Once you get used to the complicated Junction system, you'll find much to enjoy.
Disturbed that I had owned the game for nearly a decade and had yet to complete it, I picked the game up again about a month ago and, just today, finished it.
I now understand why I was never able to play it before: the Junction system.
Unlike traditional RPG fare, the game's leveling system is far from traditional. Instead of leveling up to increase your abilities, like most other RPGs, you instead allocate spells to your stats to boost them. In order to get these spells you must draw them from the enemy, from places on the World Map, or refine them from items. Typically, you'll spend much of your time in this game collecting items and refining them and endlessly drawing magic from your foes.
Though this is certainly at times tiring, the Junction system necessitates the amazingly intuitive and satisfying item and spell refining system. Absolutely every item can be refined into better items (for example, 10 Remedies makes 1 Remedy +), ammunition, spells (most importantly), and even abilities for your GFs to learn.
Moreover, cards that you win from the amazingly fun and addicting Triple Triad card game can be refined into items and used for these purposes.
Speaking of GFs (or summons) , they play a key role in the development of your character. When a character has at least one GF junctioned to her, she can then start junctioning magic to boost her stats, add to her elemental/status defenses/attack, etc. The GFs learn skills when junctioned to a character and that character can then use those abilities, which can either be commands in battle (like Revive) or to boost her stats (like Mag 40%+, for example). Items can furthermore be used to teach GFs new abilities, rendering them, and therefore your characters, endlessly customizeable.
Though the Junction system is exactly why the game is disregarded by so many fans, it allows endless customization of your characters and, if you are smart and understand the system, they should be utter powerhouses by the end of the game.
The Junction system and the item refining system are the heart of the game, it isn't completely what makes it so great. First, the graphics and art direction for a PS1 game are astounding, and put most other contemporary RPGs to shame (especially FFVII). The world map is especially great, and though it may be barren, it is varied and has numerous points of interest. When you get your Ragnarok (essentially a jet plane/spaceship) you will enjoy flying around the world.
The sound is also superb. Many of the melodies match up even to some of the best songs in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, and though they do sound quite cheap and midi-ish now, they make the game feel more enjoaybly nostalgic.
Many people also find the story and characters great, but I have mixed feelings on it. Squall is a great main character, but I find his comrades to be little more than high school and gender stereotypes. Furthermore, the story, which involves time travel and sorceresses, to me feels a bit "out there" and it sort of tested my suspension of disbelief at times. Overall, it's good but I definitely didn't play it for the story like I play, say, Metal Gear Solid for.
Overall:
Story: 7/10: It has some great set pieces and Squall is a great main character, but the other characters are a bit uninteresting and the story tends to get too "out there", especially towards the end.
Graphics/Art Direction: 10/10: The character models and FMVs in this game absolutely dwarf those of FFVII, and the backgrounds, world map, etc. are all interesting and beautiful. Simply put, everything just looks good.
Sound/Music: 9/10: The songs sound sort of cheap by today's standards, but the melodies are all there. Also, the sound effects are very inspired.
Gameplay: 9/10: Like I said, I love the Junction system, but occasionally it can feel a bit cumbersome. The battle mechanics are just fine, though.
Replay Value/Level of Content: 10/10: There is simply A LOT to do in this game. From acquiring all of the GFs to getting all of the ultimate weapons to beating all of the Chocobo Forest this game has loads of content.
9/10
"Imperfect, yet still blissful"