I always played FFVI (III US) without gain level until get the fist Esper. I fled from all the battle (except mandatory and bosses)... it was difficult, very difficult... I picked up the Kirin, Ramuh, Siren and Stray near the level 11-12 only to receive the level up stats.

I would actually say it was about all 3 of those things.  It just also had a lot more too it as well.

Love this game. Its awesome and Uematsus top of his career!

I'm suprised how many people in this thread have said that the series went down hill from FFVII onwards. FFVII is one of my all time favourite games but I suppose the fact that it was my first FF plays a big part in that. I loved XIII, IX and X too (XII was ok). It's a shame I missed out on playing IV to VI when they were first released and that's made even worse by the fact that my PS1 copy of VI is borderline unplayable due to loading times .

It's funny you say that, because I find it surprising how many like some of the later games (especially 10). My guess is that most of those people started with 7 or later.

@ Mojo

I'm not knocking anyones opinion on thinking the series isn't great after VII its just that I found VII to X to be fantastic games in their own right, regardless of what came before. You're right that VII being the starting point appears to be what splits opinion. I have played FFI and II but on the PS1 and they really haven't aged well so I didn't really enjoy them. I'd love to play through VI but on the PS1 it's almost more trouble than it's worth.

ya that was the thing, Odin was the only Esper to give +1 speed, but we would always want him upgraded but then he would loose that stats bonus per lv.

Yes you are right it was hard but if you can make it to the 2nd half f the game and jump right into the Question mark forest "?" ( was shaped like one, then invisible and X-zone the dinos for crazy lv up.

what about FF IV ?

There are some games that I just can't fathom how people don't like them.  FF X is one of those games.  It's just absolutely unbelievable to me.

I'm not surprise so many only started at VII, that was the one that Square pushed into the mainstream. Of course all those comercials  ( mainly showing FMV) got alot of peoples attention.

But right after FFIII, I remember seeing the Ultra64 demo of Squares FFVII demo, and I was like omg FF in 3D then the cartridge thing pretty much killed that whole thing. ANyways VII was good but not in the same level as III (VI).