Final Fantasy VIII is Objectively the Worst Final Fantasy

[Jinx]

Prove me wrong.

[Madame Adequate]

It is not Final Fantasy IX.

[Forsaken Lover]

But FF8 is the worst FF so I can't prove you wrong.

[Gamblet]

There is no worst Final Fantasy, but FF VIII was too easy. My only complaint really.

[Night Fury]

Moombas.

[Rantz]

http://home.eyesonff.com/final-fantasy-viii/133373-her-eyes-symbol.html

QED

[Gamblet]

http://home.eyesonff.com/final-fantasy-viii/133373-her-eyes-symbol.html

QED

I love the conclusion. :lol:

[Dr. rydrum2112]

FF13 < FFVIII

Hope & Snow >> all of 8 in terms of suck.

[Raistlin]

http://home.eyesonff.com/final-fantasy-viii/133373-her-eyes-symbol.html

QED

The context makes it sound like you're trying to prove the OP wrong, but the content of the link makes it sound like you're trying to prove the OP right.

[Pumpkin]

This is actually my third favorite. So there :colbert:.

For my proof, see my last argument in the FFX thread.

[maybee]

This is actually my third favorite. So there :colbert:.


Final Fantasy VIII is my 4th favourite :jess:

http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Haters-Gonna-Hate-Clayton-And-Tarzan-Gif.gif

[Caledfwlch]

States controversial opinion
Says "prove me wrong"

42759

[Pike]

>states controversial opinion
>says "prove me wrong"

42759

that is the joke my meme-arrow using friend.

we've had a slew of these threads lately.

[Night Fury]

Final Fantasy VIII is my number 1 FF.

[Matthewtheman]

I'll agree it's one of the worst, but its still a good game, and is better than I, II, and III.

[chionos]

I'll agree it's one of the worst, but its still a good game, and is better than I, II, and III.

The only reason you're not getting perma-banned for this totally unacceptable and blasphemous statement is that you're new and don't know any better.

But now you do, so you'd better start towing the line. Tow it!

[Shorty]

If you've already played this game and hate it, I don't see how asking to be convinced is truly going to convince you or what sort of answers you're hoping to get that will make you change your mind. If you really wanted to be convinced, you'd replay it again with a more open mind.

This is my favorite FF because it's the first that I played and it changed my gaming world.

[chionos]

I would argue, but I always honor peoples' firsts. The first is always something special.

[Gamblet]

I'll agree it's one of the worst, but its still a good game, and is better than I, II, and III.

I can understand II, but first and third? They had the most impact on the series.

[Roogle]

I'll agree it's one of the worst, but its still a good game, and is better than I, II, and III.

I can understand II, but first and third? They had the most impact on the series.

I suppose they offer too much of a dated game experience for some players. I don't think I would like the original Final Fantasy games as much as I do if I had not played them as a child.

[Gamblet]

I'll agree it's one of the worst, but its still a good game, and is better than I, II, and III.

I can understand II, but first and third? They had the most impact on the series.

I suppose they offer too much of a dated game experience for some players. I don't think I would like the original Final Fantasy games as much as I do if I had not played them as a child.

Ironically, one of the last FFs I played was the first. I found it quite satisfying. I am not sure if I would play it again, though.

[Wolf Kanno]

Prove me wrong.

When you can prove to me how FFXIII can possibly be considered mediocre let alone better than VIII, I'll explain to you why VIII is better.

[Forsaken Lover]

The FFXIII party got more development while FFVIII's party were all shallow caricatures apart from Squall and Rinoa.

That's indisputable.

I would argue the character development was better in XIII as well since Rinoa's "development" consisted of saying she hates fighting in one scene and then it never comes up again.
Oh and she got magic powers.

Even XIII can beat that.

I felt XIII's flaws lay in the story more than the characters to be honest.

FFVIII's flaws meanwhile were...well, everything. It did nothing right. Not even Seifer, its most well-developed character, was done right. Can you say anticlimax? It was more unsatisfying than Squall's and Rinoa's first time in which they both broke down crying after five minutes.

And the plot...well, timelines are the bane of a lot of FF's. Like Sin coming back after only a few months in FFX - that's retarded. (The vague implication the Calm lasts ten years is much more sensible.) FFVIII gives us the long-lost Centra civilization taht no one knows about.
It was destroyed less than a hundred years ago.......

[Shorty]

Of all the characters in FFVIII, Seifer is most definitely not the most developed.

[Forsaken Lover]

How do you figure? The number of characters who change in any significant fashion from the start of the game to the end of the game can be counted on one hand.

Seifer is well-characterized in that we know what drives him and why it drives him. We clearly see his fall to temptation as well as his steady degeneration as it becomes clearer and clearer that he's just being used. Seifer starts off the proud knight and he ends up a feeble fool clinging to an illusion while everyone close to him abandons him.

The only emotional connection you can have to any character in the game is pity for Seifer.

But fine, I will rephrase. In terms of characterization, Seifer is the best FFVIII has to offer.

[Wolf Kanno]

The FFXIII party got more development while FFVIII's party were all shallow caricatures apart from Squall and Rinoa.

That's indisputable.

I would argue the character development was better in XIII as well since Rinoa's "development" consisted of saying she hates fighting in one scene and then it never comes up again.
Oh and she got magic powers.

Even XIII can beat that.

