Having attempted to replay both games recently I'm going to revise my opinion. While I have many complaints about FF8 I at least feel like I'm getting something from that game, I've made three attempts at CC as of late and have gotten nothing from from it. The characters in FF8 are extremely flawed and maybe even insufferable at times, but at least they feel like real characters with actual personalities, backstories and development. CC is a flat zero in that regard, calling most of that game's cast "one-note" would imply they actually have some modicum of personality to begin with. And since I can't get invested in the characters that obviously means I have no interest in the story at all. FF8's junction system is broken as hell but I'll give the game points for trying something new and different, CC's battle system does little to innovate and is exciting as watching paint dry. I'd say the only two qualities that CC actually beats FF8 at are the music and graphics, but not by much and not enough to make up for the game's other shortcomings, so FF8 wins for me.