Final Fantasy VIII

 PlayStation
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1236 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,043 out of 1236
  2. Mixed: 119 out of 1236
  3. Negative: 74 out of 1236
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  1. AtomosFabian
    May 11, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy VIII es una gran aventura con muchos giros y una historia increƭble, la banda sonora es espectacular, cinemƔticas espectaculares y el diseƱo artƭstico estƔ impecable, un juego que te marca y guardas en tus recuerdos para toda la vida.
  2. GuiBio
    Dec 29, 2022
    10
    Nostalgic and my first JRPG, played for so many hours. It was before the great internet times.
  3. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this eighth game in the series.
  4. shydxath
    May 19, 2023
    10
    my fav final fantasy game, the story and the characters are it made me fell so clode to it that even made me cry, should play it
  5. Squallleon
    Jul 1, 2023
    10
    This is by far my fave game of all time a must play. Has a unique story with well developed characters. A deep and compelling plot. And the game play is awesome with a really good lineup of summons, limit breaks, magics and weapons. Monster designs are awesome too. And by far the best romance done in a video game. This game was so epic for me that it still holds a special place for me.This is by far my fave game of all time a must play. Has a unique story with well developed characters. A deep and compelling plot. And the game play is awesome with a really good lineup of summons, limit breaks, magics and weapons. Monster designs are awesome too. And by far the best romance done in a video game. This game was so epic for me that it still holds a special place for me. Donā€™t think another game will come close. I used to have hopes that versus 13 would come close but that game just took a whole new direction. This game should get a remake a well done one. That would be the day!!… Expand
  6. JerkGuy
    Oct 4, 2007
    9
    FFVIII is an awesome game, some people I have met judge it a bit too harshly because the first FF they played was VII, in my experience with FF fans, it
  7. Pauline
    May 3, 2005
    9
    I personally thought this was a great game. The setting and characters truly moved me. And the musical score was just absolutely superb. Although some of the characters didn't receive great character development, it was the two main ones that was truly great. Although there are many flaws in the game, I highly recommend it.
  8. AndrewN.
    Jul 3, 2008
    9
    The characterization in Final Fantasy 8 is incredible. In terms of storyline and setting,its one of the most sophisticated games in the series. An unforgettable epic.
  9. BryanM.
    Dec 2, 2006
    9
    This is a very good game I also like the mini game. My only problem was the graphics it looks like they tried to make it look so good but they really made it look bad.
  10. DaveW.
    Aug 25, 2007
    9
    FFVIII is ofen over shadowed by it's direct predecessor in the series. The story here is very deep and intricate compared to the vast majority of games. The world is well crafted. The only niggles that hold me back from rating this a 10 are minor issues with the difficulty pacing, possibly leading players into boss fights they do not have the braun to win in areas they cannot rectify FFVIII is ofen over shadowed by it's direct predecessor in the series. The story here is very deep and intricate compared to the vast majority of games. The world is well crafted. The only niggles that hold me back from rating this a 10 are minor issues with the difficulty pacing, possibly leading players into boss fights they do not have the braun to win in areas they cannot rectify the issue in (disc 4 first boss, exp is 1 a fight in this area, and it's easy to reach this point massivly under-powered if you're a fast player). It is also possible to max your character and GF levels out on the first disc extremely quickly by exploiting certain easy to defeat monsters in very early areas of the world map.… Expand
  11. AdamD.
    Dec 3, 2008
    9
    This game is really good, but not perfect. The story is top-notch and the cinematics are well-done. It's pretty lengthy (maybe a little too lengthy) and gets you hooked easily. The only problems are the battles and the fact that there is no voice-acting. They could have easily added voice acting and have just made the game five discs instead of four, but they felt the immense urge This game is really good, but not perfect. The story is top-notch and the cinematics are well-done. It's pretty lengthy (maybe a little too lengthy) and gets you hooked easily. The only problems are the battles and the fact that there is no voice-acting. They could have easily added voice acting and have just made the game five discs instead of four, but they felt the immense urge not to. Instead, we get characters that aren't as emotional because everything they say is in text. They fixed that now, but come on. I would have loved this game to be voice acted. Second of all, the battles are fun, but not incredibly fun. They could have made the battles more intuitive and a lot more fun to play, making you actually want to not run whenever you have a random battle. Overall, though, this is a great game with a great story, good characters, an amazing soundtrack and satisfactory gameplay. Also, to the idiots who rate this and other games 0 out of 10, learn what makes a game bad. If you think the game is boring, it deserves a 6 out of 10, not a 0 out of 10. A 0 out of 10 is for a game that is an absolute disgrace to humanity, a game that no one enjoys and is broken in every way. As far as I am concerned, this game is not like that. Please stop being idiots and give the game a fair rating, unless you really, really, really hate it and think it is as good as Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing. Which, in that case, I would be fine with your rating. However, "boring" does not make the game a Big Rigs. Please rate fairly.… Expand
  12. theshonen8899
    Jun 21, 2011
    9
    Guardian Forces are easy to exploit but other than that, this game is the closest thing to perfection unleashed on mankind. Gameplay is fun, graphics are playable (even today), story is great and the game has the deepest, most beautiful cast of characters ever created in the world of video games. If you like RPGs, you will fall in love with FFVIII.
  13. jaga420
    Dec 4, 2010
    9
    I adore the storyline, and the graphics were a huge improvement over FF7. Honestly, FF7 gets overrated so often that FF8 falls in its shadow. It's very unfortunate. The battle system is great, but the music can get repetitive at times. My major complaint about FF8, however, is the junction system. Parts of it are good, such as the idea of having the GFs (summons) give you differentI adore the storyline, and the graphics were a huge improvement over FF7. Honestly, FF7 gets overrated so often that FF8 falls in its shadow. It's very unfortunate. The battle system is great, but the music can get repetitive at times. My major complaint about FF8, however, is the junction system. Parts of it are good, such as the idea of having the GFs (summons) give you different abilities. What I don't like about it is how you get magic abilities by drawing it from enemies to a max of 100. It can take a very long time to get the magic you want or need. That's not the worst of it: you can change your stats by equipping your magic to each stat. This makes things overly complicated, and makes it so that using magic WEAKENS YOU. It annoys me heavily because I'm usually a pretty heavy magic user. Even more annoying than that is that the last 3 bosses in the game have the ability to deplete one magic spell to 0, which absolutely cripples you. Of course, I also like it in a way because it gives some added difficulty to the last boss even if you're level 100. Which brings me to my favorite part of the game: the enemies scale to your level for once! They really need to do that with more final fantasy games.… Expand
  14. ImUnavailable
    Feb 27, 2012
    9
    I grew up with FF8. This was the game that would spark my love of gaming. Of course you probably imagine that you can't trust my review since I'll be blinded by nostalgia. However, I played this game once again recently and while it was still a fantastic experience i can now see that the game definitely stumbles on occasion. For the first two discs the story is thrilling and effectivelyI grew up with FF8. This was the game that would spark my love of gaming. Of course you probably imagine that you can't trust my review since I'll be blinded by nostalgia. However, I played this game once again recently and while it was still a fantastic experience i can now see that the game definitely stumbles on occasion. For the first two discs the story is thrilling and effectively told. After this, it becomes messy, confusing and more than a bit ridiculous (you know I'm talking about the orphanage twist). Every character except Squall and Laguna are dull and don't develop in any meaningful way. The world feels strangely small and doesn't have the personality of FF7 or FF9. Still, the combat system is excellent and deep, the story is engaging for the most part, the animation is superb for its time and the mini games are addictive. Despite my grievances, FF8 is a worthy entry in the venerable series and I look forward to playing it again.… Expand
  15. drlowdon
    Jan 6, 2020
    9
    The eighth main instalment in the long running RPG series, Final Fantasy VIII follows a group of young mercenaries, led by Squall Leonhart, as they are drawn into a conflict sparked by Ultimecia, a sorceress from the future who wishes to compress time.

    Often compared unfavourably to Final Fantasy VII, which many would still consider the best in the series, this is a fantastic game in    The eighth main instalment in the long running RPG series, Final Fantasy VIII follows a group of young mercenaries, led by Squall Leonhart, as they are drawn into a conflict sparked by Ultimecia, a sorceress from the future who wishes to compress time.

