Best Final Fantasy to Start With?

[TheLefty]

I'm not sure how I did it, but I've made it through 16 years of life without playing a Final Fantasy game. I can't even remember ever playing part of it at a friend's house. So I'm curious as to what the best game to start with would be. It would be work but in theory I can get pretty much any console (NES and stuff might be hard) and with the magic of the internet I can probably get my hands on most of the games.
So in you guys' opinion what's the best game to start on? I know the stories don't continue from one to another so I guess I could start where ever I want. While I'm not a huge fan of turn based combat I can deal with it, it's just the random encounters that bug me so if there's a game without those I'd like to play that one.
Thanks for any help you guys can give.

 

[Diablo2000]

Final Fantasy VI, because it's the most awesome Final Fantasy of all!

And if you can stand the ugly minecraft doll's graphic, them play VII right after...

 

[Phlakes]

While I'm not a huge fan of turn based combat

Well, unless you're playing X, the combat is real-time (unless you set it differently), but still set up like it's turn based. I recently started with VII, which worked pretty well, but it's really hard for me to go back to sprites. If you're interested in VI and back, I'd say start with IV and work your way up, making sure to get VI, VII, and IX.

 

[StarkillerisDead]

Seriously you can easily start with any. Look up synopses/reviews and see which setting/premise/battle system most appeals.
I started with XII and have moved on to X,XIII, VI and VII

 

[blippity]

Don't start with VII, that's for later. Either IV or VI. As for random encounters, it happens so you can't do much about it but enjoy the ride =)

 

[Defense]

Final Fantasy VI is the easiest to access in my opinion. The graphics have aged extremely well and the characters are as fantastic and memorable as they've always been. The best Final Fantasy though, is Final Fantasy Tactics. The only problem is the PS1 dialogue, which is riddled with typos, and the combat system(which allows for 5 characters max, which is very small for an SRPG).

Avoid Final Fantasy II though. It's shit in almost every aspect.

 

[StormShaun]

The one with Vaan......got stuck on it multiple times but SHIT is was fun...

 

[Kae]

I heard XII(that is twelve not X2) was real time, don't know never played it.
As for my recommendations, I would say go for Final Fantasy Tactics it's awesome, other than that I would recommend VI and IV AKA II and III, don't really like the other ones, but then again I have not played all of them.
Also in my opinion at least you should avoid VIII, X, X2 and Mystic Quest I think they are crap, Heard XIII sucks too but I have not played that nor do I plan to.

 

[Mnemophage]

Nine.

Seven is most iconic; six is best reviewed, but nine borrows liberally in music, visuals and tone from all aspects of the previous series and pulls it into a compelling, atmospheric whole. It bears the most concentrated Final Fantasy experience, in my opinion: dripping with moogles, chocobos, black mages, summoners, androgynous villains and a main character with what might possibly be the most distinct and sympathetic personality of the series. The end-times PSX-era graphics are old enough to evoke nostalgia, while not being old enough as to be something the modern gamer has to consciously get over.

I consider FFIX one of the objective best of the series; others may argue, but I still figure it to be the best way to get your feet wet (then poisoned, petrified and eaten by Quina).

 

[scorptatious]

I'd personally start with VII or IX. They are both pretty fun games, (IX more so in my opinion) have real good stories, and really good battle mechanics.

Of course if you want to try out the older games first, go ahead. Finally, save FF games like FFIV DS for later. That game is TOUGH.

 

[rvbnut]

I would have to say....... XII (12). My favourite. Play VII afterwards or maybe X. Stay away from II. Horrible.

 

[pixiejedi]

I started with X, played parts of 7, 8, most of 9, and all of 10-2, 11, 12 and 13. 9 was really great, too bad stupid disc crapped out on the last one so I couldn't finish it. 7 is overrated to me, I got bored and quit. 11 is a mmo and it blows. 12 isn't real time but you can avoid random encounters. Most final fantasy's have a meter that needs to fill to attack. I would say 9 or 10, but 10 was my first RPG and holds a special place in my heart. It was nice to be able to put the controller down at any moment and walk away and know you can just come back.

Avoid X-2 and XIII, they don't really feel like Final Fantasy games.

 

[Orange Lazarus]

Start from the first one and work your way through like the rest of us. But yeah, skip II it's terrible.

 

[Uzbekistan]

If you don't really want a challange, I'd go for Dawn of Souls, which include both FFI and FFII. If you want something that you can grind silly on, FFVI. If you want to waste 80+ hours of your life, FFXII. I personally didn't like most of the characters from FFX (with exceptions being Auron and Lulu) but it is a nice starting base if you don't have a GBA. Then again, you can use an emulator for all of the GBA games...

Oh, if you want it to be a bit more 3D, I'd recomend FFIII and FFIV. They remade those for the DS, I believe.

 

[Lord Devius]

I started with FF7, then moved to FF1, working on FF2 and FF4 nearly* simultaneously at the moment. (*Sometimes literally. DS FF4 and PSP FF2, yay for having multiple portable systems egh)

I'm trying to figure out the best way for me to play FF6; I have the anthology disk for PS1, which has kinda horrid load times, but I could play it on PSP...

...I don't want to play 8, but I told myself I'd beat all the main series games before November 2011.

Honestly, I'd suggest FF4, FF6, or FF7 for a first. FF4 is easy enough to get used to, FF7 is really simple with semi-fulfilling mechanics, and... Well, in FF6 you can suplex a train. Oh, and Kefka.

Oh, if you want it to be a bit more 3D, I'd recomend FFIII and FFIV. They remade those for the DS, I believe.

They did. FFIV even has voice acting. Downside is, it has voice acting. Oh, and the intense difficulty compared to the original USA release. Hello, Japan, yes, we know you're great at games.

 

[thirdsonsaburo]

X or VII. I started on them, and they sure got me hooked to the series! They're also more accessible than VI, imo, but that depends on your taste as a gamer.

 

[Burnseasons]

XII is a nice game if you want something more real-time. Its more psuedo-realtime though, but it works well. If ya play it, dont think Vaan is the main character. For God's sake dont, hes just along for the ride.
Some complain the gambit system can play the game for you, but I found that neglible. Also, chaining Quickenings feels awesome once you get the hang of it.

 

[Floggo]

Final Fantasy X, oh my lord. Best one out, Imo.

 

[Chibz]

Final Fantasy 3. My personal favourite, regardless of what other people say.

Bitches don't know 'bout my OnionKnights.