Well I realized, the two aren't comparable. They may follow the same characters, and have the same setting, but the stories are very different. While FMAB follows the Elrics all around their nation, to north reaches and the depths of the desert, this series focuses more on the background of the characters. Most notably, the Homunculi: pseudo-humans that lack a soul. This series delves into their origins, which gave me a greater appreciation for their motives, such as their hatred of humanity and desire for the Stone. The ending of the two shows were also worlds apart, so in my opinion, comparing FMA to FMAB is like comparing apples and oranges.
I gotta say, both intro songs were some of the most hype anime songs. Always supplemented the mood. I gotta admit, I actually never listened to the closing themes because I was always so eager to get to the next episode. I may or may not have spent several nights up till 4am, hooked on the Elrics' adventures.
Characters, while largely the same between shows, display more depth in this version of the series: the Homunculi, Izumi, Armstrong, Hughes, and others play a bigger role and are more fleshed out. The main antagonist also makes more sense than in FMAB plotwise. The only people I felt who was weaker in this version was Mustang, and sort of Scar, but the other characters you gain make up for it.
Like I said, many late nights suggests that I loved this show. I watched it a year after I watched FMAB, and I think they are both great. While people may prefer one over the other, both are definitely worth watching
