Excellent job with the review, Roo! I got a couple of notions, though, having played both the original and the sequel growing up.

- You mentioned it would be stupid to play the first game, well, first, since the sequel is actually a prequel, and as such the ending will be spoiled for you. Well, while you indeed know the ending like that, I think it actually adds to the overall atmosphere of the prequel, knowing how the story eventually unfolds. Playing Lufia II, I was constantly wondering about certain characters, since they were absent from the original. Even at the start of the game, I couldn't help but to feel sorry for certain characters knowing the eventual outcome of certain relations... the knowledge of the future created a special atmosphere in my opinion.

- Not to mention, the character of Lufia is not even mentioned in the prequel (technically), and she's kind of a key character, considering the name of the series. While it's not essential to know about her, it sure helps if you do, as it does serve as a link between the games.

- The gameplay of Lufia 1 is very, very flawed when compared to the sequel. As such, it would make it the natural game to start the series with, so it doesn't seem like such a major downgrade from the prequel, which in turn could hinder your enjoyment of the, in my opinion, incredible story of the original.

Well, there's that. I cherish the plot of the original Lufia as one of the best J-RPG stories, but it was also the very FIRST J-RPG I ever played, so my opinion is bound to be biased. The gameplay is mediocre, and you kind of have to power through the first 5 to 10 hours, until the plot really starts to get interesting... once that happens and the hook sinks in, you're trapped :)