I've been playing all the Final Fantasy games for the first time recently, and I've fallen in love with FFV in particular.

While I *liked* the previous four games, FFV did everything right for me. The job system is fantastic, the world is fun to explore, it's just a great game.

The story is great, and in my opinion doesn't get enough credit. Yeah, it's goofier than other FF games - but that's part of WHY it was so good! We get to see these knuckleheads pal around and just hang on, and that makes them feel like an actual group of friends - so that when the heavy emotional stuff DOES happen, we're already invested and we care about them. So to me, FFV has the *strongest* Final Fantasy story so far.

The characters themselves are great too. My favorite is Galuf, just an all-around awesome dude.

If you're on the fence about FFV, I say give it a shot. I had so much fun with this one, and spent over 30 hours on it. I'll definitely be replaying this one in the future (maybe I'll try the "Four Job Fiesta" challenge run next time).

Missed out on the Gil turtle
　　　 　　 　　＿＿
　　 　 　　／＞　　フ
　　　 　　| 　_　 _ l
　 　　 　／` ミ＿xノ
　　 　 /　　　 　 |
　　　 /　 ヽ　　 ﾉ
　 　 │　　|　|　|
　／￣|　　 |　|　|
　| (￣ヽ＿_ヽ_)__)
　＼二つ

Ah, Final Fantasy V—a title that might have you scratching your head if you're from the US and trying to piece together the franchise’s quirky numbering system. Yes, it's the fifth installment of Final Fantasy, but if you're confused thinking, "Wait, isn't Final Fantasy VI also Final Fantasy III?" you're not alone. There was definitely some identity crisis in the early days, like a teenager trying to find themselves but with way more chocobos and crystals.

Now, onto the game itself. Final Fantasy V might just be the hidden gem of the series. It starts off with a happy-go-lucky vibe—think Saturday morning cartoons with a side of magical crystals. But don’t get too comfortable, because it soon takes a nosedive into darker, eerier themes faster than you can say "Gilgamesh." It's like starting a book with fluffy bunnies and rainbows only to find out by chapter three that those bunnies are actually part of a cult.

The music? Oh, the music is an experience on its own. It perfectly captures every mood swing of the game. There’s triumphant, heroic tunes that make you feel like you can take on the world, and then there are those chilling, dark compositions that make you want to double-check that your door is locked. Seriously, the Exdeath chord progression still gives me chills—it's like the soundtrack is saying, “Prepare to meet your doom!” in the most melodious way possible.

Overall, Final Fantasy V is a must-play for any fan of the series. It might be a tad more challenging than, say, Final Fantasy VI, but that’s part of the charm. The newly updated version has made it a bit more accessible by adding ways to boost experience points, among other tweaks. But don’t be fooled—the final boss still requires a bit of prep work. Think of it as the ultimate test of your RPG mettle.

So, grab your sword, gather your party, and dive into Final Fantasy V. It’s a wild ride of emotions, epic battles, and, yes, some serious identity crises—but isn't that what makes it all so fun?