Count me in as another recent convert to the series. Had FC in my steam backlog based on recommendations from threads on the old site, but didn't get around to checking it out until recently. Actually, just finished Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and while trying to fill the void that was left after finishing the main story, I came across a video with suggestions of other games to play if you enjoyed XBC2, and the trails series stood out as the one that had the attributes I valued most out of the suggestions presented.
It's a very different game than XBC2, but I really enjoyed it for different reasons. I haven't played every jrpg, but of the ones I have played, FC easily has the best dialogue I've come across. The characters seem pretty conventional at first, but most are given enough depth to stand on their own as the game progresses. As I've heard others state, Estelle is awesome and her character arc in FC is the most believable I've seen in a jrpg. There is nothing she does that seems out of character, and when she does change, it is gradually, and makes complete sense given the situation.
It was an interesting change to play a story that follows a couple of characters, and is primarily telling their personal journey, and they are pulled into other, bigger events rather than the other way around. I found the characters charming enough to keep playing until the later chapters when the story really picks up, and at that point, it had me hooked.
About 8 hours into SC, and since I've already got that familiarity with the characters, I'm enjoying it even more.
I haven't picked up the third game yet.. how many hours do you think the average playthrough of SC is? Just want to make sure I'm ready to go when I'm done, so I can plan accordingly.
