
Originally Posted by
Diogo
The classic FFs are considered that way because of their setting. FFVI started to change that, but it's still considered to be a "classic FF". It was with FFVII that they drastically changed the setting-style of the FF series, making them more JP-anime like, with mode modern and sci-fi elements, and less European medieval elements. FFVIII and FFX followed that setting, while FFIX and FFXII went back to the classics, by using a very similar setting of the classic FFs and throwing countless references and many gameplay elements that stopped being used after the classics.
FFXII is both a classic FF (setting) and a FF that tries to be different (huge improvements in gameplay) in spirit. It is much more, and feels much more like a classic FF than FFVII, FFVIII and FFX, yet it tries to innovate the series as well.