I am currently into my 70th hour of FFXII goodness (I only got it 10 weeks ago) but I am wondering whether I should get FF VII for the PS1 (I still have my PS2 so I am not concerned about back compat issues). Is it really the greatest RPG ever, and is it still better than a game released 10 years later than it?

 EDIT: Changed mistakes

RPG not RTS, and maybe. I think you mean FF XII and I am playing now too and so far I'm reserving judgment but I liked the old battle system (turn based) better (so far) and the characters are lame (so far).

for me FF7 will never be matched.....i think this is both because its so good and because it was THE first game i was engrossed with......it was so stunning.

Looking back, IMO, there has yet to be an RPG that comes close to it.  If you have never played youre in for a treat. 

I enjoyed Final Fantasy VII, but I still hold the SNES versions of FF4 and FF6 in much higher regards. I completely disliked FFXII, so my interest at newer games in the main series is rather dull currently.

   I still think the US released Final Fantasy II and III were better than FF VII. I think FF VII is when the seires went downhill.

    FF VII was still a good game.  I just mean to say, thats when the series started losing my interest.

FF VII is the best only if you didn't play FFVI first, and vice versa. But I'd say that generally if you like RPG's then you'll probably like VII, though I should put out that at this point in time its age will probably show.

Oh, and I really enjoyed XII, I'd say its even better than FF X, just not quite as easy to get into, and the fact that Vaan and Penelo are two of the more useless characters in an RPG ever, the music and dialogue overall was better than X too, and yes, I know I will be eaten alive for saying so, but besides To Zanarkand and Path of Redemption Uemetsu's soundtrack offerings were rather disappointing, of course, that's because I tend to expect gold from him, much like Mitsuda.

FF VII is def. a great RPG, but I also believe Xenogears and Chrono Trigger should be up there, too. I can't say that I love XII that much, though. I love the look of it and the dialogue, but I guess I miss the old school battling. However, I'm expecting XIII to rock my world. I just can't wait for it.

FF6, 7, and 9 were all great IMO.

I was really moved when Sephiroth killed Aeris... I prefered her over Tifa... that was my first encounter with jRPG. Final Fantasy VII is an awesome game for me - old good days - that was real magic (I was 17). I enjoyed FFVIII too... Many gamers don't like it though.

Honestly I'd skip FFVII. Its the most overrated game in the series. If you are going to get a FF game for PS1, I'd get FFIX. Its the most underrated game in the series and has far superior game play to FFVII. I liked FFVIII even less than liked FFVII. It basically comes down to your FF style preference. I prefer the Sakaguchi produced Final Fantasy titles. IMO, the newer games in the series are deeply flawed either in game play, story, or both in some cases.