I usually don't make a decision about an FF until after my second play thru, except for FFVII and X which both thoroughly disappointed me. I don't feel it's the greatest in the series but I feel, so far, that it is a game that comes quite refreshing.

It breaks a lot of norms, and I feel that the series has become rather stagnant as of late. This is the fresh breath of air I've been waiting for. It's far from perfect and perhaps it will not be as popular as FFVI and VII are, but if the other SE employee's (especially Nomura, who has destroyed all my faith in his ability to write a good plot and likable cast) can see it for it's groundbreaking work perhaps the FF series might have a future. It's less of a revolution and more of a glimmer of hope.

Alas, I have seen the trailers of FFXIII and the future is looking bleak for me. I know FF will continue as long as money can be made from it but in the words of PA's Gabe, "It's just not my Final Fantasy anymore"