Makes sense. Speaking of which, I have to break your rule. I think some people have already 'splained that Final Fantasy isn’t as complicated as it seems, you can mostly jump in anywhere. Or to keep it simple, the best start is Final Fantasy X International. For me, Final Fantasy VII will always be my favorite just because it was the first one I played, and especially at a tumultuous time in my life. It was comfort food.

But so was X, and it really can’t be emphasized enough how much of a phenomenon this game was when it first came out. The graphics for it’s time blew people away and even hold up to some extent by today’s standards (especially if you count the remasters). The story is like something you’d expect out of a Pixar film - it will tug at your heartstrings. The gameplay itself is so easy to get into, and even easier to be completely absorbed by. I love the sphere grid. The worldbuilding is rich, and the aesthetic is dreamy. I went back and replayed it somewhat recently, and was shocked because a lot of games and content in general have not aged well; but X definitely aged like wine.

There’s a plot thread involving the main character and his struggles to be himself in spite of years of resentment toward his father’s verbal abuse and toxic masculinity. When I was a kid I kind of felt embarrassed to be playing through those scenes if others were around, but it hits closer to home now that we are at least beginning (at least in some spaces/circles) to push past those cliches and have a little breathing room to let go of outdated masculinity norms ourselves. It’s not a perfect game, but it does seem like it was a bit ahead of its time.

Yeah, easily in my top ten, maybe even top five.