Game of the Week: Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy VIII is GamingSurvival.com's "Game of the Week". Final Fantasy VIII was released for the Playstation in 1999. This entry in the renowned RPG series courted controversy, and continues to do so. It seems to play with the foundations of how a Final Fantasy game should work, perhaps a push too far in an attempt to be original. This has led the title to be both loved and hated in equal measure. Let’s take a closer look at just what has resulted in this divided opinion. - Chris Littlechild

[Chrono]

My fav. Final Fantasy.

[PSVITAlitysensor]

Final Fantasy VI was the best game in the series...

[torchic]

good for you. thank you for sharing your opinion, even though it has nothing to do with the article or comment.

[ritsuka666]

Final Fantasy IV had it all. ... what is now considered not only one of the best Final Fantasy games, but also one of the finest RPG in gaming history.Anyway,old Final Fantasy feel .... have been much better than this crap new games.

[Lulz_Boat]

FF VII is the best.

FF VIII IX and X are good too.

too bad XII and XIII sucks hard.

[Smashbro29]

I'm no FF expert but wasn't this one notoriously bad?

[dylandurden]

More like, notoriously hated. But it's an effing masterpiece if there ever was one.

[Smashbro29]

Now I got all disagreed! I said I'm not sure! Jeez..

[knifefight]

@Smashbro29

Asking questions gets you disagrees on N4G.
People think asking a question is the same as expressing an opinion on the subject. They're stupid like that, so they give you disagrees for stuff instead of just answer your question.

[Chrono]

Not bad, but it is hated by some fanboys because it uses different mechanics.

[VanillaBear]

So true

Not to mention the fact that it was also hated because it wasn't FF7 and it in fact did things better then FF7 aswell in terms of plot, character development and game mechanics.

[forevercloud3000]

and said mechanics were severely broken, making the game completely master-able before you even leave Garden Territory. FFVIII is hated on for some good reasons. Not to mention Squall is sort of a narcissistic ass hole AND the supposed best love story in the FF series actually seems like pure hatred until all of a sudden her life is in danger and something clicks in Squalls head that he secretly loves her. Juvenile but believable I suppose, not mind blowing tho.

I personally used to hate this game with an unbridled passion but I have learned to love certain aspects. The combat is enjoyable but like I said, broken(Squall can NEVER miss, doing 9999 damage by second mission, spamming draws and junctioning,etc). Story is a bit convoluted as well but certain things about it are pure genius(rinoa x ultimecia paradox).

I must have played the first disc a million times, I get bored shortly after leaving and then just start over again. I will say tho, best Intro Movie in the series :)

[VanillaBear]

@forevercloud3000

I was going to agrue since most of what you have said is BS.....like being "master able", yeah if you work your arse off but then again thats your choice as a player not the games fault or Squall being an arsehole when again like many others your just judging him on the character we meet at the beginging of the game, but since your an obvious FF7 fan Im not even going to bother.

The fact your name is "forevercloud3000" makes sense that your hate FF8 and prooves Chronos point. Your a FF7 fanboy and your hate FF8.....so obvious

The hate isn't deserved, FF13s hate is deserved, FF8 apparent hate just comes from the people who were new to FF, fell in love with FF7 and expected FF8 to be the sequel of 7, even though each game is a new story.

[Nerdmaster]

Yes, it is. Bad story and terrible plot twist, bad characters and character development, bad magic system, bad "enemies level with you" system... Even the opening CG was bad (it was visually stunning, but had spoilers and didn't make much sense, much more a trailer than an opening scene). But the graphics were good for its time.

[Hicken]

That entire comment is utterly ridiculous. VIII had arguably one of the best stories. The "plot twist" is better than VII's, at the least. The characters and their development are among the best in the series, especially Squall's. The magic system was perfectly fine. The enemies didn't level with you: you could be level 99 on disc 1, and the stuff you fought would be the same level as when you were level 10. And the opening CG is still one of the best openings in gaming, setting the tone for the game and giving you some key information before you even needed it.