    Often compared unfavourably to Final Fantasy VII, which many would still consider the best in the series, this is a fantastic game in its own right. Anyone that isnā€™t a fan of these old school JRPGs will still be put off by the usual random encounters but with itā€™s deep combat, epic story, endless secrets to discover and (what were at the time) fantastic graphics this remains one of the best in the genre to this day.    … Expand
  16. SnowDay
    Jan 9, 2015
    9
    Easily one of the most perfect RPGs I have ever played. An enthralling story and epic characters like Squall Leonhart and Edea Kramer make the game more than memorable on the obsession scale.
  17. BasilZero
    Jul 26, 2016
    9
    Game: Final Fantasy VIII
    Genre: RPG
    Publisher/Developer: Squareenix/Squaresoft System: Playstation (PSX) Total Score: 88/100 Value Score: 8.8/10 ā€¢ Story: 10/10 ā€¢ Characters: 10/10 ā€¢ GamePlay: 7/10 ā€¢ Graphics: 8/10 ā€¢ Sound: 9/10 ā€¢ Music: 10/10 ā€¢ Length: 10/10 ā€¢ Replay Value: 6/10 ā€¢ Player Value: 8/10 Pros +Great story, setting and characters +Unique battle system that    Game: Final Fantasy VIII
    Genre: RPG
    Publisher/Developer: Squareenix/Squaresoft
    System: Playstation (PSX)
    Total Score: 88/100
    Value Score: 8.8/10

    ā€¢ Story: 10/10
    ā€¢ Characters: 10/10
    ā€¢ GamePlay: 7/10
    ā€¢ Graphics: 8/10
    ā€¢ Sound: 9/10
    ā€¢ Music: 10/10
    ā€¢ Length: 10/10
    ā€¢ Replay Value: 6/10
    ā€¢ Player Value: 8/10

    Pros
    +Great story, setting and characters
    +Unique battle system that brings forth challenge/difficulty that still makes it fun to play without getting frustrated
    +A Card battling mini game which can be played against different characters throughout the game

    Cons
    -Junction system may make people not want to use magic spells so to a certain extent takes away one aspect that many people love about the FF series
    -Quick Time Events (QTEs) which can be annoying at a few points in the game
    -Some cutscenes are done with the in-game sprites/visual which makes it look out of place
    -Enemies scale in level depending on party lv average
    -You upgrade equipment by trading items which can at times be annoying to find and end up being fetch quests
    -You have to complete certain conditions or do a multiple answer test to increase your ranking to make money/gil instead of the traditional fight enemies and win money method    … Expand
  18. FantasyFanatic
    May 6, 2012
    9
    This is my favorite Final Fantasy game on the PS1 and is far more accomplished than Final Fantasy VII. The story and characters are fantastic, The soundtrack is one of the best I have heard in a Final Fantasy game, the battle system feels far more advanced (in a good way) than Final Fantasy VII the Junction system is a bit complicated but in my opinion it is one of the best systems becauseThis is my favorite Final Fantasy game on the PS1 and is far more accomplished than Final Fantasy VII. The story and characters are fantastic, The soundtrack is one of the best I have heard in a Final Fantasy game, the battle system feels far more advanced (in a good way) than Final Fantasy VII the Junction system is a bit complicated but in my opinion it is one of the best systems because the character customization options offered by the Junction system are huge. The ability system feels very similar to Final Fantasy VI seeing that you have to equip the Summons to get the abilities. however the game is by no means flawless even though it's much better than FF7 it does have a couple of issues: Stocking magic spells can be a big chore, the SeeD rank system should have been removed because it get's a bit erratic at times seeing that your SeeD rank randomly increases and decreases so your better off selling items you don't need because you get alot more money doing that, there are a couple of other small niggles but it's not enough to ruin the game. Even though it's not perfect it is still an awesome and memorable RPG experience that you shouldn't miss out on.… Expand
  19. moonman1994
    Jul 15, 2012
    9
    Final Fantasy VIII is a good game. One of the reasons that it is good is that it's a lot different from other Final Fantasy games. Final Fantasy VIII manages to include Science Fiction aspects as well as a great fantasy story that fans of the Final Fantasy series have come to love. The battle system is nothing special but the very unique story makes up for the flaws that this game has.
  20. SwitSwat
    Nov 9, 2014
    9
    The three PS1 FF games are all amazing. I would consider this one the worst out of those 3, though... And no, it's not because of the Junction System. Overall, the story was pretty weird and the battles didn't feel as fun as it did in the previous game, FF VII... And a lot of the characters are ----- towards each other. Nevertheless, it's a great game and any FF fan or anyone who wants toThe three PS1 FF games are all amazing. I would consider this one the worst out of those 3, though... And no, it's not because of the Junction System. Overall, the story was pretty weird and the battles didn't feel as fun as it did in the previous game, FF VII... And a lot of the characters are ----- towards each other. Nevertheless, it's a great game and any FF fan or anyone who wants to try FF should definitely pick this one up sometime.… Expand
  21. iKen
    Apr 13, 2020
    9
    Played on PlayStation.
    Gameplay: GREAT.
    Story: GREAT.
    Graphic: GREAT.
    Music/Sound: GREAT.
    Dialogue: GREAT.
  22. DarkFlamesZM
    Feb 14, 2013
    9
    The story is pretty straight-forward. Unlike other FF games, there is no real good and/or evil. There are just two sides. It had many plotholes, sure, but it was entertaining... until disc 4... then the story really began to hurt my head. Anyway, get an emulator or a PS and give this game a shot, it's worth your time!
  23. darkgriever
    May 26, 2014
    9
    not a perfect game i should admit...but i donĀ“t know the story just capture me i simpy love the progression of squall( i identify with him a LOT) and just love the way Rinoa is...my favorite RPG of all times n_n
  24. crimsondoor
    Jul 15, 2016
    9
    I know this game divided people because of the combat system but at least it tried to be original. My point is people didn't like this game because of the system but because of the art style, pre-rendered animations, music and story.

    Art style: Not exactly futuristic, not exactly steampunk, not exactly fantasy, but it's beautiful and unforgettable. There hasn't been another fantasy game    I know this game divided people because of the combat system but at least it tried to be original. My point is people didn't like this game because of the system but because of the art style, pre-rendered animations, music and story.

    Art style: Not exactly futuristic, not exactly steampunk, not exactly fantasy, but it's beautiful and unforgettable. There hasn't been another fantasy game with such unique art style since FF8.

    Animations: Far ahead of its time but I bet everyone has already watched the OP and cutscenes so I don't need to mention that. I strongly feel that the lack of voice in cutscenes is a blessing because voice would break the immersion IMO.

    Music: Nobuo Uematasu. Need to say more? "Eyes On Me" is also the best theme song in the history of video game.

    Story: Again, this divided a lot of people because the story is more sci-fi than fantasy, but I am an open-minded person and I like how unique it is. It also goes from mind-twisting to one of the most satisfying endings in video game history :)    … Expand
  25. Kiatoto
    Dec 27, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Oh boy, This game... I remember back when I was young.
    When I was 3 my first game was FFVII and FFVIII, what Can I say about this childhood experience? Great! I love this game and everything about it. But, as a great game it does have some flaws.
    1. The Junction is very confusing, but at the mean time you'll get used to it.
    2) the Magic, since I played VII alot, this magic system and the draw system, is too easy, but hey that's my opinion.
    3)You need at least 1,000 exp to go to the next level, it's easy, but it's a pain if you need to level up the weak ones.
    4)once it's done it's done.

    But other than that, This is Impressive, and a Amazing RPG game, the story line is beautiful, and added some romance into it. The game is long as hell and you'll be playing it for at least 100-200 hours to beat it. And the Graphics are amazing for a PS1.Defentely an Amazing game, but VII is 35% better than VIII.    … Expand
  26. KingDevil999
    Feb 19, 2017
    9
    The final fantasy with the protagonist i like the most, Squall is one of the best protagonists in the final fantasy series, he is way better than Tidus, better than Zidane(still like Zidane a lot) in a way and pretty much equal to cloud, the party is also memorable whoever i think if there were more humanoid characters like VII and IX would have been better, but still an epic story withThe final fantasy with the protagonist i like the most, Squall is one of the best protagonists in the final fantasy series, he is way better than Tidus, better than Zidane(still like Zidane a lot) in a way and pretty much equal to cloud, the party is also memorable whoever i think if there were more humanoid characters like VII and IX would have been better, but still an epic story with many memorable moments, one of the gems of the PS1 era, i personally think the two characters that fell flat were Rinoa and Seifer, Rinoa could have been an better heroine and Seifer is an boring character that i don't know why he is in the story to tell the truth, if you like classic JRPGS and Sci-fi with military settings, this is your game.
    Also want to thanks square for actually removing the supposed ''love triangle'' that was originally meant to be in the game, it would only bring the story down, wouldn't help at all and likely be boring to watch    … Expand
  27. Wolfie1987
    Mar 24, 2014
    9
    Squall isn't a likeable protagonist at all, the magic system is super boring (drawing/casting is easily the worst magic system ever created), the cast is a mixed bag. The music, atmosphere, mini games, & satisfaction (if you do the cards into items/no level up strategy) more than make up for it though. Honestly it's my favourite PSX Final Fantasy.
  28. Lord_V
    May 17, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Final Fantasy VIII is my favorite Final Fantasy game of them all. VII is second best and VIII is just little better.

    Squall Leonhart is my favorite main character in whole series. He is lone wolf who uses Gunblade, weapon that is very cool looking, just like it's wielder. Squall is character that is distant, but there is real story behind him and he changes during the story that is actually very deep, complicated and really interesting.

    What comes to other playable characters, there is not very many of them, but it is just right. This is story of elite unit, there can't be too many of them. Every character is really different to others. Quistis is Blue mage that uses enemy skills in limit. Zell is fighter and his limit requires fast fingers. Irvine is gunner who has huge variety of different ammo which to choose and Selphie is the one that requires some luck.
    Then there is Rinoa, who is the kind, social and loving person, real opposite to Squall. Their lovestory is actually interesting and as playable character Rinoa and her dog Angelo, are well made.
    Squall is best, no doubt. Renzokuken is real monster slayer, especially with Lion Heart.

