Final Fantasy 8

Following a legend is never easy.....especially when that legend is considered by many to be the greatest RPG of all time. Even today, nearly twelve years after its release, Final Fantasy VII still receives all the accolades.....but Final Fantasy VIII does a tremendous job escaping the shadow of its predecessor. Let us take a closer look at the eighth installment in this best-selling series.

Story:

The star of this installment is Squall Leonhart, a student at Balamb Gardens, a military institution that trains people to become members of the internationally-revered mercenaries known as Seed. Final Fantasy VIII does have a unique plot - almost bizarre at times - but the further you advance in the game the more the plot unfolds into what one expects from the series. The game does take breaks from the main story as you play Laguna Loire, a soldier with ties to Squall and his companions.

Gameplay:

Final Fantasy is famous for its battle system and in VIII that system shines. Final Fantasy VIII introduces the gamer to GFs (Guardian Forces) GFs are VIII's version of summoning spells, but with one huge advancement - as the GFs advance in levels they learn abilities that can then be used by the character wielding it by ways of junctioning.....these abilities range from finding hidden save points to eating monsters. There is also another key addition to FFVIII's arsenal. In past Final Fantasies you would need to learn spells before being allowed to use them......in FFVIII, you can only use spells that you have drawn out of enemies. For instance, say you draw eight life spells from an enemy, you are then allowed to use the life spell eight times.....to use it again you must draw out more life spells. Spells can also be juntioned to your characters to boost stats. Example: Junction eight life spells to your HP and your HP will receive a boost. Weapons have also received a new feature.....no longer are you required to find weapons.....your weapons need to be upgraded by finding parts throughout the realm and applied to your starting weapon to become more powerful. But the best aspect of FFVIII is the Triple Triad - a card game that can be played after you obtained cards from various sources. You play by approaching NPCs and the rules vary depending where you are - each town has its own set of rules. The rewards are minimal, but it is fun to play.

Graphic and sound:

As ever, the graphics and sound are stunning, and when you consider that this game was released eight years ago for the PS1, you'll realize just how stunning they really are.

Final Thoughts:

So, was Final Fantasy VIII able to step out of its predecessor's shadow? It does so and then some. This is a great addition to the family that will keep even the most dedicated gamer busy for weeks. Buy Final Fantasy 8!