I've only played two of the Final Fantasy series, and I'd say it can't do down the drain when it's already been there. It is neither fantasy, nor is it EVER the "Final" one.
Final Fantasy 8. I liked the graphics. It was a very good looking game. Right at the intro, there's a girl there saying she'll wait for you. So what happens when you finally meet her? You're a jerk to her. Where's the alleged "role playing" in a "role playing game" where I get to decide how to treat her? She's in the opening credits. I'm supposed be in love with her, not be an ass.
Speaking of which, I really, really hate the angst. "Nobody understands me!", what the hell is that? That's not a specific issue that someone could go on a self pity mood swing for. Can't get a girl to talk to you? Okay, that's a specific problem and part of the solution would be to not be an ass towards the girl seen in the opening credits. Can't get it up? Pop some Viagra, or go on a quest and get a magic potion or something. Don't like the popular music? Getting teased because you like fantasy games, or think it sucks you're living in one? Okay, those are problems, but "Nobody understands me!"? Nobody WANTS to understand you.
Fortunately, (or unfortunately) I do. He's a prick, pure and simple. The default character name should be "Dick Douchebag". Whatever bug that's up his ass is never explained at the point I stopped playing it.
Grow a pair and get over yourself. Nobody is going to like you because you're such a downer. Next time a plant monster pops up, don't bother attacking, take it up the ass like a man so I can get the Game Over screen and go play something worthwhile.
FFX- My wife wastes money on a $5 scratch ticket. I tell her it's a waste of money as she scratches it. She wins $50. She liked FF8, so we go pick up FF10. (Which was new at the time.)
Where FF8 left out the Role Playing, FF10 left out the Game. I used a clock.
50 minutes of nothing but cut scenes. I don't want to watch a movie, I want to
play a game. The entire time, I can move the character from one side of the screen to the other. That's freaking it.
They may very well have left off the Role Playing as well, or they might have included it. I wouldn't know because it
won't get to the game and let me play. When I'm finally ready to give up, I finally get control. You'd think there'd be a save point right there so I don't have to go through all that crap again, but no... I have to play for a while with MORE cut scenes before I can get to a save point just to skip all that crap. It's not entertainment, it's frustration.
And don't get me started on the stupid "blitzball" game. I sure as hell hope I didn't have to WIN any sort of big tournament to get to the next stage. (I wouldn't know. I quit right there.)