I'll counter with the fact Squall gets better character development than all of XIII's cast with the possible exception of Sahz, but even then, Squall's story is the center of the story while Sahz ultimately gets demoted to funny black sidekick halfway through the game. Laguna also had a great story arc and ultimately I feel VIII overall has the more likable cast, and while XIII's cast does have some development only half of them really do anything with it. Lightning has no real development, she just one day realizes she's got anger issues and tries to stop, Hope is a whiny bitch that become Mr. "Friendship is the Best Thing Ever!!!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qClLPOc48vQ)which was minor improvement from despise to loath. Snow gets the least amount of screen-time development which makes the drama of his scene fall flat, Fang has no development as a character, Vanille gets a few moments and never does anything with it, and Sahz... is like the only decent character in the game. I'll take zero development over bad character development any day. At least I can lie to myself and say VIII was rushed out the door and the scenes were cut.



I felt XIII's flaws lay in the story more than the characters to be honest.


FFVIII's flaws meanwhile were...well, everything. It did nothing right. Not even Seifer, its most well-developed character, was done right. Can you say anticlimax? It was more unsatisfying than Squall's and Rinoa's first time in which they both broke down crying after five minutes.

And the plot...well, timelines are the bane of a lot of FF's. Like Sin coming back after only a few months in FFX - that's retarded. (The vague implication the Calm lasts ten years is much more sensible.) FFVIII gives us the long-lost Centra civilization that no one knows about.
It was destroyed less than a hundred years ago.......

I am going to say they both have a draw in this case, except that VIII doesn't have a noticeably badly done ending. VIII's ending is bad mind you, but its not the left field, literal Deus Ex Machina, that XIII pulls out of its ass at the last minute to save its happy ending.

VIII's time travel was also better utilized than XIII's l'Cie nonsense where the party gets a death warrant, angst about other thing besides the situation they are actually in, remember said situation after all the characters resolve their personal crises, spend the next half of the game trying to find a way out of their predicament, decide to say fuck it and do what the villains asked them to do 40 hours ago after the villains show they can technically wipe out all of Cocoon's populace without relying on the orbital drop plan, and then the party is saved by a goddess figure who is barely mentioned at all in the script. VIII's lot may be ridiculous at times, but at least there re some redeeming elements and novel ideas. XIII's plot is not only a weak concept, its just poorly executed from beginning to end. Don't get me started on the game starting in Median res and then painfully leaking out info about the week leading up to the games start at the slowest possible chance.

VIII also does a better job establishing its world as something that matters whereas XIII never bothers to stop and make the player actually care about it, making the turmoil of the parties choice fall a bit flat for the player since either decision is meaningless to them.

VIII also just has better gameplay, broken as all hell, but at least VIII can be considered a game and not just a George Jetson simulator. The most interactive part of XIII is leveling your characters on the chrysterium.

[maybee]

Of all the characters in FFVIII, Seifer is most definitely not the most developed.

Squall is.

[Loony BoB]

Moombas.
/thread

[Pike]

I'll agree it's one of the worst, but its still a good game, and is better than I, II, and III.

I loved all three of those and II was my favorite.

Anyways, FFVIII is certainly flawed but I think people are much too critical of it. I can think of worse FFs. Which I won't name here as to not derail the thread, because no one will agree with me. :p

[Zeiferxx]

FFVIII is not the worst, it's on the top.

[maybee]

FFVIII is not the worst, it's on the top.

Rep +

Love your Squall icon btw :jess:

[Laddy]

FFVIII is second worst, XIII is worst.

At least VIII had actual gameplay.

[Zeiferxx]

I'll agree it's one of the worst, but its still a good game, and is better than I, II, and III.

I loved all three of those and II was my favorite.

Anyways, FFVIII is certainly flawed but I think people are much too critical of it. I can think of worse FFs. Which I won't name here as to not derail the thread, because no one will agree with me. :p

Final Fantasy VII?

[Forsaken Lover]

Wolf I don't care enough about XIII to defend it with more than one post but I think your bias is showing. You are giving VIII way more leniency than XIII. If XIII had been VIII, I hypothesize that you'd be crapping on it just as hard as you crap on the actual XIII.

[DMKA]

VIII is better than I, II, IV and XII, in my opinion.

[chionos]

VIII is better than I, II, IV and XII, in my opinion.

God is rolling over in his EoFF grave.

[maybee]

VIII is better than I, II, IV and XII, in my opinion.

Agree.

Minus the IV part.

[Zeiferxx]

VIII is better than I, II, IV and XII, in my opinion.

Better than FFVII, FFIX, FFXII, FFXIII and FFX.

[Jinx]

I love how everyone's just like, "Nuuuu, you're wroooooong" instead of giving valid reasons why this is a good game. (As we did in the FFX thread.)


Y'all FFVIII fans suck at this.

[Dr. rydrum2112]

I love how everyone's just like, "Nuuuu, you're wroooooong" instead of giving valid reasons why this is a good game. (As we did in the FFX thread.)


Y'all FFVIII fans suck at this.

That is because you have given no evidence to support your assertion, which is how it works. You have to provide evidence to support your conclusion it is not up to us to find fault with it. Can you prove that invisible fairies that only I can see and converse with live in my backyard? Prove that wrong.

Besides 8 doesn't have Hope or man thongs.

[Forsaken Lover]

IX had a couple of man-thongs and by god I wouldn't have it any other way.

Also Hope was the best character in XIII. He had the most realistic characterization and the best development of any of the party.

[maybee]

I love how everyone's just like, "Nuuuu, you're wroooooong" instead of giving valid reasons why this is a good game. (As we did in the FFX thread.)


Y'all FFVIII fans suck at this.


Most of the FFVIII fans gave out pretty good reasons why they loved the game out in the " Haters go away thread "


IX had a couple of man-thongs and by god I wouldn't have it any other way.

Also Hope was the best character in XIII. He had the most realistic characterization and the best development of any of the party.


Not FF VIII related but I agree. Plus Kuja is awesome. Best FF villain ever made by Square.

[Zeiferxx]

I love how everyone's just like, "Nuuuu, you're wroooooong" instead of giving valid reasons why this is a good game. (As we did in the FFX thread.)


