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[Sub_Level]

If you like a huge baby, whiny main character sure go for it. Loved VII, VIII, and IX and then this game happened.

He is like 17, his parents are gone, and he is alone in a new world. I'd say he took it pretty well. When he does whine the other characters call him out on it.

 

[Lothar]

Remember how Zidane acted when the first bad thing to happen to him in the game happened? He threw the biggest most embarrassing tantrum selfishly making his friends worry about him and putting them in danger. Tidus never does that.

 

[Gibbles17]

It's a good entry but given the similarities with FFXIII I'd go for the latter one at least graphics are more on par with what you're used today. Even XIII-2 and LR: FFXIII are good entry points. Don't expect the best of the "FF experience" with these titles, but as entry point it might work in giving you an idea what the franchise is about.
If you're into heavy retrogame just play 7,8 and 9 of course.

Going to need more of an explanation as to why you think XIII and its sequels would act as a better entry point to the series, graphics aside. Liked them well enough, but there's no way I'd recommend them as the first game(s) to play when trying to get into the series.

OT: I'd say VII or X are the best first time entries. X's combat is probably the most refined turn-based battle system there is, clean and intuitive with enough new additions to keep it interesting throughout (as mentioned earlier, turn manipulation, weaknesses specific characters can exploit, etc.). Great game, and though it's more linear than the earlier overworldish games, you can still go back and revisit areas you've explored, unlocking new dialogue/quests and such. Didn't miss the overworld much during my playthroughs.

Edit: As much as I loved IX, pretty surprised at the folks saying criticism of its battle speed is overblown. Even with it cranked to max, the transition/loading of characters is pretty rough to deal with. I have a much harder time replaying it than any other entry in the series and can't imagine too many first-timers enjoying the combat because of it (not to mention the awful Trance system). Unsure if there's a Diablos-esque (VIII) ability than cuts encounter rate but that game could reaaaaally use it.

 

[mitx]

Yes!

I recently finished the HD version for the first time and liked it a lot.. X-2 on the other hand, I don't like the battle system so much and story seems weirder so far..

 

[Carlisle]

Yeah. It's a fantastic game in its own right and very approachable for the uninitiated. Probably the best place to start if you aren't sure you'll like the series.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

Do you even Hyperbole? There's nothing exaggerated about that statement, and "isn't an overly good game" still puts it above a good game. This sentiment isn't unique either and probably shared by most people in this thread.

Wut.
How in the world did you get from "not an overly good game" to "above a good game", especially when the guy even says "skip it"? So to counter your snark: "Do you even read, brah?"


Even getting beyond the subjective nature of liking the overall story and characters, FFX has stellar graphics (for a 2001 game), a fantastic soundtrack with a lot of variety (three composers), great production values, and an involving battle system that is approachable by veterans and newbies of the series alike. The pacing of the story (getting beyond the actual content of the story) is very well done and flows extremely well- something its spiritual successor, FFXIII, completely failed at. There's a robust deal of overall content in the game (collectables, mini-games, etc.)
FFX continued a long running trend of FF games really being "men among boys" in its genre. Just a class of it's own.

I dislike FFIX with a burning passion, but I'd never be so daft as to claim "oh, it's not an overly good game" when it is, in fact, a well above average-to-great game. I just didn't like it for personal reasons. To disregard the production values, the music, the content, and just the overall craft that went into the game would be stunningly short-sighted, as it is to claim FFX is "not overly good" and 'worth skipping" for someone trying to get into the series.

 

[Gibbles17]

The slowness and trance can be an issue but you are REALLY exaggerating.

FFVIII for example is my favorite but that gameplay is objectively broken. Far more severe than any imbalances in IX.

VIII's easily exploitable progression system isn't anywhere near as off-putting as IX's battle speed/Trance system.

The former can be fun as hell and doesn't necessarily detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. I'd argue that it's entertaining af to try and make your characters as powerful as possible and with enemies that scale, the game can still be a reasonable challenge (unless you abuse limit breaks of course).

The latter is just awful. Battles become a chore, frustrating as hell to get into a random battle and have to wait 10-15 seconds just to be able to input your first command. Getting Trance at the very end of the battle as you have another character queued to kill the last enemy is pretty rad too.

Spoiler

VIII and IX are the GOAT

 

[Mariip]

Great entry point, it was my first FF...
It won't be the best FF you'll play, but it has the turn based combat of 1-9 without the pressure of the atr, it doesn't have the overworld map, that you would hate not having in a game once you play a FF that has it, story has its ups and downs but is pretty nice, and auron, you gotta love auron, best samurai since Cyan from FFVI

I'd play VI and IX last, or if you hate ffx, those are the best games in the series and will ruin some of the other games if you play them first, I recommend those for the people who won't play the whole series :x

If you like X, play VIII or XII after, then VII, IX and 1-6