Final Fantasy VIII Hits PSN, People Complain It's Not VII Again

Final Fantasy VIII is the universal underdog of Square Enix's beloved franchise. The overlooked RPG, which is virtually unable to be spoken of without being compared to Final Fantasy VII, is hitting the PlayStation Network today.

[koehler83]

It's not about being compared to FFVII. It's about coming out after FFVII and sucking.

It's unprecedented to have a PS1 classic release not be rerated by the ESRB. That's pretty cool. I means we may be able to expect other surprises in the future.

[WildArmed]

really?
In my book FFVIII>> FF7.
Ofc, by that logic every game after FF6 sucked..since that was the best final fantasy since =/

[Noctis Aftermath]

Damn i thought they released FFVII - 2.

[PLAYstar]

FFVIII owned 7 in my honest opinion! Not only was the graphix and CGI miles better than 7, the storyline is amazing as well. The only complain about it was that the game is just too simple comparable to the series.

[GameGambits]

I really want Xenogears, Alundra, and Suikoden 2. I know Japanese PSN has those and I'd love to play them all---especially Xenogears. That game is pure awesome.

Make it happen Square. :D

[vhero]

It came out on Thursday this articles way old..

[lordgodalming]

I thought FFIX was the red-headed stepchild that everyone moaned about (before XII at least).

Whatever. They're all awesome.

[NewNameNow]

Legend of Dragoon anyone?

[blackpanther25]

the gameplay was straight up horrible to me. At one point i just gave trying to draw out magic. They gave a retarded amount of summons in that...i was spamming summons from the beginning of the game. the limits was lame cause it only worked when you were below a certain amount of HP and the monsters auto leveled with you.

Overall the game was good but gameplay killed it for me.

[Hellsvacancy]

I love Final Fantasy 8, couldnt get in2 7, didnt like 9, loved X, HATED X-2, didnt like 12, dont like the looks of 13 but think Versus 13 looks SICK - day 1 4-me

Im buyin a US PSN-Card so i can buy FF8 off the US Store as us in the EU keep gettin shafted

[theEnemy]

Final Fantasy VII = Overrated.

In My Humble Opinion.

[syanara]

OMG LEGEND OF DRAGOON WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!! they NEED that at the PS Store its one of my favorite games ever!

[ceedubya9]

Is what pulled me into the series. I enjoyed it more than 7, personally.

[Megaton]

In my opinion, the PS1 FF's go like this...

IX > VII > VIII

[ThanatosDMC]

FF8 > FF7 to me, but then again i played FF8 first and i am biased about it.

Anyway, I got Lionheart on Disk 1. You need to have Squall less than lv 20, 20 Elfvoret cards, 1 Minotaur Card, and Kill Grendels in that forest for Dragon Fangs.

Yes, im one of those who got pissed at Rinoa and killed her when Adel was sucking her life to heal.

[FF7numbaone]

Its funny the guy with the drake avatar says ffvii is overrated, lol people say about uncharted. As for the ffvii fans sorry your favorite games isn't as popular has 7. You ask most ff fans I doubt the they want anything but ffvii remade.

I a lot you "gamers" "rpgs fans" need to stop envying, ffvii success, fine you don't like it but most do. Get over it.'

I wont even go in the ways ff7 is better than ff8 or vice versa.

Shot out to LOD fans.

[Pika-pie]

I always thought FFVIII was loads better than VII. Im going to get alot of disagrees but I dont care, im entitled to my opinion.

VII is good, but waaaayyy over rated. I never understood why people get so wet for it.

[Skip_Bayless]

I like 7,8, and 9 equally.
7 was for the space action
8 was for the mature romantic story
9 was for the fairytale

All of them are better than 10.

[barom]

I love FFVIII and I love FFXII. I have no idea why FF fans has so much trouble with them. Those are my favorite FF games (love FFXII most though).

[theusedfake]

I actually liked VIII more than VII(VII is amazing also), the only thing that I didn't really care for was having to draw magic from everything.

[Chris399]

The junction system was a hindrance, but the graphics, cast, summons, cutscenes (one even with Jpop music - an unprecedented first), opera music, and solid, adult love-story (not like the unrealized one in VII; sorry it just never went anywhere, Cloud and Aeris kinda like each other then she dies, lame) were remarkable for their time.