    Enemies are at first pretty unappealing. Seifer is not really interesting nor well made character and Edea is pretty cliche witch character. But when story stars to progress, real villain, Ultimecia appears and she, is much, much, better.
    Sure she is not as good as Sephiroth (best FF villain ever made) was in FFVII, but she is well made and interesting character. With Griever, she is even better and finale with her, is epic.

    Guardian Forces are big thing this time. There huge amount of them and each is well made. Some look little weird, but they work and are different.
    It is complicated to explain the whole junction system, but it works really well. At first it may be complicated, but once you understand it, it gives much to do in this large game. GF:s are spread in many places and whole world is large as life. There is so much to do and find. There is so many side activities that it gives easily 100 hours if not more to play.

    Final Fantasy VIII is game that gives you small chances to shape few events. Time to time, you choose how you react to certain situations. These are nice additions to main story. I really enjoy the story time after time.
    Sure you have to do a lot to progress and few sections might feel pretty hard, but when you understand junction system, you have upper hand. Guardian Forces also give a lot of variety and so does the bosses. There is many very cool bosses and many very hard ones too.

    Those flaws in the game are some that feel really irritating, but you can live with them.
    One thing I really despise, is the Draw system. It is not fun and takes easily a lot of time. That is one thing that should have been though few times over.
    Other problem is the fact that this is one of those games where you can easily miss items. GF:s are some things that can be missed if you are not careful. Also, if you start final section (Disc 4), you can't visit every location anymore.

    Final Fantasy VIII is great game. It has interesting story, well made main character and even better than average main villain. Gameplay is well made and world has a lot in it. There is few stupid moments and some irritating features but as whole, Final Fantasy 8, is my favorite FF game of all time.

    + Squall Leonhart
    + Story
    + Gameplay
    + Amount of things to do
    + Guardian Forces

    - Draw
    - Missable things
    - Disc 4 restricts many areas

    95/100

    Masterpiece    … Expand
  29. EpicLadySponge
    Apr 24, 2016
    9
    It's games like these you have to keep looking aware of and because this is the first game I gave a Final Fantasy game a score that's not a 10, it's going to be different but this is unique like the other installments subsequent to this game.
  30. ThecriticGoD
    Mar 15, 2016
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Definetely an amazing game that everyone should play if they like RPG's just a bit. The world, the music, the combat system, the side-quests and minigames, it's impossible not to have fun with this game. The graphics are also extremely good considering it's a 1999 game.

    However there's a little let-down compared to FF7. Good storylines should have a good beginning, a good development and a good ending. I feel the beginning is extremely good, learning about the gardens, that form seeds to finish with sorceress... The development is great too, specially when your story starts to get mixed with Laguna's one, seifer becoming the sorceress' knight, a lot of good stuff going on, but the ending? I feel at some point they did not know what to do with the beautiful world and story they had created and someone thought about the time compression thing, ultimecia and stuff and it's that moment when you can't help but feel that this legendary game you've been playing for hours is starting to get a bit uninteresting/boring/vague. Luckily, by that time you only play for 3-4 more hours until it finishes with a beautiful and unforgettable final cutscene.    … Expand
  31. Barnes1987
    Mar 19, 2017
    9
    Quality game that will keep you going for weeks. One of the best Final Fantasy games with a step up in graphics from the previous game. Well worth a play through if you have the original Playstation.
  32. Lime_Lioness_
    Jan 15, 2017
    9
    FFVIII has a Solid story line with the most realistically written cast of characters of the series.
    The Battle and Leveling systems, The Draw and Junction systems. are easy to take advantage of and can be easy to make your party very over powered early in the game.
    The graphics and Music are phenomenal with characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura and amazing composed soundtrack by Nubuo    FFVIII has a Solid story line with the most realistically written cast of characters of the series.
    The Battle and Leveling systems, The Draw and Junction systems. are easy to take advantage of and can be easy to make your party very over powered early in the game.

    The graphics and Music are phenomenal with characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura and amazing composed soundtrack by Nubuo Uemetsu. FFVIII makes a unforgettable journey that will positively stick with you for your money's worth in a good classic.

    While for Hardcore fans the realistic art styles and feel of the game's cast may have been a turn from FFVII
    Final Fantasy VIII offers more interaction with the cast and makes sure no one is left out of the story.

    The game play may confuse some at first but as said before it becomes much easier and much more addictive.    … Expand
  33. marcelus
    Mar 17, 2017
    9
    As VII even as VI. You got to respect this was generational one of the Final Fantasy games that made people get interested in the franchise back in 1999. I played this game back then in Japanese all the way through CD4 then in english and then in spanish. The game protagonist may not be the best but the ride is full of lovely NPC's, the world is very beaituful and it has one of the bestAs VII even as VI. You got to respect this was generational one of the Final Fantasy games that made people get interested in the franchise back in 1999. I played this game back then in Japanese all the way through CD4 then in english and then in spanish. The game protagonist may not be the best but the ride is full of lovely NPC's, the world is very beaituful and it has one of the best Soundtracks on the whole FF story. Told even by people who didn't like it as an RPG much.… Expand
  34. mugsy
    May 9, 2020
    9
    Better than FF7 for me. It was a huge graphical leap and characters actually looked like real people which adds to the immersion unlike the LEGO figures from FF7
  35. 6oni
    Oct 15, 2018
    9
    (N)
    i like the concept of GF but It is rare that you are the only one who looks for them and finds
    only squall and d witches have a good design I dont like dat enemies hav infinite magic infinite enemies takes away realism too easy u cant skip summons cutscenes wixth its make d batles anoying(even in his time) nd d summons make a ridiculous damage as in all FFs contradictions nd    (N)
    i like the concept of GF but It is rare that you are the only one who looks for them and finds
    only squall and d witches have a good design
    I dont like dat enemies hav infinite magic
    infinite enemies takes away realism
    too easy
    u cant skip summons cutscenes wixth its make d batles anoying(even in his time)
    nd d summons make a ridiculous damage as in all FFs
    contradictions nd lame quests
    (+)
    step counter
    every 100 hours change the color of time
    gunblade absurd and cool at the same time
    music ,art, color palette
    limits are more interactive    … Expand
  36. Antares_A
    Oct 31, 2018
    9
    The junction system is masterpiece i love it!
    The only bad thing about this game is the poor character writing most of the characters don't have enough screen time, it's only Squall and Rinoa.
    it has the final dungeon of all FF series.
  37. Kezian
    Jul 30, 2019
    9
    Final Fantasy VIII is a great game ! Not as much as the previous one tough.
  38. ArcCoat
    Jun 11, 2019
    9
    My real rating is 9.5
    This is one of my top final fantasy games.
    Unlike most players, I actually enjoyed the battle system A LOT. It looks bad and confusing at first, but once you understand how it works, it can become very fun and addictive, you even start looking forward to battles. The story is excellent, I really enjoyed it. The one thing that lowered the score for me (it could    My real rating is 9.5
    This is one of my top final fantasy games.
    Unlike most players, I actually enjoyed the battle system A LOT. It looks bad and confusing at first, but once you understand how it works, it can become very fun and addictive, you even start looking forward to battles.
    The story is excellent, I really enjoyed it.
    The one thing that lowered the score for me (it could easily have been a 10) was the fact that the character development was a little bit lacking. The characters seem a little bit superficial sometimes, but nothing to cry over, really.    … Expand
  39. Robert88
    Nov 19, 2021
    9
    Great characters , amazing story , a lot of exploration and customization , the game mechanics are very detailed but can be overwhelming if the tutorial is not read properly though once you get the gist of what you are doing itā€™s a great system that takes time and patience to understand .(the tutorials in final fantasy 8 are extremely , extremely long .. the junction system you canGreat characters , amazing story , a lot of exploration and customization , the game mechanics are very detailed but can be overwhelming if the tutorial is not read properly though once you get the gist of what you are doing itā€™s a great system that takes time and patience to understand .(the tutorials in final fantasy 8 are extremely , extremely long .. the junction system you can literally read books about that gameplay mechanic alone ! ā€¦ it can be overwhelming and complicated but simple when you get the basic idea ..all In all final fantasy 8 is a near perfect game I would give it a 10 .. way too much going on and way too people to fit in one story..… Expand
  40. DarkFireUmad
    Mar 19, 2020
    9
    De verdad, ojalĆ” no tuviese su sistema de combate tan limitado y su nefasto sistema de enlaces, porque si no serĆ­a uno de mis juegos favoritos. Me ha encantado la progresiĆ³n que hace Squall a lo largo del juego, brutal.
  41. Sitheral
    Jun 14, 2020
    9
    Its hard to be a Final Fantasy game right after Final Fantasy 7. But 8 with all its weirdness and flawed junction system is still incredibly interesting rpg that stands on its own. Together with 9, these three are always a joy to boot, full of content and clever ideas.
  42. JimPickens
    Sep 8, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After finishing a game I like to see the general consensus, I find it helps to put my own opinions into words, as do these reviews, and I was shocked to find Final Fantasy VIII was a highly controversial game, and while I empathize with many criticism's given, I have to disagree that FF8 is anything but a masterpiece in story telling.

