Final Fantasy VIII Remastered

 Switch
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 90 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 90
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 90
  3. Negative: 19 out of 90

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  1. Morrisonio
    Sep 14, 2019
    6
    It's a 6+ for me. Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic game, but it's not a great remaster. New models are ok, but there's a "problem": some characters that are not "in game" (i mean they're part of the background and haven't got any text line) are... well, part of the background so they are blurred. And in a remaster that focuses on better modelling to skip that polygonal stuff of PS1,It's a 6+ for me. Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic game, but it's not a great remaster. New models are ok, but there's a "problem": some characters that are not "in game" (i mean they're part of the background and haven't got any text line) are... well, part of the background so they are blurred. And in a remaster that focuses on better modelling to skip that polygonal stuff of PS1, this is a huge mistake imo. Also it freaks me out the way this game has frame drops. On Switch, a 2017 system that struggles to move a PS1 1999 game. If you play on x3 speed, sound doesn't speed up, so the image and the sound effects or even music doesn't match.

    But it's a great Final Fantasy, although the story has huge script gaps and one of the worst characters developments ever, with Squall. Battle system is ok, GF ara ok, the OST is, in my opinion, top 3 of the saga.

    Have fun!    … Expand
  2. SenZephyr
    Nov 7, 2019
    5
    My all-time favorite game released with upscaled sprites and playable on my portable console screen? Yes, please. This game is as amazing as ever, and while I think it would’ve been a teeny-tiny better if they upgraded the static backgrounds, I still feel that flood of nostalgia each time I power it up. Pros: - Better character sprites.
    - Same amazing soundtrack.
    - Options for speeding up    My all-time favorite game released with upscaled sprites and playable on my portable console screen? Yes, please. This game is as amazing as ever, and while I think it would’ve been a teeny-tiny better if they upgraded the static backgrounds, I still feel that flood of nostalgia each time I power it up. Pros: - Better character sprites.
    - Same amazing soundtrack.
    - Options for speeding up gameplay or turning off encounters for story focused play.
    - Same great story that showcases some great character growth and touching moments. - Feels right at home on the Switch screen, smaller screen helps highlight the beautiful artwork throughout the game. Cons:
    - Great new sprites sometimes look too sharp for existing pre-rendered backgrounds.
    - Squall looks less mature, and more K-pop.
    - I feel like this could be ported to mobile as well and I have my phone on me more often.    … Expand
  3. benter
    Mar 25, 2022
    5
    ПОЧЕМУ ЭКРАН КВАДРАТНЫЙ? ЧТО ЗА БРЕД? В РЕМАСТЕРЕ СЛОЖНО ЭКРАН РАСШИРИТЬ?
  4. JRice
    Nov 17, 2021
    6
    After the amazing SNES games, FFVIII plays incredibly clunky, and features strange mechanics and terrible level design.
    Also, the graphics didnt age well, and the blurry backgrounds dont fit the new character models.

    This is, with wide range, my least favourite FF of all SNES and PS1 titles...
  5. TheMegaGodz
    Oct 21, 2019
    7
    Not a terrible game, but nothing amazing either. Amazing characters thrown in to a lackluster story with complicated gameplay mechanics.
  6. Starfree
    Jun 2, 2021
    5
    FF8 can be described in one word. Confusing. The story is all over the place before it introduces Space Travel and Time Travel. The GF system is a cluttered mess, the combat scaling system makes grinding a negative, and the card game holy frick I don’t think anyone can understand it. The cut scenes are cool and for the first few hours the combat system is just like any other FF game. TheFF8 can be described in one word. Confusing. The story is all over the place before it introduces Space Travel and Time Travel. The GF system is a cluttered mess, the combat scaling system makes grinding a negative, and the card game holy frick I don’t think anyone can understand it. The cut scenes are cool and for the first few hours the combat system is just like any other FF game. The characters are good. This is as bad as a good game can get. And of the main line FF games of Switch this is the worst one.… Expand
  7. bingbang
    Jun 22, 2020
    6
    I was so eager to revisit this world since it had such a presence in my life 20 years ago, but man... that junction system is painful, even with the addition of switching random encounters off and speeding battles up. I just never wanted to enter a battle.

Awards & Rankings

75
#75 Best Switch Game of 2019
81
#81 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. God is a Geek
    Oct 17, 2019
    70
    Final Fantasy VIII Remastered doesn't live up to its name and only really succeeds in making Final Fantasy VIII playable on current systems.
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  2. Cubed3
    Sep 27, 2019
    50
    Is Final Fantasy VIII Remastered the best way to play it? It really depends on a few things. Being able to bypass most of its questionable design choices certainly makes it more enjoyable than it was, then again that only highlights just how flawed it was in the first place. So, why bother at all? You may as well play it as it was intended, warts and all. This also applies to the revamped visuals; obviously improved in some areas, but the updated HD character models don't go well with the low-res pre-rendered backgrounds.
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  3. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Sep 16, 2019
    80
    Final Fantasy VIII is a unique experience in the pantheon of Final Fantasy games. It manages to stand out among others in the series with its own voice and personality, in part, due to its strange narrative and specialized Junction system. It’s thrilling to see this game realized again with a quality remaster on the Nintendo Switch. Ultimately, the visual upgrades and additional options make this version the best way to play the game. FFVIII fans won’t be disappointed.
    Read full review
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