FINAL FANTASY VIII

Final Fantasy VIII is a strange, disorienting game. It leans a lot more heavily into what FFVII was going for with its more futuristic approach to its world. But in terms of character writing and combat, it’s quite different, in some ways for the better, and other ways for the worse. The game is very easy to break thanks to the junction system. I think this is just a common fact about the game. The junction system is heavily debated amongst fans as to whether it’s any good or not. I personally think it’s cool. The game just does a very poor job of explaining the system. It’s an interesting way to gain stats, use summons and magic, and overall, a cool way to enable character growth instead of relying mostly on levels or equipment. Hell, it’s best if you have as few levels in the game as possible because of how the overall level scaling in the game works. It makes for one of the most unique systems in the series and even in JRPGs from the 90s. I think the system was quite influential, as was FFVIII in general. I’ve always liked Final Fantasy games' gameplay for the pre-planning aspect, how much freedom or how many interesting choices the game gives me to build the characters and overall team before a fight. Rather than the actual combat itself, which I still greatly enjoy since it displays the quality of my character/team building. And FFVIII had a neat system for me to mess around with. As previously mentioned, the game is very easy to break, even if you aren’t aware of the known ways to break it, you kinda just find them as you play. If you pay attention to the world, GF abilities, and how to use them, you should easily be able to come up with a way to break it. And I like this. I tend to like JRPGs that let me break their systems if I understand them well enough. You can still play the game like a typical JRPG, but it just isn’t as fun that way because the encounters in the game range from average to pretty good. I wanna talk a bit about Triple Triad, a card minigame that feels like crack cocaine. At first, I just played a bunch of it because I found it incredibly fun. It’s very simple but has tons of depth, making it very easy to lose track of time as you play games of it. But I also noticed how it interacts with some of the GF abilities you can acquire. Namely, being able to turn cards from the game into spells and items in the game. Making it one of the ways you can absolutely break the combat of the game. The rewards have such a large impact on the general combat and party building that it’s very hard not to play it a bunch during your playthrough. Usually, though, what I care about the most in a Final Fantasy are the characters and world. And this is where the game became a bit of a mixed bag for me. Squall was generally unlikable in the first 2 discs, which makes sense from a story perspective, but it made for a dull protagonist for most of the game. When he goes through a majority of his character arc and has an attitude change, he’s fine, but still one of the least memorable FF leads. Which kinda sucks because he has an awesome character design. On the other side of the spectrum, Zell is pretty hard not to like. He’s one of those super happy go lucky energetic characters that we see in JRPGs pretty often and I’m a sucker for them personally so I liked Zell. Seifer is kinda just a weirdo that made me laugh a lot when he’s around. He’s like one of those 10 year old relatives you might know who thinks they’re hot shit and cool but comes off to adults as super goofy and childish. He isn’t around much though which sucks, and led to me forgetting he’s a part of the story many times. Selphie, Quistis, and Irvine are kinda just there, I don’t mind them, but they don’t do anything for me as characters. Rinoa’s pretty good, though, and she might be my favourite character in the game next to Zell. And the main antagonist is pretty horrifying, and in terms of lore and overall story, is great. But they are very, very lacking as a character. I don’t mind this too much, honestly, since I found their presence to be a good enough driving force, but there's some untapped potential here. The romance in the story was a mixed bag for me. I’m a fan of Rinoa and Squall and was rooting for them, but they didn’t give me enough of them being close together, and the pacing is pretty bad. It almost felt like it went from them not being close to them being really close. Lacking a natural buildup when it comes to character relationships, especially love, can be detrimental to how I feel about characters by the end. And that kinda happened here. The next 2 games did a much better job at giving us a more natural love story. I found the overall story to be pretty lacking, but there are moments I found great, like when you get the airship in the game. A very important part of an FF story at this point in the series, and the way it was done here was very cool. The Laguna flashbacks were also some of my favourite story segments in the game. I quite liked Laguna, and while the flashbacks didn’t connect with the main story as well as I hoped, it was still a cool way of trying to tell the story, and I could see what they were trying to do. The main issue I had with the story was the pacing; sometimes it felt like we were speeding through it, which led to underdeveloped characters and a bad execution of events. Other times, it would have huge exposition dumps, which were written in a very convoluted way, making it read very poorly. I do like the ending sequence quite a lot, though. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, from making me disturbed to depressed to kinda confused but happy all in like 20 minutes. It’s stuck with me for the past week. It was probably cus Zell finally got to demolish a plate of hot dogs. The side quests and the world were fine. I like some of them, like the one with Zell and the library girl. I do wish the world were more interesting, though; it’s got some cool and weird stuff in it that I liked, like the UFO and Obel Lake. But something about it didn't give me the same wonder and fascination that many of the other FF worlds do. The areas and atmosphere are really nice, though. I enjoyed most of them, and the way the areas meshed with the music made for a magical experience. I especially love the atmosphere of the game after disc 1, where it feels dreamy and disorienting. The dungeon design is fairly simple, though, and so I found it lacking many times. Of course, the music is fantastic, possibly one of the best by this point in the series. It’s got a militaristic sound to reflect the early narrative of the game, but it has a lot of the classic wonder and magic heard in the previous games as well. And the melodies are just so nice to listen to, making exploring areas a lot more memorable. The final boss theme is hands down one of the best in the series. Lastly, graphically, the game looks good. It’s a huge step up from FFVII in terms of character models. And the overall art direction and pre-rendered backgrounds look amazing. The only thing that’s lacking is the character faces; some of them look fine, like Zell’s, but most of them look wonky or wrong. I felt Rinoa’s face looked the worst since it looks nothing like her character art or FMV model. I honestly didn’t expect to find so much to love in Final Fantasy VIII; it’s got a very unique gameplay system in the series, a very memorable atmosphere, and an amazing soundtrack. But it does fall flat with many things, such as its characters, its pacing, and the story in general. I honestly think this is the game in the series that could get the most out of a remake. It felt like they couldn’t quite capture what they wanted to with the time and technology limits they had, which led to some poor execution of some great ideas. I know I’d personally love to see a remake of this much more than FFIX just because that game did exactly what it wanted to and to full effect. 7/10 full review: https://bckl.gg