    Final Fantasy VIII tells the story of one loner 17 year old Squall Leonhart, a character full of angst and anxiety, he is a student mercenary at Balamb Garden, a school that teaches children to fight apparently, look FF8 is weird and it's not really about the story, it's about the characters, so if you don't mind, that's what I'LL focus on too. Apart from Squall we have Seifer, Kingdom Hearts fans will recognize him as the loudmouth jock with his two cronies Raijin and Fuujin, and yeah that's about right, he regularly gives out to both Squall and my son, Zell, I love Zell. Along for the ride is also Quistis, the professor with a confusing name, Selphie the character with the poorly aged name, Irvine, my husband, and finally Rinoa, the love interest and central character in terms of the big picture, because she is a sorceress, which is a big thing in FF8. Where the game shines isn't its big bombastic world threatening story like with Final Fantasy 7, or it's large ensemble cast like Final Fantasy 6, its about Squall and his relationships, and I think that's why so many can't get behind this game, they don't relate to Squall or simply don't like him, and if you don't like Squall, admittedly the game has little else to offer you.

    Squall is a difficult person, he's quiet, full of angst, and when he actually does open his mouth, it's usually to dismiss the conversation or to say something spiteful, but throughout the game we get little thought bubbles for Squall, showing us that he's really a deeply troubled young man, rife with anxiety and self doubt. A little ways into the story the characters believe a main character to have died, and while everybody else grieves, Squall sits alone quietly contemplating if they'd grieve for him, or if they'd even care. Later in the story he starts to open up, particularly to Rinoa, it's sweet, I think it's why their relationship works so well, Squall needs somebody to be his anchor, and Rinoa does that for him, they don't even like each other at first, but slowly they realize they're exactly what each other needs, Squall isn't afraid to call Rinoa out when she's acting like a brat and Rinoa keeps Squall grounded, and while it means Zell, Selphie and Irvine take a bit of a back seat, I think it's in service of a love story worth focusing on, which is something I find hard to find in media, video games especially.

    The actual story is... weird, it's about time travel and can be confusing, but what I have surmised is this. There once was an orphanage owned by a man named Cid and his wife Edea, there they housed the main cast we follow in the game, which was later turned into Garden, where the students were trained as SeeD's, the mercenaries that Squall is part of, the reason for this is because Squall went back in time to tell Edea she needs to create SeeD's so Squall can be strong enough to kill the main villain Ultemecia, this is a paradox, Squall can only go back in time to tell Edea to create SeeD's because of SeeD's existence but SeeD's can only exist because Squall went back, but there aren't just plot holes, there's contrivances too. Everybody forgets they grew up together because of the Summons in this game, Guardian Forces, and the GF's drain their memory, but Irvine remembers because he doesn't use GF's, why didn't Irvine say anything? He was embarrassed because he thought he was the only one who remembered... ok sure Irvine. It does give a cool little "OH" moment when you realize Irvine choked when going to shoot Sorceress Edea because he knows she's their old caretaker, but everything else is just weird and contrived. So time travel aside, Squall and Co. have to kill Sorceress Ultemecia to save the world or something, it doesn't matter, they succeed and the final shot is of Squall finally smiling, it's a sweet ending.

    Junction System is weird but just pay attention and it'll click eventually. That's all I wish to say about the Junction System at this moment in time.

    Gun to my head, I can't say FF8 is the best Final Fantasy game, nor the best PS1 era Final Fantasy game, but it's a damn good one, a touching love story, an interpersonal journey of learning to be ok and a pretty fun story if you don't think too hard about the time travel. Overall I love this game, and it's one I highly recommend, even if I'm forced to acknowledge its shortcomings, I love it all the same.    … Expand
  43. Rafarodfer
    May 18, 2023
    9
    An epic storyline accompanied by incredibly endearing characters, this game features a battle system that may not steal the spotlight but still delivers numerous enjoyable and strategic moments when facing challenging bosses.
  44. soahknam
    Feb 19, 2022
    9
    Right now, my review is based on my memories, as I played final fantasy viii when I was 16. at the time this game was spectacular. its gamplay is very good, the visuals and history and its music is the best. you can't die without having played this gem.

