This is what i consider an exotic opinion.

XII is worth playing if you like offline MMORPG's light on story.

what about 8?

About how long is it and is there a lot of grinding?

80+ hours? The game and history itself is bigger (and better) than FF7.

There is less grinding than FF7 too but if you want to get everything (like me) then it's a pain in the ass too.

Funny, just as they go on sale in NA the sales in EU end, I got FF Tactics.

One of the best Strategy games I had played.

XII have the most complex story in the franchise... I like because I love political themes... XII have one of the best battle system not ATB too.

FF12 was a good rpg but not a very good FF game, the atmosphere was amazing but I didn't like the story, there was no drama like FF10 or FF6 lol.

A little off-topic...

I want to buy Ni No Kuni... anybody here recommends it?

FF9 is a good start... classic and old school.