Mini-review: Final Fantasy VIII
Will you kill me if I tell you this game is better than Final Fantasy VII? I don't mean that categorically, of course. From a strict gameplay standpoint I think 7 beats 8, and it's very rare that I decide on any other basis, but hear me out
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First of all, I agree with you that FFVIII is technically better than FFVII. But,
Unique visual style: It has the same visual style as FFX, just a bit darker
No two NPCs alike: An illusion
Near-future: You think near-future's unique to the series? Um...Final Fantasy VII? Don't try to bring up that there are still rural cliche RPG towns in FFVII, because there are still rural towns on Earth right now, and will be for some time.
Music: pretty big drop in quality for this game. Uematsu was not normally a dude who did soundtracks where a handful of pieces were great and the rest were okay or bad. He was the type of guy who could create a whole soundtrack which was great. See: FFI-FFVII.
GF system: another example of the FF series really rubbing its addiction to summoned monsters in our faces, which is fine, but they once again really fail to incorporate them into the game system in any meaningful way. In the end, they are just like regular magic spells. The junctioning/skill thing attached to GF's has nothing to do with GF's themselves.
Girls: name me a non-amano FF girl who is in any way interesting.
Overall, FFVIII had the opportunity to be a good 'break-away' game, but it basically tripped over its own feet by remaining so close to the FF formula. FFVIII should've been the game to use FFX's battle system, complete with a break in the traditional "enemies on the left, heroes on the right" formation (FFX does do that at least in some battles, right?). GF's should've played a much bigger part in battles. Having HP and their own levels is a step in the right direction, but they don't have the 'presence' they should.
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Angelo?
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An illusion: Then it's a really effective one.
Near-future: I don't consider FFVII to be near-future, but that's probably because when I think of FFVII I think of Midgar, which is more of an industrial dystopia. Either way, FFVII clings stronger to its fantasy roots, with traditional dungeons like an ice cave and whatnot.
GF: I don't know what Square's deal with summons is. Except in FFX, they have never been different from any other attack. I should have been clearer: I was referring to everything about the GF system except the actual GFs.
Girls: Ashelia.
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