Progression is one thing, what Sqare does is another.  Mario's jump to 3D isn't that much different than his 2D games.  You still run and jump on things, the camera's just behind you now.

Square on the other hand likes to reinvent the wheel with each Final Fantasy game.  FF13 dropped everything but graphics, including the most important part of an RPG, story(leaving it to die in game logs) all for visual masturbation.  It dropped gameplay to baically doing nothing at all, and though previous FF games are guilty of this, it's no excuse; hell I could argue that it refutes the logic of "progression" when you're dropping some things but keeping others - I'll take a well driven and actaul story over auto-battle thank you.  When you're cutting chunks of game from a established franchise just so you can keep your precious narrative, you come across as a cash grabber.  Making something that is not Final Fantasy and slapping it's name on the box art.

I certainly will remain skeptical, but I appreciate your input on this. I will not buy Final Fantasy XV until I've borrowed it, and tried it myself. If it's horrible I don't want to be one more person giving them money so they can take advantage of me. That said, I hope that it returns to its roots (in certain ways). I do want the franchise to be a certain way (the arguement that if Halo and Call of Duty can do it, so can Final Fantasy), but I know that it won't. Mainly, I want a non-linear path (e.g. more freedom of movement), I want a good storyline (it can be complex, just not Final Fantasy XIII's confusing mess), I want a decent level system (not necessarily the same as before, but not the restricted Crystarium either), and I want to be able to have more control over my party. I doubt this last one will happen, but I still want it.

Before you quit Final Fantasy, perhaps you should wait for FF15. It may be pretty good. The visuals are mind blowing and looks to give tons of free as opposed to FF13. Though if you're ready to quit, that's understandable. FF just seems to have sunken further and further after X. And FF13 is was so crappy, it started to kill the franchise. 13-2 and 3 didn't help. The last best FF game wasn't even FF, but Bravely Default.  So maybe 15 might be a a good return for FF...?

I hated final fantasy X it was so bad. Go here fight, go here fight, go here fight, go here fight. Why even call it a final fantasy game just change the name something else.

Maybe it will be. I was all set to be done, but everyone seems convinced that SquareEnix will fix some of the [grievous] errors that they made (my opinion) in Final Fantasy XIII.

Final Fantasy X was the first Final Fantasy game (to me) that felt completely linear. I loved the battle system and the story though. Maybe that's why I don't dislike it as much as you did. But I do understand where you are coming from.

I don't think FF15 will fix those errors either, but maybe it may be great. I'm cautious of it too, myself. FF13, Sqaure's mobile move, and other stupid things has killed my confidence in them.

I got to the end of FFX, found out that Tidus was a bullshit character, and I stopped playing the game never finishing it. After that, FF fell off my radar.

XII >>>> The whole franchise in so many ways, but not to derail, I'm sure they'll offer you something you'll like after XV. You may even like XV if you don't judge as a FF.

If square went back to releasing a final fantasy every 1/2 years it wouldn't be so bad for you.

Personally Final Fantasy started going down hill for me with FFVII. The last time I felt the "Final Fantasy magic' was when I played Lost Odyssey.

Here's my order of Final Fantasy's since replaying XII, X, VI, and IV recently.

FF VI > FFIX > FF X > FF IV > FF XII > FF VII > FFVIII> FF V > FF III > FF XIII > FF II > FF I.