I like VIII's gameplay, but aside from that I think it was one of the worst Final Fantasys ever. The two main characters (Squall and Rinoa) were terrible and annoying (well, Squall wasnt at first, then he became obsessed with Rinoa and became intolerable), and all the other characters were shoved into the background and didnt get much character development. The game made it clear that only Rinoa and Squall mattered, and the others were just there as catalysts.

I felt the romance was forced and just annoying... drawing magic blewn... Triple Triad was fun, the fmvs were pretty...

All that having been said, I think VI is far better. Heck, anything is far better.