When considering RPGs, everything comes into place for me. Compared to FF series (and others) it must have (SPOILERS AHEAD):--

1) Ending like FFIX (I cried...)
2) Character development and involvement like FFVI
3) Less or no guns, more magic. (Less technology)
4) Music as long as it is ade my Nobuo and the Chrono Cross one (hard to type his name :P My apologies)
5) Battle system like FFIX, FFVI, or maybe FFVII.
6) Trance!! And the FFVII one!
7) Good storyline like FFIX, FFVII, FFVI, FFIV
8) Villians like THE GREAT KEFKA (FFVI)
9) More emotion and philosophy (FFIX, FFVIII)
10) Extreme battle music! (FFT)
11) Girls! (Espacially Garnet of FFIX)
12) More part-human mains (FFVI, Terra, Esper. FFIX, Zidane, Genome)
13) [for 3D PS ones] GRAPHICS that BLEND with each other and I SERIOUSLY EMPHASIZE!!!! (FFIX is one which bends quite well. I'm not gonna mention the rest.)