Final Fantasy V
Review by Sky Render

Tagline: Like FF3, but actually done right, and made funny.

Graphics - 8/10

 FF5's visuals were a step up from FF4's, to be certain.  They're not on par with later SNES titles, but they do the job, and do it well.

Sound and Music - 9/10

 The music in FF5 is well-composed, as is the norm for the series.  It's also instrument-mapped better than the SNES version of FF4, particularly on the GBA release.

Gameplay - 9/10

 When Square made FF3, they had a lofty goal in mind: to make a class system where the player could control their classes and change them more or less at will.  FF5 is the realization of that dream.  You can control your characters' classes, and gain new ones as the plot progresses.  Each class has something unique and useful to add to the mix, and you can even use abilities from other classes at the same time as you're in a class.

 The system has its shortcomings, of course (many classes don't shine until you learn their later skills, and the AP requirements are prohibitively high for the best skills), but the overall balance and entertainment that FF5's Job system shows is remarkable for an SNES game.

Story - 8/10

 FF5's story is a light-hearted one, full of comedy, though it has its serious moments too.  The game doesn't even begin to take itself seriously most of the time, which works in its favor given the somewhat rehashed flavor it has.  The huge amount of comedy sometimes even makes the tragic or otherwise dramatic scenes seem funnier than they really are, which could be a bit of a detractor.  Regardless, FF5's story is a fun romp.

Replay Value - 9/10

 There is a phenomenal lot of replay value in FF5.  With such a well-designed and well-balanced class system, you could easily replay the game an almost endless number of ways, and have a fun experience each time.

Overall - 8.5/10

 This was the game where Final Fantasy started to mean more than just a pretty good RPG series.  With FF5, Final Fantasy started to mean genuinely fun, as well.


Pros:
+ Decent visuals and great music
+ Phenomenally well-designed gameplay engine
+ A light-hearted and fun story
+ Replay value all over the map

Cons:
- The visuals are a bit simple, compared to later SNES titles
- The story's light-heartedness makes the dramatic bits seem less dramatic at times

Target Audience: Anybody who likes a good turn-based class-oriented game will adore FF5.

Buy or Rent? Buy, definitely.  The huge replay factor ensures many a game of FF5 will be played.