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Happy 27th To Final Fantasy VIII

Darkmakaimura

Darkmakaimura

Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
I just want to wish FINAL FANTASY VIII a happy 27th birthday. To me this is still one of the best Final Fantasy games, if not the best. I have fond memories of this game and I loved a lot of the dungeons and designs. It was also the first Final Fantasy to have realistic characters as opposed to the more cartoony direction the previous games had.

Anyways, happy birthday Squall and all.

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Darkmakaimura said:
Yeah it got a lot of hate I think. I feel it was unwanted.
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I do get why though, the battle system is different but if you know how the battle system works and how everything is tied to the GF that are each equipped to different characters, I found I had a much easier time once I fully understood that mechanic

Wasn't a fan of enemies leveling up with you. But by the time I got all the GF and getting all their abilities maxed out is when I was around level 40 to 50. It was a unique battle system
 
NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt said:
I do get why though, the battle system is different but if you know how the battle system works and how everything is tied to the GF that are each equipped to different characters, I found I had a much easier time once I fully understood that mechanic

Wasn't a fan of enemies leveling up with you. But by the time I got all the GF and getting all their abilities maxed out is when I was around level 40 to 50. It was a unique battle system
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I just couldn't stand how indecisive Squall was and I nope'd out at the beginning of disc 3 when I hit a bit of a difficulty wall.
 
most underrated ff game

I still remember renting it thinking it'd be a piece of crap and I played it nonstop through the end.
 
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My very first FF was FFX and that was a real masterpiece and always will be to me on a personal level. I never played FF8 so I have no opinion but I did hear it's somewhat of a divisive game among fans.
 
NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt said:
Squall does grow as a character though, yes he comes off as annoying indecisive jerk but he ended up having some good character development by the end
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So I've heard, but I gave it the old college try. He'd be my least favorite FF main character if it weren't for Tidus. Speaking of that, I'm not sure what is a worse concept, gunblades or underwater soccer.
 
bender said:
So I've heard, but I gave it the old college try. He'd be my least favorite FF main character if it weren't for Tidus. Speaking of that, I'm not sure what is a worse concept, gunblades or underwater soccer.
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That's a understandable sentiment

As for Blitzball in Final Fantasy 10, that's the only side quest I never did in that game. I loved Final Fantasy 10 and did most of the side content. I never finished the dodging thunderbolts challange and that stupid Chocobo Racing minigame.
 
My first proper introduction to the Final Fantasy franchise. Such a great game with some weird experimental gameplay mechanics that they never brought back again.

I really wish this gets a FFIX Moguri Mod style fan mod. The official 'remaster' takes the PS1 240p backgrounds and smears it with dollops of vaseline.
 
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NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt said:
I do get why though, the battle system is different but if you know how the battle system works and how everything is tied to the GF that are each equipped to different characters, I found I had a much easier time once I fully understood that mechanic

Wasn't a fan of enemies leveling up with you. But by the time I got all the GF and getting all their abilities maxed out is when I was around level 40 to 50. It was a unique battle system
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What kills it for me is that to min/max the game you have to not level up. I don't like that kind of mechanic in RPGs.
 
Rentahamster said:
What kills it for me is that to min/max the game you have to not level up. I don't like that kind of mechanic in RPGs.
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Level scaling sucks

I still love this game. Was playing the remaster with a bunch of mods on steam deck and stopped just before Disc 4 because I don't want to finish it again.
 
I was so excited for VIII. Back when it came out I had a Dreamcast at launch with Soul Calibur. I got so caught up with the music and the world of Final Fantasy VIII. Squall visiting the fire temple, fighting a t-Rex, and then driving in a car. My parents asked me why I wasn't playing my Dreamcast.

It's funny how there's so much hatred for it. I get it, it could have been so much better considering VII had a way better combat system and IX was even better.

That was back when Final Fantasy mattered. We get stuff like XIII-XVI and all it is, is a divided fanbase. I went from being a fanboy to skipping dialogue just to get to the final boss of XVI. It kinda went to 💩 without Sakaguchi at the helm. It lost a lot of its magic cause I still get that incredible feeling going back to Remastered and the Pixelated versions. Goes to show when you'd rather celebrate FF8's anniversary in Japan as well as the final entry into FF7 than get excited about a brand new Final Fantasy.
 