Y'all FFVIII fans suck at this.

Why FFVIII is a good game?

Here are a couple of reasons:

CONTAINS SPOILERS

Final Fantasy VIII has a great deep storyline that if you don't follow it, is a really complicated, so you have to be full concentrated when you are playing. It's complicated and mysterious, as well it has dark theme what makes the game even more intresting. Characters are great characterized and fit well in the story. Antagonists played their part good and only thing I would change is that Seifer has more deeper role and dies in the end. As well, I would add Griever as an optional GF, but never mind.
Parallel characters that are playable are great presented and I prefer that, because entire game is not focused on the main character, but you have some others that are important for the story too.
Locations are well thought out. Just remember Balamb Garden, Lunatic Pandora, Ultimecia castle and one of best parts in the game - space, that is absolute fantastic.
Battle system is great, even if it is turn based, I find it quick and dynamic. Junction system is the best leveling up (learning skills, magic, abilities) system I've ever seen in any RPG, not just FF series. Because it fully depends on you what do you want that your characters learn and what abilities you want they have equipped. In FFVIII that system is fully developed and best presented.
GF system of learning skills is brillant, there's not a single word of criticism regarding the system. There's a lot of GF, what is the most important there are a lots of optional.
Graphics for that time period and console generation is absolute fantastic, it has great graphics and great soundtrack.
The game is full of side quests, you have a lot to do except the main story, but that's more like RPG at that time, not today where you have only one side quest.
When I look generally FFVIII has it's weaknesses like every other game, but I don't notice weaknesses when I look the positive factors of the game.

That is why Final Fantasy VIII is a great game and on top of FF series and even on top of the list of best RPG of all time.

[Gamblet]

and even on top of the list of best RPG of all time.

It IS a great FF game, but one of the best RPGs? I don't think so.
I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.

[Zeiferxx]

and even on top of the list of best RPG of all time.

It IS a great FF game, but one of the best RPGs? I don't think so.
I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.

I played many RPG, but with FFVIII I had a lots of fun and I find Junction system the most intresting leveling up system.

[Gamblet]

and even on top of the list of best RPG of all time.

It IS a great FF game, but one of the best RPGs? I don't think so.
I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.

I played many RPG, but with FFVIII I had a lots of fun and I find Junction system the most intresting leveling up system.

If they had raised the difficulty level and made the magic harder to obtain, it would be great. The limit breaks were too OP. Even without using limit breaks, the game was a breeze.

[Zeiferxx]

and even on top of the list of best RPG of all time.

It IS a great FF game, but one of the best RPGs? I don't think so.
I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.

I played many RPG, but with FFVIII I had a lots of fun and I find Junction system the most intresting leveling up system.

If they had raised the difficulty level and made the magic harder to obtain, it would be great. The limit breaks were too OP. Even without using limit breaks, the game was a breeze.

If it is too easy, you can always visit Islands closest to Heaven and Hell. There are battles hard, especially without Limit Breaks.

[Gamblet]

and even on top of the list of best RPG of all time.

It IS a great FF game, but one of the best RPGs? I don't think so.
I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.

I played many RPG, but with FFVIII I had a lots of fun and I find Junction system the most intresting leveling up system.

If they had raised the difficulty level and made the magic harder to obtain, it would be great. The limit breaks were too OP. Even without using limit breaks, the game was a breeze.

If it is too easy, you can always visit Islands closest to Heaven and Hell. There are battles hard, especially without Limit Breaks.

I mean the overall difficulty, no point in grinding there unless you want to upgrade weapons.

[maybee]

and even on top of the list of best RPG of all time.

It IS a great FF game, but one of the best RPGs? I don't think so.
I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.

I played many RPG, but with FFVIII I had a lots of fun and I find Junction system the most intresting leveling up system.

If they had raised the difficulty level and made the magic harder to obtain, it would be great. The limit breaks were too OP. Even without using limit breaks, the game was a breeze.

If it is too easy, you can always visit Islands closest to Heaven and Hell. There are battles hard, especially without Limit Breaks.

I mean the overall difficulty, no point in grinding there unless you want to upgrade weapons.

Or if you want to go to Level 100 and then try and defeat the Final Dungeon and Ulti.

[Gamblet]

and even on top of the list of best RPG of all time.

It IS a great FF game, but one of the best RPGs? I don't think so.
I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.

I played many RPG, but with FFVIII I had a lots of fun and I find Junction system the most intresting leveling up system.

If they had raised the difficulty level and made the magic harder to obtain, it would be great. The limit breaks were too OP. Even without using limit breaks, the game was a breeze.

If it is too easy, you can always visit Islands closest to Heaven and Hell. There are battles hard, especially without Limit Breaks.

I mean the overall difficulty, no point in grinding there unless you want to upgrade weapons.

Or if you want to go to Level 100 and then try and defeat the Final Dungeon and Ulti.

Omega Weapon is the only challenging fight in the game in my opinion or I have just played the game too much.

[jlenoconel]

I've played many and completed quite a few Final Fantasy games. I'm currently playing VIII on my PSP and am enjoying it immensely. It lacks some character development/storyline, but its still really fun to play. I actually like the draw system. Its something new for Final Fantasy, and allows the player the opportunity to collect their magic, and not have to clock MP all the time. I'm sure I'm in the minority for that though. The junction system can be a pain at times, because I've found myself having to change junctions between characters.

I'm also playing Final Fantasy XIII right now, and honestly, while its not a terrible game, its pretty much a chore to play. Much of the charm of the older Final Fantasy games is lost in this one, and the battle system offers very little in ways of innovation. I like the whole thing where you can set a character to heal automatically in battle... erm. But yeah, its far too linear of an RPG, and is more focused on pretty visuals than gameplay. Sad as Final Fantasy 4-7 are masterpieces, and 8 has been good this far. So yeah, VIII is definitely better than XIII.

