This is going to be a modded playthrough I think, there's a big mod I've always wanted to try called New Threat that changes a lot but specifically the combat so each character has a unique quirk (Barret has something like if he gets hit in the back row his defense increases, if he gets hit in the front his attack) and Materia is similar to FF8 junction where the stat increases they already give are now actually rather significant. Is it going to be finely tuned and well balanced? Maybe not, but it does sound fun, not to mention all the extra content you can do, like bringing back a certain someone after a certain event that I won't mention because it's a big spoiler.
I'm glad you said that though Brian, I should try a speedrun of this sometime, I just see people attempting them on Twitch and the ETA is in the hours which is hard thing to get used to when you watch Resident Evil speedruns a fair amount like I do. Also not that it affects me since I'm not trying to beat a World Record but I can't imagine getting hours in and then realizing the run is a bust.
I regret to inform people I'm probably starting another FF7 (PS1) playthrough
Adol has literally been all over the place, I wouldn't worry about it too much, there ARE lots callbacks and stuff though so it's not a bad idea, although you will be swapping combat system a fair bit. I quite like the sense of whimsy to it all, Adol just wanted to adventure and ends up leading this amazing life and taking part in important events, it's a great wee series really.
And I could play 1000 games in the Napishtim engine, it's so good, definitely my favourite direction of the series (over bump combat and party based post VII). Although funnily enough I'm yet to play Ark of Napishtim itself which I most certainly will sooner than later, I know it's the least refined of the three, but I can't see it being too bad.(the series should be going for absolute peanuts on Steam right now too)
RE1 Remake feels like the most respected one, opinions on the others can sway any other way but I don't think I've seen anyone talk shit about the first. And for good reason, it still looks great (Snake cutscene still impresses me) for a Gamecube game and it expanded on the original really well without anything too drastic. (well Lisa Trevor, but eh she doesn't derail it too much)
It's probably the best pure survival horror game in the series too
Ys Origin regularly tops out in popularity of the old Ys games, I think it's very good but Oath in Felghana is a little bit better in my opinion.
I actually started Ys Chronicles again recently, because a new indie game called Angelina Era came out and it's got the same 'bump combat' as Ys 1 and 2. I love the combat of the Napishtim games (Felghana, Origin and Napishtim) but running into things at an angle and dragging them into a wall is very fun too.
The first two are quite vague, but they still hold up too. And you'll be doing the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood pointing meme a lot because Origin references both games heavily
Alastor