I'm with you there.

Considering the fact that I indulged in the PSone FF games before FFV was re-released on PSone as part of the Final Fantasy Anthology European Edition pack, I found four characters to be a discernible departure from the traditional figure. Although there wasn't a whole load of variety (no unique individual attacks) with four characters, the job system allowed you to make your own decisions and construct a more variable party. Whether you wanted a healer, a primary attacker, or one to afflict status ailments on the opposition, it was all dependant on the player's needs. And Bartz was not a pimp.

The earlier FF games also had plots with regards to crystals, but FFV somehow took advantage of the situation and gave the most enthralling experience.

Exdeath was the only difficult FF antagonist in my view although story-wise I have to agree that he was a little cliché.