Final Fantasy VIII
A revolutionary new Battle System has been created to add more customization to your characters by way of the Junction System. The latest features such as Dolby Surround Sound Pocket Station compatibility and CG movie integration have also been incorporated into this masterpiece making this title a showcase in technological game advancements.Format: PSX Genre: RPG (VG)/ Rating: T - Teen UPC: 662248999043 Manufacturer No: 9758
SquareSoft has always had a sure-fire hit when releasing any of their Final Fantasy titles, and Final Fantasy VIII should be no exception. The basis of a good RPG (role-playing game) has always been the story; spectacular graphics are secondary. Final Fantasy VIII's involved and interesting story line is filled with great twists, well-developed characters, suspense, and romance. As an added bonus, the graphics are beautiful. Everything--from the low-lit jazz club to the steam-filled railroad tunnels--is gorgeous and perfectly sets the mood and tone of a scene. The game mechanics are standard fare for an RPG: acquisition of items and spells, turn-based combat, experience points earned in combat allowing advances in levels. From exploration to battles to dialogue, Final Fantasy VIII has it all. However, Final Fantasy VIII falls to that great weakness of RPGs: random battles. While necessary for advancing in levels, the battles occur with such frequency that they can grow annoying, making for a tedious game experience. The epic storyline spans four discs--over 40 hours of gameplay--and is based around a mercenary cadet who finds himself caught up with an underground rebel faction. He winds up in a plot to assassinate the sorceress who has just seized power from the president. You could complain of limited replay value, but this gripe is of no consequence: the game is such a satisfying experience, it doesn't require replay. Final Fantasy VIII is easily worth both the hype and the wait. You can't buy a much better game. --John Cocking Pros: - A story to beat all stories
- Characters worth caring about
- Hey--it's from SquareSoft
- Stunning animations
Cons:- Too many random battles
- Combat is, as always, turn-based and offers minimal excitement
- Weak souls might give up after two or three discs of play
Final Fantasy VIII Accessories
 Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy VIII Official Strategy Guide
Final Fantasy Chronicles (Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy IV)
Final Fantasy Anthology
Final Fantasy X
Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy X-2
Sony Playstation Memory Card
Final Fantasy Origins Final Fantasy I & II Remastered Editions
Final Fantasy VIII Reviews
I have waited for this for a long time. No more used game store hassle. This game is what it is. You get no less than 1 Unscratched version of FF8.
I started playing it and the beginning was a little slow like most, but it picks up like crazy. Wow. This rpg is 4 disk long. Great overall. This is one of those rpgs where you have to pay attention to even the random battles.
You draw magic out of enemies to cast directly on enemies, or to equip as stat buffers. However, even though this game isn't FF7, it's an extremely good RPG that stands on its own merits. Be it exciting songs or mellow tunes, FF8 delivers. However, drawing magic over and over again and re-equiping it constantly (and also re-equiping GFs) can get rather tedious; that's what knocks the point off the score. So, there should be plenty features here to please everyone.
The characters are portrayed very well and you will become attached to them very quickly. Well, let's jump right into the review. I especially like the ability to pull the trigger on the gunblade using the R1 button; it adds a level of fun interactiveness to the battles. That means that power-leveling is no longer desirable.
Let's see, the first thing of note that comes to mind is the fact that enemies level up at the same rate as Squall. Another point of interest is that you eventually get a way to avoid random battles, which is awesome. Seriously, though, the characters are very well-developed. Characters (score 10/10): Who doesn't love Squall. This game really is awesome and I recommend it to all fans of RPGs. That means it had a lot of hype to live up to. This might be dissapointing to some, but I found it to be quite nice because the game isn't overly hard, and I didn't have to waste time power-leveling.
When I first heard the opening song (Liberi Fatali), I was blown away. The rest of the game's music doesn't dissapoint either. Everyone has a distinctive personality and a role to play in the story; no one feels like they were tacked on at the last minute just to increase the party size. I might have given this game a "8" instead of a "10" if I had reviewed it when I first bought it, but now that I've played so many different RPGs over the years I realize what a treasure I really have in FF8.
