It is definitely primitive compared to earlier games, but I don't think that means it is a bad game. Just a simpler experience.

In terms of story there is absolutely no interaction from the characters, they are just 4 generic warriors of light on a mission. Though the games story doesn't have a huge amount of depth I found what there was interesting enough. In reality the motivation to beat this, and other RPGs of the eara, was the knowledge that it is a game and that you are trying to beat it. Not that it is some epic tale that you are trying to unravel.

The original and to a lesser extent FFOrigins versions don't have a great balancing job between the classes. It isn't that certain characters are overpowered, its that a lot of stuff is under powered and everything else is adequate. If you play the GBA version it is much more balanced but they also changed the leveling curve and relative strength of your party to make it much easier. I would recommend playing this one, as FF1 in it's original incarnation is something you won't get through without a high threshold for frustration.

Though it has aged quite a bit it is still worth playing. I'm way more interested in going back and giving it another whirl than a lot of the newer titles.