Which Final Fantasy is best for a novice?

[Pumpkinstew]

Yeah 9 was pretty good. The big blue toad guy was a hoot although the grumpy assassin with the daft hair later on got on my nerves.

FFX started well for me but the delays on the dialogue lines started to really annoy me after a while and it got quite repetitive after the wasteland.

I'm almost to the end of FFXII and it's probably my favourite. The combat is a big departure from the usual FF approach but it works pretty well once you get your head around gambits. The hunting of marks and rare game is a nice diversion if you get bored of the storyline and, I quite like the characters (especially Fran).

I remember Grandia 2 on PS2 being pretty good if a touch on the easy side. Would that be worth a try for your mum? Shadow Hearts might be a bit dark. Atelier Iris?