thats right you read that correctly 4 copies worn through 2 gave 1 away and wearing down number 4.  To be honest I was quite hesitant on even renting this game when it came out thinking that square was using the success of VII (ff VII) to rack in the sales of this less than average game.  Well I was wrong (not the first time either) so far I've played through the game 7 times and it becomes more involving each time as I try to create a different team (even ramza takes on different roles, this time I didn't even give him the chance to finish his base class and went right into mage).  The game is hard thats a no brainer and if you are a no brainer then don't pick up this game cause I don't know where copy 5 is comming from and I'd just assume not have to guess.  There will be frustration, there will be hardships, you will get mad at it and wonder how on Gods green earth did square manage to make such crap.  Then you can pick up the controller again and give that battle on riovanes castle roof top another try to keep Rafa alive (Very Hard 4/5 or 7/5 depends on what you want to achieve).  Not going to lie to you if you don't plan ahead then you will be dead before the battle has even started.  I wouldn't even try to compare this to the other games in the series but rather a game of unforgiving chess.  you have 5 or sometimes less characters and the opposing side can have as few as one (and a very hard one at that) or 10 that can be equally difficult.  Unlike the other games terrain makes a huge difference in this game (each landscape is unique and beautifully done) just because you are next to someone doesn't mean you'll hit them they could be standing 20ft above and neither can do anything.  another wonderful aspect is the story line full of reading, contemplating and scratching of the head.  somedays I would get a huge peice of puzzle just before bed and find myself lying for 20 min trying to figure out where it all fits and how this will affect the main character.  Some ppl may find the plot to be either too deep or too complicated, I felt right at home.  Even our own past is just as complicated and twisted and I would expect that of a game that is trying to relflect our own world.  You can keep your Sephiroth and his standard destroy the world scheme,  I'll take the shadowy plots of corruption, cloak and dagger and the dark truth of some of the most trusted ppl in the world that are just as manipulative and far more evil than that which they condemn.