    GAMEPLAY: 9
    STORY: 9
    MUSIC: 10+
    VISUALS: 10

    PERSONAL SCORE >> A JEWELL
  45. ArthurWinters
    Jun 26, 2021
    9
    It had the potential to be the best Final Fantasy in history, but the storyline from the middle onwards takes a bad turn, falling into some banality. But it remains a videogames' icon, an exciting journey that a surprise for you will forget, a bubble full of love, both in the characters, both in the art design and both in the gameplay. it's the kind of game that you love to madness evenIt had the potential to be the best Final Fantasy in history, but the storyline from the middle onwards takes a bad turn, falling into some banality. But it remains a videogames' icon, an exciting journey that a surprise for you will forget, a bubble full of love, both in the characters, both in the art design and both in the gameplay. it's the kind of game that you love to madness even recognizing its flaws.… Expand
  46. CloudStrife05
    Aug 24, 2021
    9
    Very well done across 4 discs. Squall could take some getting used to but over all it was a very enjoyable game.
  47. THOUSANDEYEKAii
    May 5, 2023
    9
    The first Final Fantasy I ever played on PS1 in 2000. Great game but the worst of the mainline PS1/2 games.
  48. Gingercrisis
    May 11, 2022
    9
    One of the best rpg games of all time, it has a great story. I hope you will like. This one is more similar to current rpgs than others of the time.
  49. Tidu
    May 22, 2022
    9
    A lone wolf, Squall is my man! GFs are fun and graphics took a step forward from VII. Top 5 FF for me. And btw, LOVED the Triple Triad!
  50. trinovatic
    May 4, 2023
    9
    Juegazo, la historia no es mala, pero pudo estar mejor, el primer cd es brutal pero siento que los Ćŗltimos dos van un poco en debacle, hay muchos guinazos y coincidencias pero me sacan un poco de onda, pero en general por fumada que este la historia aun asi me encantĆ³, el gameplay no es una basura como muchos dicen, no me molesto lo de extraer magias pero tambien se extraƱa el sistema deJuegazo, la historia no es mala, pero pudo estar mejor, el primer cd es brutal pero siento que los Ćŗltimos dos van un poco en debacle, hay muchos guinazos y coincidencias pero me sacan un poco de onda, pero en general por fumada que este la historia aun asi me encantĆ³, el gameplay no es una basura como muchos dicen, no me molesto lo de extraer magias pero tambien se extraƱa el sistema de materias del 7, de lo que si no fui muy fan fue de enlazar las magias con mis atributos, te obligan a no gastar magias y es un poco molesto, en general es un buen juego, se arriesgaron bastante con los cambios pero eso es lo que se aprecia. Por Ćŗltimo quiero destacar la banda sonora, pensĆ© que despuĆ©s del 7 no encontrarĆ­a algo a la altura y lo esta, tremendos temazos.… Expand
  51. Pmstz
    Jan 30, 2023
    9
    Excellent Final Fantasy.
    Masterpiece.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  52. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    9
    Š”ущŠµŃŃ‚Š²ŃƒŃŽŃ‚ ŠæрŠ¾ŃŃ‚Š¾ Š—Š»Š¾ Šø Š‘Š¾Š»ŃŒŃˆŠ¾Šµ Š—Š»Š¾, Š° Š·Š° Š½ŠøŠ¼Šø Š¾Š±Š¾ŠøŠ¼Šø Š² тŠµŠ½Šø ŠæрячŠµŃ‚ся ŠžŃ‡ŠµŠ½ŃŒ Š‘Š¾Š»ŃŒŃˆŠ¾Šµ Š—Š»Š¾. ŠžŃ‡ŠµŠ½ŃŒ Š‘Š¾Š»ŃŒŃˆŠ¾Šµ Š—Š»Š¾, Š“ŠµŃ€Š°Š»ŃŒŃ‚, этŠ¾ тŠ°ŠŗŠ¾Šµ, ŠŗŠ¾Ń‚Š¾Ń€Š¾Š³Š¾ ты Šø ŠæрŠµŠ“стŠ°Š²Šøть сŠµŠ±Šµ Š½Šµ Š¼Š¾Š¶ŠµŃˆŃŒ, Š“Š°Š¶Šµ ŠµŃŠ»Šø Š“уŠ¼Š°ŠµŃˆŃŒ, Š±ŃƒŠ“тŠ¾ уŠ¶Šµ Š½ŠøчтŠ¾ Š½Šµ Š² сŠ¾ŃŃ‚Š¾ŃŠ½ŠøŠø тŠµŠ±Ń уŠ“ŠøŠ²Šøть. Š˜ Š·Š½Š°ŠµŃˆŃŒ, Š“ŠµŃ€Š°Š»ŃŒŃ‚, ŠæŠ¾Ń€Š¾Š¹ Š±Ń‹Š²Š°ŠµŃ‚ тŠ°Šŗ, чтŠ¾ ŠžŃ‡ŠµŠ½ŃŒ Š‘Š¾Š»ŃŒŃˆŠ¾Šµ Š—Š»Š¾ схŠ²Š°Ń‚Šøт тŠµŠ±Ń Š·Š° Š³Š¾Ń€Š»Š¾ Šø сŠŗŠ°Š¶ŠµŃ‚: Ā«Š’Ń‹Š±ŠøрŠ°Š¹, Š±Ń€Š°Ń‚ŠµŃ†, Š»ŠøŠ±Š¾ я, Š»ŠøŠ±Š¾ тŠ¾, ŠŗŠ¾Ń‚Š¾Ń€Š¾Šµ чутŠ¾Ń‡Šŗу ŠæŠ¾Š¼ŠµŠ½ŃŒŃˆŠµĀ»Š”ущŠµŃŃ‚Š²ŃƒŃŽŃ‚ ŠæрŠ¾ŃŃ‚Š¾ Š—Š»Š¾ Šø Š‘Š¾Š»ŃŒŃˆŠ¾Šµ Š—Š»Š¾, Š° Š·Š° Š½ŠøŠ¼Šø Š¾Š±Š¾ŠøŠ¼Šø Š² тŠµŠ½Šø ŠæрячŠµŃ‚ся ŠžŃ‡ŠµŠ½ŃŒ Š‘Š¾Š»ŃŒŃˆŠ¾Šµ Š—Š»Š¾. ŠžŃ‡ŠµŠ½ŃŒ Š‘Š¾Š»ŃŒŃˆŠ¾Šµ Š—Š»Š¾, Š“ŠµŃ€Š°Š»ŃŒŃ‚, этŠ¾ тŠ°ŠŗŠ¾Šµ, ŠŗŠ¾Ń‚Š¾Ń€Š¾Š³Š¾ ты Šø ŠæрŠµŠ“стŠ°Š²Šøть сŠµŠ±Šµ Š½Šµ Š¼Š¾Š¶ŠµŃˆŃŒ, Š“Š°Š¶Šµ ŠµŃŠ»Šø Š“уŠ¼Š°ŠµŃˆŃŒ, Š±ŃƒŠ“тŠ¾ уŠ¶Šµ Š½ŠøчтŠ¾ Š½Šµ Š² сŠ¾ŃŃ‚Š¾ŃŠ½ŠøŠø тŠµŠ±Ń уŠ“ŠøŠ²Šøть. Š˜ Š·Š½Š°ŠµŃˆŃŒ, Š“ŠµŃ€Š°Š»ŃŒŃ‚, ŠæŠ¾Ń€Š¾Š¹ Š±Ń‹Š²Š°ŠµŃ‚ тŠ°Šŗ, чтŠ¾ ŠžŃ‡ŠµŠ½ŃŒ Š‘Š¾Š»ŃŒŃˆŠ¾Šµ Š—Š»Š¾ схŠ²Š°Ń‚Šøт тŠµŠ±Ń Š·Š° Š³Š¾Ń€Š»Š¾ Šø сŠŗŠ°Š¶ŠµŃ‚: Ā«Š’Ń‹Š±ŠøрŠ°Š¹, Š±Ń€Š°Ń‚ŠµŃ†, Š»ŠøŠ±Š¾ я, Š»ŠøŠ±Š¾ тŠ¾, ŠŗŠ¾Ń‚Š¾Ń€Š¾Šµ чутŠ¾Ń‡Šŗу ŠæŠ¾Š¼ŠµŠ½ŃŒŃˆŠµĀ»
  53. ConcaC.
    Feb 20, 2008
    8
    The graphics are decent, the story unfolds quite nicely, the characters are developing towards uniqueness the end, a large thing bothering me is the linear story approach. Of course you have lots of sidequests that can expand the gametime to 80 hours plus and the final boss is really a challenging one. The replay-factor is large, I completed the game about 8 times. The design of the The graphics are decent, the story unfolds quite nicely, the characters are developing towards uniqueness the end, a large thing bothering me is the linear story approach. Of course you have lots of sidequests that can expand the gametime to 80 hours plus and the final boss is really a challenging one. The replay-factor is large, I completed the game about 8 times. The design of the venues is genius. Esthar, Galbadia Garden, Ultimecia's Castle and the Ragnarok are my fav spots. The soundtrack has a couple jewels, for example the Esthar song, the End battle and the tear-jerking "Eyes On Me". Still I couldn't say I had this much "fun" playing it through. It felt too serious to me. It is a great game, still I had more fun with other FF titles.… Expand
  54. M.Ingram
    Oct 2, 2004
    8
    A good game, but not a perfect one. The draw command is time consuming and the magic it draws much too weak. The aim of the game, whilst on VII focused on a single objective, never seems sure and changes wildly, even in the last few hours. Play VII first before you call this game anything near 'incredible', or 'fantastic'.
  55. KatS.
    Apr 21, 2006
    8
    Even though FFVIII does not pass FFVII's storyplot and characters, it is a good example of an excellent rpg game. It's addictive and quite interesting. From the battling to the storyline including its music scores. If you don't like it, its probably because you haven't taken the time and heard negative comments. Its one of the greatest rpg and even videogame you can Even though FFVIII does not pass FFVII's storyplot and characters, it is a good example of an excellent rpg game. It's addictive and quite interesting. From the battling to the storyline including its music scores. If you don't like it, its probably because you haven't taken the time and heard negative comments. Its one of the greatest rpg and even videogame you can encounter (play).… Expand
  56. ArkonBlade
    Dec 30, 2010
    8
    this is the RPG that proves if you got a great story and solid charicters it can still be a damn good RPG despite some glaring flaws. biggest problem with this game is the combat and junction system and the draw system which all suck hard . you would almost think that would break this game but its story and charicters are very well done and keot me very intrested and allowed me to plowthis is the RPG that proves if you got a great story and solid charicters it can still be a damn good RPG despite some glaring flaws. biggest problem with this game is the combat and junction system and the draw system which all suck hard . you would almost think that would break this game but its story and charicters are very well done and keot me very intrested and allowed me to plow through that crap . the final boss battle is much better done then FF7's which now feels abit more like a challange . the ending was also pretty good. a worthy RPG that will warrent your time as long as you are a story driven RPG gamer.… Expand
  57. KendylKlownfish
    May 16, 2011
    8
    FF VIII isn't the best of the series -- especially when it's compared to VII. However, it still offers up some impressive visuals and great new features. Pros: An unbelievable amount of depth in its graphics, story, setting, characters, and gameplay that's ahead of its time. Cons: Battles occur too frequently; the Battle system itself truly blows.
  58. ohaiKendyl
    May 20, 2011
    8
    It's not the best the series has offered -- especially when it's compared to FF VII. But overall, it's still a fantastic RPG that a lot of FF fans shouldn't have missed. Pros: Breathtaking graphics and FMVs; a lot of depth in terms of story, setting, and turn-based battling; likable characters; lots of humor. Cons: When you compare it to FF VII, the story and setting do not offer anythingIt's not the best the series has offered -- especially when it's compared to FF VII. But overall, it's still a fantastic RPG that a lot of FF fans shouldn't have missed. Pros: Breathtaking graphics and FMVs; a lot of depth in terms of story, setting, and turn-based battling; likable characters; lots of humor. Cons: When you compare it to FF VII, the story and setting do not offer anything new or innovative; too many random battles; dull battle system; use of Magic; annoying card game.… Expand
  59. RicochetPhoenix
    Apr 28, 2013
    8
    There is not much I can say about this review that The Spoony Experiment didn't cover, and there are big problems here...but the pros outweigh the cons and I really enjoy this Final Fantasy. It's not on par with classics like 4-6, 7, or 9...but it's a good game.
  60. Carlitoxic
    Mar 20, 2012
    8
    A surprising RPG with impresive and beautiful images, precious musical and interesting history. The best intro of all Final Fantasy. But... the combat system is bad and bored and the history has holes. Ok, FFVII is perfect, FFVIII not, the Squall´s game has several faults, but it can be called Final Fantasy.
  61. chronoT
    Sep 2, 2012
    8
    Not my favorite FF but not the worst either. This game is worth a play through if you are a fan of the series. Just be prepared to repeatedly sit through at least a 10 second cut scene every time you use a guardian force, which is definitely the most annoying aspect of the game and frankly the most annoying aspect of any good game that I know of. This is a large and somewhat challengingNot my favorite FF but not the worst either. This game is worth a play through if you are a fan of the series. Just be prepared to repeatedly sit through at least a 10 second cut scene every time you use a guardian force, which is definitely the most annoying aspect of the game and frankly the most annoying aspect of any good game that I know of. This is a large and somewhat challenging game, and the gardens are a cool concept just not my cup of tea for a FF game. Although annoying, for its time the cut scenes for the GFs look pretty cool but the character models aren't the prettiest to look at. I will admit though I think the Ragnarook is my favorite airship out of any FF games.… Expand
  62. Vandral007
    Nov 28, 2012
    8
    Still bored, so here's a review on a game that's 13 years old. If you've read my review on FFVII, you'll know I made a Final Fantasy pilgramage and played all the games from the main series, so my impressions of the game are fresh in mind. First, when I first played FFVIII I couldn't finish it. I couldn't put my finger on it at the time, but the game just didn't draw me in. I didStill bored, so here's a review on a game that's 13 years old. If you've read my review on FFVII, you'll know I made a Final Fantasy pilgramage and played all the games from the main series, so my impressions of the game are fresh in mind. First, when I first played FFVIII I couldn't finish it. I couldn't put my finger on it at the time, but the game just didn't draw me in. I did eventually beat it in my teenage years, but even then I didn't feel the same emotions from this game as I did with VII and IX. The story is very well crafted, but the plot holes that are complained about are legitimate complaints. I can totally understand the criticism of the characters too, but I'm a little more forgiving as it was Square's first attempt at attempting to flesh out "real" people. The magic system is quite a nice feature as far as junctioning goes, but the drawing system is a real pain (and yes, I know you can refine cards and items into magic, but that is just substituting one busy task for another). Combat is standard fare. If you haven't played the PS1 Final Fantasy's and are interested I would recommend VII or IX over this one any day of the week. Despite that, this is a piece of Final Fantasy history, and should be judged on it's own merits. It's not a bad game, it's quite good in fact. It's just the first in what I would lable the "sub-par" Final Fantasy's.… Expand
  63. FilFestuccia
    Sep 6, 2013
    8
    Perhaps the perfect mix between tradition and innovation, Final Fantasy VIII adds some interesting touches to a very well established formula (eliminating mana is a plus; the gauntlet system doesn't get actually useful until halfway through the adventure). But most of all, it creates a wonderful and complex world where the player is caught in a series of epic storylines. At one point youPerhaps the perfect mix between tradition and innovation, Final Fantasy VIII adds some interesting touches to a very well established formula (eliminating mana is a plus; the gauntlet system doesn't get actually useful until halfway through the adventure). But most of all, it creates a wonderful and complex world where the player is caught in a series of epic storylines. At one point you will find out that one story has little in common with the other, and the more you progress the more it becomes surreal, but this doesn't subtract from the gameplay quality. Visually, it's nothing short of impressive; and it has the most entertaining minigame of all time, a card game which never fails to be frustrating in the most entertaining way.… Expand
  64. Infielozo
    Oct 29, 2013
    8
    Aside from the obvious attempts at character duplication, this game was entertaining enough to keep you going, the story is not the best out there, but it does the Final Fantasy legacy justice. The mini game involving cards is very addictive, unfortunately it eventually becomes tedious with rule changes in different regions until you no longer care for it. The game felt messy at times,Aside from the obvious attempts at character duplication, this game was entertaining enough to keep you going, the story is not the best out there, but it does the Final Fantasy legacy justice. The mini game involving cards is very addictive, unfortunately it eventually becomes tedious with rule changes in different regions until you no longer care for it. The game felt messy at times, direction-wise and the battle system is a little annoying in certain areas, but overall it does great, so this is one to definitely try out.… Expand
  65. Kai82
    Nov 8, 2020
    8
    A good RPG that I enjoyed but has also much stuff that I hate. The prequel Final Fantasy 7 was a huge commercial success and also by fan acclaim so we all were curious what to expect next. Square did not play it safe and made many innovations except from the core turn based style. It is set in a different world and follows Squall Leonhart. He is a trainee in Balamb Garden were he isA good RPG that I enjoyed but has also much stuff that I hate. The prequel Final Fantasy 7 was a huge commercial success and also by fan acclaim so we all were curious what to expect next. Square did not play it safe and made many innovations except from the core turn based style. It is set in a different world and follows Squall Leonhart. He is a trainee in Balamb Garden were he is trained to be a SEED (=Mercenary / Agent / Soldier / Hired Hand / Problem Solver chose one if you like as there is an overlap). The beginning or introduction is his graduation exam. It is also the story of his classmates as they are drawn into something that will escalate into a far greater conflict and can change the world. It has political plots, power-struggles and the characters have much to endure or solve. The story itself is engaging and has some good twists but also some really bad ones. Same goes with concepts and ideas used in this game. Some are awesome and really interesting while others fail. It uses Guardian Forces (GF) a character can equip. These grant him/her powers like summoning them (You will do this very very often) access to abilities like draw (collect magic spells from enemies), use these as magic spells and link spells to stats to improve them, gain resistance or the spell effect at attacking. On paper this sounds interesting and it is so. However this has its limit. It takes forever to get the max number of spells especially early on and if you use linked spells you decrease your stats (Can later use an ability to transform some items into spells but it does not help much). The GF work well and level up, gaining new abilities and skills for you. There are some great combinations and later you can use items to forget and add new abilities. There are of cause some hidden once and you must draw some from enemies (boss battles) that can be missed. The GF are basically your only efficient method of dealing damage until you can raise your stats. Even the previous almighty Ultima spell is not that strong here. Also while I am at it. The game levels your enemies with your progress. You can actually get weaker by leveling up. If I would play the game again I would try to stay at the lowest possible level because linking spells to your stats gives a bigger bonus than leveling up in relation. You can do this with an ability that prevents random encounters and by transforming enemies into cards (Quetzalcoatl a GF you have at the beginning can learn it at the start of the game). An alternative would be to learn GF abilities that increase your stats at level up. I did this with 4 abilities onto a single character separately (Other party members were knocked out to not waste the level up bonus for them). While the later gives you huge advantages it is still weaker than a level 15 character with strong spells linked to the stats. Then there is a card game as side activity. I really enjoyed it and the struggle to get the best cards (GF and characters). However the rules can change from region to region and some are terrible. The random hand weakens you as your cards are chosen random and the plus rule destroys your numerical advantage but can also help you to humiliate much stronger opponents. Like I said the game is great but some ideas are not done well in all areas. Also you don't earn money through defeating enemies directly. You are an employee of Balamb Garden and get a salary. You can improve it by fighting many battles, tests or finishing some quests. I is difficult to stay at low level by avoiding fights and get a huge salary (decreases with no battles / too less fighting). While I am at it I give you some more advice. You get an item at graduation and should safe before you open it! Leveling up and linking abilities are critical as described above and I advice staying at a low level. Read a FAQ for missable content as some GF are missable. Use spells for linking that you do not use. Also you can increase the summoning damage by button pressing (Many overlooked this learnable feature). Back to the game. The graphics have improved drastically from the prequel and the soundtrack is great. I like the intro but must say that the ā€œEyes on meā€œ song gets repetitive after a while. I will also warn you about the protagonist. He is somehow socially awkward and you will often be annoyed by his behavior. However I enjoy his and Rinoas story;-). Overall this is a great game that hits more than it misses. I can argue that for everything it did well it added also something bad. Not the best Final Fantasy and not the worst. Liked many ideas that were never used again in follow up games. Try it if you like but be warned.… Expand
  66. banda89
    Dec 31, 2014
    8
    The first FF that I played was this one, and to this day it's the most frustrating one, tedious as all hell, having to draw and create your own magic, it's music is not as good as other FF games but it has it good tracks.
    Story wise it's great, mind you it has some moments when you say REALLY!!! the whole GF mind erasing thing. But the characters are likeable, even Emo Squall, but what    The first FF that I played was this one, and to this day it's the most frustrating one, tedious as all hell, having to draw and create your own magic, it's music is not as good as other FF games but it has it good tracks.
    Story wise it's great, mind you it has some moments when you say REALLY!!! the whole GF mind erasing thing. But the characters are likeable, even Emo Squall, but what makes the story good it's the character development, you see everyone devolop, specially Squallwho evolves from this emo, introverted kid to a respectable and likeable leader who just wants to be with and protect the ones he loves.

