Final Fantasy VIII and other musings

[HotOcelot]

So today is a day of beginnings. I joined NF (though I've been reading a lot of the posts for a while, just haven't gotten around to joining until now), started the beginner's body weight workout, and have started playing FFVIII for the first time.

I've beaten VII, IX, X, and X-2, but somehow VIII got skipped along the way. None of my friends had it in high school I guess. I've found myself just generally jaded at the newer final fantasy games that have come out. The old spark isn't there and I feel like now they focus too much on making it pretty to really have solid character, plot, and battle system development. I mean, why mess with turn-based gameplay? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I watched the Go Right video this morning which is really what spurred me on to start the beginners BW workout. The video made me tear up and I'm like, you know what? I'm tired of being 170 lbs. Time to kick my ass into gear. Mario believes in me. Or I'd like to think he does at least. I got through all three circuits, managed to cram a tasty protein packed salad down my throat, and am feeling pretty pleased with myself.

Opinions? Advice?

[msuroo]

FF VIII wasn't one of the more popular ones, but I loved it (at least, I remember loving it my freshman year of college). It wasn't particularly hard, but the story and the characters were well done.

Welcome to the rebellion!

[Artinum]

I still have my FF8 discs and an old Playstation in the wardrobe. Beat it several times over - happy to offer tips if you need any but you could probably find them online!

The most curious approach I picked up was to play without levelling up as long as you could - during your training mission, kill off Squall and Zell and level up Seifer. Takes hours to do it but you end up with three top-level GFs with loads of skills and a good stock of pretty powerful magic - and then, when Seifer leaves your party, you have three very low level characters with very powerful magic and junctions, so all the monsters are also very low level and you can thrash them easily. And by deliberately NOT earning experience from them you keep the low level thing going.

The best part is when you've picked up Cactuar as a GF (love the avatar!) and all those juicy bonus skills. Set one character up with those, kill their escorts off so they don't level up, then go to one of the special islands with level 100 monsters. Killing them nets you masses of experience and you can end with enormously boosted stats. Ultimecia is a pushover after that.

I realised one day that what I really loved about the game was the soundtrack, which I have in my iTunes collection.

[Zorch]

FF VIII wasn't one of the more popular ones, but I loved it (at least, I remember loving it my freshman year of college). It wasn't particularly hard, but the story and the characters were well done.

Welcome to the rebellion!

FF8 was interesting, because it was different than some of the other FF's in that the "main" bad guys(with one exception) really weren't that important to the plot. The story was really about the interactions between the various characters, and how they evolved as individuals - many of the villains were just there to provide a backdrop to the overall development of all the characters in the game.

FF8 also had possibly the most exploitable battle system of any FF game - which was interesting to powergame, but made the game totally trivial if you really used it fully.

[Swthrtsuzy]

FFVIII was my second favorite of the Final Fantasy Series (NOTHING is better than FFVII). It's been so long since I last played that I can't offer any advice, but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Atalan]

FFVIII?

Abuse ALL the game mechanics!

[GoGo]

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[Red1263]

SWEET ANOTHER FINAL FANTASY REBEL!! WELCOME! I've never personally beaten FFVIII but I'm very familiar with the entire series, and nearly all of their characters. As the Newer ones came out, I've shifted towards their music, with the Black Mages and the Distant Worlds. Which I've done to maintain my nerdiness in that world. Mario does believe in you, and so do we! We can help you obtain experience points in any way you need, from Chocobo Riding to Behemoth slaying! Just don't hesitate to ask!

[Centurion]

I managed to miss out on playing FF when I was younger which I'm slightly disappointed by because so many people have told me FFVII is amazing but I just can't get into it now cos the graphics look so dated (fingers crossed for a cross-platform HD re-release). I played FFXIII and hated it, far too linear. Considering getting FFXIII-2 when the price drops but I've heard mixed things about it (although from what it seems they've done away with the linearity and that was my major gripe with the first). I've been playing through the GBA release of FFVI recently and I'm loving it

[HotOcelot]

I played FFXIII and hated it, far too linear. Considering getting FFXIII-2 when the price drops but I've heard mixed things about it (although from what it seems they've done away with the linearity and that was my major gripe with the first).

You poor thing. FFXIII is probably the worst one to have entered into the FF universe with. I got half way through it and quit. It felt more like some weird interactive movie than a game. My first FF game (unless you count Kingdom Hearts) was FFX and to this day it remains my favorite, followed by FFIX. I'm in the minority in that I played through FFVII and gave it a general "Meh." Not that it was bad, I really enjoyed it. I just don't fawn over it like most fans do.

@Red1263, I love the Black Mages! I jam out to their pandora station while studying.

[GoGo]

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[Krystle]

After FFX2 I really lost all hope for Final Fantasy...and Final Fantasy 8 is still my fave, no matter what. I even have a cos-play for it....Yeeaaa, hit super nerd there for a minute.

Final Fantasy X is still a close second thou.

