If you have never played a game in the Final Fantasy series, if you have somehow managed to avoid exposure to Square Enix's behemoth for the twenty-five years of its existence, if you can't tell a chocobo from a malboro, and if you wanted to change that... where would you begin?
This question has been foremost in my mind over the past several weeks, as I've put many hours into a game that I like more than it probably deserves: Dissidia [Duodecim]: Final Fantasy. 
Dissidia isn't a game for everybody. It's a game for people who like Final Fantasy. As someone who is a devoted fan of the series, there's a lot for me to like in this little handheld brawler: I like the subtle differences in the way that the different characters play. I like that the game asks you to play as each of them in turn and learn their different styles. I like that I can call down a satellite laser as Laguna.
But part of my experience with Dissidia has been how alone I have felt in my appreciation for it. Most of my friends don't know Golbez from Gollum. And so, as I have played, I have been mulling over the question of how one might introduce others to this beloved series. If you only had one Final Fantasy to recommend, one chance to snag a fellow gamer and enthrall them in this leviathan of a series, which would you suggest?
You've, uh... You've got some choices.
I've been rolling this question around in my head for weeks now. My initial inclination was to suggest one of the two extremes of the series: Final Fantasy XIII, which is by far the prettiest (and easiest to acquire, as it's the only one on current-gen consoles), or the original Final Fantasy, whence the series began (and has received a fairly nice makeover in its port to iOS).
Of course, FFXIII is (rightly) maligned for its linearity and sluggishness, and FFI is a little dry and bare-bones in this day and age. Certainly it contains the essence of all that comes after it, but I'm not convinced that you can experience all the series has to offer just by playing through the original (this from a guy who has the Four Warriors of Light hanging in his bedroom).
If not the original, then which game contains the true essence of Final Fantasy? Some of the games have strayed further from the series' core experience than others-- FFII has a really wonky battle/experience system, FFVIII had that business with the junctioning, and FFXII... well, FFXII has issues of its own.
Some might argue that Final Fantasy X, released on a last-gen system, would be the perfect mix of old and new for someone to introduce themselves to the series. There's merit to that argument, especially when one considers the emotional wallop that the game can pack in the latter stages if one is invested in the characters (I think my wife may have cried for fully an hour after finishing the game). FFX, however, could potentially be annoying for someone not familiar with the series: the voice acting can be grating, and the protagonist isn't immediately likable in his own right.
Here's where I'm going to make a bold claim: I think that if you were to only play a single Final Fantasy, you shouldn't pick it solely on the strength of its narrative. The best stories in the series aren't necessarily representative of the core Final Fantasy experience, despite narrative being one of the driving forces of these games. When I talk about the best stories, I'm referring specifically here to FFVI and FFVII, which most fans of the franchise concede have the most mature, complex, and operatic plotlines.
Pretty good villains, too.
Do I think every gamer ought to experience the mid-game climax atop the Floating Continent in Final Fantasy VI? Absolutely. Do I think that leaving Midgar for the first time and seeing the breadth of FFVII's world is a breath-taking experience? You bet.
But do I concede that it's hard to get characters to emote with 16-bit sprites? Yes, probably. Do I think that FFVII's translation is weak compared to some of the other entries in the series? Yeah, I do. These games are classics, but they're not without their flaws. Minor flaws, I think-- but, importantly, flaws which might be barriers to entry for a gamer who has no experience with the series.
If you were only ever to play one Final Fantasy, you know which one I think it should be?
This one.
Yep. Final Fantasy IX.
I'm not about to make the claim that FFIX is the best in the series. As engaging as its story is, it doesn't nearly approach the pathos of FFVI or even the bittersweet beauty of FFX. Its cast is a lot of fun (Steiner? Freya? Vivi? Delightful!), but it certainly doesn't have the best characters in the series (take your pick--there are a million good ones).
Despite not being the best in the series in any single arena, FFIX is brilliant, and it's brilliant because each of its elements is very strong. It's got a solid narrative, engaging characters, a simple but compelling battle system and leveling mechanics, and graphics which, while admittedly 32-bit, are almost certainly the most attractive on the system. What's more, Final Fantasy IX shares the spirit of the first five games in the series while also dipping its toes into the complex character evolutions of the later entries.
FFIX also has a lot of little quirks that make it appealing: having the ability-learning system tied to equipment makes it very compelling to steal new items from bosses, the Active Time Event system gives you windows into the stories of side characters and makes the game feel more like it has an ensemble cast (without the 14-person party of FFVI), and anyone who is familiar with the rest of the series will find tiny nods to other games hidden in every nook and cranny.
If you happen to be a gamer who doesn't know Final Fantasy, I would encourage you to give Final Fantasy IX (and indeed, the whole Final Fantasy series) a try. They are all charming, compelling games that will put a smile on your face and keep you busy for many hours.
(Final Fantasy IX just happens to be a PSOne Classic, so it's easily accessible if you have any Sony hardware. Now you've got no excuse not to educate yourself!)
The discussion of which Final Fantasy is the "best" is among the more contentious topics in video game culture, but I'm willing to plant a stake in the ground that Final Fantasy IX is Final Fantasy distilled.
Am I wrong? If you wanted to get someone into Final Fantasy and you only had one game to hook someone, which would YOU pick?