This game definitly recieves too much hate

[Ouch!]

No patience.... People don't have patience in a 4 disc game...

It has nothing to do with patience. I've beaten the game multiple times, and I still think it's one of the worst in the series. That being said, that doesn't mean it's a bad game. As was said, had this been made and given a name other than FFVIII and removed the minor relations to other Final Fantasy titles, I'd probably complain about it a lot less.

But you know what? It is titled Final Fantasy VIII, so I will use the other games as a base of comparison. And you know what? Final Fantasy VIII was the first Final Fantasy I played, so nobody can pull that "You're just sour because you like <insert first FF game here> more than FFVIII!" crap. I played FFVIII, enjoyed it, played others, and realized there's nothing too terribly special about the game.

There are many, many worse games out there. However, I believe it fails to live up to the standards Square sets for its product by naming it Final Fantasy.

[Lynx]

i think this game gets praised more then it deserves.

I think they all do. They're video games...if you want an epic plot, go read Lord of the Rings ;D

I think games can reach and sometimes surpass books in many ways . I don't think that just because they're video games they should automatically be seen as less important than another medium.

agreed

[rubah]

Indeed, they do state within the game that Irvine remembered who Edea was. However the game gives no indication that Irvine was using stage-fright as a cover. There are no obvious signs that he was lying and he never revises his reasoning after the revelation later in the game. The fact that he then actually ends up firing upon the sorceress despite her true nature makes me wonder whether the scenario for the Sorceress assassination was written before the whole faulty memory jazz had been finalized.

Either way, all this kind of stems back to the whole 'horrible execution' I was talking about earlier in my post.

He didn't say anything because he knew everyone else would think he was crazy, which is why he waited until the disk 2 scene to mention it.

[Aemilius Blight]

The 'stage-fright' thing isn't brought up again at all after its appearance on disk 1.

[Lord Rimoah]

Indeed, they do state within the game that Irvine remembered who Edea was. However the game gives no indication that Irvine was using stage-fright as a cover. There are no obvious signs that he was lying and he never revises his reasoning after the revelation later in the game. The fact that he then actually ends up firing upon the sorceress despite her true nature makes me wonder whether the scenario for the Sorceress assassination was written before the whole faulty memory jazz had been finalized.

Either way, all this kind of stems back to the whole 'horrible execution' I was talking about earlier in my post.

He didn't say anything because he knew everyone else would think he was crazy, which is why he waited until the disk 2 scene to mention it.

Oh that is the LAMEST EXCUSE EVER! They STILL thought he was 'crazy' when he did tell them... This very scene mentioned is exactly one of the major points of the game where you throw up your hands, let the controller fall and think... Lemme look at the cover of this game... Is this REALLY a FINAL FANTASY game? This can't be right!
This is just pathetic... This is worst than Grant Morrison last stint as the writer for X-Men... My God, they "forgot"? Odine could explain Time Compression, but it's not important?

This was the most terrible, HORRIBLE execution of fantasy possibly EVER! I mean, the things that you just can't deny as the letters were scrolling across the screen, made your head go... "WHAT THE FUG!???! Do the writers really think I'm buying this?"

Y'know what? I'm gonna stop now... I'm... I'm... Just... Nah, I'm gonna stop... Face it kids, it just... Well, it didn't just fall short, it fell through the floor! There are so many turns that could've turned up just a hella notch more...

[robfinalfantasy]

I welcome change and experimentation. Cool innovative systems like the junction system, sphere grids, and materia are what keep me interested in the series. If I want traditional Final Fantasy then I'll play the oldies. It's as simple as that.

[Clord]

It comes because not so many understand FF VIII's complex storyline. Understand who Ultimecia is and all that complex stuff is easier to understand if people actually put effort to think about it. Also things why somebody not wanted shoot Edea and not explaining it not mean it is not thinked why already because it was indeed revealed later in plot. People who see it only Rinoa's love story didn't understand even half from plot maybe.

[TyphoonThaReapa]

It comes because not so many understand FF VIII's complex storyline. Understand who Ultimecia is and all that complex stuff is easier to understand if people actually put effort to think about it. Also things why somebody not wanted shoot Edea and not explaining it not mean it is not thinked why already because it was indeed revealed later in plot. People who see it only Rinoa's love story didn't understand even half from plot maybe.

A'yo, in some cases that's not true. But in most cases it is. I think FF8 was made to challenge the players thought of the video game itself. Most people I know don't play video games to think deeper within the storyline. That's why the people I know would rather play Madden than any FF. And I think that's a valid opinion to a certain exstent. Because, they are people who are drawn to video games to challenge their thinking ability a still hates this game. Now, I dobt anyone would admit to hating this game because it makes their brain hurt but we know what'sup.