[Ultima Shadow]

I can understand II, but first and third? They had the most impact on the series.
They also get boring rather quickly, while FFVIII is pretty entertaining to play from start to finish. Also, FFVIII has Triple Triad. That little mini-game alone is seriously more fun than FF1. :p

Matthewtheman got it right. FFVIII > FF1-3. :greenie:



I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.Too limited? I'd say it's on about the same level as FFVII, and it completely overshadows FF1-6 in this aspect, with FF5 being the only exception. In FFVIII you could customize everything from stats to what commands your characters would have, plus bonuses such as Auto-Haste, Auto-Potion, Counter and the like. It's above average in the customization aspect if you ask me.



If they had raised the difficulty level and made the magic harder to obtain, it would be great. The limit breaks were too OP. Even without using limit breaks, the game was a breeze.
This is correct, however. It's the one thing about FFVIII that bugs me the most. FFVIII is the easiest FF by far, as soon as you figure out how to "break the system" (which is incredibly easy to do). If they ever do a remake, it better at least have the option to increase the difficulty level. When you can beat the last boss and the ultimate extra boss blindfolded, then the game is probably too easy.

[Gamblet]

Also, FFVIII has Triple Triad. That little mini-game alone is seriously more fun than FF1. :p



Yeah, Triple Triad!

I should've written my arguments better, though. :kakapo:

But I still think the game should have had some kind of equipment on character except weapon.

[Pumpkin]

I never actually played Triple Triad.

I don't really understand why so much hate for this game. Sure it had its flaws, but they all do. It was a good enjoyable game. I liked the gameplay (for the most part) and the story and I think it had a good cast of characters.

[dandy da oak]

There is no worst Final Fantasy.

HA! :greenie:

[jlenoconel]

I can understand II, but first and third? They had the most impact on the series.
They also get boring rather quickly, while FFVIII is pretty entertaining to play from start to finish. Also, FFVIII has Triple Triad. That little mini-game alone is seriously more fun than FF1. :p

Matthewtheman got it right. FFVIII > FF1-3. :greenie:



I find the lack of equipment customization disturbing and the Junction system is too limited.Too limited? I'd say it's on about the same level as FFVII, and it completely overshadows FF1-6 in this aspect, with FF5 being the only exception. In FFVIII you could customize everything from stats to what commands your characters would have, plus bonuses such as Auto-Haste, Auto-Potion, Counter and the like. It's above average in the customization aspect if you ask me.



If they had raised the difficulty level and made the magic harder to obtain, it would be great. The limit breaks were too OP. Even without using limit breaks, the game was a breeze.
This is correct, however. It's the one thing about FFVIII that bugs me the most. FFVIII is the easiest FF by far, as soon as you figure out how to "break the system" (which is incredibly easy to do). If they ever do a remake, it better at least have the option to increase the difficulty level. When you can beat the last boss and the ultimate extra boss blindfolded, then the game is probably too easy.

The game being as easy as it is is sort of annoying. I mean, its still an enjoyable game, but I can pawn most enemies just by using GFs. I will say that after playing Final Fantasy 8 I will probably have had my fix of FF for awhile, well aside from finishing Final Fantasy 6 which I still have to do, and will want to play another, different RPG series. I think from my recent experiences of playing Final Fantasy, that I will say I think the series needs a reboot/revival of sorts. It would be nice to see the series go back to basics in some way. I'd actually love to see the original premise of FF7, with the detective storyline, come true in some form. Maybe set it in the 1980s or 90s or something. Would be cool just to see things changed up a bit.

[maybee]

There is no worst Final Fantasy.

HA! :greenie:

FF XII says hi.

[Wolf Kanno]

I honestly like FFVIII, while its overall design is greatly flawed (this is what happens when you remove the battle system designer from the project in its early stages) but I can't help but feel like FFVIII is one of the most unique games in the series, it still plays like a typical RPG but it really threw out a lot of conventions and staples of the genre so it always feels somewhat unique to me whereas ever entry before it felt more cohesively the same and even the entries after it kept to more of the staples even if they found new ways to get them wrong *cough* FFX and XIII *cough*

I still stand by the fact that I feel Squall is one of the best written characters in the series and one of the only characters that we the player truly ever get to understand because we not only see his external actions like every other protagonist but we also get to delve into his internal monologue and see who he really is. In real life he comes across as a n unfeeling "the mission is everything" jackass but internally we see that he's not as confident as he seems to be, he's not as harsh as he wants people to believe him to be, and we really get to see him slowly open up and realize that he doesn't really gain anything for hiding behind his image and instead opens up little by little in the game until the end he stops his internal monologue because its now just become his voice.

I really loved the concept of the Laguna dream sequences, and honestly I felt Laguna's part of he story really felt like a return to some of the old school charm of the series with Laguna often joking around and simply enjoying what's going on around him. This brings up the interesting contrast of the game's story with Laguna representing the old school charm of the series while Squall's section represents the darker more introspective direction the series had slowly began to move into, the parallel with the real world history of the franchise growing up on its charming sometimes silly roots and being the root of what led to the bigger more introspective and Hollywood-style modern entries is kind of interesting when you think about it. I don't believe Kitase or Nojima had this in mind when they originally envisioned the story but its an eerie happy accident that came from the whole game.

I like the concept of the gunblade, I felt it was far more thought out and I love that it gave me some small tangible control in battles, if there is one direction I feel ATB needed to do it was follow VI's example of being more interactive for the player, especially after VII brought in the concept of making everything cinematic. I felt the game did a better job of giving the Summons more purpose. I never liked that summons were rarely different from mages and after VII made each one into a long ass cut-scene, I appreciate the boost system giving me something to do while the overly convulated spell animation was going off. The Guardian Forces just had more purpose both mechanically and story-wise than some of the previous entries and I appreciate that.

