I actually have just, over the past few months, been playing all the Final Fantasy/Square games that I never experienced. I played them in the following order: FF4 (USA FF2), FF6 (USA FF3), Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, FF5, and FF7. I just started FF9.

I have to agree that FF7/FF9 was a huge adjustment from a graphics perspective. The 3D-ish characters are ugly and the camera angle/distance makes certain areas feel like guiding ants around. I doubt I will continue with FF9...I may just pick up the Dragon Warrior (Quest) games instead.

The SNES era really stands out to me as the high-water mark for JRPGs