My Favorite Final Fantasy Game...

Jaxel

Jaxel

Administrator
Most people say I am crazy, but I've stated for a long time that Final Fantasy VIII is by far my favorite game in the series; maybe not the BEST, but definately my FAVORITE. I loved it so much that I own an unopened copy of the game. FF8 has the largest cult following of all the FF games, because the following for it is so small that it can only be called cultish.

When people ask me why I like it so much, I tell them that for myself... I can get through mediocre gameplay, if the story is that good; but no matter how good some gameplay is, I can't get through a mediocre story. The story of FF8 captured me instantly and I looked at the game as less of a GAME, and more of an OPERA.

Even Nobuo Uematsu considers FF8 to be his best work. I look at the DK1337 trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII and all I can think is "this looks like FF8, the art direction, the mis-en-scene and the direction of photography look identical"... and what do you know? Its the same people. Its one of the reasons I am more looking forward to Versus than Fabula Nova Crystalis.

Well Jack Patrick Rodgers at PopMatters.com just wrote an indepth article that hopefully explains better than I could on why the story for FF8 was so good...

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/70336-remembering-the-orphan-final-fantasy-viii/

Is there any videogame out there that’s more in need of a critical reevaluation than Final Fantasy VIII? Despite strong sales when it first released in 1999, the game is considered only a minor entry on both sides of the Pacific. Most reviews in the US were only mildly positive and bemoaned that the iconic characters of Final Fantasy VIIhad been replaced with a group of sensitive teenagers, while a 2006 poll in Japanese gaming bible Famitsu revealed that Final Fantasy VIII was only the sixth most popular installment of the series. More grudgingly liked than truly loved, it’s the red-headed stepchild of the franchise. And that’s a shame, because upon closer inspection, the game is an excellent work of entertainment that occasionally aspires to becoming art.
Click to expand...
 
What about the plot exactly isn't mediocre? Of all the final fantasy games I've played, I can't really say any of them have Pullitzer Prize winning plots.

To me, if I have to sit through 40+ hours of mediocre gameplay and story, it damn better have good music, but I really can't remember any of the ff8 tunes except for Eyes on Me.
 
I admire FF8 for having an emotionally consistent main character. Also I think it's a nice touch how you start mid story (time loopwise) and the rest of the plot only rolls out one you've seen the story in its entirety.

Ultimecia is probably the least understood villains in the series history. Leave it to fans of empty and boring, villains like Kefka and his pointless "killzorz LOL!" to utterly miss out the subtleties in FF8.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top