Plus he's an excellent case study in avoidant-attachment disorder. He's quite likeable in a grumpy anti-social sort of way. I suspect that's why some people will hate this game it just isn't FF7. I've played this game at least six times now over the years and I'm still not sick of it. Overall (score 10/10): NOTE this score is not an average, it's my subjective overall score. I was thoroughly engaged by it; it has just the right balance of character development and intriguing plot points to keep you entertained. It's fairly easy to learn this system. Other than that, the battle system is fine.
Battle System (score 9/10): Combat is turn-based like most Final Fantasies. It's one of my favorite games of all time (just as good as FF7, although my absolute favorite game is FF9). Another point is that there are plenty of mini-games and side-quests of sufficient variety available to enjoy (my favorite is the card game). I still find them pleasing to the eye. Ha ha.
Story (score 10/10): The story too is excellent. Of course, I'm not nearly as picky as some people, and obviously, I recognize that it's graphics are older now, but they were magnificent for their time. I actually went and bought the soundtrack, which I use to this day. Music (score 10/10): Wow. FF8 has the unfortunate curse of being the next in line after FF7.
Gameplay (score 10/10): This is a bit of a catch-all category for me. Graphics (score 10/10): The graphics were superb when this game came out, and are still excellent, in my opinion.
However, dispite it's short comings it still is a good game and more casual gamer friendly since extensive training isn't reqiured to defeat hard bosses. I would recommend this title to any hard core final fantasy fan or more the less active gamer. I had fun with this one, the story is a classical final fantasy (although the pacing is a bit fast)and the characters are memorable. P.S.Squall is hot. The combat system isn't as polished as most other final fantasy games and the magic system doesn't run on mp but the amount of spells you "draw" in it's a little akward and comstricting at times.
Story:. It does so and then some. But the best aspect of FFVIII is the Triple Triad - a card game that can be played after you obtained cards from various sources. There is also another key addition to FFVIII's arsenal. For instance, say you draw eight life spells from an enemy, you are then allowed to use the life spell eight times.to use it again you must draw out more life spells. In past Final Fantasies you would need to learn spells before being allowed to use them.in FFVIII, you can only use spells that you have drawn out of enemies. As ever, the graphics and sound are stunning, and when you consider that this game was released eight years ago for the PS1, you'll realize just how stunning they really are.
The rewards are minimal, but it is fun to play. Final Fantasy VIII introduces the gamer to GFs (Guardian Forces) GFs are VIII's version of summoning spells, but with one huge advancement - as the GFs advance in levels they learn abilities that can then be used by the character wielding it by ways of junctioning.these abilities range from finding hidden save points to eating monsters. You play by approaching NPCs and the rules vary depending where you are - each town has its own set of rules. Final Fantasy is famous for its battle system and in VIII that system shines.
Gameplay:. Weapons have also received a new feature.no longer are you required to find weapons.your weapons need to be upgraded by finding parts throughout the realm and applied to your starting weapon to become more powerful. Final Fantasy VIII does have a unique plot - almost bizarre at times - but the further you advance in the game the more the plot unfolds into what one expects from the series. Example: Junction eight life spells to your HP and your HP will receive a boost.
Graphic and sound:. So, was Final Fantasy VIII able to step out of its predecessor's shadow.
This is a great addition to the family that will keep even the most dedicated gamer busy for weeks. Final Thoughts:.
The star of this installment is Squall Leonhart, a student at Balamb Gardens, a military institution that trains people to become members of the internationally-revered mercenaries known as Seed. Let us take a closer look at the eighth installment in this best-selling series.
The game does take breaks from the main story as you play Laguna Loire, a soldier with ties to Squall and his companions. Spells can also be juntioned to your characters to boost stats.
Even today, nearly twelve years after its release, Final Fantasy VII still receives all the accolades.but Final Fantasy VIII does a tremendous job escaping the shadow of its predecessor. Following a legend is never easy.especially when that legend is considered by many to be the greatest RPG of all time.
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