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[POLL] WHY SOME PEOPLE THINK FF8 WAS THE BEST FF EVER?
Poll
What aspect of FF8 was better than all other FF games? - Results
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Risk = Reward (low level run, limit break)
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1
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4%
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Battle system as a whole (GF, draw)
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7
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28%
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Story
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13
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52%
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Mini games
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4
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16%
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Posts
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Well this is how FF games are it's very hard to maintain a real discussion about them.
A remainder this is a discussion about what elements was interesting to you in FF8, this is a topic for people who liked FF8 (no hater and no super fan), so that they have clear judgement. other FF games can be discussed only if you want to use it against or in support of your discussion for FF8.
there is two part in how you see the game, first as a player you remember what element/part you liked/(or maybe disliked) about FF8, then if you want you can add your view as a developer in that element/part. I will try to make a list soon so in the end we have some useful information. I was trying to gather information with the poll but it's information isn't very useful (and the options are not good at all :S sorry).
A remainder this is a discussion about what elements was interesting to you in FF8, this is a topic for people who liked FF8 (no hater and no super fan), so that they have clear judgement. other FF games can be discussed only if you want to use it against or in support of your discussion for FF8.
there is two part in how you see the game, first as a player you remember what element/part you liked/(or maybe disliked) about FF8, then if you want you can add your view as a developer in that element/part. I will try to make a list soon so in the end we have some useful information. I was trying to gather information with the poll but it's information isn't very useful (and the options are not good at all :S sorry).
0range00
0
Squall is dead-theory really added some interest in FF8 for me. Been itching to play it again for some time now. This was the time Square was at it's peak and tried to make ambitious stories left and right. Example being Xenogears and it's forced religion symbolistics, etc.
although in all seriousness, I don't think Square was THAT clever..
although in all seriousness, I don't think Square was THAT clever..
obsorber
50
I know right, ignore Squaresofts's lies about the theory. FF8 was the best because of the speculation allowed for the player. There were so many theories the player could speculate on that interrelated with the game. This is what made it the ultimate final fantasy. As speculation and imagination are what fantasy is about I give it a 10/10 for its fundamental focus. Everything about that game was fantastic. It allowed the player to win battles based on their intelligence and decision of what fantasy path they would like to go on. They got to choose what type of characters they had or what strategy they would like to adjust to. You didn't even have to utilize the junction system or gain a decent level up to win as you would in FF9 and FF7. From the musical score, to the game-play, to the speculative story and the characters are fantastic, it’s a must try. Enemies also got stronger the higher level your characters were too. This made the game quite challenging had you not mastered the Junction and GF system. For me, out of all the protagonistsSquall Leonhart was the easiest to relate too although he was like “super duper emo” but he reminds me of myself in many ways aside from the emo part. I fell in love with Squall's relation to the characters in the story, no homo. To me, he would have been a bit of a role model figure at the time when I was at high school. He stepped up whenever he needed to and that was why he was cool. I thought he was a bit of a "dipshit" most of the time though but what makes a hero, legend, leader or whatever is when they have to act and every time he was always calm and stayed on task. That’s why he was badass. The rest of the characters were part of the fantasy. They were idealists and Squall was the realist. He was the only one who realized things don't make sense which is why they all depended on him. This is why in this final fantasy the player is the only real person playing the role and from Squall's point of view as the realist, the relationship between the player and Squall had you tried to understand this is what completely draws them into the game.
FF7 was definitely more realistic than FF8 but has less speculation and imagination allowed in the fantasy. The game was about “terrorists or freedom fighters” depending on how you want to look at it trying to save the world. Originally it was all about destroying Shinra Corp who they argued were destroying earths “lifestream” by mining the essence of the planet. However it then went elsewhere into the legend of the Cetra and Sephiroth who is planning to destroy the world with his has power of Mako. Sephiroth was a military experiment and apparently much like Aeris a Cetra as well which is why they wanted to capture her too. Although Cloud was some what interested in a relationship with Tifa when he was younger that was when he was an idealist appearing in flashbacks. So Aeris although not envisioned to be as "hot" as Tifa for me was Cloud’s true romantic interest before she died and he was heartbroken afterwards but knew that with her powers she could return and align with the planet. Aeris was full of life, she got stuff. She understood things and even him. This is why he purposely drowned her in the river so she could return to the lifestream. He didn't want her to live like that. One of the reasons why he could never get over it as seen in Final Fantasy: Advent Children is because he was the one that finished her off really. She wasn't dead, she was paralyzed and pretty much became a vegetable so it was really Cloud who dealt the final blow. I think its probably the realism that attached those who like a fantasy game that’s more plane and simple to understand than final fantasy 8. Plus, the game itself relates to what is actually happening in the real world. Even so, I think Cloud was a more mature version of Squall and Aeris brought out the fun back into his soul having experienced tons of trauma. Cloud was an older character in his 20’s as opposed to a younger teen Leonhart. Throughout the plot, Cloud was almost too mature at times. He was more immature when he joined the military but woke up and saw what Shinra was about. He was frustrated with how dumb the world is. He saw too much. Zack was his best friend that died by Shinra’s hands when they wanted to escape the military and live normal lives. He also found it easy to relate to Aeris because of her connection with Zack who was her ex lover. The reason why I think FF8 was better was because the story and plot was more suitable for teenagers which those kinds of games are supposed to target. FF7 had a lot of realism if you didn’t notice. The speculation in the game wasn’t focused on the fantasy itself but more on moments within the plot. Even still, it was FF7 that got FF8 as popular as it did. Being one of the first 3D role playing games of its genre with fantastic graphics and cut scenes, the next one was bound to attract more attention and make more sales.