Final Fantasy VIII is one of the most distinctive and experimental games in the legendary series. It took a daring leap away from medieval fantasy toward a modern, almost futuristic world, layered with complex character relationships and an innovative, if sometimes divisive, gameplay system. Whether you love it or find it perplexing, FFVIII offers a rich narrative and gameplay experience that rewards patience and attention. At its core, FFVIII is a coming-of-age story wrapped in espionage, time manipulation, and mystical conspiracies. You follow Squall Leonhart, a brooding and reluctant mercenary student at the military academy Balamb Garden, as he and his comrades face off against the sorceress Ultimecia, who seeks to compress time and reshape reality. Unlike other Final Fantasy games, VIII places a heavy emphasis on the evolving relationships between characters, especially the romance between Squall and Rinoa. The story can feel dense and occasionally cryptic, but its themes of fate, memory, and personal growth give it emotional weight. The game’s Junction system is its most defining mechanic—players “junction” magic spells to stats to boost attributes and learn new abilities. This offers deep customization but can be intimidating and grind-heavy for newcomers. The Draw system replaces traditional MP with stockpiled magic, turning battles into a resource management challenge. This, combined with the active time battle system, encourages strategic planning. Limit Breaks and Guardian Forces (summons) add flashy, cinematic moments to combat. However, some players find the leveling system overly complex and the reliance on drawing spells repetitive. FFVIII showcases pre-rendered backgrounds and realistic character models that were cutting-edge at the time. The aesthetic blends modern military tech with fantasy, crafting unique locales from high-tech cities to mystical forests. The soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu is haunting and evocative, with tracks like “Eyes on Me” (the series’ first vocal theme) and “Liberi Fatali” becoming instantly iconic. The music beautifully supports the game’s romantic and epic tones. Squall’s stoic, introverted persona contrasts with the more outgoing cast, offering a refreshing dynamic. The character development focuses on emotional growth and connection, especially through Squall’s journey from isolation to opening up. While some characters shine—Rinoa’s warmth, Zell’s energy, Quistis’ complexity—others can feel underdeveloped or archetypal. Nonetheless, their interactions and evolving relationships form the heart of the experience. Final Fantasy VIII is a game that dares to be different. Its narrative ambition and gameplay innovation won’t appeal to everyone, but for those willing to engage with its systems and story, it offers a deeply rewarding and memorable journey. It may lack the straightforward charm of its predecessors, but its emotional depth and unique style have earned it a passionate fanbase and a lasting place in Final Fantasy history. Verdict: A bold and ambitious RPG that explores love, fate, and identity with innovative mechanics and memorable music—sometimes polarizing, always fascinating. Pros: -Deep and flexible Junction system for customization -Strong focus on character relationships and romance -Beautiful soundtrack with iconic vocal theme -Stunning visuals for its era Cons: -Junction system can be grind-heavy and confusing - Story can be convoluted and slow-paced - Some characters feel less fleshed out -Draw mechanic may feel tedious Rating: 8/10

If you want to play the best looking and sounding version of this game on your Steam Deck, just install DuckStation and play the PS1 version.