I really appreciate the architecture and design, in fact one of the areas I do feel VIII falters is that it never made full use of its towns and locations because many of them are gorgeous and if you really want to see Dollet you have to go off the path to find it.Yet the idea of trying to move the series into a more modern setting was really intriguing and the game pushed the acceptable boundaries of what a "fantasy" story could be, though I still feel VIII falls more into Science Fiction side of things. Partly because I feel Time Travel is a major style of science fiction story telling.

I like the Draw mechanics, I felt it was an intriguing mechanic that really changed the way the player approached battles and seeing every monster not as just a random encounter but as a new potential to make your party stronger or introduce a new spell. The Junction system itself offers a lot of customization potential but sadly its lack of balance and foresight makes this a bit of a moot point.

The game's final dungeon is easily the last really well designed dungeon in the franchise, the rest being simple backdrops that failed to live up to their gameplay potential to really challenge the player. It also has the distinction of being one of the hardest section of a game that is known for its relative easiness. It brought back a bit of the VI party switch mechanics and the idea to fight the various bosses with handicaps in order to win back your abilities makes it easily one of the most memorable gameplay experiences in the game.

Triple Triad is also the best mini-game in the series, I won't even debate this with anyone because if you disagree you are just inherently wrong and may need to re-evaluate your other life choices because this sheer flaw in your logic may be the underlying issue in all of the problems you have had in life. Think about it.

[Hambone]

It's okay.

[champagne supernova]

After all the debate that Wolf Kanno and I had over Final Fantasy XII, I would think that we would have vastly different views on VIII. Strangely enough, I think a lot of what he said (and I have come to appreciate XII as time has gone by - perhaps as I have grown more mature).

I felt that VIII had the best 'world' of the series. And I don't mean best town (Midgar wins that one) or best dungeons (XII for me), but best diversity and history in the locales that the world had. Someone mentioned how samey the towns were in VII, and that applies to the games pre-Playstation due to the way games were developed back then, and I feel that comment is very fair. However, each of VIII's towns and cities had their own unique look and feel, and even the people in each town and city had a different culture.

It also had an amazing number of side quests that differed from the usual go into a dungeon, kill somebody/something and recover the treasure that RPG games are famous for. Shumi Village, the 2 Triple Triad quests, finding the hotdog lady's son in Fisherman's Horizon (I doubt 5% of the people who finished the game knew about this, let alone did it), coupled nicely with the more traditional fare like getting Odin. Even Chocobo riding had a unique mini-game. So, I think it was the most well-fleshed out in that area.

Then it comes to the story and VIII is unique in the series in that the storyline is not focused on a group of people saving the world, but on the much more human focus on a boy becoming a man, finding a love and dealing with conflict. Detractors say that Squall is a whiney, emo boy. Well, to be fair, at the beginning, he is. It's his progression through the game that changes him into someone who is a strong leader, a good friend and an inept but dedicated lover. Also, you get a reason for him wanting to be a loner that is actually grounded in childhood reality that people can identify with, rather than X killed Y therefore I hate the world stereotypes that abound in video games.

Of course, like any game, it was flawed. The rest of the cast kind of fell aside as Squall and Rinoa's story progressed. I wouldn't say they completely stagnate but their screen time does get severely reduced. Even saying that, Zell does become less annoying and insecure as the game goes by, Quistis grows into accepting herself and what she is capable of, Selphie deals with the trauma of losing a lot of loved ones and Irvine...okay, Irvine is pretty much static throughout the game.

And yes, there is no real villain in the game. Ultimecia is more of a reason to have a final boss battle and complete the game. On that note though, the time compression ending where Rinoa saves Squall from his own loneliness is quite an appropriate, if blatant, closing to the main theme of the game.

Then there's the battle system. It is easy to break. But if you have such a problem with it, don't break it! I think the concept was quite unique, in that using magic reduced the stats of anything it was junctioned to, but the execution was lacking.

So I think VIII was a very unique, different FF experience, one where they focused more on one character's progression, a love story rather than a save the world scenario, and an interesting battle system that they didn't quite pull off. I don't think it can be rated as objectively the worst FF ever made. Objectively, FF1 or 2 (I haven't played 2 but I hear it is ridiculous) are probably the worst, because they are about 4 technical generations behind us so they lacked many things that we are now accustomed to.

[Skyblade]

I really appreciate the architecture and design, in fact one of the areas I do feel VIII falters is that it never made full use of its towns and locations because many of them are gorgeous and if you really want to see Dollet you have to go off the path to find it.Yet the idea of trying to move the series into a more modern setting was really intriguing and the game pushed the acceptable boundaries of what a "fantasy" story could be, though I still feel VIII falls more into Science Fiction side of things. Partly because I feel Time Travel is a major style of science fiction story telling.

Homework for Wolf Kanno: Go play Fire Emblem Awakening and Radiant Historia.

I agree with pretty much everything else you said. But, really, time travel can be just as fantasy based as science fiction based, and those two games should prove that to you. Plus, they're both generally awesome, and I'd love someone else to talk to about them.



Honestly, I really like this game. I do have a few complaints, but that doesn't stop me from ranking this game quite highly.

First, I wish Seifer was a more important character. He just doesn't seem to actually do anything, or even try to do anything, throughout the entire game. He is just Ultimecia's bodyguard. That's it. And, honestly, I've never understood this "awesome character development" that everyone talks to about him. It starts out that way, and is handled really well... Until it isn't.

Seifer breaks out of Garden and attacks President Deling. Why? Is he trying to prove himself as a SeeD? Is he doing it for Rinoa?