That and Ultemicia/ Edna were pretty over the top villains. Oh, and the last boss had FOUR incarnations. I have yet to see that topped in a game. Very satisfying and epic battle. RE: 2 was close with it's mutating end boss, but even that only had two or three forms.

Four fights! Still can't get over that. This is my favorite FF by far. Playing it on my PSP as we speak! Such wonderful nostalgia. And the game has held up really well for being 10 years old.

[Noctis Aftermath]

I just could not get into FF8, the characters bored me, i think zell(that his name?) was the only exception, and the art style was terrible.

[TapiocaMilkTea]

Yeah, I remember the last boss fight you actually get to use all your characters, it kinda switches in between, and it took a very long time. The game was clearly pushing PSOne capabilities, I was amazed they can play rerendered CGs in the background while having in game characters running around at the same time, something new at the time.

[Tony P]

I liked the game. Only two major things wrong with it imo:

Junction = overpowered
Irvine = Silly, nonsensical, plot-breaking character

Still, I'd play.

[Bodyboarder_VGamer]

hughjazz44: Friday, December 18, 2009 at 02:05 PM

Why would you spam Guardian Forces, when you could easily beat ANY enemy by junctioning 100 Ultima to Squall's attack stat, and junctioning Bahamut to get +60% Attack, then using Renzokuken and Lion Heart to do over 200,000 damage?

Only a noob would even consider a summon spell...

----------------------------- ------------------------------- ------

this is so true... All my friends that say that FFFVIII sucks it's because they say that you need to rely too much on summons... But why is that? Because they never understood the Junction system.

For most rpgs games you just need to equip new weapons and level up the character to make it more powerful but for FFVIII it's different. The higher the level you have on FFVIII the harder the game will be and the only way to bring up your stats is by equipping spells. The more powerful the spell you equip the higher the stats.

Most people don't realize this so they just go with the summon spamming to then say: "But FFVIII is so boring, the summons cut-scenes are too long!".

[gerol]

they just dont get the advantages of the junction system. and summoning GFs are not the best option to win battles

[blackpanther25]

The idea of the junction system was kool though but after a while i stopped caring and just wanted to what happened next because the enemies are always gonna be the same level as you

@gerol: i beat the whole game spamming summons the 1st time i played

[grailly]

the game war great imo, but it had two major issues:
the first was the junction system,it work well to upgrade your characters, but I played through the whole game without using magic because of that.
and it was way to easy, even without using the junction system or summons I got through half of the game.

Am I the only one to use the summons only the first time I get them? I never liked them except for their summoning cinematics.

[kenpachi]

i can still complain its not released in europe

[Shang-Long]

yes u can

[crck]

FF 8 sold over 8 million copies. I'd hardly call it the underdog of the franchise. The game was fine for its day. But I'll wait for a remake to play it again. If it doesn't come then I'll still have found memories of it.

FF9 was the only FF I never finished. The character designs were just so unappealing that I only played it for a few hours.

[aaronisbla]

then you missed out on a really good FF game, possibly the best story out of the ps1 games imo.

And it also marked a return to characters actually being different from each other in terms of gameplay styles.

Best ending also from the ps1 titles.

[thesummerofgeorge]

It was back to the basics, but it worked really well IMO. Really fun game, and I really liked the setting, and art direction.

[KnightOfAlbion]

I always loved FF VIII it holds a special place in my heart :3
I just really hope it comes to Europe... soon!

[DigitalAnalog]

Not only the best but the most memorable only followed by Final Fantasy V, yes FIVE!

-End Statement

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

I like VIII more than VII. The only reason people don't is that VII redefined RPG's in general.

Oddly enough, IX is the highest rated PS1 Final Fantasy. Nobody ever seems to talk about that one though.

Look at Halo. Not the best game in the world by any means. However, it made FPS's popular on the console (finished what Goldeneye started). It also had the first great online experience for a console FPS.

There have been much better games since Halo. There were better FPS's out before Halo. However, people flock to Halo still because it was such a great experience for them.

It's the same reason people still buy Sonic, Crash, and Spyro games.

