There is nothing that makes Final Fantasy a unique franchise aside from its rapidly withering record of excellence (having amazing storylines died after FF9 (I don't know about 10 or 12, haven't played them, and 11 doesn't count), having amazing characters mostly died around the same time, the only thing that's been retained is the amazing graphics/settings), recurring classes, recurring enemies/animals, and as you said recurring spells.
And the review: it was good. My main gripe is that while Distant Worlds is a good album, there might have been other things better suited to the flash. That and I KNOW you could animate actual people if you wanted to. It'd be a serious pain but you could.