I think I love Final Fantasy VIII. This game is one of the black sheep of the Final Fantasy franchise, and it's not difficult to see why. Its progression system is weird and unintuitive, its story is difficult to parse, its main character is abrasive, and its aesthetic is a far cry from anything the franchise attempted before or after. Indeed, FF8 seems to be one of the more disliked entries in the franchise, often overlooked between its direct predecessor and successor. Needless to say, I began the game with very low expectations - more out of curiosity than anything else - but I was quickly shocked to discover that not only is Final Fantasy VIII captivating for its faults, it's also one of the most compelling narratives I've encountered in a video game, with an incredibly well-realized cast of characters that have gone on to become one of my favourites in the franchise. The main character, Squall, is moody and unlikeable at first, but throughout the story he begins to unravel, becoming both relatable and sympathetic through his relationship with his fellow mercenaries and especially Rinoa, his love interest. The result is one of the more emotional stories told in the franchise, along with Final Fantasies X and XVI. The world FF8 takes place in is also deeply intriguing, with a fully laid-out history and lore that makes the story engaging even during downtimes in the plot of the game itself. Said plot is often contrived, and would greatly benefit from many minor edits, but it is more than made up for by its visuals, which slowly ramp up from impressive and modern to shocking and avant-garde. The original soundtrack of Final Fantasy VIII has quickly made its way up my video game music ranking to a spot near the top with its modern take on fantastical orchestra. Though perhaps not as iconic as other soundtracks in the FF series, I find it to be far more interesting to listen to than most of the others, and can see myself listening to it well into the future. All told, I think Final Fantasy VIII is an incredibly underrated masterpiece, and though it hasn't aged very well, anybody comfortable with playing PS1 RPGs should absolutely give this one a shot. 8.5/10.

It's a great game, I've played it many times and I have owned it on multiple systems, but I'm not making and logging into a SquareEnix account to play a 26 year old single player game. I don't care that it's got remote play on tablet and phone, that should be optional. Refunded within 10mins. Big thanks to the guy in the reviews that reminded me about Duckstation.

Classic FF, excellent game plenty of time spent on this over the years. Unlike the so called "Remaster" this does allow wide screen and does not glitch.

It is certainly one of the more technical Final Fantasy games in the series and often misunderstood in many ways, even by those that claim to have mastered it.

Wanted to play this game, but it makes you sign into your Square Enix account which I haven't used in years. I tried to recover it, but it wants my birth date, security question, and one time password (token generator?). This is too much work to try to play an old game. I'm returning it.

3 of my 4 hours of playtime were repeating the early game tower boss-fight over and over after following guides to fix the crash that is apparently 100% guaranteed to happen there.

After Many years Ive managed to complete this game on stream without leveling up. My point still stands, great beggining of a story, bad turn out of events by the end. The game should had ended with the Battle of the gardens... Instead we were rushed towards a story that was incomplete due a lot of the Story involving Laguna missing from the game. Release the Laguna game!!

