Final Fantasy 8 re-release Sept. 03

[stroopwafel]

Holy crap, can't believe it's been 20 years since this game originally came out. Can still remember the hype when the first screens were published in magazines and rushing to the import store to buy Brave Fencer Musashi just for the FF8 demo. I was blown away, it was Squaresoft at the top of it's game and coming so shortly after FF7 and Xenogears I couldn't be more exciting. I remember not being able to wait for the NA release so I bought the Japanese version in the import store despite not knowing Japanese! Game also didn't play b/c you had like this region lock but Asian kids in the store found a workaround by letting the disc spin then open the cover and putting a spring between the disc tray and cover.

After like 6 months the NA version was finnaaaalllyyy released so I could properly enjoy it and I definitely did. Very different experience from FF7 and it wasn't until the popularity of the internet that I realized how divisive the game was. Though, it does seem to have become somewhat of a cult favorite in recent years.

Still, FF8 will always be 1999 for me. The long build-up of the Musashi demo and the fond memories of the pre-internet import store during the golden age of JRPGs. Brings a nostalgic tear to me eye. These 20 years have gone by, so fast!

Will be fun revisiting the game after so many years.

 

[CritialGaming]

I hated FF8. The junction system didn't make sense to my stupid 15 year old self.

I'm glad people are getting their remaster though.

 

[meiam]

I kinda... liked the story (yeah I'm ashamed of that). But some of the character were fun, the world setting was very different than most JRPG and looked beautiful (and still does, +1 for strong art direction). Soundtrack is amazing (like pretty much every FF soundtrack).

Gameplay was... yeah it was... Sigh, I don't understand how the junction system made in into the final game, wasting hours slowly drawing magic is just not fun, especially when using those magic just handicap you. Pretty much 95% of battle I'd just summon eidolon and win easily this way (until end game where you'd just spam lionheart). It's a shame cause some part of it were pretty cool and I'm sure with just some modification the system could be made awesome, maybe if you'd need to build up energy or something to summon and if the magic didn't have "amount" and only require you to draw once for unlimited use/best results in junction it could have been cool. I like that every summon was like a mini class that would allow you to customize your party (at least in theory).

 

[Hawki]

I hated FF8.

Sure you don't mean you...'eighted' it?

 

[Kyrian007]

Gameplay was... yeah it was... Sigh, I don't understand how the junction system made in into the final game, wasting hours slowly drawing magic is just not fun, especially when using those magic just handicap you. Pretty much 95% of battle I'd just summon eidolon and win easily this way (until end game where you'd just spam lionheart). It's a shame cause some part of it were pretty cool and I'm sure with just some modification the system could be made awesome, maybe if you'd need to build up energy or something to summon and if the magic didn't have "amount" and only require you to draw once for unlimited use/best results in junction it could have been cool. I like that every summon was like a mini class that would allow you to customize your party (at least in theory).

I never understood that complaint about the junction system though. I always saw it this way, when you encountered a new kind of enemy, you drew its magic until you had full sets of each spell. Usually can be done in one fight and takes 5 to 10 minutes. Then you NEVER have to fight that kind of enemy ever again, and once a spell level is full you never have to draw that spell ever again. The junction system in 8 cuts down on grind by 1000% over trying to level up Materia in VII. In VII leveling up materia can take hundreds of random encounters, while you can draw your spells to full in ONE five to ten minute encounter in VIII then junction the magic to its highest level right away. I was in college when VII and VIII came out. I remember liking VIII so much better because is wasn't nearly the grindfest time-sink that VII was.

 

[dscross]

I hated FF8. The junction system didn't make sense to my stupid 15 year old self.

I'm glad people are getting their remaster though.

I don't know what you think of this idea but i think a lot of the people who 'hate' FF8 are the people who started on FF7 (and cherish it as one of their favourite games) and expected more of the same...and didn't get it - because FF games don't repeat themselves. Basically, because FF7 was so popular, it was difficult to switch it up coming off the back of it. That might not be true in your case though. I don't know. I also think the hatred for it from these fans started a snowball effect of hatred from others who never really got into it, by the time the internet beame the norm.