FF7 was definitely more realistic than FF8 but has less speculation and imagination allowed in the fantasy. The game was about “terrorists or freedom fighters” depending on how you want to look at it trying to save the world. Originally it was all about destroying Shinra Corp who they argued were destroying earths “lifestream” by mining the essence of the planet. However it then went elsewhere into the legend of the Cetra and Sephiroth who is planning to destroy the world with his has power of Mako. Sephiroth was a military experiment and apparently much like Aeris a Cetra as well which is why they wanted to capture her too. Although Cloud was some what interested in a relationship with Tifa when he was younger that was when he was an idealist appearing in flashbacks. So Aeris although not envisioned to be as "hot" as Tifa for me was Cloud’s true romantic interest before she died and he was heartbroken afterwards but knew that with her powers she could return and align with the planet. Aeris was full of life, she got stuff. She understood things and even him. This is why he purposely drowned her in the river so she could return to the lifestream. He didn't want her to live like that. One of the reasons why he could never get over it as seen in Final Fantasy: Advent Children is because he was the one that finished her off really. She wasn't dead, she was paralyzed and pretty much became a vegetable so it was really Cloud who dealt the final blow. I think its probably the realism that attached those who like a fantasy game that’s more plane and simple to understand than final fantasy 8. Plus, the game itself relates to what is actually happening in the real world. Even so, I think Cloud was a more mature version of Squall and Aeris brought out the fun back into his soul having experienced tons of trauma. Cloud was an older character in his 20’s as opposed to a younger teen Leonhart. Throughout the plot, Cloud was almost too mature at times. He was more immature when he joined the military but woke up and saw what Shinra was about. He was frustrated with how dumb the world is. He saw too much. Zack was his best friend that died by Shinra’s hands when they wanted to escape the military and live normal lives. He also found it easy to relate to Aeris because of her connection with Zack who was her ex lover. The reason why I think FF8 was better was because the story and plot was more suitable for teenagers which those kinds of games are supposed to target. FF7 had a lot of realism if you didn’t notice. The speculation in the game wasn’t focused on the fantasy itself but more on moments within the plot. Even still, it was FF7 that got FF8 as popular as it did. Being one of the first 3D role playing games of its genre with fantastic graphics and cut scenes, the next one was bound to attract more attention and make more sales.
Crystalgate
694
author=alterego
I choose option 2, the game mechanics are very customizable, very flexible. People complain the game is broken but it's not, it's just very exploitable once you know what you're doing, but if you play that way that's your fault. You can always aim for a low-level run, no-draw run, no limit-breaks run, etc. The game gives you options... Well, I guess this bleeds a little over option 1, but I still choose 2.
"Very exploitable" sounds a lot like broken to me. Also, I do not accept the idea that it's the player's job to keep the difficulty at the right level. You can ask the player to cooperate, such as not running from 70% of the fights or running in circles to get extra levels, but it's the game designers who has to do the balancing. Imagine that in a more traditional RPG, the player has refrain from using the latest armor upgrade and instead use the second latest armor upgrade to make the game balanced. If players don't do that and then complain the game is to easy, then it's the game designers who screwed up, not the players.
Ok, here's a list of what I though was important and had both Developer and player perspective. If you think some point is missing please tell me so that I can add them, I mostly used Avee lines because they were explained very good. thanks to everyone to participate.
some people may say but it is broken. well if you wander around leveling up to 100 yes the game is broken, the only difference is that you can have multiple ways to increase your power not only random battles.
I really don't believe that people can't understand Squall, there are so many example of such a self Protective personality. they won't let anyone get too friendly. Squall was the extreme case, but so is every single other character in any game, hero's are extreme. Even his change of attitude toward Riona was just to protect the only person who appreciate him openly. Squall didn't changed much throughout the game.
