Few games inspired the unexpected wonder and scale that FF7 did. 8 did a little. 9 hit the mark. So did X. Everything after was kinda of numb... I felt nothing for FF12 characters, or for the absolute trainwrecks that were FF15 and FF16. FF15 was an excuse to market real-life products to the player. It was exchausting having immersion broken by nissin noodles ads, and coleman camping gear ads. FF16 is some of the worst fighting I've ever had in a game, with a focus on these garbage cinematics. The brand is dead to me. I'll only replay the classic games, and that's why square has 1-6 pixel remasters at a staggering $80 virtual, and you can't even find the physical version for less than $110 on ebay. That's how bad the new series are.

Now we're awash in a cacophony of copycat indie devs who flood the market with cringeworthy half-finished games that can only copy the wonder of the FF series.

We at-least have hope with stunning remasters like Star Ocean Second Story R, which has that feeling of depth, progress, story, and nuance.