FF3, FF2 story wise has been greatly improved in a number of ports.

Get FFVI aka III, much better than IV aka II

Go for FFIII/VI.

You can get II/IV on the DS and it will be much better.

Get FFII (IV) for the DS and get FFIII (VI) for the SNES.

FFIVDS is an improvement in every way to FFII SNES while FFVI Advance (GBA) is an improvement to FFIII SNES but not as major as one. Also, don't even consider FFVI for the PS(FF Anthologies), it's terrible as is FF Chronicles.

Or if you don't feel like being nostaligic, just get FFIV DS and FFVI Advance.

Get FF3.

FF2 is a GREAT game... but the SNES version is a bit gimped.

Get FF3 then get FF2 on DS or GBA. (Load times on PS1 kill me.)

Don't consider any FF re-release on the Playstation, while you're at it, up to and including FFV on Anthologies and IV on Chronicles. They are just bad.

Why are the PS1 releases bad?

Loading times EVERYWHERE...  I want to say there are load times between battles.... and the sound quality is worse then the SNES.

I don't even play mine.

Yeah, it's pretty frustrating how bad they are but the load times just completely ruin it.

It isn't just a load time when going from screen to screen but there's a 5-10 second load time on everything.  Feel like checking a random stat or how far you are into a level?  Be prepared for long ass load times.

It sounds like a very small issue, but believe me, it just couldn't be more painful.  I'm one of the biggest FFVI fanboys on this site but even I'm perfectly willing to admit those two games may look like an awesome deal but they really are quite terrible.

Those things are even more of an embaressment than FFX-2 and FF Mystic Quest combined.

I tried playing Chrono Trigger again (FF Chronicles) a few months before the DS version came out and I couldn't even make it a 1/3 way through the game it was so terrible.

I still argue FF Mystic Quest is excellent for what it's supposed to be.

A starter RPG for younger children and those who've never played an RPG before.