On a personal note, I never found the junction system that overwhelming. All you have to do is the read the tutorial - it wasn't that difficult for a teenager - i could do it. There are way more complicated JRPGs than FF8.

And all that stuff about a convoluted story after the orphanage scene, and the time compression stuff, I never found it any more convoluted than many other FF games - and it was REALLY late on into the story.

Plus, I actually really liked the world. It was a nice bright world compared the dystopia of FF6 and 7. A good contrast.

10 is where it started going wrong for me because the series started to get very linear (as in it felt like going through a corridor), although I really enjoyed FF15, which is not linear at all. I never played the MMOs though.

 

[meiam]

Gameplay was... yeah it was... Sigh, I don't understand how the junction system made in into the final game, wasting hours slowly drawing magic is just not fun, especially when using those magic just handicap you. Pretty much 95% of battle I'd just summon eidolon and win easily this way (until end game where you'd just spam lionheart). It's a shame cause some part of it were pretty cool and I'm sure with just some modification the system could be made awesome, maybe if you'd need to build up energy or something to summon and if the magic didn't have "amount" and only require you to draw once for unlimited use/best results in junction it could have been cool. I like that every summon was like a mini class that would allow you to customize your party (at least in theory).

I never understood that complaint about the junction system though. I always saw it this way, when you encountered a new kind of enemy, you drew its magic until you had full sets of each spell. Usually can be done in one fight and takes 5 to 10 minutes. Then you NEVER have to fight that kind of enemy ever again, and once a spell level is full you never have to draw that spell ever again. The junction system in 8 cuts down on grind by 1000% over trying to level up Materia in VII. In VII leveling up materia can take hundreds of random encounters, while you can draw your spells to full in ONE five to ten minute encounter in VIII then junction the magic to its highest level right away. I was in college when VII and VIII came out. I remember liking VIII so much better because is wasn't nearly the grindfest time-sink that VII was.

Because fighting enemy progressively as you go trough the story in short 1-2 minutes fight is a millions time more fun than just standing there repeating the same action for 10 minutes straight. It's also incredibly awkward in boss fight and make a mockery of pacing. Anyway you still have to grind to level up and unlock skill on GF and when grinding materia you can massively speed it up (elixir pot/mover can master a materia in a few fights).

 

[stroopwafel]

It took me three tries to get through but it was one of the best FF?s imo as far as overall enjoyment. I?ve only finished 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9, but also most of 10 and some of 5. Tried 12 but didn?t get far into it.

The space scene in particular had me tearing up, at least when I was a kid, and the music is some of my favorite of the series. I also enjoyed the junction system once I understood it, but like I said it took three tries to be in a good enough position late game. IIRC there was a section near the space scene where you?re kinda screwed if your party is janked and you can?t go back to level more.

 

[Fappy]

I never actually beat the original version as a kid, so I am excited to pick this up and finally finish it.

 

[stroopwafel]

Plus, I actually really liked the world. It was a nice bright world compared the dystopia of FF6 and 7. A good contrast.

Yeah, that is what I like most about Final Fantasy that each game is distinct. You never feel like you're playing the same game over and over. They put so much creativity into each and every entry. I played all the mainline ones(except the mmo's) and the only one I didn't like was FF10. The world and characters didn't really click with me, though I played it only when it originally came out in 2002 or so. Maybe I'll play it again someday just to see if my opinion has changed. Though, I absolutely loved every other FF from the get go, even 13 had a lot I really enjoyed. I think FF15 is amazing as well espescially the world is just so beautifully realized. You can tell these games are made with a lot of care and dedication, nothing feels recycled or copy/pasted. Big part of my hype for FF7 Remake.