    Junction system sucks, don't try to convince me that it's actually good once you get the hang of it, it's not going to happen. And once you understand it, it's OP as f#@K, but I ask myself this question why complicate things, when a simple equip menu would be more efficient (FF IX anyone?) It's more challenging than any of the other PS final fantasies and that's good, IMO VII and IX where a little too easy.    … Expand
  67. Noin007
    Jan 4, 2015
    8
    After VII, I've spent more time playing VIII than any other Final Fantasy. But, it's not a perfect game. A few of the characters are quite obnoxious, the card game... **** the card game. And the magic system is one of the worst in a Final Fantasy title.
    If you're a JRPG lover or Final Fantasy lover this is a must have.
  68. Ryndael
    Jan 4, 2015
    8
    Overall this is my favorite FF in the series.

    Story: 9 - One of the only storylines involving time manipulation that I haven't found multiple plotholes in. Characters: 6 - Squall is my favorite character of any RPG thus far, but the other five playable characters don't have much depth at all other than Rinoa. This is a story about Squall and Rinoa mainly, so the others get pushed    Overall this is my favorite FF in the series.

    Story: 9 - One of the only storylines involving time manipulation that I haven't found multiple plotholes in.

    Characters: 6 - Squall is my favorite character of any RPG thus far, but the other five playable characters don't have much depth at all other than Rinoa. This is a story about Squall and Rinoa mainly, so the others get pushed aside.

    Music: 10 - Some of the best music I've ever heard, favorites would be Man with the Machine Gun and Force Your Way.

    Battle: 7 - The junction system is pretty deep, but it's very tedious having to draw magic from everything. I like that the monsters level up with you, since that means you never have to spend time grinding and can just run through the game if you want.

