Final Fantasy VIII
from: Square Enix
List Price: $19.99
Prices subject to change.
Price: $16.99
You Save: $3.00 (15%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Description:
Pending
Editorial Review:
SquareSoft has always had a sure-fire hit when releasing any of their Final Fantasy titles, and Final Fantasy VIII should be no exception. The basis of a good RPG (role-playing game) has always been the story; spectacular graphics are secondary. Final Fantasy VIII's involved and interesting story line is filled with great twists, well-developed characters, suspense, and romance. As an added bonus, the graphics are beautiful. Everything--from the low-lit jazz club to the steam-filled railroad tunnels--is gorgeous and perfectly sets the mood and tone of a scene.
The game mechanics are standard fare for an RPG: acquisition of items and spells, turn-based combat, experience points earned in combat allowing advances in levels. From exploration to battles to dialogue, Final Fantasy VIII has it all. However, Final Fantasy VIII falls to that great weakness of RPGs: random battles. While necessary for advancing in levels, the battles occur with such frequency that they can grow annoying, making for a tedious game experience.
The epic storyline spans four discs--over 40 hours of gameplay--and is based around a mercenary cadet who finds himself caught up with an underground rebel faction. He winds up in a plot to assassinate the sorceress who has just seized power from the president.
You could complain of limited replay value, but this gripe is of no consequence: the game is such a satisfying experience, it doesn't require replay. Final Fantasy VIII is easily worth both the hype and the wait. You can't buy a much better game. --John Cocking
Pros:
Pending
Editorial Review:
SquareSoft has always had a sure-fire hit when releasing any of their Final Fantasy titles, and Final Fantasy VIII should be no exception. The basis of a good RPG (role-playing game) has always been the story; spectacular graphics are secondary. Final Fantasy VIII's involved and interesting story line is filled with great twists, well-developed characters, suspense, and romance. As an added bonus, the graphics are beautiful. Everything--from the low-lit jazz club to the steam-filled railroad tunnels--is gorgeous and perfectly sets the mood and tone of a scene.
The game mechanics are standard fare for an RPG: acquisition of items and spells, turn-based combat, experience points earned in combat allowing advances in levels. From exploration to battles to dialogue, Final Fantasy VIII has it all. However, Final Fantasy VIII falls to that great weakness of RPGs: random battles. While necessary for advancing in levels, the battles occur with such frequency that they can grow annoying, making for a tedious game experience.
The epic storyline spans four discs--over 40 hours of gameplay--and is based around a mercenary cadet who finds himself caught up with an underground rebel faction. He winds up in a plot to assassinate the sorceress who has just seized power from the president.
You could complain of limited replay value, but this gripe is of no consequence: the game is such a satisfying experience, it doesn't require replay. Final Fantasy VIII is easily worth both the hype and the wait. You can't buy a much better game. --John Cocking
Pros:
- A story to beat all stories
- Characters worth caring about
- Hey--it's from SquareSoft
- Stunning animations
- Too many random battles
- Combat is, as always, turn-based and offers minimal excitement
- Weak souls might give up after two or three discs of play
Features:
- Squall, a member of an elite military team, is forced into a conflict beyond imagination
- To survive he must contend with a desperate rival, a powerful sorceress and his own mysterious dreams
- Contains realistic detailed characters and background graphics
- A breathtaking musical score enhances game play
- Another great edition of the Final Fantasy series of games
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Great Game, Classic!
This game is so much fun I had to play it again.I beat it when it first came out ten years ago, but I had forgotten how great the junctioning system works.Great game worth the price for any FF fan.
Rating: - Honest and Worth It
This product is a fantastic game that one can easily get addicted to (depending on what genre you like). It arrived on time and in better condition than I had expected.
Rating: - Pretty Good!
This game is pretty good, and is very different from previous Final Fantasies.The equipment system from previous games is almost completely gone, and has been dwarfed by the new magic and summon systems.It's tricky (and somewhat difficult) when you first start out, but it gets easier.The storyline can be a bit confusing though, which can take away from the fun.Some features are missing from the PSOne version too which also takes away from the fun, but a cheat device can easily fix that problem. ... Read More
Rating: - Futuristic/Science Fiction/Nirvana
I recently started this game from the beginning with a friend, and i have got to say this is the best RPG out there. Blasphemy you say? with the exception of the final fantasy series every rpg nowadays has become cartoony. I don't know about you, but i hate anime, whenever i see the cover of a game with a cartoon looking character i cringe. Thats why i hate xbox 360's rpg catalog. If you want a COOL game, and what i mean by cool is an mature complex story then get this game. If you want a stupid child's ... Read More
Rating: - In the spirit of The Simpsons:Best. Game. Ever.(one of them at least)
Final Fantasies are amazing games in nearly all respects (the newer ones developed by Square Enix being the exceptions).When Squaresoft was the creator, it successfully and undeniably created worlds and stories that are unforgettable and classic.Final Fantasy VIII is just one example of its creations, and it possesses a plot unlike any game found on today's 3rd generation consoles.Second perhaps only to its successor (though most would argue its predecessor), the game weaves a plot of action, intrigue, ... Read More
- Great Game, Classic!This game is so much fun I had to play it again.I beat it when it first came out ten years ago, but I had forgotten how great the junctioning system works.Great game worth the price for any FF fan.
- Honest and Worth ItThis product is a fantastic game that one can easily get addicted to (depending on what genre you like). It arrived on time and in better condition than I had expected.
- Pretty Good!This game is pretty good, and is very different from previous Final Fantasies.The equipment system from previous games is almost completely gone, and has been dwarfed by the new magic and summon systems.It's tricky (and somewhat difficult) when you first start out, but it gets easier.The storyline can be a bit confusing though, which can take away from the fun.Some features are missing from the PSOne version too which also takes away from the fun, but a cheat device can easily fix that problem. ... Read More
- Futuristic/Science Fiction/NirvanaI recently started this game from the beginning with a friend, and i have got to say this is the best RPG out there. Blasphemy you say? with the exception of the final fantasy series every rpg nowadays has become cartoony. I don't know about you, but i hate anime, whenever i see the cover of a game with a cartoon looking character i cringe. Thats why i hate xbox 360's rpg catalog. If you want a COOL game, and what i mean by cool is an mature complex story then get this game. If you want a stupid child's ... Read More
- In the spirit of The Simpsons:Best. Game. Ever.(one of them at least)Final Fantasies are amazing games in nearly all respects (the newer ones developed by Square Enix being the exceptions).When Squaresoft was the creator, it successfully and undeniably created worlds and stories that are unforgettable and classic.Final Fantasy VIII is just one example of its creations, and it possesses a plot unlike any game found on today's 3rd generation consoles.Second perhaps only to its successor (though most would argue its predecessor), the game weaves a plot of action, intrigue, ... Read More