Essentially, it's apparent that you don't know what you're talking about. I'll bet VII is your favorite, and like so many others, you hate VIII cuz it's not VII.

[Nerdmaster]

@Hicken

Every VIII fanboy say that Squall development is exemplary. It isn't. Just because he started as an ass and ended as a "hero" doesn't make it a good character development. He stays the same all the game and almost in the end it's like "oh, I think the game is ending and I can't finish it like this. I have an idea! I'll change completely in 3... 2... 1...".

Want to see a good character development? Play X. Tidus starts as a whiny teenager who just wants to go home. Then we can see him change throughout the game, learning about his reality, the sacrifices the summoners have to make, and in the end, [SPOILERS] when Yuna says that she loves him, it feels real and natural, not something forced like Squall and Rinoa (what's ironic is that they are in the logo, but it's one of the worst romances in all FF games) [/SPOILERS]. In other words, we can see him changing, differente from Squall, who until the end keeps his "whatever - I don't care" attitude and suddenly becomes another person.

And.. are you sure you played the game? Everybody knows the enemies level with you on VIII (and it was so bad that it was never used anymore). If you were level 99, your enemies would also be level 99. It's not what I think it is, it's really how the game is. Go find a FAQ about it, ok?

And you missed by miles. VII is another terrible game.

[VanillaBear]

Squalls character is good.....it's nothing about being a FF8 fanboy, it's good if you've played the game and learn about his character through the flasbacks and converstations in the game.

Rinoa are Squall are more real then Yuna and Tidus, at least theres a build up with Squall and Rinoa, they don't just get right into it, Rinoa has to break down Squalls character which is part of the reason how he changes into this self lonely jerk to this brave heroic leader. It's the reason why the kiss at the very end of the game is so satisfying.

So yeah...it's good character development....get over it.

[Nerdmaster]

Wow, that must be the most forced way I ever saw anybody trying to make Squall and Rinoa's "romance" make any sense. Too bad that the "build up", "break down Squalls character" and whatnot aren't real. He demonstrates no love at all for Rinoa and then suddenly in space at almost the end of the game, he decides he cares for her. Yeah, really good build up.

People who defend FFVIII loves to say "Squall had reasons to be a jerk like that". Ok. Does it change the fact that he was a jerk for the whole damn game and changed suddenly in the end? No.

[iMpuTeD]

yup this was easily my fav ff. the opening fmv in this game is hands down the most epic one ever. it gives me chills everytime i see it and hear it.

[Canary]

Isn't there a statute of limitations for these things? Like, I don't know, "plus or minus one week?"

[SandwichHammock]

The only bad thing I can say about this game is how you find items like weapon magazines and the like. You have to run all over the place spamming X. Unless of course you a strategy guide kind of gamer.

Cheers.

[franwex]

We are still talking about this piece of shit?
Troll comment over!

[TheUnbiasedLion]

I think the people who call squall emp or w.e are poor readers of stories. If you played the game you would understand why he was like that.

I love this game for it's story and gameplay.

[izumo_lee]

The bad rap this game gets is because it got the unfortunate duty of following arguably the most popular final fantasy game.

Fans need to play FF8 as its own game rather than comparing it to other FF games. If you do that you will be surprised on how deep & mature this game is. Like Final Fantasy Type-0 this is about kids involved in a war. The story deals with mature aspects that at the time was different for a final fantasy game.

The junction system added alot of customization, the draw system was weird and can use some time to get use to it. This game was also the precursor to FF 13 where normal monsters can take forever to kill.

Finally as for Squall his character growth is probably the most deep of all the Final Fantasy characters. He starts out very closed,secluded and a loner. Meeting Rinoa & the journey he is involved in opens his emotions up to actually care for friends and most of all himself. I compare him to Cecil where they both grow (learning from past mistakes) during their journey to become full fledged 'heroes' at the end of the game.

Final Fantasy 8 is a game that gets a bad rap for all the wrong reasons just cause it was the follow up to FF7. It is a game worthy of the Final Fantasy name & deserves better recognition cause it is a fantastic game.