Every numbered Final Fantasy is an entirely new game, set in a entirely different world with a different plot, different characters, different battle system and different game mechanic. There is a few thematic elements tying the franchise together and that's about it.
How the hell does a series like that burn out??? If I rename Final Fantasy VIII 'Romancing Saga', or Final Fantasy X 'Back to the Future', will it make a damn difference other than the powerful brand recognition attached to the franchise and its massive selling power? Change a few thematic elements that patronise the series and you have an entirely new RPG each time, they are NOT sequals FFS.
Treat each numbered Final Fantasy as its own game and judge it on its own merit. The franchise is not sequal driven, it re-imagine itself every time. Some are just not as good as others but certainly not everyone thinks VII was the pinnacle of Final Fantasy. I personally have a mark preference for VIII.
