I've been a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series since it first came to the US on the NES in 1990, playing anything even remotely related to Final Fantasy; Final Fantasy Adventure, Final Fantasy Legends, and pretty much any game with Square's name on it.

Back in the golden days of this series, the emphasis was put on developing a rich story with a unique cast of diverse characters, exploring vast dungeons and towns, and defeating an endless variety of enemies, earning experience points and money to upgrade your skills and equipment.

Final Fantasy had heart and soul; the characters were likable and stylish in their own way. The enemies were imaginative, and the stories were so moving that it wasn't uncommon to be brought to tears while playing the game.

Today I see a different series that hardly seems worthy of the Final Fantasy namesake. The gameplay has been reduced to a linear adventure that lacks imagination, variety, or enough side quests and hidden places to create a rich experience. The characters are shallow and superficial; with emphasis on their androgynous looks and 'edgy' personalities, rather than their personal stories.

In terms of graphics and presentation, the Final Fantasy series today is superior to virtually anything else out on the market. Unfortunately, the good things about this series ends there. The Final Fantasy series has become a shallow, repetitive shell of its former self that's hardly worth my time. It's clear that Square cares more about making money by appealing to the "buy anything with shiny graphics" crowd, while forgetting about the real fans like me who loved their games for the heart they once had.