You love it or you hate it

[FF Junkie]

I don't know about everyone else, but for me it's all about the storyline first and foremost. Do you get a true sense for who the characters are? What they're fighting for?.. and against? When a game makes me feel a connection with the characters and what they're going through, THAT'S a great game. All the extras like chocobo racing/ breeding, snowboarding.... they're just that...EXTRAS. Even the gameplay (the fight engine, how/ what kinds of magic are available....) and graphics are an after thought to me when compared to the quality of the storyline and character development.
I have only played (over and over and OVER again ) FF4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and Tactics, but one thing I must say is that Square has never let me down when it comes to the storyline aspects. And I especially LOVE the music in these games. It is beautiful at times, adrenaline pumping at others...it ALWAYS aids in taking the player on the journey and making a deeper connection.
Along those lines, FF8 is in many ways my favorite game of the series. I think that everything is set up just about perfectly to play out the love story of Squall and Rinoa. The game is such that you as the player are sitting there on several occasions thinking "just tell her already," sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what will happen next. And do I even have to mention how seeing Rinoa fall into Squall's arms after being rescued from the chamber gives you goosebumps?! There are SOOO many amazing scenes in this game that truly captivate the player, and so many intricately tied together storylines that make for one epic tale... how can anyone NOT like it?... Geez, all of this reminiscing... I may have to go dust off the Playstation again...

[DestinyGundam]

I actually didn't like this game for the longest time, but recently I've started playing it again and its one of my fav RPG's.

[Excelsior]

yeah, this is definately my favorite FF game. ive played through it 8 times exactly in the last 4 years. but, it does seem to be a love-it or hate-it experience, especially on these forums.

[disapointedchild]

I love it. In my opinion it is the best.

[AkiraMakie]

Yeah, i accually didn't like it much at first either. It wasnt until i started reading an FF8 fanfic that i started to apperciate ff8

[Sephex]

My first Final Fantasy game was THE first one. Hell, I played Dragon Warrior and this crappy D&D game for my OLD AS **** PC back in the day before the original FF came out.

Anyway, I loved VII, but obviously it wasn't my first RPG. I just thought it was a very well put together game with a certain charm found in few other RPGs. I understand why people are annoyed that most mainstream gamers cling onto FFVII while ignoring everything else, but stuff like that is going to happen.

Anyway, I liked FVIII when it first came out. However, I quickly got annoyed with the game (I beat it, though). Almost everything about the game bothered me.

However, I gave the game another shot last summer, and I found that I enjoyed it. It still isn't one of my favorte FFs, but I do enjoy it a lot more than I previously did.

[SeeDRankLou]

Final Fantasy VIII is an awesome game, however it is also an aquired taste. It has plot that is layered, unoriented and hidded within itself. It has characters that can at times be very unrealistic and whose personalities are so hidden inside of the story that most people will never really see any of these characters' full development. And even if they do see it they also may not fully understand it because a lot of this story leaves much to implication and introspection. While it's not bad to do that, Square really really milked that aspect and it made for a story and characters that not many will get or understand, and even then there's the likeability aspect of these characters that varies greatly from person to person.

But the gameplay aspects of this game are top notch. Battle was fun, junctioning was a good concept that only had a few kinks to work out, and dialogue wasn't horrid at all. Triple Triad was very very fun. It had an awesome soundtrack and great graphics. And it had some of the best clothing and hairstyles of any final fantasy game. I mean, I can only look at blue hair very blatantly defying gravity before it just gets to me. Seriously though, they had rather good character design, especially with the sorceresses.

[DJZen]

I like FFVIII a lot, but really just for the gameplay. Squall is a stupid queef and Rinoa is just plain hopeless. Up with gameplay! Down with plotline!

[BackRoomKid]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT

i like Squall's moodiness and hoplessness...it gives me someone to laugh at

but seriously
FFVIII has been tied for first place on my FF list...i won't tell any of you what the other is...all that's gonna happen is someone quote me and flame me

[MrEvil]

I'm playing it as we speak, just beat the first disc.
This is my first "modern" Final Fantasy exposure, although I have watched Final Fantasy 7 play out to some extent.

I like Final Fantasy 8 because it's less fantasy than it is science-fiction, it gave one a good feeling when they were hired to assasinate the sorceress, only to see it fail when she simply blocks the bullet. Oh well, I got to kick some *** anyways, plus, the cinematics are awesome.

I can only hope that I won't be let down by the next 3 disk.
Or FF7 when I play it.

[rubah]

I like Final Fantasy 8 because it's less fantasy than it is science-fiction

Exactly. I like me a good futuristic story, not some drafty wet castle with a moping princess.

awesome spaceships>drafty wet castles anyday.

[BackRoomKid]

what i really liked it was the stereo typical "i'm a teenage and i have issues" kinda theme with Squall...cuz when i was playing it I was major drama boy and all that crap...so it got me more attached to the game

[Trumpet Thief]

chaos: I really did like FFVIII, as it got me into looking for old-school Final Fantasy games. I knew there werea few flaws, some very noticeable, and some not so much, but, I got into the game pretty fast, so i was able to ignore all of those, and enjoy the game to it's fullest.

Rubedo: As well, Squall's personality, and various quotes from him made me laugh a WHOLE LOT from time to time. Overall a good game, which I had fun with.

Albedo: *Laughs maniacally*

[MrEvil]

Exactly. I like me a good futuristic story, not some drafty wet castle with a moping princess.

awesome spaceships>drafty wet castles anyday.

Infact, if I remember correctly, the "princess" is yelling at you to stop moping.
Plus, the human interaction seemed, well, human!

[ViVincent]

Well i have played my handful of rpgs
Including FF VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, X, X-2, and II.
THere is not one that i despise more than VIII, i did yes play this after VII, but that is not what decided it for me. The game really requires no skill ever, just GF GF GF. Characters are bland and boring. IT is easily my least fav. FF. SOrry if i offend any VIII lovers, but it is what it is to me