Characters - Individually, it's a toss up between Final Fantasy VI, and IX, overall cast, including NPC-s, Final Fantasy XII, no contest there.

Gameplay - Final Fantasy XII, for it's dynamic, true to it's source, battle system. Gambits, and license board for deeper character customization. Final Fantasy VIII would be runner up with it's junction system, which not many like it seems.

Story - Final Fantasy XII once more, non cliched story full of intriguing twists, rather interesting political theme, all enhanced through believable characters, setting...

Music - Final Fantasy IX, nothing beats pieces such as "The Place I'll Return to Someday", "Battle Theme", "Hunters Chance", "Rose of May", "Hilda Garde"...though I'll have to say Crisis Core has an amazing soundtrack as well.

Content - Unfortunately, Final Fantasy XII doesn't have much of competition here.

Setting - Ivalice (Final Fantasy XII), classic fantasy combined with somewhat modern approach, culture, races, breathtaking surroundings...I'm also fond of Gaia from Final Fantasy IX, which has quite few truly beautiful places.

Final look:

1. Final Fantasy XII
2. Final Fantasy IX
3. Final Fantasy VI
4. Final Fantasy VIII
5. Final Fantasy II
6. Final Fantasy X
7. Final Fantasy VII
8. Final Fantasy III
9. Final Fantasy I
10. Final Fantasy IV
11. Final Fantasy V

Not much would change if I actually included prequels, sequels, spinoffs, but since I'm up to it...

1. Final Fantasy XII
2. Final Fantasy IX
3. Final Fantasy VI
4. Final Fantasy VIII
5. Final Fantasy II
6. Final Fantasy X
7. Final Fantasy Crisis Core
8. Final Fantasy Tactics
9. Final Fantasy VII
10. Final Fantasy III
11. Final Fantasy I
12. Final Fantasy IV
13. Final Fantasy V
14. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
15. Final Fantasy X-2


To clarify few things, I simply adore older ones, Final Fantasy II in particular. Final Fantasy I, and III are great as well, good chunk of both games are left to your imagination, which is not something many would appreciate, but I like giving my characters names, classes, personality...

On the other hand I'm not particularly fond of Final Fantasy IV, and V. Hate all those fake deaths, cheesy dialog, cliched story, Final Fantasy IV in other words. As for Final Fantasy V, huge fan of job system, though I prefer the simpler one from Final Fantasy III, other than that the entire game was rather bland to me.