[chrisfffan]

Actually, I can pretty much confirm that the character development in FF8 sucked big time.

I don’t agree! squall has probably had the biggest character development than any other character in the Final Fantasy series. He starts out as a lone wolf who hides his feelings inside because he was let down in his childhood that’s why he’s anti social, he doesn’t want to get to know anyone too well because he thinks they will let him down. But he has his goal to be the best at what he does, that’s being a SeeD! He gets to know the other characters not very well because of the reason i have just said but once Rinoa is out cold he realises how much he likes her and even before that their are glimpses of their relationship like the dance and the way the clash strongly on certain points. He then falls in love with her and comes out of his shell thinking of her instead of is duty as a SeeD. Now can anyone give me a better character development then that?

[MJN SEIFER]

Seriously, there is like one line in a database somewhere that ‘kind-of-sort-of’ indicates that GFs might be linked to long-term memory loss before that scene. Talk about your Deus-Ex-Machina plot devices

I liked this story device, It isn't mentioned at all in FFVII (SPOILER)that cloud had a Jenova Cell and that was causing the problem until after it's no longer a threat to anyone. I can't remember anyone complaining.

In addition, the ‘love’ aspect of the story is so poorly handled it’s laughable. Squall is almost callously indifferent to Rinoa’s existence up until the beginning of disk 3 and even considers leaving her hanging off a ledge for the greater good during the Garden fight. As soon as she goes into a coma however, he suddenly ‘can’t live without her’. Cliché as hell and an illogical way of dealing with things based on what we had already seen within the game (aforementioned cliff-hanging scene already dictates how Squall should have reacted to Rinoa becoming comatose. There was no significant character development between the cliff scene and the coma).

I think as somone who has been an obsessive with romance since primary school I deserve a say here?

He isn't "Callously Indiferent to her" he: "Isn't sure, Likes her, loves her" in that order - and that's disk one. He has had a bad life in that respect. He didn't know his family, the first person he really trust enough to love left him (Though not entirly her fault) and before you all start screaming "Emo!" just try and put you're self in that situation, he sees Rinoa at the dance and despite his reluctance (Because he can't dance) you can see the chemstry even then. He sees her again later and for a while he seams confused as how he should be feeling because of his background, However he does care - you can see that when she is attacked at the parade he is very relaxing towards her. That was my first indication.

The cliff scene was a missconception - he is unable to help her at that point, Zell and co already tried and there was no way to get to her at that stage, As soon as he gets a way he goes straight towards her.

As mentioned something was already there before the coma the reason it becomes more aparant is because he obviously is guilty for not doing something sooner (Again his background is partly to blame) and he hopes her to wake up for this and because he loves her and he has (In a sense) from the start.

Although this isn't my Favourite FF it is my 2nd and scores very high in story, game play, (The Draw system is EASY did it really give you that much problems?!) and Squall and Rinoa is my favourite match up of any FF game.

I can also relate to Squall because - Although I havent had it as bad as he has, I have had people leave me and have found it dificult to trust people and make friends with people, and it wasn't until somone made friends with me (Sadly that all she is...at the moment) I was quite to my self, that is why I stand by my views that Squall was handled extremly realistically.

[Rocket Edge]

Actually, I can pretty much confirm that the character development in FF8 sucked big time.

I don’t agree! squall has probably had the biggest character development than any other character in the Final Fantasy series.

QFT, whether you liked the guy or not, Squall was defionitely the most looked into character of all the the Final Fantasies.

I think FF8 is a controversial game, so it's bound to create some hateful remarks. In general i think the love for the game defionitely outbalences the more negitive feelings people have for it. I think a neutral person would aknowledge that this really is an extraordinary game for many of it's attributes.

Personally i loved the game, and don't have anything bad to say about it.

[atlanteay]

if you think about it.....X-2 receives way more hate so does X. So there's really no point in arguing with these people about how VIII receives too much hate. I mean, some people love this game and some people hate it. Leave them to their own opinions. The game sold well and SE got their money. The end.

[f f freak]

I wouldn't go as far as to say I hate this game. I dislike it very much. This is primarily due to the forced relationship between Squall and Rinoa and because of Quistis's like non-existance after Rinoa appears. So although I don't hate it I dislike it alot and is probably in my bottom three favourite FF's.

[MJN SEIFER]

Have you read my post ff freak?

[f f freak]

Yes. I did. I still think that the love story is forced and you can't change my views on that. Just like I can't change your views that is isn't forced.