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In my humble opinion (oh god, you know whatever coming is going to be contentious with a start like that....)
In my humble opinion Dragon Quest 8 (the only one I've played) is a much more coherent and easily enjoyable game than the FFs, which to my mind are turning steadily into overblown candyfloss that takes itself way too seriously.

I'll say it now, I have played and loved 6 to 10 and skipped 11 (the less said about 12 the better, not had much of a go on 13 yet), so, y'know... not a hater.
But this is something I've wanted to get out for a while. Anyone else find the FFs just a bit TOO weird? Like, not GOOD weird. WEIRD weird. Nonsensical, almost proud of this fact and, without exception, over-excited about being a bit artsy and supposedly telling a good story.

Ah yes. The stories. They all start wonderfully. But there's a turning point in each one where you can almost hear the writers go "aww sod it" and start shoehorning any old crap in. Time travel, for instance. Or wiggly shiny planet-force power. Or a moogle/assorted stupid cartoon animal as main character. About the only thing 12 did right was skip the ridiculous atmosphere-shattering comedy animal character (did it feature FF trademark deus ex machina near the end? I never slogged it that far)

It just struck me that FF wants to be as much as it can. Cute kids anime show, laser-explodey-death anime show, korean-cinema inspired cinematography, quiet almost nouvelle vague character study moments, serious romance, end-of-the-world stuff, heavy morals... AND an action-filled RPG... it's just too damn much and means depth is ever being sacrificed for width. I mean, isn't 13 basically on rails?

Dragon Quest 8 really did it for me. From the first moment you know where it's going, it's cartoony and silly. It doesn't get odd moodswings. Even if 8 wasn't a brilliant game in it's own right, compared to the FFs it just seems... coherent.

It's called the 'Tetris Effect'.

A few times during my life, when I've fucked up really badly, my first instinct isn't to apologise. or run away. or do anything human.
honest to god... my first split second near sub-conscious reaction has sometimes been "balls, now I got to restart from my last save".