Topic: Which Final Fantasy games would you recommend to a newcomer?

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Ah, the perennial Final Fantasy debate...

My brother's the real expert, as he's played them all to completion, but I've got a working knowledge, for the most part:

1 - The original, what is there to say? Choose a team of four heroes from a pool of 6 classes, and have at it. A little rough around the edges, with some odd quirks, but still good. The GBA remake is a lot prettier, and sands down some of the rough edges, but it's too easy to exploit the bonus content and become overpowered. That said, the bonus content is a treasure trove of nostalgia nods.

2 - A little controversial, as this one was so experimental. And, tied to the experiment, the whole progression system was kinda broken. Holds the distinction of the main series game with the most playable character deaths and arguably the most story deaths. GBA remake is prettier, includes a bizarre bonus dungeon that punishes players who strip characters marked for death naked before their deaths.

3 - Most popular in Japan. It's got a solid class system, established a lot of the key markers of what most people consider the basis of the Final Fantasy world, and was really one of the finest examples of what the NES was capable of. The DS remake gets a facelift and makes the player characters more distinct from each other, and plays with the mechanics a little, but is largely the same game.

4 - The first that western gamers will fight and die over. It's a pretty big deal, and it definitely goes big, spanning 3 worlds, an extensive cast of characters, and the potential for 5 commands for a character (vs the standard 4). Good game, great music, lovable characters. Also, being the first on a new console, is particularly suited for new entrants to the series. Also has a sequel - the After Years - that is serviceable, if not especially memorable. Original western SNES release was labelled 2 (2 and 3 didn't make it west for many years) and is compared to the infamous "easytype" version, being excessively dumbed down, to include a massive purge of (generally useless) abilities. GBA remake is more faithful to the original, includes a few very nice bonus features. DS version is an entirely new game grafted onto the familiar plot and characters - much harder, but much more rewarding. And the cutscenes, being fully voiced and rendered, have a bit more impact, giving the story a better overall heft.

5 - Another one that missed the first pass in the west. This one took the job system of 3 and went WAY down the rabbit hole. Also, tons and tons of character sprites. Great for people who like playing with fiddly bits, but a somewhat weaker story. But it also gave us Gilgamesh and Gogo, so all is forgiven. GBA remake included 4 new classes and a challenge dungeon.

6 - Constant contender for the title of best FF game evar. Design concept was "no main character". As such, you have several characters, all developed with their own compelling stories. Music is arguably Uematsu's finest work, playing with all sorts of leitmotifs and such. Introduction of desperation attacks, the precursor to limit breaks. My personal favorite. GBA remake added more espers and a challenge dungeon.

7 - Can only be described as a major lynchpin. FF eras are easily divided by console generation prior to 7, but 7 indicates a much more significant shift (to say nothing of the whole falling out with Nintendo). It was a feast for the eyes in its day, but hasn't aged particularly well. Materia system falls somewhere between Job system and esper system for customisation. Established staples of later games, most notably Limit Breaks. FF6 and FF7 partisans still fight and die over which of the two is the best. I'm on the FF6 side, so others may be better equipped to sell you on this one. Spinoffs include Dirge of Cerberus, Crisis Core, Advent Children (mini-movie). Sounds like there's plans to remake FF7 into a massive episodic romp of major proportions. Steam PC release includes a whole cheat/debug feature to get through the game without actually having to try very hard.

8 - Somewhat unpopular, as it's such an aesthetic and conceptual shift from 7. It took me until Disc 3 to sell me on the story, so caveat emptor. I enjoyed the card game, but it really was a bit... problematic. Draw/Junction system is actually one of the most interesting and robust systems they've implemented. Unfortunately, it's also broken as all get-out. Visuals are still quite stunning, but showing their age with each passing year. There aren't many lukewarms regarding 8 - people either love it or hate it.

9 - Designed with nostalgia in mind. It was obvious to everyone how much 7 and 8 had, on some conceptual level, departed from the previous installations. A little quirky, with some awkward stutters, but a solid entry. Also has an epic cutscene which makes it clear in no uncertain terms that Alexander is the most badass summon ever.

10 - The third most influential FF, following 6 and 7. Also another polarizing one. Combat system built more around puzzles than fightspam. Like 8, the story takes a while to get compelling, but, if it hooks you, you're in for the long haul. Also the first time we got a sense of how bad blatant endgame and post-endgame padding had become. But it has Wakka/Bender/Marcus/Jake, so it can't be all bad. 10-2 is infamous for being fanservicey, but it's actually a pretty solid refinement of the combat system, and a return of the perennial favorite - the job system.

11 - I'll be leaving the MMOs out of this overview.

12 - Built in the Ivalice setting of FF Tactics and Vagrant Story, which sets it a little different from most entries. At the same time, the atmosphere is probably more Final Fantasy-ey than any FF game since 4. Combat system is very much love it or hate it, as it resembles something closer to Knights of the Old Republic or Dragon Age. Story also has some incoherencies due to development drama. A good entry overall, but too easy to pine for what might have been. Revenant Wings was a spinoff DS game that doesn't get terribly much attention, but is actually pretty solid.

13 - If there's one thing FF games do consistently, it's reinvention. By many peoples' estimates, 13 did too much. And it's a bit much when levelling is replaced by the concept of using resonance in the crystarium to perform crystalisys which unlocks crystographic synthesis. It's an awkward transition, but, if we associate each game with the age of a person, this puts FF13 right in the middle of puberty. 13-2 and 13-3 are sequels of sorts, and got a mixed reception.

As for games off the beaten path, Mystic Quest is better than its detractors claim, but still not really FF; FF Adventure is really part of the Seiken Densetsu (i.e., Mana) series; FF Legend is really part of the SaGa series (e.g., Romancing SaGa, SaGa Frontier). FF Tactics is pretty much FF-flavored Tactics Ogre; Tactics Advance and Tactics A2 are lighter and fluffier, but all the tactics games are good red meat for grid-based turn-based strategy fans. FF Crystal Chronicles is kind of its own thing, but a solidly good multiplayer-ish own thing. Dissidia is a surprisingly good fighting game that manages to preserve the feel of the characters and the feel of a fighting game, but is also a fighting game unlike any other. Theatrhythm is a terribly addictive rhythm game that will gradually drain your wallet as you justify purchasing each song DLC.

As for the FFV and FFVI remakes, I'm inclined to side with Lars Doucet (http://www.fortressofdoors.com/doing-an-hd-remake-the-right-way/ and http://www.fortressofdoors.com/doing-an-hd-remake-the-right-w... - It's not bad in principle, and there's a lot of good there, but there are some crucial issues which betray a lack of ability, care, or quality control.

On the mobile end, All the Bravest is a cynical and soulless cash-in. Record Keepers, however, is a bit of an addiction and personal vice for me right now. And not just because I can put Kefka in a bustier, Golbez in a wedding veil, and give Galuf 3 pairs of gloves. Although that is a perk.