To put this in plain terms, what is your opinion on this?

If you are like myself and have played FF since 1991 (I was pretty much a baby), you have seen a general decline in Final Fantasy over the past few years, and the fun that has been associated with FF has been taken over by insanely complex graphics and overwhelming CG renders. The mystical "power" that FF once had is essentially gone now to traditional FF fans and now, Final Fantasy is actually quite low on my list of fun things to do.

My earliest FF game was the U.S. II or (IV) which I faithfully played for years. I still have it, and play it on occasion. The storyline and the captivating power of this game was unreal, and was able to keep me fighting monsters and gaining exp. points for hours on end. Maybe it was my little boy crush on Rydia that kept me in, or maybe it was the game (we will never know).

Then, FF U.S. III (VI) came along a few years later, and was even better. More fun characters, better graphics, engrossing story, semi 3D interaction, and lush backdrops and maps, it was a masterpiece. I've spent many hours on end playing 3/6 and even play occasionally now. Kefka, what an entertaining and hateful villian!

I then had a break from FF for a couple years until I was 12, when I saw FF7 on the shelves that had just come out. I couldn't believe in paying $49.99 for a new game, but I did anyway. I bought the action figures, the guides, the accessories....everything! Who knows why, I didn't like that game a whole lot. But, none the less, I still had fun while playing it and got my money out of it. In fact, I could sell my collection for a heck of a lot more.

Then FF8 in my opinion was terrible. It's the only FF I have not completed besides FFX-2 (which I am currently playing). No more comments except that Rinoa was good looking. I have a wallpaper of her, and she looks gorgeous in it.

Then I skipped 9 in disgust, and took a break while I got myself a truck and began working on it. I have it now, and it's wasn't bad. Just nothing special to me.

(Spoiler)
FFX just about dropped me out of the FF series for good. I could not stand this game. No world map, no levels (traditional system), etc. etc. Not to mention that the soundtrack was just horrible. Oh, and Auron was dead this whole time? I wanted to toss this game in the trash.

FFX-2 I bought for $1.50. I like this game, and it's more fun than X by far. It's for sure no FF (traditional style), but it's entertaining.

FFXI I've never played.

Now I've seen the previews for FFXII, I think I'm done with the series. The games that Squaresoft is producing now just don't have the power and "fun" factor that they used to. FF's now are being overpowered by graphics and special effects, while the writers are either thinking too deep for a plot, or not deep enough. Whatever the case, FF's are going downhill, and I believe that by FFXIV (14), Square Enix will discontinue the series and either replace it with a new one or drop the idea all together. These are my thoughts and feelings for FF, but this is coming from a traditional FF lover. Maybe Square Enix is aiming towards a new generation of kids since people like me are getting married soon and having kids. I've seen some great reviews for FFX (which I absolutely did not like), so maybe Square Enix is doing a good job. I don't know, so that's why I'm opening it up to discussion. I want to see what you guys think. Will FF shifts it's target audience sucessfully, or will it dimish and become a beloved memory?