Then he gets brainwashed. Except, he doesn't. From then on, whenever we see him, he seems perfectly lucid and clear. He explains what he's doing (working with Matron and fulfilling his dream of being the sorceress's knight), but I never really understood why. "Yeah, the mother-character in my life told me to start a war, summon an army of monsters to the world, and resurrect a long trapped entity that had thrown the entire world into chaos and war years ago. And I'm ok with this, because, y'know romantic dream."

He just goes way too far off the deep end too quickly, with no real explanation. Is he still brainwashed? Is it a choice? And, again, he does so little in the actual story. Apart from moving the Lunatic Pandora, he does nothing but basically sit in Edea's lap the entire time, which always struck me as extremely out of character. He was all about proving himself, and being entirely self-centered ("let me get the killing blow" or "if we go take the tower, we'll be seen as heroes"). And then he spends the entire latter half of the game playing gopher for someone else, doing nothing? Not buying it.



And, wow, that was way longer than I thought it would be. I think I'll leave my other complaints for later. Um, I do still really like the game.

[Wolf Kanno]

Homework for Wolf Kanno: Go play Fire Emblem Awakening and Radiant Historia.

I agree with pretty much everything else you said. But, really, time travel can be just as fantasy based as science fiction based, and those two games should prove that to you. Plus, they're both generally awesome, and I'd love someone else to talk to about them.


I'm well aware of the fact that Time Travel is not exclusive to the Sci-Fi genre (Hello DQVII) but you also have to admit that the Sci-Fi genre uses it far more as a plot device than fantasy. So I still feel justified saying FFVIII has more of a Sci-Fi vibe than previous installments.

I do need to finally take the plunge into Fire Emblem, one of the series besides Golden Sun my GF keeps trying to get me into. I've also heard so many good things about Radiant Historia.

[Flying Mullet]

There is no worst Final Fantasy.

HA! :greenie:

FF XII VIII still says hi.
Fixed. :aimsun:

[SteahMeLee]

Uhm... Let's see...

In VIII I can create Job Classes quite well with Junction System, it's open and customizable in opposition to other systems giving you pre-made characters or straight development lines...

This is enough to let me say that this is not the worst FF to me... I have fun creating Jobs and the characters are pretty much enjoyable to me... The story is not bad but it could be better... I actually like it up to a certain point and it gives me the "fake ending-new beginning" factor when you think you have defeated the bad guy and you start to discover that nothing is as it appears... I'm referring to Edea but I find a parallel here with the likes of Magus in Chrono Trigger that is a good thing (too bad that the "post-Edea" in FFVIII is made a lot worse than the "post-Magus" in CT, but oh well...)!

What matters to me are classes and I can make them in this game, I'm happy with that! :jess:

[Greatermaximus]

No suprise from a plot sense. You mean the delivery is mediocre.

[Flying Mullet]

The only thing Final Fantasy VIII has going for it is that it wasn't released on the Dreamcast.

</>

[Hollycat]

Prove me wrong.

No other FF has Triple Triad.

[Gamblet]

Prove me wrong.

No other FF has Triple Triad.

Yeah and Tetra Master is boring..

*grabs popcorn*

[SteahMeLee]

No suprise from a plot sense. You mean the delivery is mediocre.

Yes, the idea was not bad! It's not developed equally well though...

[Startokala]

Prove me wrong.

No problem (kind of). Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Have you played it? While technically a spin-off it was still made by Square and really not very well, as much as I enjoyed the rest of the series and many other of their games, they failed with this one (in my opinion). Also, a little word to the wise, Final Fantasy 8 being the worst is what we like to call an "opinion" and as "opinions" are based on thoughts and feelings, cannot be proven, nor disproven. You can prove a fact or disprove some fiction, but you can never prove nor disprove opinion, but sometimes, you can change them. (Only saying this because I just don't like how its stated to prove it. :P)

[Flying Mullet]

Prove me wrong.

No problem (kind of). Final Fantasy Mystic Quest. Have you played it? While technically a spin-off it was still made by Square and really not very well, as much as I enjoyed the rest of the series and many other of their games, they failed with this one (in my opinion). Also, a little word to the wise, Final Fantasy 8 being the worst is what we like to call an "opinion" and as "opinions" are based on thoughts and feelings, cannot be proven, nor disproven. You can prove a fact or disprove some fiction, but you can never prove nor disprove opinion, but sometimes, you can change them. (Only saying this because I just don't like how its stated to prove it. :P)
FFMQ IS NOT worse than FF8. Keep that drivel out of here!

[maybee]

Also, a little word to the wise, Final Fantasy 8 being the worst is what we like to call an "opinion" and as "opinions" are based on thoughts and feelings, cannot be proven, nor disproven. You can prove a fact or disprove some fiction, but you can never prove nor disprove opinion, but sometimes, you can change them. (Only saying this because I just don't like how its stated to prove it. :P)

Well said. Final Fantasy 8 sucking is only a opinion and not fact. Everybody's least favorite Final Fantasy is a personal opinion and just that. Same as favorite.

FF8 has good graphics, hardly any glitches, okay enough story that holds some ground, nice character development, not perfect but like the story it holds up, good music, and while a complex battle system it could be much worse. So is FF 8 the worst Final Fantasy ? No. Because it holds up as a video game.

FF 2 is most likely a contender for the worst. But again, opinions.

[Flying Mullet]

Well said. Final Fantasy 8 sucking is only a fact and not opinion.
Fixed. :aimsun:

[comma]

In the grand scheme of things, Final Fantasies VII through IX were relatively the same in quality. Each of them had similar flaws (disjointed, rambling, ambiguous plots being #1 for me) and each had its own strengths.