[Redempteur]

My problem with FF8

Bad vilains
Bad main characters
STupid story ( yes stupid )
random task to do to progress the story that are long painfull and badly done

( the alien part on the space ship , the get on the ship that is flying over the city in time ..and so on )

WORSE MAP EVER in a rpg ( music on the map was ok )

What was the point to prevent the missiles from launching ? ( they launch anyway )
What was the point of finding the stupid elone ship ..and when you found it ..she's gone !! congrats !
The flashback were boring ...and used as a tool to get out of stupid situations ..

the cities were annoying to explore at the best ..

oh i can rent a car ... but i have to pay for the fuel ?? WTF ? ( enjoy getting stranded on the middle of the map while you're trying to reach a destination . )

Dongeons are badly designed ..they are simple yet feel like thy are a maze ..

worse twist evar ( we all came from the same orphenage )

chocobos are useless

no good mini games except the card one

CONCLUSION ..squal summarise this game in one sentence : " whatever "

[Name Last Name]

@10 duude you must have read my mind lol especially with the Orphanage thing: guess what we all grew together YAYY!! - I mean What the Fack!!! LMAO

[Godmars290]

You just have issues with temporal paradoxes.

Though oddly enough, people still like the Planet of the Apes movies.

[Limited_Vertigo]

"no good mini games except the card one"

I could and will be playing that card game for hours today. While FF8 may lack multiple mini games that you enjoy the card game alone is enough. It's the best mini game in any FF game IMO.

[Baka-akaB]

I share your opinion about the game . id didnt find it well written and it's characters interesting . i even find them annoying , between the silent brooding knight , Zell , selphy etc etc .

The often mentioned romance was quite badly done and pretty much the twilight of it's era .

And it's gameplay was ok but didnt really interest me neither .

people need to lay of the silly argument that people who dont enjoy FFVIII always compare it to ff7 . For starter FF7 isnt even necessarily everyone's best FF and the end all barometer . At least i know that unlike many it never was mine .

Even is well realised overall , and still a decent , even good game for me , FF8 is my least favorite FF ever . Well actually that would be FF-X2 , wich is actually garbage , but i just dont count FFX-2 in the least . I wouldnt because , well it's a spin off anyway , and again it's pure garbage .

Before you obviously disagree with my low opinion of FF8 , at least take solace in the fact that every FF is as least great enough that people would "fight" again other episodes of the serie for their favorites .
Not many , if any video games serie can say the same

[MetalFreakMike]

I brought the game on when it first came out, all those years ago. At first, I was like "WTF is this crap?". But then it kind of grew on me. There is nothing really wrong with the game other then it is not like Final Fantasy VII. Also, I love playing the card game because it gets some what addicting. It would be great if they released a new game on the PSN and made it so you could play against other people with those cards. Day one purchase for me!

[Tony240ZT]

You could always play Tetra Master (the card game from IX) for free online if you have a copy of FFXI

[Knightofelemia]

Shame its not Xenogears but FF8 was still a great game from start to finish all thoe the characters will not amount to the likes of Cloud or Sephiroth Tifa or Aeris. But I am going to download it today. These games were when Square was good before 12 came out and thats when things went downhill

[CimmerianDrake]

"the characters will not amount to the likes of Cloud or Sephiroth Tifa or Aeris."

you mean the weak panzy, the not-really-that-strong super soldier who was beaten by the weak panzy after he cried for mommy, the oblivious girl who tries too hard to get the weak panzy and fails (in the game), and the ditzy girl who gets killed by the not-really-that-strong super soldier who was beat by the weak panzy? yeah, FFVII's characters are top-tier. /sarcasm.

[KilZoneGeneralStrife]

Ps1 : FF8>FF7 for me.. ,8 rocked. .7 rocked.but I think,age wise,I was pulled into it.FF9 was ok..but,forgetable and not as epic as 7 or 8. PS2: FFX>FFX-2,FF12 . . .I think the voice acting spoiled it a bit...but,it was a natural progression with technology.FFX-2. .worst final fantasy Ive ever played.I personally dont include it as the proper end to FFX.I just take it as Tidus popped out the water at the end of FFX and was in Besaid.The End. ,now.. PS3... well...After a certain 'father of Final Fantasy jumped ship at Square Enix..,I wonder..if the rumors of its battle system ,gameplay being recycled is true..afterall..since Squresoft became Square Enix..and every FF after FFX...the games have been stagnated a bit..and definitly recycling stuff

[Godmars290]

The whole build up where a fleet of airships have to deal with a sky full of dragons who are only the foot-soldiers for extra-dimensional beings trying to hijack the very lifeforce of a planet, I could see where people wouldn't be impressed with that...