[ellystar]

I started playing Final Fantasy back on the SNES when FFIV was called FFII. I've been obsessed with the games ever since then, especially the music. Even though I haven't beaten all of them, I've beaten many of them and have gotten very far in the others.

I'm glad to see there are others who don't have the same love for FFVII that most of the fandom does. I think it's overrated. FFVI is the top for me, and it's my favorite game of all time. FFIV comes in right behind that. After that they're kind of jumbled together, except for FFII which is at the very bottom. The battle system is so dumb.

About 10 years ago I used be actively involved in a FF website with a very tight knit community. Discussions on FFVIII would often turn nasty because people seem to either love it or hate it.

[WizardTrip]

Love me some FF!!! FF VIII was a tough one for me to get through. A part of me just didn't care for it. I loved FF VII even though it was taking a different course from the prior releases in the series, and then when FFIX came out, I thought, YES!!! Loved IX! After that, it gets a bit grim for me. Hated the voice acting in X, made it painful to me, so I never finished it. Own, but have never played X-2. XI (MMORPG) I played for a bit before switching over to WoW. XI was just too much grinding to me (even with parties), or maybe I just wasn't playing it right? XII and on, I've never played and I hate admitting to that.....one day.

Of course, the glory days is what I loved the most. My first was the US version of FF I way back in the day. Loved that game, but has to be one of the more difficult ones IMO. Played through regular at first, then later on for fun with the Game Genie....made life so much easier! Next was FF III (VI Japan)....easily the best in the series!!! Anyone that says otherwise is wrong....just sayin'. I then went back and played FF II (easy version of IV Japan) and was sorely disappointed in the overall easiness and length, but liked the story. I have started fan edits of FF V numerous occasions, but have yet to ever finish one. Like XII and on, V will happen someday...

Again, FF VI is easily the best in the series, but the question I always face when asked "favorite RPG of all time?" is:

Final Fantasy VI vs Chrono Trigger???

[ellystar]

Final Fantasy VI vs Chrono Trigger???

That's like asking to choose between your children. Chrono Trigger is a very, very close second to FFVI for me in terms of all-time favorite game. In fact, my top five and 8 of my top 10 are all SNES games.

[leadchipmunk]

I've only eve played FF 1 through 7. My favorites are (Japanese) 3 and 1, though the only one I've beaten was FF1. I just get RPG ADD way too quick, and move on to something else. By the time I come back, I forget where I was and restart.

Chrono Trigger was awesome too, made it really far, then moved on to something else.

[WizardTrip]

That's like asking to choose between your children. Chrono Trigger is a very, very close second to FFVI for me in terms of all-time favorite game. In fact, my top five and 8 of my top 10 are all SNES games.

HAHA! So true! For me, I have to break it down:

Story: FFVI

Regular Battles: CT

Boss Battles: Tie

Overall Visuals: CT

Replay Value: Obviously CT

Emotional Connection: FFVI

Character Development: FFVI

I can go on and on adding new dimensions and it becomes even more difficult to make a decision.

Now, growing up, I was a Genesis kid. I had to borrow friends' SNES to play the FF games, so my RPG list of favorites also include the Phantasy Star series, Lunar series, and even Vay (poor Pottle).

I've only eve played FF 1 through 7. My favorites are (Japanese) 3 and 1, though the only one I've beaten was FF1. I just get RPG ADD way too quick, and move on to something else. By the time I come back, I forget where I was and restart.

Chrono Trigger was awesome too, made it really far, then moved on to something else.

That has been my problem since FF X and on. I developed a bit of RPG ADD myself.

[grz]

Ooooooh. Gotta say VI. But not an easy call at all.

I really got into X. I actually liked the sphere grid - Your characters always got a little something after just a few battles.

And the ability to switch characters in and out of battle was sweet. Oh how I yearn for the days of turn based - said the grumpy old timer

[grz]

Vay was cool! I think the Sega CD had some of the best RPGs at the time due to the high tech 2x read speed CD rom. I remember booting up Lunar and being completely blown away!

[leadchipmunk]

Oh how I yearn for the days of turn based - said the grumpy old timer

I miss the old turn based, before even the ATB turn based system.

[WizardTrip]

Oh how I yearn for the days of turn based - said the grumpy old timer

Active Time Battle System.....I'm with ya gramps!

Vay was cool! I think the Sega CD had some of the best RPGs at the time due to the high tech 2x read speed CD rom. I remember booting up Lunar and being completely blown away!

Yes! And when the opening with the singing started! A game with actual voices, CD quality music....I swear, I watched that opening every time I loaded the game in, even just to continued saved games!

[Red1263]

Has anyone played (or remember playing) Chrono Trigger? I thought my mind was Blown when I saw that each person MOVED to a random location FOR the fight! That was like discovering that Chocolate was an edible substance!

[caponerd48]

What an awesome discussion we have here! Personally, I loved VIII, VIIII and X (never played IX though...) My favorite would have to be FF Tactics, though. Anyone else a fan?

[msuroo]

Personally, I loved VIIII (never played IX though...)

I'm so confused .

[caponerd48]

My bad, I meant VIII...