7) Final Fantasy IV (1991)
Final Fantasy IV was the first game in the series on an upgraded system, and everything about it is better than the three games that precede it. The sprites were prettier, more detailed, and still hold up today. The characters were more full of depth, and the story took you all the way to the moon. It was such an incredible leap forward for the franchise, and is highly regarded as the beginning of the greats.
However, a major place where FFIV falters is its plethora of red herring “deaths.” All too often would you be stuck in a corner with no way out, only to have a trusted ally sacrifice themselves so you could escape. So many “noble and heroic deaths” happen by the end that you become desensitized to it, and you just don’t care anymore. Then suddenly at the end-game, nearly everyone has miraculously returned to aid you once more, thus negating any emotional goodbyes you may have had to deal with.
Even so, the character arcs in FFIV are remarkably well executed: Cecil and Kain’s redemption; Rydia’s grief and growth; Tellah’s loss; Golbez’s twist. Character depth (or the lack of it) can make or break a RPG, and Final Fantasy IV is the first time the series really gets them all right.