I don't consider VIII to be any worse than the rest. I have a certain fondness for it like all of the others. Since the OP doesn't even try to make a case that it's objectively worse, I think we can discard that whole notion.

[noxious.sunshine]

Leave my FF8 alone. *Snuggles it*

[Flying Mullet]

Leave my FF8 alone. *Snuggles it*
Careful doing that or you'll get a rash.

[Rocket Edge]

I'll jump on the FF8 love train like some of you and even go as far as to say it's my favourite in the series.

Whats the worst FF? I can't believe all of you, even the ones who hate FF8 who didn't say that FF13 was the worst (or maybe I should say FF6 just to piss Flying Mullet off). It's the worst game I've ever played in my life. But of course that's just my opinion!

[DownDiagonalLeftA]

Ehhhh, I might put 8 over 2.

...I'll agree with second worst though.

[Skyblade]

I'll jump on the FF8 love train like some of you and even go as far as to say it's my favourite in the series.

Whats the worst FF? I can't believe all of you, even the ones who hate FF8 who didn't say that FF13 was the worst (or maybe I should say FF6 just to piss Flying Mullet off). It's the worst game I've ever played in my life. But of course that's just my opinion!

While I'm definitely not a fan of XIII, I can supply you with several titles that are way worse, if you're really interested.

[comma]

What is it called when someone comes up with a ridiculous claim and then asks you to prove it wrong? There's a word for it.

Examples: FFVIII is the worst, prove me wrong. Vaccines cause autism, prove me wrong. An omnipotent being designed the world, prove me wrong.

[maybee]

(or maybe I should say FF6 just to piss Flying Mullet off)

I love Final Fantasy VI. But you have my full permission to do this Rocket.



Well said. Final Fantasy 8 sucking is only a fact and not opinion.
Fixed. :aimsun:

Keep dreaming mate. Keep dream'in.

[noxious.sunshine]

FF8 doesn't give rashes. It's a good FF.

It's also the first FF to have the modern-day cut scenes (PE being the first Square title in general to have them, unless I'm wrong), so there's that.

[Flying Mullet]

(or maybe I should say FF6 just to piss Flying Mullet off)

I love Final Fantasy VI. But you have my full permission to do this Rocket.
Please do.

I love the small of a good troll debate in the morning. ;)

[Jinx]

FFVII had cutscenes.

[noxious.sunshine]

Yes, but not with the modern day graphic quality. Sure they've gotten better over the years, but FFVIII was the first to have the better CG quality.

[WildRaubtier]

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130430192453/finalfantasy2/de/images/thumb/3/39/X-ATM092_FFVIII.png/299px-X-ATM092_FFVIII.png

[maybee]

Yes, but not with the modern day graphic quality. Sure they've gotten better over the years, but FFVIII was the first to have the better CG quality.

Agree. FF VII's CG are not really all that impressive and they have aged terribly. Mostly lego. :/

[Skyblade]

Yes, but not with the modern day graphic quality. Sure they've gotten better over the years, but FFVIII was the first to have the better CG quality.

Agree. FF VII's CG are not really all that impressive and they have aged terribly. Mostly lego. :/

Perhaps. On the other hand, I like FFVII's cutscenes better than any of the modern updates they've done to them since (like the PS3 tech demo).

[noxious.sunshine]

But still... Whether the -content- is good or bad, VIII's -quality- of cut scenes was the first big leap into what they do now. Sure they might've jumped cut scenes off with VII, but like I said, VIII was the first to make the big leap into what we see now. Along with the transformations of the in-game characters... Going from Lego Man to more realistic adaptations.

[maybee]

but like I said, VIII was the first to make the big leap into what we see now. Along with the transformations of the in-game characters... Going from Lego Man to more realistic adaptations.

This ^ you cannot say that, that this

http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/gameinformer/features/moments/ff7/momentsff7610.jpg

Looks a million times better than, this.

http://www.freewebs.com/lpfriend/Final_Fantasy_VIII_03.jpg

[Mirage]

You're wrong because junctioning is fun and the battle system is responsive!

[maybee]

You're wrong because junctioning is fun!

I like Junctioning yes and the Draw system. Imo the haters just didn't know how to use it right. ;)

[Goldenboko]

You're wrong because junctioning is fun!

I like Junctioning yes and the Draw system. Imo the haters just didn't know how to use it right. ;)

I use the Junctioning system just fine. In fact one of my bigger problems with the game is that it is too easy for such an exploitable system.

[Pumpkin]

I know it's easy to exploit the Junction system, but I never did. I just wait until I run into draw points or enemies with the spells instead of using all of the tricks like Card Mod and what have you. It's more fun for me that way.

[maybee]

I use the Junctioning system just fine. In fact one of my bigger problems with the game is that it is too easy for such an exploitable system.


imo it makes it entertaining. Power-housing early bosses is hilarious.

[Leigh]

I actually liked the environment and ambience of Final Fantasy VIII. It felt similar to VII, in that it felt modern and present day. I am also not that interested in RPG elements as I am in reading and interacting with a story I find engaging, so the whole junctioning system didn't really miff me. I never pay attention to skill and statistic development. All I know is that 'higher' is better. So I guess I liked the way the story developed, the characters and the music.

There is no point in trying to convince someone who has already took a dislike to it. What is the point in making considerable sustained effort, in order to force yourself to like something? We do this when we are 'working' so why should we do this when we are looking for fun? Like what you like, dislike what you dislike. It doesn't matter! =D

[Spooniest]

The premises are:

1. There are varying levels of quality in the FF series, i.e., they are not all the same.
2. Quality is subjective in nature (or, one man's trash is another man's treasure).
3. Subjectivity and Objectivity are mutually exclusive.
Therefore,
4. There is no basis for defining a level of quality that can be universally accepted as the "Best" or "Worst."

