Eyes on Final Fantasy Forums > Final Fantasy: The Quickening > Final Fantasy VIII > 10 Years Later...

[Wolf Kanno]

Well we've just past the 10th anniversary of FFVIII being released. It debuted in Japan last February and this month debuted in North America (PAL is next month).

So let's spend a little time to reflect upon the eighth installment of our favorite series. Discuss its triumphs, failures, and what the game itself has done for the series and JRPGs in the last ten years. What are your thoughts on VIII?

[Whiffles]

It's still my favorite game of all time. I love the junction system, music, characters, plot, everything. I just can't express in words my love for FF8.

[sora_lion_heart]

The game in my opinion has one of the best opening FMV's. I loved how you build each character and that the enemies level up with you. Plus this is the game that started triple triad which is fun and highly addictive.

[charliepanayi]

Well it's my favourite FF game, and the opening and ending still has me hooked every time I see them. And I always love that moment when I talk to someone else who loves the game as much as I do. Can't believe it's 10 years old.

I didn't play the game until around 2002 but I do have dim memories of when the game out in the UK and adverts running on TV and in magazines. As the tagline said, 'Final Fantasy VIII. You'll get over it. One day.' I'm still waiting! XD

[Vermachtnis]

Well Dissidia made me all nostalgic. And after I finish V I'm gonna start focusing on this one. This one and II are the only one's in the first ten I haven't beaten. Which is kind of sad because I had a Save File in the final dungeon for like a year before my Memory Cards went wonky.

Anyway, I'm still not to fond of Squall. But people and there unmarked spoilers (but this game is ten years old and I spoil stuff a lot newer so I have no room to talk) kind of made me reconsider him.

One of the things I liked about this game is the money system. You get paid instead of fighting monsters and the monsters actually drop normal stuff. I also liked Selphie and Laguna.

[Kyros]

This game was completely awesome and the fmvs in it were easily the (or some of the) best ones of all ps1, which was nice too. The story was awesome, and I liked most/all of the characters too. Easily my favorite tied with VI and X

[Joethulhu]

Wow, ten years... and it's still almost as bad as XII. Before the rage, let me explain myself. When I started this game, I loved it. I could even look past the abomination that was the junction system. What I really smurfing hated was Triple Triad. I TRIED to play it, keyword being TRY. It wasn't necesary, though, so I looked over it. And then... Ultimecia came on the scene. The plot had given itself to the toilet, letting some drunk Japanese guy ruin what could have been a great, yet flawed, game. After IX's terrific story and chaaracters, I thought Square had learned from their mistakes... but... they made a X.

But that's a discussioon for a different thread. Just thought you guys would find a negative view on this game interesting.

That said, I can't help but like this game just a bit. Squall's emoness is hilarious to me at points, and to this day I will challenge Kingdom Hearts fans over his name. So, yes, I'm being a bit of a hipocrite.

[TheAbominatrix]

I enjoyed playing VIII the first time around. It isn't even close to the top of my list of favorite FF's, but it was enjoyable.

I liked a lot of the supporting cast, the world created, and a lot of the little touches, like the money system and the card game.

However, I couldn't stand the two main characters, Squall and Rinoa. The plot was alright until the whole 'omg we're all from the same orphanage' deal, though overall I thought it was a little thin.

So, meh to FFVIII. But there are a lot of worse games out there.