100°

Final Fantasy VIII: The underestimated and overlooked gem

SA writes: Anytime people are discussing the Final Fantasy series we tend to quickly dismiss the belittled Final Fantasy VIII. The risks and acute changes to the philosophy of the battle system left fans baffled. Although it is often criticized for it's unique Draw magic and intricate Junction systems, this was a worthy entry in the Final Fantasy Series.

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screwattack.com
silkrevolver4124d ago

The more I played with it, the more I appreciated the junction system.

Asuka4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

i have to agree with the title ;) i know there are problems with the story, but overall i found it very enjoyable. Must have played this game 1000x from start to finish with every possible party/junction combination i could think of haha!

i do agree with the article when it mentions that when people discuss FF, most everyone writes off FF8, and FF9 for that matter. Basically, if it isn't FF7 (or FF6), then it seems people just dont care. They get turned off by the plot holes or junction system, or the classic style ff with a monkey boy and never seem to give the games a chance.

Hicken4124d ago

Neither underestimated nor overlooked, as it's still my favorite FF of all time.

I hear about plot holes, but the only one I can think of is about Ultimecia's origin. And since it's not like anything contradicts her origin- because it's not disclosed- I can't really call that a plothole.

vallencer4124d ago

My favorite is 7 and I absolutely hated 8. For me it was the serious love story and the main character I just didn't care about. But I loved 9 that game was awesome. In reality for me 8 is the only real blemish aside from x-2 and the spin off ff games.

HarryMasonHerpderp4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

The game is amazing just for the "space scene" where they start to lose oxygen.
Simply beautiful and moving.

franwex4124d ago

We are still talking about ff8? Why can't we just let this one go? The game sucks! I came to grips w/ it. I was duped by Square all those years ago! And it wouldn't be the last time they duped me either.

Lets move on!

Snookies124124d ago

What exactly sucks about this game, please enlighten me. It's one of the finest in the Final Fantasy series. All of the PS1 games were amazing. I didn't like VIII at first, but after giving it a couple tries, I finally really got into it. I'm really glad I did...

koehler834124d ago

There's a lot of stuff wrong with FFVIII. Most of it doesn't manifest until the third disk. The first two are actually quite good but the whole thing falls apart as soon as the third disc is put in.

The junction system is a broken progression system that discourages magic use throughout the entire game. That's ridiculous.

The characters, who are supposed to be elite military specialists are all morons, each and every one. Squall is an asshat from his first interaction. Selphie is a dumbass. Irvine is somehow considered an ace sniper without being able to pull the trigger. Seifer would have been kicked out of any military organization for disobedience. Rinoa is a clingy wretch.

Nothing holds up to basic scrutiny in that game.

(But it's still pretty fun for the first couple of discs)

Root4124d ago

Move on...why it's one of the bets FF games made

People only didn't like it because it wasn't a sequel to FF7. With the new fans FF7 brought in they failed to realise that each FF game is differnt.

All the things people nitpick about in the game are exgerated or they have been done worse in other FF games.

I mean take Squall being this "emo" for example, people call him a crap character when in fact he has one of the best character development in the franchise. You see the change to his character over the course of the 4 discs, it's fantastic. However people still base him on the character we meet at the start of the game. I mean least he has reasons to being like that while someone like Lightning dosen't.

Chrono4124d ago

FF8 is the series' finest entry. I wouldn't like RPGs if I hadn't played this game.

catch4124d ago

While I found it a little too easy to abuse the junction and draw systems the game overall is one of my favorites. I love the characters and really enjoyed the different Gardens.

pompombrum4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

Overlooked? It had probably some of the most gorgeous graphics around at the time of release.

Pozzle4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

I'm guessing the author means it's underrated in terms of nostalgia and how people treat the game nowadays. Because at the time of it's release, it definitely wasn't overlooked. It was ridiculously popular, had advertisements in every game mag and game store, was often touted as one of the best PSone games of all time, and (if I'm remembering this correctly) sold double the amount of copies in 6 months that FFVII sold in an entire year.

Which is why it's so weird that FFVIII doesn't seem very popular on forums and FF discussion boards.

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340°

10 PS1 Games That Actually Need A Remake

With hundreds of games, some of which are considered to be classics that hold up to this day, you’ve got the pick of the litter when it comes to choosing a potential remake

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culturedvultures.com
RaidenBlack15d ago

^This. THIS!
Stop remaking PS4 games!
Remake PS1 and PS2 games à la FF7R, RE1, Mafia, Half Life style ....
Make Legend of Dragoon, Legacy of Kain etc Remakes happen

darthv7215d ago

Legend of Dragoon... WTH is Sony doing just letting this one squander?

-Foxtrot15d ago

I wonder if their mindset is like “meh we have Final Fantasy what’s the point of our own JRPG”

FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

@-Foxtrot,
Square-Enix had a long period there where it seems they didn't know what to do with Final Fantasy, I think that time period would have been a good time to revisit their classics and remake them. Now it seems they're going full steam ahead with the franchise, so they have less reason to revisit those older games. I wouldn't mind if they subcontracted them out to other developers, that and I don't trust SE to remake their older games.

Cacabunga14d ago

Simply because i do not think it will succeed.. maybe a bad example but e we got Medievil remake after many years fans have beg asking... result is It flopped hard. Remaking a JRPG is so risky. Only a bunch of hardcore gamers who played the original would buy it. If Sony put even more budget into it then it’s even more risky.

