Final Fantasy Main Series

1. Final Fantasy VI - SNES
By far my favorite of the series, this game has everything! Engaging plot line, characters with personality and backstory (yes, all 12 of them... and there are 2 more secret characters!), spot-on gameplay. I really never get sick of going back to this one. I love that the game's main character is technically Terra though it's arguable because the other characters you get early on are so involved as well and have such engaging personalities they can steal some spotlight. Kefka is a great crazy bad guy and literally saving the world from him is always satisfying. There is so much to explore and discover in this game it was amazing they could fit it on a 16-bit cartridge.

2. Final Fantasy IX - PlayStation
I'm sure I'll get criticism for putting this so high but once again, I love this one and can't get enough of it. Being the last FF on the Playstation, it tried going back to the more classic style of story, art, and gameplay. The game itself gives a nostalgic feel to someone like me who grew up on the original NES. Almost all the characters are awesome and the story is worth several playthroughs.

3. Final Fantasy XII - PlayStation 2
Again criticism, but I was a fan of this one; so much so, it's in my top 3. Again I felt this game deserved next-gen credit, but that just made it the best looking Ps2 game available. The gameplay was way different from really anything else I've ever played and that's where it receives most of it's criticism, but I rather enjoyed the gambit system and the lack of random battles. Characters were really good, first time I felt the main character really did "grow up" while playing, and even after playing through this game more than once, it still is a pretty long game.

4. Final Fantasy XIII - PlayStation 3
I'm a sucker for criticism, but this game is just too gorgeous on the Ps3 to be any lower on my list. While I didn't enjoy the paradigm gameplay system as much as some of my friends, I didn't hate it as much as some other people. While the gameplay wasn't my favorite, it did work well, the graphics are out of this world, and I really enjoyed all the characters in this one. Again, this game is really long and I'm glad they have figured out how to put more game time into a game without making it feel daunting.

5. Final Fantasy - NES
It's classic, it started it all. If you missed out on the original, I highly recommend going back to it. This game has so much to offer even today. I don't know about the ports on like the PSP for example, but on the NES this game is HARD! The challenge alone is worth the playthrough. While there is no real character development, or any "real" story for that matter (kill the bad guy, that's about it) it almost creates it's own story just by you having to figure everything out.

6. Final Fantasy VII - PlayStation
This is where my list gets a little muddy. I like the next few games all about equally so it's tough to rank them. However this one gets to be on top just because I've played it more than the others. I know it's low on the list for a lot of the fanboys but it doesn't hold my attention as much as the others. The gameplay was spot-on in terms of the battle system, but some of the characters I felt were lacking, especially Cloud who *SPOILER* isn't the awesome soldier you thought he was; you have to play Crisis Core to be the cool guy. Story was pretty good but just overall I wasn't feeling this game as others did.

7. Final Fantasy III - NES
For being on the NES this game is a huge leap in gaming. Even playing the port of it on the DS, this game has heart. Only 8-bit on the NES and they were still able to portray character development and story in a way that gets you very involved. Gameplay was new and interesting with a job system rather than just straight leveling. While not my favorite nor the best FF game, it had so much to offer while still being on the NES that it amazes me.

8. Final Fantasy IV - SNES
Another classic, this one was the first step into the 16-bit era of gaming. The game had everything to offer, good story, good gameplay, good characters; which makes it an overall good game. Not great, just good. I only really liked Kain, the rest I could take or leave, but something this one did different was you had more characters coming and going from your party than the others. Just because a character joined you, didn't mean you had them for the rest of the game, it was a fun change.

9. Final Fantasy X - PlayStation 2
Having enjoyed the previous installment so much, I was hoping to be blown away by the first FF game for the Ps2. Perhaps it was the girly-man of a main character, or perhaps the lack of a story that really makes any real sense, or you could blame my friend who let me borrow it and said "yeah, it's not the best." However you blame it, this game was rather disappointing. It didn't suck, it just was a grind to play the whole time and other than looking pretty on the Ps2, it didn't have much else to it. Characters are lacking, gameplay was alright but with a few new twists and the sphere-grid leveling system was HORRIBLE, and as I said before the story is a "what the crap is going on" type story. While it isn't the worst, it was a huge letdown.

10. Final Fantasy V - SNES
This is another one that just felt like a grind to get through. While the story was alright, none of the characters really felt like they had much of a personality. The gameplay was a great, intricate, job system that had a lot to offer. Other than that there wasn't much to the game other than to get through it. Again, not a bad game, just nothing to really be remembered for.

11. Final Fantasy II - NES
This is where the hate starts for me. This one was a huge step backwards after the first FF game being so awesome. The leveling system is what ruins this game. If you were to play the game as it was intended to play, it would take FOREVER to level anything or get anywhere, because the game itself is pretty tough. However, if you have the internet and have tried this game you know there is a way to "cheat" and level your characters in a matter of minutes. Story was so-so and the characters I could really care less about. Feel free to skip this one if you haven't already.

12. Final Fantasy VIII - PlayStation
This is where I have more hate for an FF game and where some hate towards me might begin for putting it at the bottom of the list. This FF game had everything wrong about it that could be wrong. Seifer is the only redeeming factor about this game and he's not in it nearly enough. Squall is a pansy with no personality or care for anything and only does what he's told. You have no reason to hate or go after the bad girl and the "love story" that everyone says is so great doesn't really exist; Squall randomly realizes he loves Rinoa as she is floating away in space to die... some love story, oh and then they are saved by a spaceship that's been missing for 20 years but hasn't been mentioned till that point, what luck! I could go on but this game is just everything that could be wrong in a video game, don't even bother with it.