FF6 is the embodiment of a typical JRPG, and if anything takes JRPGs worst tropes and indulges in them.
The first 5 hours are essentially entirely scripted, with barely any room for exploration. Even the fights are heavily scripted, with the game constantly pulling out conversations and suchlike mid-fight. Backtracking is plentiful, and whereas most JRPGS follow a pattern of "town-dungeon-explore", this spends a big chunk of the game chopping between "script-battle-script-battle".
There's JRPGs out there which offer enough to be worth playing if you don't like the format. Lufia 2 is a good example of one who's dungeons and puzzles make it stand out from the standard JRPG fair. Tales of Berseria another who's party banter and action based combat would make it one I'd consider even if I didn't like JRPGs.
But FF6 is a far cry from anything like that. It plays itself for a large portion of the game, and as a fan of JRPGs I recently replayed it for the 3rd time in my life, and struggled like hell to finish it.
TL-DR - Avoid.
Bullshit. This thread is trash.
This is FF6's gameplay over time, originally posted for Crosscode in the respective thread:
There is nothing STANDARD about it. Many JRPGs do not feature this curve, they are beyond linear, zero systems to play with, zero attempt to feature any form of gameplay beyond mindless battles. Chrono Trigger, Earthbound, Suikoden, Valkyria Chronicles, Breath of Fire and many more. They are irredeemable on rails shit.
FF6, while no poster child for JRPG gameplay, is
above the average. Even from the start there is optional content (hidden items to find in environment) and level design is not 100% linear. Over time it only gets more involved. You get espers, relics, side quests, and SHOCK -- actual dungeon design with puzzle elements and pose a navigation challenge (e.g Magitek Reseach Facility), tons of hidden content like discovering Sabin's Blitz moves or getting the chainsaw from Zozo. Unique gameplay events appear many times throughout the story, such as talking to everybody before the timer expires for special rewards at the Emperor's Banquet in vector. The Auction House. The colosseum. Actual semi-meaningful build choices between Espers, Magic learning progression + stat boosts, relics, and equipment. This isn't much but it's above the JRPG standard that is *nothing* like in those aforementioned games.
Even the choice whose story to follow next when your party gets split up in the serpent trench early on is a somewhat interesting one and is just one more example that Square went above the average JRPG borefest.
You point out Lufia 2 as some kind of notable alternative (LOL) yet consistently puzzling clever dungeon design is literally all the game has, otherwise it is irredeemable shit. And even then FF6 has numerous dungeons with pretty good design and puzzles. Again, Magitek Research Facility is fun, others include Phoenix Cave (which features puzzles involving three seperate partys you have to make, utilizing ALL characters), The final Dungeon has a bunch of cool puzzle elements, The Esper Cave, even the Phantom Train has a bunch of interesting tricks and traps, choices and interactions despite being a train and therefore on rails quite literally.
Come on. The codex is better than this. Final Fantasy 5-9 offer pretty decent gameplay way above the average JRPG, even if they're a little easy combat-wise (get Hardtype mods). That's the only way in which it is standard.
As for is it worth playing? Yes, it is. But I'd recommend newcomers perhaps start with 7 first for a few reasons. Do not go past 9 (they become excessively animu and declined) or below 5 (too simple gameplay-wise, much like the standard JRPG)