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cartman414 said:
Yeah. That and you either wrestle with the junctioning mechanic or totally bust it. No in-between.
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Loomy said:
Level scaling sucks

I still love this game. Was playing the remaster with a bunch of mods on steam deck and stopped just before Disc 4 because I don't want to finish it again.
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If they do a FF8 Remake I hope that gets adjusted. If they do a real time hybrid combat system like FF7R and standard leveling mechanics, I think that would work well.
 
Just finished a run a couple of weeks ago. Wonderful game, with possibly my favourite ending in the series.

It's a blast to play, I don't think there's anything else out there which lets you grind/farm as creatively, or potentially godmode break the game as early as FFVIII. Just incredibly satisfying to build your characters/GFs and watch them bully the game. Beautiful visuals, phenomenal OST. So many cool secrets, so many memorable moments, I could jump back in right now honestly. I really wish they'd go back and reuse some ideas from VIII for a new game.

NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt said:
Underrated
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Absolutely

Ozzie666 said:
8 > 9
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Well duh
 
My Franchise loyalty is mostly owed to FFVIII
you could say FFVIII had my curiosity, and FFVIII had my attention.
Unfortunately only X came close again 😞
 
Fantastic game. I struggled like probably everyone else with the Junction system and the level scaling, and still managed to beat the game. Then I read a FAQ explaining how things should really be done and wow, I was OP through the whole game. Incredible how it allows you to just break it so early and completely.

And Squall does have one or the best character evolutions of all FF. Tidus and Zidane start out as brash, irresponsible teens, and at the end of the game they're still much the same, save for a few more scars and a lot of shit under their belt. Squall starts out as a brash, irresponsible, selfish, introvert teen, and by the end of the game he's the true leader of his team, cool and way more mature.
Great intro, great ending, great music, great graphics, great characters.
 
The first time I read about FFVIII was in 1998 CVG. The screenshots looked great.

But this game was an event. My friend called me, as he had found a JP iso of FFVIII. Should've been around Feb 1999. I rushed there, we just wanted to see the intro, the graphics and things. That intro blew us away. We ran around Balamb a bit, understanding nothing ofcourse.

Then I read many previews in EGM, Gamepro et al. I couldn't wait. Finally I got an english copy, I think a few weeks before the US release. That same dude had it. I loved it but found it very unbalanced, why did bosses one shot me? I eventually couldn't get further. The reason? I didn't understand junction and just abused magic as well.

I bought the game proper and restarted. The tutorials are there, but they are probably not clear enough for many. I beat it a few times, getting everything.

Its the PS4 Remaster I decided to break. I went for a disc 1 lionheart and I went drawing and refining magic from minute zero to get early sick junctions. I also kind of avoided leveling up. And I beat Omega Weapon legit, without hero drinks or The End. And Lionheart didn't even proc lol. It still felt great. This game is absolutely awesome and probably my 2nd best FF game after XII.
 
Best FF game (with V for the 2D games).

The game is a ton of fun. You can do so many things in how you tackle the game. I use Mad Rush a lot, and never summon any G-Force. The Junction system coupled with the G-Forces learning skills was amazing. Stealing the spells is a chore though.

Then you get the setting, which is brilliant and depicts a believable world, with large cities, where the stakes actually make sense. Unlike FF VII where the world is basically empty outside of Midgar.

The sound track is the best work from Uematsu, and an incredible step up from VII on PS1, with much better quality sounds, and much better compositions.

World design, character design and enemy design are as good as it got for the series.

And on top of this, as if it wasn't already good enough, you get Triple Triad.

One super annoying thing is the fact that the game shuffles or removes all your G-Force and junctions when you move between Squall and Laguna.
 
cireza said:
Best FF game (with V for the 2D games).

The game is a ton of fun. You can do so many things in how you tackle the game. I use Mad Rush a lot, and never summon any G-Force. The Junction system coupled with the G-Forces learning skills was amazing. Stealing the spells is a chore though.

Then you get the setting, which is brilliant and depicts a believable world, with large cities, where the stakes actually make sense. Unlike FF VII where the world is basically empty outside of Midgar.