26 hours... that's quite a lot of time to invest in something, I think. If there was anything truly redeemable about a game that so many people have hailed as a masterpiece, you'd think you would have found it by 26 hours. But you tell me what I'm supposed to do after the onset of the worst plot twist in video game history (amnesia!!!! waow!!!!!!!) at the halfway point of an unending story when every facet of the game I've experienced so far has made me want to bash my skull in with two bricks. I can't fathom how anybody who isn't just nostalgic can tolerate this thing at all, because it has nothing to offer for people who have played a game before. For context: I am a new fan of the franchise. I love FFVII, and its remakes. I've liked the pixel remasters of the classics I've gotten to so far. I like Crisis Core, and FFXIII. I'm really liking FFX. I even enjoyed FFII, the one everybody and their mother hates. But christ alive, even the dumbest mechanics in FFII pale in comparison to how stupidly put together this game is. The first Final Fantasy barely had a story and it was still better-written than VIII. All 26 hours have subjected me to some of the most excruciatingly awful dialogue of any game I have ever played. And there's only so much of this that can be blamed on poor translation. Every character interaction sucks. Every character decision is bafflingly stupid. Seifer nicknaming Zell "chicken wuss" was some shit straight out of Disney Junior. Watching the stupid way the sorceress assassination plot fall apart at the end of disk 1 made me want to punch somebody in the face. And don't even get me started on the Laguna flashbacks. I hate that man and every word he says so much you can't even fathom. Call me a stickler, but as a writer myself I tend to believe that when you're writing characters talking to each other and making decisions, they should at the very least *make sense*. Nobody got that memo to the FFVIII team apparently, because they try to force tension and conflict into as many places as they can, and it absolutely never lands. The only moment that almost made me feel like they had done something was the final scene of disk 1 where it looked like Squall had gotten killed by the sorceress. That would have been a genuinely bold moment for them, even if he was brought back to life later on or something. But no, they copped out of it like bumbling cowards immediately when the story resumed. Time and again the story teases you with something possibly profound, and then wets its pants and runs right back to its comfort zone. Squall got killed! No he didn't. Seifer got executed! No he didn't. Balamb Garden is gonna get attacked! No it isn't. Trabia Garden got destroyed by the missile attack! But everybody's fine and Selphie is cool about it. No balls at all. NOTHING EVER MATTERS. And god, God Almighty, I hate the combat so much. Whoever's idea the junction and guardian force system was should be stuffed into a locker and/or swirlied forever. I hate you. It's incredible how broken a combat system they got away with as a major studio. For whatever flaws were in VII, at least fights there moved quickly. In VIII, you cannot dispense of any single fight in less than five minutes without using a GF. And those attack animations themselves last for an entire goddamn calendar year. Everything has too much health, and every attack other than the GFs does too little damage. I have sat through the Quezalcoatl animation so many times that I click away to a different tab reflexively every time it comes up. It is genuinely unplayable without cheating, and the amount of boss fights you're subjected to in every location anyway is unforgivable. And you know another thing that annoys me? There's basically no modding community. FFVII has a whole plethora of mods to choose from to make things palatable to a spoiled modern gamer; frame rate boosts, graphical overhauls, different character models, the whole shebang. In this, you are forced to be subjected to Squall's stupid four-polygon face, the graphical overhauls make everything look worse, and there's nothing to fix the sluggish pace of combat. This game mandates that you suffer. FFVII's story had its awkward moments. Most of the dialogue was a bit clunky (I know how '90s games are). But its emotional punches always landed. Its big reveals weren't so horribly executed that they made me want to just shut my computer off and dropkick it into a river. The awkwardness of VII was its charm. There is no awkwardness in VIII, there is only unbearable cringe. Is that just my opinion, free for you to discard? Sure. But I am also correct about all things, and you are not. Cry about it. Now don't get it twisted. I have a vendetta with this franchise, and these 26 hours will not be my last, because I hate myself. I'm getting all the achievements one way or another, just as I am with all the other games. I am only here to whine and complain because I have not found a single redeeming quality about this critically acclaimed experience and all of you who like this are probably stupid. I don't have the numbers on that though. But let's assume I'm right.

Not playing just displaying video. Had 3 pc remake. Stolen sim on tablet. Bought 2,3,5, 15, 16, 7, 8

5 hours last boss fight. Great game. No regrets.

Incredible story with what is probably the most flexible power system in Final Fantasy. No jobs, no guardrails, no paths. Just complete freedom. Want to just chill and play the game? It's absolutely possible. Want to grind and plan every stat for every character? That's possible too. Everything is intertwined. You can card for your magic and item for your power. May be one of the first jrpgs with level scaling for enemies. So good.

Triple Triad is one of the best games I've ever played! FF8 is pretty good too.

Past Present Future Infinite possibilities condensed into a single moment The Extreme is the best boss music ever Rinoa is best girl

Junction system is funny and awesome

Best Final Fantasy Game ever!!!

I hate junction system.

10/10 Love this Game

Where is our FF8 remake announcment?!?!?!?

Final Fantasy is an RPG

It's alright.