 

[Dalisclock]

I'm gonna admit, FF8 is the only one out of the first 10 I haven't played at all. I've owned it on steam for a couple years now, but even among JRPGs, there's always another game that I want to play more(And right now Octopath Traveler is scratching the "Oldschool Final Fantasy" Itch very nicely).

Though I confess I never finished FF10 or FF10-2. I got almost all the way to the end of 10, got my ass kicked by Jecht, stopped and never went back to it(I eventually youtubed the Yu Yevon fight and the ending cutscene). I tried 10-2, played like the first couple hours and also just stopped. All of the other ones I've beaten(even 2, and oh man was that a pain).

I keep thinking I want to play FF8 before I die, but something else is always more appealing.

 

[sXeth]

Gameplay was... yeah it was... Sigh, I don't understand how the junction system made in into the final game, wasting hours slowly drawing magic is just not fun, especially when using those magic just handicap you. Pretty much 95% of battle I'd just summon eidolon and win easily this way (until end game where you'd just spam lionheart). It's a shame cause some part of it were pretty cool and I'm sure with just some modification the system could be made awesome, maybe if you'd need to build up energy or something to summon and if the magic didn't have "amount" and only require you to draw once for unlimited use/best results in junction it could have been cool. I like that every summon was like a mini class that would allow you to customize your party (at least in theory).

I never understood that complaint about the junction system though. I always saw it this way, when you encountered a new kind of enemy, you drew its magic until you had full sets of each spell. Usually can be done in one fight and takes 5 to 10 minutes. Then you NEVER have to fight that kind of enemy ever again, and once a spell level is full you never have to draw that spell ever again. The junction system in 8 cuts down on grind by 1000% over trying to level up Materia in VII. In VII leveling up materia can take hundreds of random encounters, while you can draw your spells to full in ONE five to ten minute encounter in VIII then junction the magic to its highest level right away. I was in college when VII and VIII came out. I remember liking VIII so much better because is wasn't nearly the grindfest time-sink that VII was.

Because fighting enemy progressively as you go trough the story in short 1-2 minutes fight is a millions time more fun than just standing there repeating the same action for 10 minutes straight. It's also incredibly awkward in boss fight and make a mockery of pacing. Anyway you still have to grind to level up and unlock skill on GF and when grinding materia you can massively speed it up (elixir pot/mover can master a materia in a few fights).

8 had level scaling, so levelling up literally made the game harder. Junctioning was actually the main thing that ever did increase power (and weapons to an extent)

Some of the interface was off, definitely things weren't communicated well, and that initial drawing magic for 5 mintues instead of fighting was counter-intuitive. But by miles and miles I'd say 8 was probably the least grindy of the FFs (possibly excluding 4 which didn't really have any of the grind systems in it).

 

[stroopwafel]

Almost forgot FF8 also has one of my favorite tunes in the series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMYisFOaz1s

 

[bluegate]

One of my favorite games within the series.

I never understood people's problems with the Junction system though, people complain about "having" to grind and draw magic for ages, but you could just NOT do that and continue on playing, god knows I never sat around drawing for minutes on end 🤷‍♂️

 

[meiam]

8 had level scaling, so levelling up literally made the game harder. Junctioning was actually the main thing that ever did increase power (and weapons to an extent)

Some of the interface was off, definitely things weren't communicated well, and that initial drawing magic for 5 mintues instead of fighting was counter-intuitive. But by miles and miles I'd say 8 was probably the least grindy of the FFs (possibly excluding 4 which didn't really have any of the grind systems in it).

The level scaling was very soft, you would still become stronger at higher level since you'd level "multiple time" (both the character and the GF, along with unlocking new skill). Plus you need material to unlock new weapon, some of which only come from monster.

Yeah you can not draw magic, but then at that point the system might as well not be there, and that just means the game has less gameplay feature than previous FF, pretty boring.

Also the best song in FF8 is clearly man with the machine gun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jho-peCAKs