Not as good as FF7, but a superb game nonetheless.
User Rating: 10 | Final Fantasy VIII (Platinum) PS
The latest entry into Square's seemingly never-ending franchise, Final Fantasy VIII, truly does deserve all the praise it will definitely receive. With a lot of new innovations to the classic formula, this game is sure to give RPG fans something new. The plot is solid, even though it is one of the weakest Final Fantasy plots (it's still great, just not really up to par with previous FFs). You play as Squall Leonhart, a young cadet in a military academy known as Garden. After graduating, you get involved in conspiracies that might result in the world being controlled by an evil sorceress. The graphics are definitely the highlight of the game. Featuring amazingly detailed environments and extremely life-like character models, your eyes will give off tears of joy. The CG cinemas are spectacular and are obviously superior to Final Fantasy VII. The audio is still top notch, with Nobuo Uematsu as the head of it once again. There isn't any spoken dialogue because you're forced to use your imagination again, but I didn't find this a problem. The soundtrack is well done and features some catchy tunes. The sound effects get the job done, but are at times unappropriate. The gameplay is stellar. FF8 introduces the Junction system, which allows you to attach certain magic to your attributes for unique effects (i.e. junctioning Cure magic to your HP will give it a boost). Also, like FF7's Summon Materia, you get to summon Guardian Forces (GFs) that can perform devestating attacks. The GFs act as characters and have their own levels, HP, and techniques. You can junction GFs to your characters to unlock new abilities. Also, magic no longer uses MP. In fact, there is no MP in the game whatsoever. You draw magic from enemies or draw points scattered throughout the environments. It's actually executed very well. The main quest will take you around 45 hours to complete, and the side-quests will add another 15 hours, and mastering all your characters is another 10 hours, so it's well over 70+ hours. Overall, this game is a welcome addition to the series and will please fans and non-fans alike.
