Box Art
Game: Final Fantasy VIII
First Released: February 11, 1999, Playstation
Developers: Square
Platforms: Playstation, PC, Playstation Network
Rated: T, for Animated Violence, Mild Language, and Suggestive Themes
First Released: February 11, 1999, Playstation
Developers: Square
Platforms: Playstation, PC, Playstation Network
Rated: T, for Animated Violence, Mild Language, and Suggestive Themes
How I Came To Play This Game
Title Screen
I bought Final Fantasy VIII originally as a gift for my little brother, but I decided that since he already had Final Fantasy VII, that I should have it. Eventually I did buy Final Fantasy VII for myself, so I bought him a Final Fantasy VIII. My little brother was the first of us to play it through and he got stuck on the Lunatic Pandora. Like Final Fantasy VII, I thought this game was a bit overrated and not as difficult as people say it is. I beat
Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII on my first try and I thought he was easy.
Story
Diablos
Unfortunately, the story is too long and complex to fit on this page. Here is a link to a separate page with the story: http://sbishop005.weebly.com/final-fantasy-viii-story.html
Pros And Cons
Story
Wake Up Squall
The story of this game was a breather after playing Final Fantasy VII. It also did a good job at slowly revealing the past through flashbacks as the game progressed. Every turn in the game you couldn't put the controller down, you just had to see what was coming next.
Characters
Characters
It's very weird that there are only six permanently playable characters. That is small for the time of it's release. I always thought that there was one more I could get due to an empty slot, but that just wasn't true. The characters in this one are more believable since they look like real people. It's also interesting how many of them switch their opinions on certain matters. You'll have to play the game to understand them.
Gameplay
Drawing Magic
The gameplay was greatly changed in Final Fantasy VIII (FF8) from Final Fantasy VII (FF7). Like FF7, it used pre-determined backgrounds to make the areas of the game except the overworld. However, there were more screen changes, unlike FF7 where there were lots of paths that went all over a
single background. The battle screen has changed too. The previous blue bar present in FF4-7 was replaced by a gray block like the Nintendo DS remake of FF3. Also, characters were completely dependent on summons to become strong. FF8 completely dropped the Materia system for a junction system. Basically, you would equip a summon called Guardian Forces (GFs) to character and it would upgrade the characters stats. It would gain experience to move levels just like the player, and it could learn abilities by gaining AP. Those abilities could be used by the character it is equipped to. The most common abilities are junctions. Basically you would attach a spell to a stat and it would increase it. Certain kinds of spells were better for certain stats. Other abilities like HP pluses were also available. All GFs came with the Item, GF, Draw, and Magic commands. You could not cast magic, use items, or use summons without a GF. You were completely dependent on them. Instead of requiring more EXP to move each level, you would only need a 1000 exp points, but enemies will keep giving less experience. The enemies would also become stronger depending on your level. The magic system was remade too. There was no real magic in the game. You had to draw magic from enemies with the Draw command. don't like this because it makes magic just an item. Also, if you used spells that were junctioned to stats, they would decrease as the amount of the spell you had decreased. This system really didn't go over too well with me and took time to master. What I thought was funny, was that I thought the final boss was easy just like in FF7. I kept using Aura Stones on Squall and kept using his Limit Break Renzokuken to kill her.
Graphics
Renzokuken
The graphics are much better in this game than Final Fantasy VII. The characters actually look like real people. Also, there are more FMV cutscenes than before. What's weird, is that sometimes you can actually move your characters during the cutscenes. It gives it an odd feeling.
Music
The music was pretty good in Final Fantasy VIII. Like Final Fantasy II, it took a while to get used too, but it was worth the wait. The wild and boss battle musics are good. I am still disappointed that the victory theme has replaced the second part with a different tune. I do like the one in this one better than Final Fantasy VII though. However in this one, there is
absolutely no full version of the victory fanfare. They also managed to make another Japanese singing song Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec that rivals One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII.
Releases
Box Art
Final Fantasy VIII was only released on the Playstation, PC, and Playstation Network. Not much choice of consoles huh? It was released in the United States on the Playstation in 1999. It was released for the PC in two months later. It was released for the Playstation Network in 2009. A PC re-release is also in the works for a future release, probably with updates.
My Rating
I give this game a 10/10. The junction system needed some improvement, but the story and graphics were enough to keep you hooked.