They did? I was referring to Atlus the developer. Digital Devil Saga and Nocturne are amongst the best JRPG's of all time, but they didn't sell "Final Fantasy numbers" because brand recognition.

Even Square's non Final Fantasy games are sales wise underappreciated like Chrono Trigger, only one that sold boat loads was Kingdom Hearts while gameplay wise it was fun but....Goodness that game is infintile.

Also Nier, which had a very serious and complex storyline.

Because in true turn based combat I don't have to run around doing nothing, waiting for my action bar to refill. Many other FFs have used a similar real time action bar filling system. It's dull there too, but not as bad as in 12. I prefer my combats either turn based or real time, not some silly mixture of both*. And I don't mind random encounters.

*Caveat: I really liked Valkyria Chronicles, including the combat, but that game still had a clear divide between turn based and real time, while still employing both. You're assuming too much. I have no problems with a political motivated plot. FFXII's story was still dull, drawn out, and not all that well written. I don't like the materia system in VII for the exact same reason. In VI, as I remember it, the stats were different to a large enough extent that you couldn't make everyone effective at everything from the go. X has a very linear character progression, unless you jump through some pretty major hoops, where each character (except Khimari) fills a specific role.

I don't mind the characters becoming overpowered know-it-alls in the end- or post-game, but I don't like being able to teach everyone everything right from the off. I wouldn't consider games I enjoy more "too long" even if they may take a similar amount of time to finish.

Also, as someone mentioned, having to buy licenses to equip weapons and armour was silly, as was having to buy/find magic that you had acquired licenses for.

I mostly enjoyed it but there were a few things I didn't like. Some of the hunts were really annoying... and the final boss and ending sucked badly.

I haven't play XII much.. so far I think the battle system is kind of weird. I mean, waiting just to do single attack ?
But I think they got it the battle system right on XIII. I haven't play it yet, but I saw the battle system is very interesting and full of action. I don't know about the grinding though. Is there any heavy grinding on XIII ?

About FF X, well.. it is the next FF series on top of my list after FF 7.. After that VI perhaps.
Anyway, if Square Enix are going to remade FF VI & VII, that would be great.

Just adressing 1.

In a way Final Fantasy XII 's combat is sort of the same as Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Dragon Age: Origins, Planescape, and Icewind Dale, basically real time pause and play.

I thought you guys like that gameplay?

You guys? I'm only one person. :/

SPOILERS

Not as baldy as 13's Orphan which pop out of nowhere, and in a way I thought 7's ending was considered the worst before the advent children film.

I would like to give FF XII another try. I didn't hate the game but didn't care for the characters back when it was released. I intend to go back and play the PS2 version unless an HD version is made within the next couple years.

They publish a lot of games outside of their own SMT brand.

12 is the best since FF6. A very well realized world, great architecture, great dungeon design, good dialogs and a relatively fun combat system. It is made better with the Zodiac Job System version which also adds a turbo button for speed grind and making the desert bearable. Great music as well.

On the other hand the gameplay itself is based on MMO stuff (I did not mind it) and some of the maps felt samey (goddam ngiant Pharos tower), and it kind of loses focus at the middle-end (when Matsuno left, I assume?). It is by far my favorite after 6 and Tactics, but it is pretty goddamn flawed.

Edit: Zodiac Job System version also fixes the way the chests were worthless/respawning. So there's actually a point in hunting them down, and lets you control guests directly. It is a very very good game and well worth tracking down a copy to patch.

Vaan, what the hell were they thinking? He is 10 times worse then Tidus and that is saying something because Tidus was a terrible protagonist.

I've only seen a bit of FF XII at a friend's place. He told me that he was about to show me the most difficult boss fight in the game. After the fight started, he put the controller on the table and started eating. He didn't even touch the controller during the battle and won. Seemed pretty boring to me.

Atlus doesn't sell FF numbers because they don't make FF-sized releases. They do smaller scale batches. Way smaller.

I heard that there were changes within development that made it the way it was, for example I heard that it was either Basch or Baltheir that was going to be the protaginist not Vaan, but sadly Squere said no so they made Vaan in the last minute so they can appeal to whoever characters like Squall, Tidus, and Vaan appeals to :P
Can I at least ask what you thought about the World of Ivalice, there are other games that takes place in that world.
I am sorry but nothing can replace Tidus as worst FF protaginist.