Best RPG on the PS2. Worth every cent you'll pay for it.
You've probably already heard this before, but the graphics are spectacular. I would still love this game if it's graphics were half as good (try DWVII, it's a relatively memorable game despite its graphics), but this looks like an episode of Dragon Ball Z, and in fact, even better. Just top notch.
Now the gameplay is the big meat of the game. This game is surprisingly very open-ended. The fact that they've tossed out the tried and true world map is the real reason why this game should be considered an instant classic. You move around the world like you would anywhere else, finding hidden treasures or hidden islands as you do. Anyone who enjoys a game like Morrowind will understand why this is so central to the reason why this is one of the best.
And then comes the battles... well, they're nothing to write home about, they're your fairly simple RPG battles. Although somehow they come off as nothing but fun. Maybe it's the great looking monsters or maybe it's the fact that the three characters you don't typically control have a decent AI. Who knows, but it gets the point across without trying to bring in new gimmicks that are either underdeveloped or just plain irritating.
The game does have its problem areas of course, the music and story just suffice. The story is the typical see evil, chase evil, kill evil, but the characters and voice acting push it along so you hardly even notice how uncomplicated it is. To be honest, there's too much else going on to want to sit and be completely confused by it anyway.
These days, when I think of sound I think of two things, the music and the voice acting. I have played very few games where the voice acting is good, and DQVIII is one of the best. No guys that sound like girls or annoying kids, the british accents give it something refined. The music though, isn't very good. It is orchestrated, but there just isn't much of it. Too many of the same pieces are used for different things. Too be frank, you've got your battle music, your town music, your "evil" music, your world map music, and very little else. I usually find myself turning the BGM off and putting my own on. I've found Tangerine Dream goes fairly well with long treks across the desert.
Overall, I consider this the best of the best. Although it too has its problems, they are completely dwarfed compared to how much you'll get out of this. I have very few RPGs I crave to get home and play, and of all the new ones out today, this is the only one I feel I'll enjoy playing over again.