Moogles, chocobos, materia, summons... When it comes to Final Fantasy, no detail is too small. - PlayStation Magazine (April 2008)

Alright, sure. It's true. Every bit of a Final Fantasy game gives the title even more reason to adore it unconditionally. But when the staff at PlayStation Magazine took a poll last month as to why the fans really love the games, I was a little more than surprised. Okay. I lied. I wasn't surprised at all. And that alone gave me even more reason to hate the fans of Final Fantasy. Harsh? No. I'm a fan myself, but for more significant reasons than just the "hot main characters", or the general popularity of the series entirely. If you're going to love the game because of its amazing characters, make a better argument than that of a typical fangirl.

"Oh my God, Cloud is so hot! I wish he was real so I could marry him. FFVII FOREVER!"

NO! Just, no! It hurts my ears!

I personally love the Final Fantasy series for several reasons, and yes the characters are one of them. But it's not because they're 'hot'. I find myself taking Final Fantasy characters and comparing them to those around me. I see personalities within the games that define everyone else in the world. Playing a Final Fantasy game almost seems to drag you deeply into the story, and puts you right in the middle of a character's footsteps. You become the character instead of just the player making the joystick move, or the button-mashing madness behind the battles. The characters are so realistic that you find yourself wondering if it isn't just a game. That's the magic of the Final Fantasy experience.

Besides the characters, what else were Final Fantasy fans claiming to be the reason to why they played the series? Here's the list below:

• Characters: 20%
• Battle System: 15%
• Story: 15%
• Music: 15%
• World: 10%
• Art: 10%
• Chocobos: 5%
• Secrets: 5%
• Everything Else: 5%

Alright. Pretty obvious characters would get the highest percentage. But the thing that surprises me the most is that Chocobos are actually mentioned in their own category! When I say Chocobos, I mean the chocobo summons, breeding chocobos, and chocobo racing. Oh, and the golden chocobo as well. But still! I'm surprised, but it's a good surprise. This tells me there are actually fans out there who love the game for reasons other than the characters. (Not saying they don't love the characters also.)

If I had to decide which of the categories my reason behind loving Final Fantasy so much would be, it's probably in the "Everything Else". My favorite part of the Final Fantasy series is probably the recurring appearances of Cid in each title. Sure, it's a different Cid, but that doesn't make it any less exciting. I'm always anxious to see what the new Cid is going to be like in the next Final Fantasy game. (And I'm still waiting on FFXIII! It's killing me!) I also love the ironic title. Final Fantasy? Alright, then shouldn't it have ended at FF? Oh, and another thing. I love the gravity-defying hair. It shouldn't be possible for a human being to have hair like Wakka's (FFX), or like Sephiroth's (FFVII). Maybe if you use a pound of hair gel, but wouldn't it be affected by something like wind, or even jumping into water? Why is it that a character's appearance is never altered by the weather?! It's hilarious! Oh, and I love how the characters never need to change clothing while on their journeys. I know I wouldn't wear the same clothes months on end.

Although the little random details of the Final Fantasy games are what keep me jumping for the next title, I'm also a big fan of the music. I've bought every soundtrack available on the internet for the series, and I find myself blasting the songs in my truck religiously. I get a lot of looks, but it's a priceless feeling to have Liberi Fatali streaming from my speakers while I'm riding to school in the morning. Really gets your blood flowing!

The art behind the games are also very inspiring to me as an artist. The details of the unique worlds, and the characters themselves, always give me new ideas behind characters I've imagined for my stories, and my latest drawings. The realistic appearance of the game is probably one of the greatest reasons why the series does in fact have so many adoring fans. It'd be boring to play a game like this without the background to set it up.

"...Video games inspire creativity, art, and thoughtful composition..."

I've realized this myself personally. Ever since I started playing my video games way back at the age of 2, I've always been a more creative individual. I'm challenged to create something unique, whether it be in writing or in one of my newest drawings. And playing Final Fantasy VII when I was, ironically, seven, really sparked my imagination even further. It also taught me a few life lessons, as strange as that may sound. I've learned that I should never take anything for granted, and that I should protect and cherish the things I love because you never know when something might happen.

That's my two cents on the matter. I'm a huge Final Fantasy fan, and I'm proud to admit it. (With logical reasons of course.) What's your reason behind your adoration of the biggest RPG series?