DQVIII is pretty much the antithesis of FFVII. Let's compare:
FFVII --- DQVIII
Cyberpunk --- Swords & Sorcery
Bad Translation --- Good Translation
ZOMG TEH UBARL337 KOTR SUMMON MATERIAZ LOLOLOL --- Oh look! I got a new spell that lets me do 30 damage to all enemies! SWEET!
Extremely whiney characters --- Extremely comical characters
Cinematic FMVs --- In game graphics onry!
No voice acting --- Tons of voice acting
Long, drawn out, cinematic attacks --- Brief attack animations with text descriptions
You get money for breathing --- You occasionally get small amounts of money for achieving the impossible
Tifa --- Jessica
You can literally OHK many of the bosses --- The toughest optional boss is immune to magic and only takes about 5 damage per hit
So really, it all comes down to what your preference is in RPGs.