[Godmars290]

Though IX was the redheaded stepchild of the main FF franchise?

Mind you, that's not out on PSN yet...

[MK_Red]

I don't care what people say, it's was my fave FF game back then and still is the best FF IMO.

[Tex117]

Of the PsOne FF's this is my least favorite. FFIX, FFVII, FFVIII, but thats not saying all that much because I really liked the others. Its a great game, just a bit different.

FFVI, still remains king in my book by a very long shot.

[Panthers]

wow had no clue this came out. Awesome. It will be great playing this and 7 on my PSP

[AnonUser5555]

Time to hit up the PSN again. Love this game.

On a side note, one of the comments on the GameInformer site made me cringe:

"I still have the original PSX discs for this but it's cool that they're available for people whose PS3s aren't backwards compatible."

Or

"By far my favourite FF in the series. Stoked that it has finally been released on PSN 'cause my PS3 isn't backwards compatible. And for some reason I'd much prefer to fork out the cash and play it on my PS3, than to pop the disc into my PS2..."

______________

Dear EVERYONE,

EVERY PS3 available is backward compatible for PSX games. EVERY. SINGLE. PS3.

The problem is with PS2 BC. Not PS1. All PS1 games will play on the PS3.

[MadBoJangles]

Final Fantasy 8 is the only PS1 game that won't work on my PS3 dude.

[The_Zeitgeist]

I'll pick this up when I finish 7. I bought 7 when it was released on PSN this summer. I think I'm getting closer to the end but I could be wrong. That game is long.

[hatchimatchi]

FF7 is by far better than FF8 but FF6 trumps them all.

FF8 is the game that made me lose interest in the series, i think i got to the 3rd disc back on the psx before calling it quits. I started a new game in it tonight to see if i would like it any better. I still have the same complaints so far but i'm gonna trudge through so i can see the ending, not to mention i remember next to nothing of the story. One thing i did notice though is how well the game has aged, the graphics still look really good. Crazy.

[FF7numbaone]

while I have no beef with 8, I can see why more people like 7 better. I hated X for some reason, I think it was the whole tree diagram and tidus isn't likable. 12 was something else but I like it and never finished. 6 seems like the father of 7 but never got far into it.

[AnonUser5555]

I'll probably buy this even though I still have the disc version...As I did with FF7, MGS, RE1, and RE2.

There's something reassuring about getting to play the game without having to mess with the older disc. That's probably more relevant to FF7 since it has some cash value (Not as much anymore, however), but still nice. Plus, since I do also have a PSP, it's nice to be able to carry around these games with me wherever I go (Without, of course, dealing with Remote Play).

Hopefully FFIX makes it out soon.

[KingItachi]

The junction is the best I don't see why people complain about it, it was soo easy to use.

[supremacy]

the best final fantasy simply was and still is final fantasy 7.

just simply put final fantasy 7 was just bigger than the other games. the characters all had a very good story to tell, you had science, religion, love, hate, drama, comedy all in all final fantasy 7 was the best final fantasy in the series heck it earned the most fans than any other game, it has movies and spin offs that cant be said about any other in the series.

ff8 was ok, but to me it was a more basic dumb down approach to seven if you ask me, yeah sure the graphics and what not but rpgs main strengths lies in story telling and its battle engines. ff8 was just too simplistic for me, heck my little brother who doesn't even play rpgs much was able to beat it and ffx in matters of days.

the same couldn't be said about 7, just for the simple fact that he had to raise chocobos, level up materias, face off multiple weapons, do the little things in the cities and towns, that you arent really forced to on the other ff games out now.

the only reason why 8 had 4 dics compare to 7 where obviously cuz of the graphics and sound other than that, ff8 was a real simplistic short game in my humble opinion.

