Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy VIII is a video game created by Squaresoft (now Square Enix) for the PlayStation and computer. The graphics have been improved since Final Fantasy VII, so the characters now look more realistic. The game engine has been changed significantly, adjusting to the new Junction system, a considerable change from Final Fantasy VII's materia system.

Story

The nation of Galbadia, ruled by Sorceress Edea, has started a war against Dollet and Timber. Pleas of aid have been sent to Balamb Garden, an elite military academy which trains elite soldiers called SeeDs. Three young SeeDs are dispatched to deal with the conflict, but soon find themselves drawn into a conflict far greater than they could have imagined, a conflict which threatens the world itself.

The story of Final Fantasy VIII has many aspects in common with the Harry Potter stories.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Final Fantasy VIII is quite different than that of its predecessors. A new "Junction System" is used. This new system revolves around summon monsters, called Guardian Forces (GFs). A character must have a GF junctioned before he can use any command abilities in battle, like magic or items. Magic, for once, does not require MP; instead you draw magic from 'draw points' and from enemies. The GFs also allow characters to junction these item-like magic spells to themselves for significant stat bonuses (a doubling of the base stat is not uncommon). For this reason, most players find themselves eschewing magic altogether (except for certain critical spells like Curaga, Meltdown or Aura) and simply attacking with weapons, Limit Breaks or GFs. While in previous games, summonable creatures could be called on once per battle, in VIII they can be used as many times as the player wants; and since they deal more damage than the player characters can, while similarly shielding the party from harm, there is no reason not to rely on them. Gameplay can thus become very boring very quickly, especially since the summoning a GF triggers a non-interactive cutscene that often lasts longer than a minute. Nonetheless, others like the game for the relative impunity with which they can strengthen their characters (through junctioning spells) and defeat most bosses.

Armor has completely disappeared, and characters cannot be equipped with new weapons - instead the old ones are upgraded.

The other big change in Final Fantasy VII was the concept of enemies leveling up along with the player. The idea was to prevent the endless leveling up so prevalent in older rpgs such as Dragon Warrior or the first Final Fantasy. This way one could be theoretically low-level and still make it to the final boss. However, problems arose again. If you did have a high level, some bosses were harder than if you were low-level, because they gained abilities, just as the player did, while leveling up. This would give almost no incentive to level up and in fact made the system quite questionable in the first place.

Otherwise, VIII is a standard Final Fantasy by all means. Final Fantasy is known for its story, and use of FMV, and Final Fantasy VIII was the first real proof after VII of how far advances can go. The character development, especially that of Squall into a more gentle character, is very well done, and used in fanfiction frequently. The combination of FMV and masterful, interactive story telling made Final Fantasy VIII pull through for some doubtful gamers. A great surreal experience would be when Squall and his friends first have their lucid-yet-bizarre dreams of being other people in a different world. This made Final Fantasy VIII feel less like a game, and more like a movie.

Characters

The main playable character in Final Fantasy VIII is Squall Leonhart. He is an apathetic young SeeD at Balamb Garden, a sort of college training facility for SeeDs. He is, of course, quickly joined by a cast of characters, the most important one being Rinoa. Character development is paramount, which is shown byRinoa and Squall, who develop an intimate love relationship throughout the game. Other characters, like Zell, are merely generic stereotypes with little to offer.

Playable Characterss Profiles

• Squall Leonhart - A young student at Balamb Garden. He does not talk much and has the reputation of being a lone wolf. He quickly falls in love with Rinoa, and the two are one of the main focal points of the game. Squall's name follows Cloud's tradition of bad weather. Squall also uses a very odd yet 'cool' weapon called the Gunblade, which is essentially a sword with a trigger and barrel built in. Squall has the typical hero-guy moves and special abilities. He could be best classified as a fighter.

• Rinoa Heartilly - A young, beautiful, carefree girl, daughter of General Caraway of Galbadia. Her tenderness, warm-hearted nature, and kind compassion makes her very endearing. She and Squall have something very special together--more than one decision of theirs is made out of love. Rinoa often uses light magic. She could be best classified as a White Mage.
• Quistis Trepe - Quistis joined SeeD at the age of 15, and due to her extraordianary talents, she quickly became an instructor. She now serves as Squall's instructor, and joins his party early on. She serves as a mediator and intelligent voice. Quistis knows Blue Magic as well, allowing her to take abilities from enemies and use them as her own. She would be best classified as a Blue Mage.
• Zell Dincht - A martial arts expert who joined Garden at 13 to follow in his grandfather's footsteps as a great soldier. He often blurts things out without thinking first. Zell uses his fists as a weapon, and his special attacks allow you to perform combo moves in a fighting game-style on enemies. He would be best classified as a Monk.
• Irvine Kinneas - Irvine is a loner from Galbadia Garden, who is called the 'Best Shooter in Garden', due to his sharpshooting abilities. He is also known a ladies' man. He tries to charm Selphie several times throughout the game. His guns and sharpshooting abilities would best classify him as a Gunner or Sniper.
• Selphie Tilmitt - A young happy-go-lucky girl, Selphie seems out of place at a military academy. She has an overbearingly naive view of the world, and is always there when people need cheering up. She uses simple moves but is strangely reminiscent of Yuffie from Final Fantasy VII. She would be best classified as a fighter.
• Laguna Loire - An ex-Galbadian soldier who has turned journalist and seeks to tell the world about the horrors of war. He is optimistic and fueled with a passion to assist those in need. He is, however, extremely clumsy. Squall becomes Laguna in some of his dreams, while his party assumes Laguna's friends. Laguna is much like Squall. He is therefore, best classified as a fighter.
• Kiros Seagill - Laguna's close friend and comrade in the Galbadian Army. He is light on his feet, and he, too, would be classified as a fighter.
• Ward Zabac - One of Laguna's comrades, he lost his voice in a battle with Esthar Soldiers. He has a kind heart and follows closely with his friends and comrades, Laguna and Kiros. Ward is very large, but he is strong. He would be best classified as a (strong) fighter.
• Seifer Almasy - Squall's rival at Garden is a powerful warrior, but his high ego and inability to follow orders have earned his the label of 'problematic'. He used to date Rinoa, and afterwards he slowly degenerated into insanity and joined the Sorceress Edea. He also uses the trademark Gunblade.
• Sorceress Edea - A power-hungry sorceress who rules Galbadia. Her motives are initially unknown, but SeeD has been dispatched to elimminate her. She would be best classified as a Black Mage, and an initial villain in this game.
• Ultimecia - An extremely evil sorceress from the future who can reach across time and manipulate people. Her ultimate goal is the destruction of time itself. She would be best classified as the villain in this game.

Fanbase

The Final Fantasy VIII fanbase is gigantic. Final Fantasy VIII may perhaps be the Final Fantasy subjected to the most fanfiction creation ever. One Japanese fan even took up the job of novelizing the project, creating a 400+ page document.

Musical Score

Nobuo Uematsu composed and directed the soundtrack for Final Fantasy VIII, and the theme song 'Eyes on Me' is sung by China diva Faye Wong.

Reappearance of FFVIII Characters

Final Fantasy VIII characters, like those of Final Fantasy VII, re-appear in alternate games. However, the series is often quoted by some as 'the worst Final Fantasy ever,' which limited its characters' cameos to Squall (renamed to Leon) and Selphie Tilmitt in Kingdom Hearts.

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