For those wondering the crucial bits:
Q: Is this widescreen compatible? A: Yes
Q: For an older game is it stable? A: Yes, no crashes period runs better than modern games
Q: Is this the first game in the series? A: Yes start here
Q: This or remake? A: Up to you, game still holds up perfectly to me though
Q: Story good? A: Hell yes, you'll be itching to see what happens in the next chapter

PROTIPS:
1. Save save save, you get unlimited save slots
2. You can hold alt to speed through and hold RMB/LMB to speed through dialogue if you need to replay a part

This game is just WOW. A good wow.

I was recommended this game by a friend of mine years ago but in terms of gaming I am quite a recluse in that I like to stick to my grand strategy games. I decided to venture out and try something out of my usual comfort zone, and I thought I'd finally get into this series. After a little research on the order of games to play (there are a lot and it is a continuation of the same story), I bought this game and got started.

I'll admit the graphics threw me off a t first, I am not a die hard must be the best graphics fan but I do like good textured games. After a little bit I honestly didn't notice how aged it looked, in fact it honestly looks better to me the way it is than the remake for the old retro game style it has. It is very advanced too in that you can change camera perspective 360 degrees via scrolling your mouse. When it comes to detail this game is a master, so many buildings you can enter, with loads of rooms all uniquely decorated and designed. All of them containing people with their own unique dialogue and all of this dialogue changes every time the story progresses. Something big happens like say an explosion? Everyone will be talking about it. Was there a couple that was arguing with each other? You will eventually learn to know more about it and see a resolution if you care to listen in. It's incredible, I would swear to Aidios (game lore version of god) that these characters are genuinely all alive and reacting to everything in real time, you will rarely if ever meet a character with repeating generic dialogue as the story progresses. Even re-engaging in conversation they'll say something new at times.

The story is incredible too, I honestly felt like I was in an interactive S tier anime the whole time. There aren't voice actors in this 2004 version but it really didn't take away all that much, and there is a little bit of voice acting here and there mainly during/end of fights. So you can get an idea of what they sound like through the dialogue if that matters to you. It felt like I was a kid again addicted to Civilization 5 going "Just one more turn...". There is so much to do as well, missions galore, you don't have to do every mission you can just do the story mode but the missions here tie into the story so if you want a better fuller picture it's a good idea to do them. The unfortunate thing I didn't learn is that progressing through the story will render missions you haven't started/completed as failed. So after every bit of story progression (main game mission, not side quests) I would check the jobs board at the guild if you are a completionist like me.

Really I had no complaints about this game except for the really long cut scenes at times which it wasn't so much so that I thought they were boring. I just sometimes wanted to save my game prior to doing something or going to bed. Good problem to have if you are into games with deep stories. Speaking of that, that's the last thing I'd address, if you're more into fighting there is plenty of fighting in the game but the majority of it revolves around the story. If you're more of the type that seeks action, and less dialogue. It isn't for you. But for anyone wanting to get into JRPG's I would put this at the top of your list to try first.