final fantasy VII was completely satisfying from start to finish. the level of polish and sophistication of this title are quite impressive. i've completed most ff games (including tactics), and this is my favorite so far. why? mainly story and battle system. the story is thoroughly engrossing, involving some of the most believable characters in the series. while some may discount the opening few hours as too teen soap opera-ish, they must not have a good sense of humor, nor see how important this characterization is for later in the game. all told, ff8 is a love story. but not only a love story between two people, there are multiple threads here, realistically woven.  I happen to like Squall (the main protagonist) much better than most other final fantasy leading men.  Personally, I put him up there with Balthier and Edge as far as the cool factor goes.  Granted, it takes time for him to grow from a anti-social punk into a full-blown hero, but that makes the story's progression much more believable. 

i also enjoyed the depth of the battle/stat system, which centers around junctioning magic and GFs. it seems a little confusing at first, but stick with it and you will be amazed at the tactical flexibility this system gives you. if you are the type who needs elves and ogres and hundreds of weapons to enjoy a rpg, this game is not for you. instead, this game is based on story and gameplay, in which the characters (humans) reflect real human emotion and interactions. if you love story and tactical flexibility, you must play this game.

ps, graphics and music are top notch (considering its ps1)!