6 characters or more?

[OmniscientOnus]

I think it all depends on how the game revolves around the characters.

6 works in a game that partially develops everyone's back story no matter who you use, and fully develops the ones you use often. In other words, even if you choose to only use 3 (or 4 depending on what the game allows at a time) you still get at least most of the storyline behind everyone. Then, at certain points, whoever you had in your party at the time would have only their background(s) fully revealed.

More than 6 would work well in a game that only develops a character's background when they are in your party during certain points. The more the merrier in that scenario. Then the game (if it was good in the first place) has that much more replay value.

Less than 6 (I prefer 4) works in a game where everyone has their background fully developed no matter who is in your party.

 

[Howl]

Take FFIX for existance...it didn't even NEED Amarant or Quina in the cast.
Sure you can level them up to have great moves and power, but it's not worth it since their back-stories suck.

 

[Ganymede]

I like big casts. FFIV, FFVI and FFIX are my favourites, and they have big casts. I also like it when you don't meet all of the characters in the first five or so hours of the game. It's nice to have a few surprises later on, like Cid, Edge and especially FuSoYa in FFIV, and Strago, Relm, Gogo and Umaro in FFVI. The small casts are disappointing because let's face it, FF games aren't really known for their in depth characters. You can only really compensate for that failing by having a big and diverse and interesting cast. Then the lack of a character-driven story is less noticeable.

 

[Howl]

6 main characters is FINE as long as there are extra/hidden characters that you know are available. =]

 

[SapphireStar]

I think 6 is a good number, any more I start to get confused if the names are difficult and tend to forget! But if its less then 6 I sometimes dont find a character whom I liking.

 

[ALPHAZERO]

it doesnt matter to me
if the game good and has a good story
then ill play it

 

[scorche]

i thonk more than six as long as u can switch in battle like on ffx

 

[Blaznova]

Less than 6 characters is better. I don't know but I like FFI and FFII because they're only 4 characters.