This is honestly the first time I've heard someone refer to Golden Sun as Kiddy.
If anything I'd put it up there with Suikoden II, but below FF Tactics in maturity level.

In my own experience, FFIX is my first numbered FF. I bought it because Tactics was my favorite game at the time and they shared the same name. Bought it, beat it, became one of my favorites because of the emotion I felt during the ending credits where I felt like a long wonderful journey was over. Even now, the ending credits is the part I remember the most.

As for my other FF experiences, the only other FF I've beaten is FF-X.
Bought VII an VIII right after I've beaten IX and was disappointed. Didn't get to finish both even though I invested a lot of time on it(last disc on both).
Also got IV on the DS, didn't finish either because I ws spoiled by the modern JRPG's.
After playing "Tales of" games, FFIV's characters felt 2 dimensional and I just didn't care for them.
Played XII aswell, made it to killing the white Chocobo side story, the story was boring to me though so i just stopped.
X-2 was also a disappointment.

Same here! I jumped up and cheered at that part at the end. I still think it has the best ending, because I cared so much about Zidane and Garnet.

@ DGc

If FFIX's battles bored you, then the other PS1 FFs must have made you fall asleep as this game is much faster than them.

I was mainly referring to the age. Neither game felt kiddy to me, it's just that the characters you play as in both games were very young, felt the same age to me.

I haven't played Tactics, hear it's coming to the PS Store so I may check it out. I really enjoyed Tactics Advanced on the GBA however.

I don't think that's what Naz meant about "Kiddy".
Think of it more as atmosphere, the "Magic", the art, the story and the quirky characters come together to build an atmosphere somewhat similar to the atmosphere Disney movies of old have. Or for a more recent example Pixar.

Considering the game is heavily story and character driven, the way I see it, enjoyment depends largely on the age group of an audience.
Movies and anime go through the same motions with it's fans.
Once teens try to become young adults mentally they usually dismiss "kiddy" stuff and go for the more mature stuff, or something they can relate to. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, but majority subconsciously fall into this. 

It's like people loving Disney when they were kids, disliking it when they are teens, and loving it again when they're older.
I think FF IX falls in the same category with the nature of it's atmosphere.
FFVII and FFVIII on the other hand caters more to teens but most adults are annoyed by the angst.

@Outlaw
*High five*

I don't think that's what Naz meant about "Kiddy".
Think of it more as atmosphere, the "Magic", the art, the story and the quirky characters come together to build an atmosphere somewhat similar to the atmosphere Disney movies of old have. Or for a more recent example Pixar.

Considering the game is heavily story and character driven, the way I see it, enjoyment depends largely on the age group of an audience.
Movies and anime go through the same motions with it's fans.
Once teens try to become young adults mentally they usually dismiss "kiddy" stuff and go for the more mature stuff, or something they can relate to. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, but majority subconsciously fall into this. 

It's like people loving Disney when they were kids, disliking it when they are teens, and loving it again when they're older.
I think FF IX falls in the same category with the nature of it's atmosphere.
FFVII and FFVIII on the other hand caters more to teens but most adults are annoyed by the angst.

@Outlaw
*High five*