I don't know what your faith is, but I believe the very thing that the two above EoFFers noted about your post is a sign.

[Bolivar]

I would go with VI as well. You can play it, experience it, love it, and move on. Tactics is kind of an undertaking in itself. But when you're ready, you can really lose yourself in it.

[Crop]

Well now I pretty much have to get VI.

[black orb]

>>> Here is a nerd solution for you:
Get a Nes and a GBA emulator and play FF1 FF2 FF3 FF4 FF5 FF6 games for free..