    Depth: 8 - plenty of sidequests to do, and they all provide more depth to the world in general via backstories and wrapping up some minor plotlines. Also I found the card game a really fun distraction. The card game can provide some really major power boosts too by turning cards into Magic.    … Expand
  69. perkjl
    Jan 4, 2016
    8
    Highly underrated in my opinion. The battle system sticks out from the other FF entries and tries to do something a little more original than the traditional FF norm. It has it's flaws, but overall good. The world feels a bit more cheerful and not so depressing compared to FFVII's Midgar. Also, the visuals are some of the best on PSX, especially the blending of FMV's during gameplay. VeryHighly underrated in my opinion. The battle system sticks out from the other FF entries and tries to do something a little more original than the traditional FF norm. It has it's flaws, but overall good. The world feels a bit more cheerful and not so depressing compared to FFVII's Midgar. Also, the visuals are some of the best on PSX, especially the blending of FMV's during gameplay. Very cool! Underrated music and game in general.… Expand
  70. yitus
    Sep 18, 2018
    8
    I recognize that my favorite Final Fantasy's are from the VII, VIII, IX and X, but among those 4 the least liked and least played has been the VIII. It is a great game, and follows the battle method of the old JRPG, that is to say, battles in turns, but to disference of the other 3 Final Fantasy's fails a lot the story, the plot and the charisma of the characters. The battles are cool, theI recognize that my favorite Final Fantasy's are from the VII, VIII, IX and X, but among those 4 the least liked and least played has been the VIII. It is a great game, and follows the battle method of the old JRPG, that is to say, battles in turns, but to disference of the other 3 Final Fantasy's fails a lot the story, the plot and the charisma of the characters. The battles are cool, the card minigame also, the world where the game is developed is great, the music also composed by the great Nobuo Uematsu, but in spite of all, it has certain essential deficiencies that don't share the best Final Fantasy's (including for example III and VI). Also, I highly recommend Final Fantasy VIII, because if you like JRPG, even once in a lifetime you have to play this game.… Expand
  71. Onlyclassicvg1
    Jun 24, 2020
    8
    s un videojuego de tipo RPG desarrollado por Squaresoft en 1999 para el sistema PlayStation, aunque posteriormente saliĆ³ una versiĆ³n para PC. Es la octava entrega de la serie de videojuegos Final Fantasy y el primero en contar con un tema musical cantado para el juego. El juego costĆ³ en total para su realizaciĆ³n unos tres mil millones de Yenes en JapĆ³n. A solo trece semanas de haber sidos un videojuego de tipo RPG desarrollado por Squaresoft en 1999 para el sistema PlayStation, aunque posteriormente saliĆ³ una versiĆ³n para PC. Es la octava entrega de la serie de videojuegos Final Fantasy y el primero en contar con un tema musical cantado para el juego. El juego costĆ³ en total para su realizaciĆ³n unos tres mil millones de Yenes en JapĆ³n. A solo trece semanas de haber sido lanzado al mercado, Final Fantasy VIII acumulaba mĆ”s de 50 millones de DĆ³lares en ventas en los Estados Unidos.1ā€‹ Esta octava entrega de la serie a diferencia de la anterior, usa personajes enteramente realistas dejando parcialmente de lado los elementos fantĆ”sticos de la serie y es tambiĆ©n uno de los pocos tĆ­tulos que se aleja del esquema de… Expand
  72. sadsneaky
    Mar 26, 2021
    8
    the story is very good but the junctioning is very confusing and the world feels dead
  73. hector_bcn98
    Oct 31, 2022
    8
    Un sistema de materias y farmeo que arruina lo que podrƭa haber sido una excelente secuela. Se queda en un notable, ya que los personajes tampoco estƔn a la altura de lo que se venƭa. Que no se me malinterprete, es notable, deseo un remake, pero no es el nivel de VII y IX. La villana es un lolazo de manual.
  74. Jattaman
    Sep 30, 2022
    8
    Bellissimo e appassionante JRPG.
    Bella trama, grande longevitĆ , colonna sonora fantastica.
  75. Gal0_Ninja
    Feb 1, 2022
    8
    O forte do jogo sĆ£o os seus personagens, todos eles sĆ£o bem carismĆ”ticos e suas interaƧƵes uns com os outros Ć© divertida e possui uma histĆ³ria de amor muito bonita assim como a trilha sonora. PorĆ©m o roteiro Ć© um tanto confuso, e a mecĆ¢nica dos summons, apesar de ser interessante, sua dependĆŖncia acaba descaracterizando os personagens mecanicamente e acaba tornando o combate sem graƧa.
  76. perrypulus
    Mar 13, 2022
    8
    One of my earliest FF games and I finished it approx. 20 years later. The music is extremely good. The scores are also good. The GFs make the game huge and keep it interesting in battling with enemies
  77. aaronnmp96
    Jan 30, 2023
    8
    My first Final Fantasy, the only bad thing I can say is the gameplay, but it still has a lot left
  78. lizardkingg
    Jul 21, 2023
    8
    Loved the story & characters. Huge graphical upgrade from FFVII, but I can't help to feel like FFVII was so brilliant it made this feel subpar. Still, a really good game.
  79. WillT
    Jan 10, 2010
    7
    This game's probelm isn't it's looks, it's not that the games boring it's just that all the junction and card game is terrible, if you don't like grinding, then stay away from this, worth a spin-off at least, but not lower than 70%
  80. [Anonymous]
    Jun 17, 2006
    7
    This was a pretty good game. It just didn't get me hooked on as much as FFVII did. I know it's kind of hard on this game since it's the first to come out after FFVII which is believed one of the best RPG's despite the graphics now. I mean... it has to live up to its name. The thing that really annoyed me was that it took ages to get magic out of monsters and you This was a pretty good game. It just didn't get me hooked on as much as FFVII did. I know it's kind of hard on this game since it's the first to come out after FFVII which is believed one of the best RPG's despite the graphics now. I mean... it has to live up to its name. The thing that really annoyed me was that it took ages to get magic out of monsters and you can't equip your people. Well junction is ok..... but i mean all the time wasted in drawing magic just pisses me off. This game is quite good though i would recommend it to people that are into RPG's.… Expand
  81. AlienSpaceBats
    Mar 11, 2013
    7
    I loved the story and (most of) the characters, but at times, I hated this game. Final Fantasy VIII has a nice (albeit nonsensical) story, with a cast of characters led by one who mopes so hard he gives Shinji Ikari a run for his money. Boasts impressive use of the technology at the time with beautiful music (as ever), but game mechanics are unfortunately broken (eg. not obtained A or B?I loved the story and (most of) the characters, but at times, I hated this game. Final Fantasy VIII has a nice (albeit nonsensical) story, with a cast of characters led by one who mopes so hard he gives Shinji Ikari a run for his money. Boasts impressive use of the technology at the time with beautiful music (as ever), but game mechanics are unfortunately broken (eg. not obtained A or B? Can not pass C), suffers from "how the hell was I supposed to know that?" syndrome and the junction and GF systems are poorly explained and unnecessarily confusing to begin with.… Expand
  82. bliz008
    Jan 7, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Okay. I have not played all the games in the final fantasy series, most notably not FFVII, a game which many seem to compare VIII to (obviously). But when I read some of the reviews here on metacritic I thought that I could give my opinion. The story starts of great. You have a intresting story of schools that train these young adults to become some sort of soldiers or mercenaries, and everything is very well presented with nice looking cutscenes and nice in-game environments. And the music is, as expected from a FF-game, absolutely fantastic throughout the game.
    But after a while (after disc 1) the story starts to decline. The red thread is lost somewhere and at the end of the game you barely who the final boss is or even what is going on. I wasnĀ“t really intrested in the end.
    The characters didnĀ“t really apeal to me. I mostly found them to be annoying, but thats maybe just me.
    And while the combat and gameplay mechanics are unique, they are quite clumsy and pretty much disencourage you from using magic since it will make your characters base stats weaker. One mayor problem in my opinion is the fact that it is so easy to abuse the limits.
    A positive thing though is the minigames and side quests you can take part in, especially the card game. You feel really encouraged to collect all the cards and win over the best card players, something which FFIX failed with for me.
    My verdic would be that itĀ“s an okay final fantasy game with obious flaws and I wouldnĀ“t recommend it to someone who hasnĀ“t played any other FF-games. But if you are hungry for more JRPGs from this era you could play this and might enjoy it.    … Expand
  83. HopelessVoice
    Feb 1, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For all the bad rep this game sometimes gets, it is still a good game. The junction system is solid, although breaks the game when the player realizes just to draw 99 stacks of every spell which results in every employed character becoming overpowered as fudge. The limit breaks in this one are still gold although the way they are obtained was a bit of step back from VII; whereas VII made you complete a huge battle arena with difficult monsters and penalties, in VIII the limit breaks are far easier to obtain. The game still has the other ingredients; open world exploration, hidden islands, epic plot, epic score etc. Some may think that 7/10 is far too low for this game, but that's only because game reviews seem only to deal in absolutes nowadays. 7/10 is a good score, a good score for a good game. And that's what VIII is: small minor steps back from VII but hardly anything that would make it a bad game. VIII is a good game.… Expand
  84. tsakiym
    May 21, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not have to say anything. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it.................................… Expand
  85. JoseAn13Torres
    Mar 22, 2017
    7
    Un juego que para la Ʃpoca grƔficamente era un portento, extenso como todos los Final Fantasy de la Ʃpoca y con uno de los mejores mini juegos de la historia de los videojuegos, lƔstima que siempre viviese a la sombra de Final Fantasy VII.
  86. auditbadger
    Nov 23, 2020
    7
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  87. Nathandrake240
    Oct 4, 2020
    7
    Good ideas just poorly executed, great ost, decent cast with little development outside squall but the gameplay and story is lacking with a tedious equipment system using magic and even more time consuming is drawing from enemies. The story gets ridiculous by disk 2 and has plot holes. The main villain's backstory and motives behind her goals are also unknown.
  88. Sailnir
    May 13, 2018
    7
    This game was pretty good. It honestly wasn't really good just because the story... well it was far more strange than other final fantasy games and that is saying something. It turned really weird near the end.
  89. Naedeslus
    Feb 18, 2019
    7
    Final Fantasy VIII had a lot to live up to when it came out. It came out of VIIā€™s path since VII is arguably the best in the series, in my opinion, how can it even stand up to it? It does that quite fine.

