Final Fantasy VIII-Rate the Game!

[the lynch clone]

I would give the game a 10.

I love the story. The graphics, for the time, were extraordinary. The music is also top-notch. I think the battle/leveling/junction systems were perfect, mainly because I really don't care to use magic. Ever. The only times I use magic is to cast meltdown and aura. This is to speed up the inevitable demise of the adversaries. Do I want the battle to last more than 14 seconds? Absolutely not. Dismember the enemies and leave. Mission accomplished.

As for the story, I shall repeat the statement in the previous paragraph; I love it. Why do people dislike the fact that it focuses on Squall and Rinoa? This may come as a surprise, but can you keep a secret? Squall is the protagonist! Of course the story focuses on him, and subsequently, Rinoa. Does anyone care if Zell was abused by overzealous nuns 10 years ago? Not really. The rest of the cast is there for support, hence the term "supporting cast." I think the story played out like a Hollywood movie, which I thought was interesting. It reminds me of Michael Bay films (Armageddon, Pearl Harbor). The idea of the story WAS to focus on Squall and Rinoa. Had they went in-depth more with the other characters, the story would have arbitrarily inane tangents, thus resulting in the liquification of the meager amount of gray matter currently residing in your cranial cavity.

The graphics were superb and the FMV sequences were brilliantly done. I've heard people say "Durrr, Finel Fantusey X had more betterer grafics than 8 did." Thanks for solving this quandary, Detective Holmes. I say it rivals graphics of PS2 games today. I am still in awe and elated when I see the ending movie. Even the pre-rendered backgrounds look phenomenal.

The leveling and junction systems were perfect as far as I am concerned. Finally, leveling up doesn't take up 138 hours of the 150 hour game. Don't correct that last sentence, it was merely an exaggeration. The junction system also rocked because everyone could do everything. Need a good fighter? Screw it, make 'em all fighters. Need a good magic caster? That last question was not really a question at all, for if you use magic to defeat the enemies, then you are inarguably weak and should cease playing this game forever.

The music was audible nirvana. Each piece was breathtaking and fit the moment of action/drama perfectly. The ending theme and The Successor are the standouts.

35. That's the number I lost count after. So I've played this game at least 35 times all the way through. Therefore my review is ultimate and any other review is shadowed by irrelevance. I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Hay you! Finul Fantesee 7 is more gooder than 8!!" Or perhaps pondering, "What nerve! Finnal Fanttessy X is the bestest of all!!! OMG, LMFAO!!!" I have played 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 multiple times. I just find 8 the most intriguing. All are good games, I just prefer 8. End of story.