and please lets not compare the stories lol, by far ff7 takes it. i mean soldier? genova? the ancients? the turks? avalance? midgar? meteor? and the list goes on man....ff8 was mainly a love story involving a few characters whom lost some of their memories due to the usage of the summoning.

that sorceress as it turned out wasn't even a true villain, now the one wing angel? he was and is a true badass. talk about giving one of ff's most beloved characters a sad ending (aires) that to this day is still remembered, that cannot be said about other ff games period.

it seemed to me square has gotten lazier with every new ff game they roll out, it seems they,re determine to target the pop and fashion culture with their latest iteration of games.

since 8 its been about ok pop star like teens pretty faces and weird clothes, than with 9 they said lets go back and make a true fantasy based game in a true based fantasy world then with 10 they went back to the fashion show, and simplistic yet linear game. fx2 sigh lol makes my point the more valid, and now 13 is the same thing with new faces and graphics.

i suppose welcome to the modern world.

but alas on topic, people cant be this stupid to think ff8 has anything to do with ff7. after playing ff for many years they should know 7 and 8 are 2 different games, wow lol

[LinuxGuru]

I actually enjoyed 8 a lot more than 7. I'll never forget the music from Balamb Garden.

[LinuxGuru]

Battle!

[Ngai]

EU Store too?

[hazelamy]

the game didn't just suck in comparison with ffvii, it sucked in comparison to other decent games.
the lead character was am miserable emo git, and you had to redo all the magic, and all the equipment every time you had one of those bloody stupid time jumps.
if they happened like twice in the game that would have been excusable
and you had to steal items or magic, think it was magic, from the enemies while you were fighting them, bloody annoying.
ix, now that was a much better game than viii in just about every respect.

[GigaGaia]

FF7, FF8 and FF9 are all good in their on ways. But the annoying FF7 fanboys just won't let it go.

Beside, now that FF7 and FF8 are on PSN, it's a matter of time before FF9 is also released (because it's gonna happen, anyone saying otherwise is lying).

[Goldenarmz]

i always felt VIII was to easy, i just breezed through the last portion of the game. maybe that was my fault for making my people super powerful but still. It took the enjoyment out of it. And isnt VII up on PSN too? So what are people complainig that isnt 7? Unless im missing something here. Im waiting for Xenogears my self. I never finished that because my memory card got thrown out :(

[Blackcanary]

Even Alundra to me was better than FF8 just wish they would bring Alundra and FF 8 over in the UK PS Store.

One thing i loved about FFVIII was the theme tune and the song Eye's on me And i thought Shiva was bad ass in FF8.

Just didn't like the story line to tough thought FF7 was better.

[Justin_bristoe]

ffvIII is the only ff to be on the same level of epic as 7 until 13 comes out i'm sure.that game was great i won't accept your stupidity! balamb galbadia hot teacher on the machine gun com'on u folks sound like youve been playing x2 or 12.

[Atlas-1983]

Final Fantasy 13 Justin TV http://www.justin.tv/balmun...

[FF7numbaone]

The gameplay was fun. I like the card battle game. I wasn't diggin the flashbacks. The story has good but my friend wanted it back, so I only heard the story went downhill....watch this video on youtube that spoiled the story for me. But I will finish lata but I would rather play LOD first.

[Baba1906]

i loved 8 =D awesome game.

[Meryl]

I loved FF8, and I still think it is the best FF ever (prepares for disagrees lol).
A lot of people who hat this game either can't understand the story, or just can't get on with the game play mechanics.
As for the silly people saying this is easier, did any of you even try to battle omega that is the hardest FF boss I have ever thought (FF7-FFX series).

[peeps]

really need to bring it to the eu store :( altho actually may have my disk(s) hidden away somewhere lol i actually never played 7 first time around so this was my first ff game and i loved it

[kraze07]

I still haven't played FF8, but I'm pretty sure I'll get around to it eventually. They should release more JRPG psone classics for the US and EU stores.

[StarCSR]

I also bought this one on releasedate and until now I still haven't finished it. But I'm planning to do this... Underappreciated because I could only think about drinking, smoking and f*cking at that time :D