The A-Z Of Final Fantasy: Everything You Need To Know
A - Aerith (AKA. Aeris) Gainsborough
Of all the FF games, only once have we lost a party member. It came as a shock, having nurtured the wet lemon that is Aerith and potentially allowed young Cloud to romantically entangle himself with her. We were robbed. Just as she became significant to the plot, having summoned the Holy Materia, she was pierced like a cheap kebab. Killing off Aerith was a maverick move, and one they thankfully haven't repeated. Aerith's death took away our comfort zone, Sephiroth had throne down the gauntlet and for the first time in 40 or so hours of gameplay, we weren't sure we'd win. Even outside of the context of the franchise this was a bold and thus legendary piece of writing, becoming one of the most cherished moments in gaming history.
B - Black Mages
Black Mages are one of the most common classes of fighters in the FF games. Some of the games (such as FF13) allow characters to fulfil multiple roles however, traditionally if you want offensive magic you turn to a Black Mage. The foundation of black magic is the four elements; fire, thunder, water and ice. You generally get 3 levels to these spells (working up to Firaga, Wateraga etc) before moving on to the big stuff. Black Mages can also use status magic, although generally only against opponents. Spells like Poison and Slow can give you a massive tactical advantage. The weakness of any Mage in a FF game is their total lack of attack power. They are so weak you do wonder why they bother with an attack command! Still, if you level them up enough, even someone like Yuna can do serious damage with a hit! The most famous Black Mage of any FF game has to be Vivi from FF9 (shown above). He looks like a puppet but that's kind of what he is, a magical puppet. Still, his story is a heart warming one and he is easily the best character to take up the dark arts (and that includes busty Lulu and her wobbly boobies!).
C - Chocobos
Man, C is hard as there is a few important C's in the FF universe. Cid is obviously one and we can't forget Cloud Strife either. Still, it has to be Chocobos though doesn't it?! The gigantic yellow bundles of cute are probably the only truly consistent thing that unites all the FF games. I know there are other recurring elements but Chocobos capture the hearts of all FF fans. Chocobos are generally useful creatures and with some careful breading (or various other methods) they can become the ultimate form of travel. They are especially useful in FF7 and FF9, enabling you to get the most powerful weapons in the game. Even when they are largely useless they still protect you from harm and can give you a welcome respite from random battles. Just, don't forget to keep some gyshal greens handy in case they get peckish.
D - Distant Worlds
Distant Worlds is a wonderful musical project led by none other than FF composer Nobuo Uematsu. Distant Worlds is basically an orchestral prom featuring a selection of popular tracks from the various FF games. The tunes have been masterfully arranged for a full symphonic orchestra and they are truly stunning. There are two albums out so far and I highly recommend them to any fan of FF music. The show also went international last year, playing across the world and even gracing the UK with a night at the Royal Albert Hall. They are back in October 2012 so I suggest you book now!
Of all the FF games, only once have we lost a party member. It came as a shock, having nurtured the wet lemon that is Aerith and potentially allowed young Cloud to romantically entangle himself with her. We were robbed. Just as she became significant to the plot, having summoned the Holy Materia, she was pierced like a cheap kebab. Killing off Aerith was a maverick move, and one they thankfully haven't repeated. Aerith's death took away our comfort zone, Sephiroth had throne down the gauntlet and for the first time in 40 or so hours of gameplay, we weren't sure we'd win. Even outside of the context of the franchise this was a bold and thus legendary piece of writing, becoming one of the most cherished moments in gaming history. 
Black Mages are one of the most common classes of fighters in the FF games. Some of the games (such as FF13) allow characters to fulfil multiple roles however, traditionally if you want offensive magic you turn to a Black Mage. The foundation of black magic is the four elements; fire, thunder, water and ice. You generally get 3 levels to these spells (working up to Firaga, Wateraga etc) before moving on to the big stuff. Black Mages can also use status magic, although generally only against opponents. Spells like Poison and Slow can give you a massive tactical advantage. The weakness of any Mage in a FF game is their total lack of attack power. They are so weak you do wonder why they bother with an attack command! Still, if you level them up enough, even someone like Yuna can do serious damage with a hit! The most famous Black Mage of any FF game has to be Vivi from FF9 (shown above). He looks like a puppet but that's kind of what he is, a magical puppet. Still, his story is a heart warming one and he is easily the best character to take up the dark arts (and that includes busty Lulu and her wobbly boobies!). 
Man, C is hard as there is a few important C's in the FF universe. Cid is obviously one and we can't forget Cloud Strife either. Still, it has to be Chocobos though doesn't it?! The gigantic yellow bundles of cute are probably the only truly consistent thing that unites all the FF games. I know there are other recurring elements but Chocobos capture the hearts of all FF fans. Chocobos are generally useful creatures and with some careful breading (or various other methods) they can become the ultimate form of travel. They are especially useful in FF7 and FF9, enabling you to get the most powerful weapons in the game. Even when they are largely useless they still protect you from harm and can give you a welcome respite from random battles. Just, don't forget to keep some gyshal greens handy in case they get peckish.