All have had their strengths and weaknesses. It's hard to pick one out as "teh bestest". Personally I'd select certain aspects of each one accordingly;

FF1 - Class Upgrades: Replace "useless" classes with newer versions rather than just adding more to the pile (FF3 I'm looking at YOU young man!)

FF2 - Spell increasing: As with the above, why have spells replacing their lower counterparts when you can stick with the same spell types but increase them over time?

FF3 - Class switching: Granted this also occurs in FF5, 10-2 and Tactics, but this was the pioneer, so it gets the credit

FF4 - Nothing: Way too bog standard for my liking. Nothing shines about it

FF5 - Ability Learning: Again copied in 10-2, but the idea of being able to cross-class different abilities opens up hundreds of possibilities

FF6 - Nothing: Again the battle system isn't awfully innovative, besides equipping Espers. But we'll get to that in a minute

FF7 - Skill/Magic extension: Confused? Let me explain. In FF7 you can, as you know, equip effects and abilities onto a character. Well I like the idea of being able to combine effects, and of course being able to equip more abilities later on. Perhaps combine "Throw" and "Dance" to create "Whirlwind dagger-throwing of doom", or "White Magic" with "Sing" to have various effects constantly occuring in battle to all allies/enemies.

FF8 - Junctioning...to an extent: The ability to increase certain stats of your characters, using elements besides Magic stocking, because that's just rubbish. Maybe some kind of grid-based system whereby you could insert various "stat stones", with bonuses to one's lined up? Long shot I know...

FF9 - Nothing: Again nothing I can think of to include here. The whole learning abilties off equipment can be tiresome, as my first playthrough revealed when I reached the end with only half of the available abilities learned with no more possible due to selling that Leather Armour I was sure I'd never need.

FF10 - Stat Maxing: I'm all for really big number. If done properly it can feel like a real achievement. Going from the hundreds of damage at the start of the game to the constant 99,999s, done at an appropriate curve, makes you feel like you've made real progress.

FF10-2 - Mid-battle class changes: Speaks for itself really

K that's about it really. Above is my favourite battle system. QED.


...by the way it's real-time.