As i suggested before, i think they should start remaking like square did with Star Ocean. Or something similar to Octopath Traveller. Build up some hype and try on higher scale later on..

Terry_B15d ago

Let me tell you about PS1 games that should get a remake actually.

Jumping Flash (As a VR game)
Ridge Racer 1-4 as Ridge Racers 3..just like the pretty perfect PSP RR1.-2 games but with even more content
Xenogears
Cardinal Sin which was full of nice ideas for its time but was plagued by technical limitations
Bushido Blade ^^ just like CS
Bust A Groove.
WWF Attitude. With the same roster, same voices,Only slightly updated gameplay but current gen graphics
Dynasty Warriors..yes the fighting game that was similar to Tekken 2 while it had weapons.As nice as the DW games are..its a shame they never released a new fighting game

And while I am at it.

Thrill Kill ...hell yes.

KyRo15d ago

Ah Thrill Kill, the game that was banned/cancelled but everyone had played 😂 what a throwback!

darthv7215d ago

jumping Flash would make a great VR game. Im actually quite surprised nobody has thought to do that one... even on the indie side for something like the meta quest.

GhostMirror14d ago

Big yes to Jumping Flash! and Ridge Racer revivals. Bushido Blade was cool as well; it was pretty deep and so much different from other fighting games at the time. Einhander was another good non-RPG from Square, which was kind of rare for them in that era.

Didn’t Thrill Kill eventually get re-skinned and released with a Wu-Tang Clan license? 😂

FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

I miss Ridge Racer so much, give me a new game or at least a collection of the older games! I had a blast playing Ridge Racer PSP on my PS4 a few months back.

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FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

I cannot understand the current business practice of remaking games from the previous generation, especially when they are very much playable today and still hold up well, it's even worse when people are willing buying them again. The PS1 generation is so ripe for remakes, I know more than a few people who would clamour for a Xenogears remake, or almost any game from that list.

Ravenkiss15d ago

and Valkyrie Profile Lenneth. They did Star Ocean 1 & 2 R already, VPL should get the same treatment.

Redgrave14d ago

I assume this to mean that you aren't considering the PSP port to be the remake in this statement? Like a remake of that one?

FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

That version is quite old though, that was 18 years ago, so doing a remake in the vain of Star Ocean might be worth it (I did not think the PSP was that old until I looked it up).

Knightofelemia15d ago

I'd be down for FF8, and Xenogears. But I would also be down for Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross. And I wish Namco would get off their ass and remake or remaster the Xenosaga trilogy.

FinalFantasyFanatic14d ago

There's been talk of a Xenosaga trilogy on the proviso that there was enough demand, I hope that actually happens one day.

Christopher15d ago

1. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
2. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
3. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
4. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
5. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
6. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
7. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
8. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
9. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
10. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

LoveSpuds14d ago

What a fantastic game that was!

Skuletor14d ago

You forgot Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

Snookies1214d ago

Why does From Software not do ANYTHING with this franchise... It's so sad... Can't they at least outsource it to someone to try a revival?

leahcim14d ago

masterpiece, best OST of all times.

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90°

Final Fantasy Games That Deserve the Remake Treatment

Final Fantasy has a long running history with numerous numbered titles and spin-offs, but which games stand to benefit from a remake?

gold_drake121d ago

i feel like all of them.
well except 2 haha.

shinoff2183121d ago

Agreed. Ff2 though can be made better, so it's not entirely a lost cause. Ff8 will gets its time. I do wish they'd do the old ones. From ff10 and up those ones still hold up pretty well.

kevco33120d ago

Honestly, I've always felt that VII and up 'hold up well' in that regard. The early 3D games just needed a cosmetic update. But the FFVII Remake is so different to the original in execution that a lot of games could be done in a similar fashion and feel far more modern.

I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing (that depends on your personal preference!), just that they could feel very different.

shinoff2183120d ago

Kevco I liked remake but I think your right. Idda been happy with a 1 to 1 remake that looked like ever crisis to. Or both

I'd just love I square would one day give us a turned based one with today's graphics. I can't really think of a jrpg that does that.

andy85120d ago

I'd rather the 13 trilogy just be ported tbh. No matter what you think if it, it shouldn't be the only numbered offline games not playable on new consoles. But naturally I'd play the **** out of 8-12 remakes.

shinoff2183120d ago

I do agree. I'd give it another shot even though I didn't like it at first. My taste change over time. Gta 4 for instance I was so disappointed it lacked so much of what san andreas had I didn't play it for like 5 years. One day went to a semi pro football game(American football) came home drunk and decided to try 4 again. I actually liked it after giving it a fair shot.

Rebel_Scum119d ago

Just make new games. Not every game needs to be remade.

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50°

All Of The Final, Final Fantasy Bosses, Ranked

BLG writes: "Final Fantasy bosses are swimming with challenging and exciting battles. Over the course of the series, the game has evolved from turn-based battles to more action-oriented gameplay. That has allowed players to see a variety of battles and types if you’ve played multiple entries across the decades. Bosses you see in more recent games like Final Fantasy 15 are grander in scale than those you might have seen on the Super Nintendo in the 1990s. That doesn’t always equate to them being more legendary, though. "

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bosslevelgamer.com
RavenWolfx751d ago

Yeah, Yu Yevon was such a disappointment.