    The story is a bit of a mess. The first two discs are actually fantastic. Once the second disc ends, it goes from a rather realistic war story to something downright weird. This is    Final Fantasy VIII had a lot to live up to when it came out. It came out of VIIā€™s path since VII is arguably the best in the series, in my opinion, how can it even stand up to it? It does that quite fine.

    The story is a bit of a mess. The first two discs are actually fantastic. Once the second disc ends, it goes from a rather realistic war story to something downright weird. This is Square weā€™re talking about so thatā€™s to be expected but the twists in the third disc are downright bizarre. Theyā€™re legitimate twists I wouldā€™ve never seen coming. There are good twists and bad twists with this game and unfortunately, after the second Disc, theyā€™re worse than good.

    The game's ending will leave you confused and itā€™s not a bad ending, not at all but since the tone of the game changed so much after Disc 2, it keeps up with the overall oddness of the plot.

    What one thing the game does well is the characters. I enjoyed them. Theyā€™re an interesting bunch and while the protagonist seems brooding just to be broody he does improve. The development is some of the best Iā€™ve seen in the series and they all are worthwhile. I loved the cast. The villains are also very good. Theyā€™re no Kefka, Caius, Kuja, Sin or Sephiroth but they gave the player motivation.

    The music is one of the best OSTā€™s of the series. Itā€™s really good. The sound effects are very well done as well.

    The gameplay, thatā€™s an interesting topic. Some loved it. Some hated it. Some like myself felt it had good and bad points. The gameplay focuses more on drawing magic from the enemies. There are of course other ways to get it, including refining items from a card mini-game but drawing is the easiest I found. This can lead you to spend 10 minutes in a battle getting your stock to 100 to increase your power level. Leveling doesnā€™t really matter at all and enemies level with you. I found a good technique is to instead, combine a mix of refining with drawing a few spells here and there. It can be a huge pain if you want it to but it also gives the player flexibility.

    This system has drawbacks. Itā€™s tutorial after tutorial and coming from the excellent Esper and Materia systems before it makes it less than ideal. Itā€™s not the worst in the series but it is executed badly and couldā€™ve been explained more. Also, the magic cap at drawing is pretty low. If it wouldā€™ve been increased the more you leveled, it wouldā€™ve made it more accessible.

    While I liked VII and IX more itā€™s not a bad RPG or a Final Fantasy game. It wonā€™t be for everyone but if youā€™re open to trying something new, something more modern and that takes risks with its gameplay and story, give it a shot. Youā€™ll probably find a lot to enjoy.    … Expand
  90. BarelyLewd
    Mar 15, 2019
    7
    Not sure this one didn't do it for me, didn't care for the game very much back in the day, I did't care for the story or characters, but everything else was real decent, I can't give this one my seal of approval but most people enjoyed the game, and that's fine, I'm glad they did because they went on to make FF9, and I luv that game so much.
  91. lidwang
    Mar 1, 2019
    7
    This game has a great start and middle. The soundtrack, animations and expansive world that you can explore plus the triple triad card game makes this game and experience to be had, but is a shame that is has to be in company of a clunky story and weird drawing magic system.
  92. DarkwingSchmuck
    Mar 3, 2022
    7
    After delivering two of the greatest RPGs ever back-to-back with Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VII, it's no surprise Yoshinori Kitase returned to the director's chair one last time with Final Fantasy VIII. Unfortunately, Final Fantasy VIII is bogged down by frustrating inconsistencies, including the tedious Draw System, a lackluster cast of characters, and a messy story. Still,After delivering two of the greatest RPGs ever back-to-back with Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VII, it's no surprise Yoshinori Kitase returned to the director's chair one last time with Final Fantasy VIII. Unfortunately, Final Fantasy VIII is bogged down by frustrating inconsistencies, including the tedious Draw System, a lackluster cast of characters, and a messy story. Still, Final Fantasy VIII is a risky and ambitious entry in the series, and the Junction System gives a lot of freedom for customization for veteran RPG players.… Expand
  93. maintitle
    May 31, 2022
    7
    Questis really out here creeping on her students and nobodies going to say a word, huh?
  94. DragonKnightofFinalFantasy
    Feb 15, 2004
    6
    A mockery of Final Fantasy but not bad the battle system is pretty crummy though and none of the girls are hot I mean look at Questis she is 18 but looks like she's 30!But the story is good and it is Final Fantasy so you still feel like you're having a pretty good time. Go buy FF7 instead.
  95. TJD2
    Jul 17, 2012
    6
    I can't give this game any higher than a 6....I can't stand all the plot holes, or ANY of the characters for that matter...Zell is an annoying ADHD punk, Squall is so out of touch with his emotions he can't even pick up signals, and they all use first grade comebacks for everything. Aside from that, the plot up to disc 1 was pretty great, then it got really messed up. I enjoy all theI can't give this game any higher than a 6....I can't stand all the plot holes, or ANY of the characters for that matter...Zell is an annoying ADHD punk, Squall is so out of touch with his emotions he can't even pick up signals, and they all use first grade comebacks for everything. Aside from that, the plot up to disc 1 was pretty great, then it got really messed up. I enjoy all the theories about Rinoa being Ultimecia and Squall being dead throughout the game, but the game itself has many flaws. The Draw/Junction system is the most ANNOYING b u l l s h i t way of powering up characters in any RPG I've ever played. You sit there and draw spells to "junction" to your character, and then you cant use them so what's the point of having a cast button?? Oh and don't even get me started on the lame plot twists such as the orphanage scene...they all conveniently "forgot" because of their GFs. Yeah right. The graphics however are very top notch for the PS1, but in that comes very cryptic backgrounds the game requires you to check before being allowed to move foreward. some of it is so cryptic you'd never even know what to do without looking it up.... The fiend animations are again amazing and the battles themselves are well done. The overworld is VERY annoying due to terrain issues, but then again after you gain access to the Ragnarok it becomes quite fun to fly around. Overall, this game has turned out to be a meh experience for me. 6/10.… Expand
  96. Jouna92
    Dec 25, 2013
    6
    So many problems in this game. Drawing system and junction system are so much busy work. Annoying and awkward characters. Story is unfocused, bizarre and full of plot holes. The game includes some satisfying scenes and battles.
  97. elitefour
    Jan 9, 2014
    6
    Im sorry
    i really tried to like this game
    but i cant. its too bored,too repetitive the gameplay is slower than final fantasy vii the graphics and the soundtrack are amazing!!!! but the plot is too simple to me,i mean students who tried to save world of a future witch? the dialogs are bored and corny like Titanic or Twilight the characters are not deep and impressive than Final    Im sorry
    i really tried to like this game
    but i cant. its too bored,too repetitive
    the gameplay is slower than final fantasy vii
    the graphics and the soundtrack are amazing!!!!
    but the plot is too simple to me,i mean
    students who tried to save world of a future witch?
    the dialogs are bored and corny like Titanic or Twilight
    the characters are not deep
    and impressive than Final Fantasy VII (I hate Zell and Quistis)
    they are too simple and cliche
    but i have to admit that its a masterpiece and i undesrstand why people like it
    so,
    Go ahead And Enjoy this jewel man!!    … Expand
  98. togobogo
    Sep 9, 2022
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Everyone dies in the end and the bad guys win its is so bad its paƱnful 5/10.1… Expand
  99. Elite_Soldier
    May 16, 2022
    6
    The game is okay..................................................................................................
  100. 6xdandangp
    Dec 29, 2012
    5
    My opinion is split over this game. On one hand, we have a decent story, amazing graphics/soundtrack, and interesting concept. On the other hand, we have rather limited development for most characters, an unorthodox but definitely unenjoyable battle system, and an overdose of melodrama.
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best PS1 Game of 1999
1
#1 Most Discussed PS1 Game of 1999
3
#3 Most Shared PS1 Game of 1999

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. GMR Magazine
    90
    Things were more "real" this time around. [Feb 2003, p.97]
  2. Gamestyle
    80
    Unfortunately while the game is graphically superior to FFVII, in terms of setting, story and controls it lags way behind.
    Read full review
  3. Absolute Playstation
    98
    Spanning four discs, this is a massive RPG. You can try and skate through it in 50 hours but can easily spend over a 100 hours playing if you decide to take on all of the side games, collect all of the Cards and experience all there is to experience from this game.
    Read full review
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