That is how you construct a proof.

Now, here's my opinion.

8 is not the worst at everything. As trite and sloppy and dimwitted as the story tends to be, it is a journey that gets interesting if ONLY because the world is so lovingly crafted. Not just the looks! But the people, the places, the things. They all have a clear mark of craftsmanship, and range (very unusually for the series) from contemporary to a kind of bizarre mystic/sci-fi cocktail.

The characters, while one-dimensional doorknobs, are at least realistic-looking. You can connect with them on a subconscious level that was impossible in any previous FF. The music is excellent, and comic relief is at a pithy, self-aware level that has never been equalled. The gameplay is fun. It's fun! Limit Breaks that let you PARTICIPATE in the fighting! Wowzers!

And as ham handed as the love story is, can you name another FF that did it better? 9 comes close, 10 ekes it out by a fair margin, perhaps, 7's was a little weird for me, but (and I think I'm tipping my hand here), 2's fails in THE most spectacular way possible.

I may as well stop beating round the bush:

No, 8 is by no means the worst. Not even close. If you were sufficiently bored, you'd play it. 13 also is not the worst, though I'll say I think it's close. The sheer look and playability of the game (repetitive though it may be) put it just a notch above 2 in my book.

Final Fantasy 2 is a stinking, smoldering turd. It's ugly, slow, frustrating, sounds inferior to the first game, and has the mother of all bad RPG stories. I've played it through to the end, and it's just so devoid of the drama it pretends to have that it isn't even worth laughing at. None of the characters is the least bit multi-faceted and none of the events seem to really mean anything to them. The writing is just obligatory and dull. Trope after anvilicious trope. If this thing was supposed to be Star Wars in a fantasy setting, it failed miserably. At no time are we given more than the most perfunctory of glances into the 3 mains' inner lives. The supporting cast is forgettable, and the villain is of the "Wimpy McDo-Nothing" variety. By the time he shows up (Palamecia), you're like, "Oh, yeah, that guy...?" The controls are stiff, the menu is clunky, the inventory system is a bad practical joke on the player ("Hey Hiryu! Would you mind terribly getting the HELL out of my bag???"), and to top it all off, it had the first appearance of a wangsty character, Prince Gordon. I kill him and leave him dead whenever I find it in my heart to play this game, a feat of enormous generosity on my part, in the rare occurrences where I really am just plain obsessed with playing through the first 6 in order.

Being perfectly honest, my oPINion is that 2 is rock bottom until they make a main-series game out of "stone knives and bearskins."

Even if you hate 13 (and I don't think you'd be wrong to), 2 just sucks in a way that 13 can only dream about.

[Jinx]

I love how this thread is still going on, and people are taking it SRS BSNSS when it was just one of many fad threads, and I made it to troll Shorty pretty much.

Never change, EoFF.

[noxious.sunshine]

Lmao Good on you, b00bs.

I've never played 2, so I'll stick with my "13 sucks, but 13-2 literally pissed me off a lot."

I just re-discovered that I can play my PS1 games on PS3 (yeah. 4 months after I bought and downloaded 9 on PSN. dee-di-dee), so I'm once again starting 8. I find the beginning like up until you go hi-jack the train to be so freaking tedious.

Also, GF boosting. It makes my finger hurt. And then I get going really really fast and up to like 130, then "X" pops up before I can stop myself and BAM! .... Right back to 75. That makes me mad. All that work for -nothing-.

[Spooniest]

I love how this thread is still going on, and people are taking it SRS BSNSS when it was just one of many fad threads, and I made it to troll Shorty pretty much.

Never change, EoFF.

The magic of fora. A three word sarcasm post becomes a hotly debated topic.

BTW, the worst Final Fantasy is actually Legend of Dragoon.

[noxious.sunshine]

I love how this thread is still going on, and people are taking it SRS BSNSS when it was just one of many fad threads, and I made it to troll Shorty pretty much.

Never change, EoFF.

The magic of fora. A three word sarcasm post becomes a hotly debated topic.

BTW, the worst Final Fantasy is actually Legend of Dragoon.

Damnit. I -nearly- said that! I swear I was thinking it in my head right before I posted last.

[Jiro]

My love for games fluctuates some, but I love this game. Fuck the haters.

[maybee]

My love for games fluctuates some, but I love this game. smurf the haters.

Just have to say that your banner suits this comment very well. :cool:


I love how this thread is still going on, and people are taking it SRS BSNSS when it was just one of many fad threads, and I made it to troll Shorty pretty much.

Never change, EoFF.

Whenever you say that something well known sucks you're bound to get people to take it seriously. Hence why going around random chat sites and saying that Mario sucks is one of my favorite internet hobbies. :exdee:

[Synoptikal]

Whenever you say that something well known sucks you're bound to get people to take it seriously. Hence why going around random chat sites and saying that Mario sucks is one of my favorite internet hobbies. :exdee:

But Mario does suck.

[maybee]

Whenever you say that something well known sucks you're bound to get people to take it seriously. Hence why going around random chat sites and saying that Mario sucks is one of my favorite internet hobbies. :exdee:

But Mario does suck.

I have agree with you and half don't. I do feel like the original's are overrated because they're just the same each time. But Paper Mario and Mario Galaxy are quite awesome.

[Synoptikal]

Plus, how fun is jumping, really? Never seen the fascination with platformers.

[Forsaken Lover]

It's all in the music.

Why else do you think Tetris was so popular?

Mario is the same except it has a ton of awesome adn catchy tunes.

[maybee]

Plus, how fun is jumping, really? Never seen the fascination with platformers.

Sonic is good though

Sonic is King


:colbert:

[Synoptikal]

Why else do you think Tetris was so popular?

I was more of a Columns guy.