I personally don't think it gets enough credit, but I dunno if I can give a good arguement cause I love the game, but I'll admit it had flaws.

Strangely enough, for me anyway, was I dislike how quickly it took to level up. Granted I hate leveling up, so another reason why I like FF8 so much, but it shouldn't have been as easy as it was.

The Junction System can easily be manipulated to get very good stats early on. (Getting Heal Refine (forget the actual name) and having lots of Tents will get you A LOT of Curagas, Junction that to HP to have around 3,000 or much later in the game 9,000)

The Limit Breaks can also be manipulated if you stay in Critical and never Cure. (Critical + Holy War = PWNAGE)

So in gameplay alone it's very easy to manipulate, but also helps alot if you don't like training (like me)

For the story.. Well once again I loved it all, but I'm smart enough to know there are many holes and problems with the story.

For example, the chances of those 5 growing up together, getting seperated then all meeting again, are near impossible. (Other than Squall, Seifer, Zell and Quistis who were all sent to Balamb.)
-What were the chances Selphie was sent to Balamb so close to the time they'd start their Seed Missions.
-What were the chances that Irvine would have been chosen as the SharpShooter? (I'm sure some people assumed he was the only one, but it is sort of hinted by Martine that there are others "Let me introduce an elite sharpshooter from Galbadia Garden. Kinneas! Irvine Kinneas!" He didn't say Our Only, he said AN meaning there's multiple.)
- WHY would they pick someone who cracks under pressure for such an important mission? (this question just popped in my head and it's a good one)


Most people dislike Final Fantasy VIII cause it's a love story (between Squall and Rinoa / Laguna and Julia / Rinoa and Seifer / Laguna and Raine. There's also Irvine and Selphia / Quistis(her crush) and Squall / Edea and Cid)

As a big fan of love stories, I see no real problem. But considering Squall's nature at the begining of the game, he did sort of fall for Rinoa too quick, but did he really? I'd like to quote Irvine now Irvine: "Hey, Selphie... That goes for you, too! Hmm... So, Sis was Ellone, eh? Everyone was fond of Sis, but you, Squall, you kept hoggin' her for yourself."

and any player of FF8 knows this quote..

"I'm...all alone. But I'm doing my best... I'll be ok without you, Sis. I'll be able to take care of myself."

He was always waiting for Sis to come back. If I understand Squall right I think he clings to people. He clinged to Ellone at first and then stopped caring for quite awhile then Rinoa shows up and he clings to her. In that sense it's not really a big love story and they didn't fall fast, Squall just got really clingy and Rinoa just wanted to be protected and loved.

Rinoa is usually many FF8 haters and FF8 lovers hate. Considering she covers most of the game, it's no wonder they dislike the game if they don't like her. I never seen a problem with her, but I have weird taste in girls. =P

She's the typical Girl In Danger right? Let me use my keen memory of VIII to see when she needed rescueing. Well first it was from Iguina things Edea.

- Rinoa was trying to prove she was strong, that she had a purpose and despite what Rinoa Haters claim, that she wasn't useless. She got the Odine Bangle thing, went after her and tried to get her to wear it. I didn't see Quistis, Zell and Selphie showing up after the assassination failed, did you? Rinoa was right there, as was Irvine.

My mind's going in order so I'll mention it was Rinoa who sort of saved Zell, Quistis, Squall and Selphie from D-District Prison. She was saved, and she forced Irvine to go help the others. (Note- Irvine knew he grew up with them but did HE go try and save them? Rinoa, who had barely known them went and tried to rescue them)

I may be missing one, but the next time she needs saved is when she was dangling from the Garden.

- Was it her fault a peice of the Garden broke? Hell I give her huge Kudos for being able to hang on so long. If memory serves at the end of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud was going to fall into the Life Stream and was dangling, he just about fell but was saved. No one mentions that though, do they? -.- Fanboys.. >Is a hypocrite<

After that it's Rinoa in Space (WHICH she wouldn't have been if Squall hadn't taken her there to save her. Then she was possessed. She had no control over going into space to free Adel's tomb.)


So, clearly, in my oppinion, Rinoa has more than shown her worlth throughout the game. She gets more crap than anyone else in the game, and she's done much more than Selphie, Zell, Quistis and Irvine. I mean looked at their screw ups

Zell - Announcing there from the Garden to Deling, was stupid. He's the reason the missiles were fired at Trabia and Balamb.

Selphie - Other than flying the Ragnorak I don't remember her doing much. If anything she's the useless one.

Quistis - Going in the training center after hours? FORSHAME
Okay that was really all that came to mind for her ^^;

Irvine - Failing to assassinate Edea, Leaving the others in Prison (yeah he was following orders but still..)

Squall - Wasting too much time playing Triple Triad (Okay that was my bad but still..)

This is all mostly my oppinions and I'm not trying to start an arguement. Just say why I think it doesn't enough credit, and mention why certain people don't get enough credit.


(I'm actually browsing through the Game Script and I noticed something)

I think someone in this topic claimed Squall had no Leadership skills but I'm noticing something. Granted I'm no leader so this is just my oppinion, but I think he's shown many Leadership traits. During the attempt of Edea's Assassination, Irvine suddenly decides he can't do it. Squall not only inspires Irvine to shoot the gun but also he was the first one to reach Edea after it failed. He didn't wait for back-up, didn't bring anyone. Just took off. He was going to ensure the mission was a success.

When he's being tortured he doesn't give up any information (Okay he doesn't really know anything but I always make make stuff up, the filling the world with flowers is too funny.)

His most notable Leadership quality, well I think so, is his following speech during The Garden Battle (Galabadia against Balamb) Everyone's hurt, some have died, ect

"......Everybody, this is Squall. How's everyone doing? You're all probably too tired to even stand up after all the fighting. But I want to everyone to listen to me... We still have a chance to win, and I need your help. This is going to be our final battle. We're going to attack them before they come in again. To do that, we're going to head straight into their Garden. So I want everyone to prepare for a major collision. Take care of the junior classmen. Irvine, Quistis, Zell, and Selphie will lead the attack into their Garden. As for everyone else, please support them if you can. SeeD was formed to fight the sorceress: at least, that's what I heard. And Garden was created to train SeeDs. So this battle is Garden's destiny and also our destiny. It's a grueling battle, and I'm sure you guys are all exhausted. But I don't want to have any regrets. I don't want anyone to look back and regret this day. So just this once, I want you guys to give everything you got!
For yourselves and for me!"

Isn't a leader suppose to inspire? That's what he does, and in result they ended up succeeding in reaching Edea.

People saying him not caring is not very leadership like, but it's just an act. Listen to his thoughts and you can tell he cares, he just doesn't WANT to want to care. He risks his life for Rinoa, risks his life plenty of times to ensure the mission is successful. He saves Zell aswell during the D-District Prison (He even mentioned his dislike for Zell when they first learned they were working together.)

Well this post is long enough so I'll stop now.