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I have an odd little theory about Final Fantasy games. You've heard, no doubt, of the odd/even Star Trek theory - or, as posited by Tim in the sitcom Spaced, how every odd-numbered Star Trek film turns out to be shite. With Final Fantasy, I've always thought it's a bit more complicated than that. There's a lot more shite to get through, for one thing, but when you find those highs they can be utterly sublime.In my mind, you can figure out the best entries by simply busting out your three times table. Final Fantasy 3 saw the original formula begin to mature into something more emotive and engaging, and by the time Final Fantasy 6 rolled around it felt as if Square had perfected the art of the 2D RPG. With Final Fantasy 9 it provided a rip-roaring celebration of all that had gone before, and then there's Final Fantasy 12. Sweet Final Fantasy 12, which took a skewer to so many of the conventions and was a infectiously upbeat adventure that ran seriously deep.
If you're any good at maths - or even simply just counting - you'll have realised that 15, by my own workings, should be something special. Just over a dozen hours in, I'm pretty sure it is something special, a mad, grand and crazily ambitious RPG where you can see ten years of development come crashing joyously together. The end result is frequently a mess, but the chaos is rarely anything less than enjoyable.
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