The sound track is the best work from Uematsu, and an incredible step up from VII on PS1, with much better quality sounds, and much better compositions.

World design, character design and enemy design are as good as it got for the series.

And on top of this, as if it wasn't already good enough, you get Triple Triad.

One super annoying thing is the fact that the game shuffles or removes all your G-Force and junctions when you move between Squall and Laguna.
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FFVIII probably has the best world map. You can use cars and they use gasoline, even. But its just for convenience. The roads prevent encounters anyhow. There are sidequests on the world map itself, like the alien and the lake. The entirety of Shumi village is optional (like Wutai, granted). The myriad of hidden GF blew my mind, such as Tonberry (a secret in a secret).

Balamb Village looks great. As does Deling City. And Timber. Esthar too but I felt the game itself went a bit downhill from there. However, that last dungeon, it might be the best in any FF ever.

Drawing isn't that bad. I think with high spirit you draw like a dozen each time. But its all in Refine abilities. A lot of those items convert to 100 magics. Its just great to make OP loadouts.
 
Easily my favourite FF growing up. Everyone around me always bums 7, but 8 just spoke to me. I know it has its flaws but I love it all the same. The characters were great, the story captured me. The soundtrack is godtier.
Story does hit a few snags that could use reiterating in a remake (the "everyone grew up together but just forgot because GFs except for Irvine but he didnt say anything because...reasons?" especially) and introduce Ultimecia much earlier.

So yeah, I love it and I'd give anything for a remake in the style of the FF7 one, Gunblade combat in that battle system? Yes fuckin' please. But deep down I know it won't happen because dumdums couldn't handle the junction system.
 
It's great. Even better with the ragnarok mod that does a good job of fixing the junction system and adding some content. And also adding some much needed challenge. No more carding endgame items!
 
cireza said:
Best FF game (with V for the 2D games).

The game is a ton of fun. You can do so many things in how you tackle the game. I use Mad Rush a lot, and never summon any G-Force. The Junction system coupled with the G-Forces learning skills was amazing. Stealing the spells is a chore though.

Then you get the setting, which is brilliant and depicts a believable world, with large cities, where the stakes actually make sense. Unlike FF VII where the world is basically empty outside of Midgar.

The sound track is the best work from Uematsu, and an incredible step up from VII on PS1, with much better quality sounds, and much better compositions.

World design, character design and enemy design are as good as it got for the series.

And on top of this, as if it wasn't already good enough, you get Triple Triad.

One super annoying thing is the fact that the game shuffles or removes all your G-Force and junctions when you move between Squall and Laguna.
Click to expand...
It really is an amazing game, there is nothing I don't love about the game. Especially running around Balamb Garden is always nostalgic and calming. And playing Triple Triad hours on end, never gets old.
 
After completing ff7 with an english dictionary on my side, i was so happy they traduced ff8 in italian language, too bad the game wasn't nearly as good but i was little so i still enjoyed the edgy characters and updated production values over 7.


Junction stuff was terrible tho.

It was a decent appetizer waiting for ff9.
 
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Have a lot of nostalgia for this.

Has flaws (junction, exp scaling), but even a flawed FF in its prime is a great game.
Would love to see a version with those issues swapped out.

Phenomenal soundtrack (as expected from Oematsu)
 
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Valt7786 said:
Easily my favourite FF growing up. Everyone around me always bums 7, but 8 just spoke to me. I know it has its flaws but I love it all the same. The characters were great, the story captured me. The soundtrack is godtier.
Story does hit a few snags that could use reiterating in a remake (the "everyone grew up together but just forgot because GFs except for Irvine but he didnt say anything because...reasons?" especially) and introduce Ultimecia much earlier.

So yeah, I love it and I'd give anything for a remake in the style of the FF7 one, Gunblade combat in that battle system? Yes fuckin' please. But deep down I know it won't happen because dumdums couldn't handle the junction system.
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Irvine being the sole one with memories is just there because he is the sharpshooter. He remembered the target full well while his comrades didn't. The shot was blocked anyway.
 
The single Final Fantasy game that seperates the wheat from the chaff. It is just the best and most stylish out of them all.
The soundtrack is so good it is too good for a final fantasy game and final fantasy games have the best soundtrack.
People who dislike VIII are CoD players.
 
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