It's very important for a game developer to know what reward is enough for a player. I played more than 20 times through Dollet mission alone just to see I get A LOL. Everyone like graduation with good scores:)
bad things:
FF8 changed a lot about the ff formula gameplay-wise, though, which makes it interesting. triple triad, junctioning, drawing, dismantling, etc.
these features gave you lots of options, even early game, which is usually stale for new playthroughs in ffs. there's more to abuse with previous playthrough knowledge
some people may say but it is broken. well if you wander around leveling up to 100 yes the game is broken, the only difference is that you can have multiple ways to increase your power not only random battles.
The card game was fun, once I got the hang of it. Every other time I was getting my behind handed to me. Then, I started seeking out NPC's to play because I liked it so darn much.It's important to create a good mini game that require thinking not only fast reflex and very good memory.
A story that often focuses on relationships.why it's good? I think the player try to judge the characters, this means the player is more engaged in the story rather than only watching the story.
A gorgeous soundtrack that makes a great job at enhancing events' emotionsJust remember when Biggs activating X-ATM092, the same thing happen in the beginning of FFX.
A more realistic look and design in world and characters. FF8 is the easiest I can get immersed into. Characters look, think and act less like Anime stereotypes and more like real people. I can enjoy this..
I really don't believe that people can't understand Squall, there are so many example of such a self Protective personality. they won't let anyone get too friendly. Squall was the extreme case, but so is every single other character in any game, hero's are extreme. Even his change of attitude toward Riona was just to protect the only person who appreciate him openly. Squall didn't changed much throughout the game.
One of the most exciting segment I ever experienced in any FF is the Dollet Field Exam. The game successfully preps you up mentally and emotionally for this segment and the roller coaster of tension that follows is one of the most satisfying moment I've had while playing the game. The scenes that follow (the party and graduation) were also the best rewards I could ever hope for.
It's very important for a game developer to know what reward is enough for a player. I played more than 20 times through Dollet mission alone just to see I get A LOL. Everyone like graduation with good scores:)
having characters express their desires and act upon them. I don't think I can get any sicker of the cliché clueless/asexual male characters and embarrassed/virgin female characters.Yes it's overused girls are always shy and boys always try to use pick up lines. FF8 was the mix of both with Irvine and Squall.
Great power now comes at a great risk: Limits can only be used when your HP remains critically low. It makes more sense than filling up a "frustration meter" and it increases challenge, if only a little.
I choose option 2, the game mechanics are very customizable, very flexible. People complain the game is broken but it's not, it's just very exploitable once you know what you're doing, but if you play that way that's your fault. You can always aim for a low-level run, no-draw run, no limit-breaks run, etc. The game gives you options... Well, I guess this bleeds a little over option 1, but I still choose 2.A lot of people like to exploit game mechanics, (I am one of them) Knowledge is power. In a action game if you have enough reflex enemies will never hit you. does this means the game is broken? No player just mastered all of his available options. Also in all RPG games you can grind so you have easier times or even no challenge. Still I can't think anyone can say OmegaWeapon was a easy boss even If you exploited every single game mechanic, (I know you can use items to become invincible, but you also can't be healed or use aura and If invincible wear off before you can act you are dead)
bad things:
There is no reason to care about killing
the final boss at all.
Also not a fan of le big bad. I prefer evil to have a bit more personality and presence (helloooo Kefka and Sephiroth~).I have the same feeling about this, I didn't feel anything about Ultimecia at all. Disk 4 was completely void for me, well except killing the OmegaWeapon (yeah I am super fan of that boss LOL :P)
author=AveeOh shit thanks man :).
Oh yeah, meisam, BTW means "by the way", not "between".
author=arcanI found the game tedious. I don't know what all the fuss is about.
You are forgetting FFT you heathens!
Jarrad
19
My rankings:
FF12 > FF9 > FF7 > FF6 > FF10 > FF4 > FF5 >FF10-2 > FF8 > FF3 > FF13 > FF13-2
Never Played, or didn't play enough to get an opinion: FF1, FF2, FF11
I don't really get the hate on 12, anyone care to tell me?
FF12 > FF9 > FF7 > FF6 > FF10 > FF4 > FF5 >FF10-2 > FF8 > FF3 > FF13 > FF13-2
Never Played, or didn't play enough to get an opinion: FF1, FF2, FF11
I don't really get the hate on 12, anyone care to tell me?
The best option is missing: The cutscene where everybody but the leader who's moping in a corner is discussing their next job and how to perform it when the leader suddenly freaks out, yells some gibberish about the past tense or something, and stomps out of the room while the rest of the party is going "what the fuck just happened".
I don't remember much after the first disk and what I do is all jumbled. You go to the drill prison and during a menial tasks shift you jump a jerk guard being mean to those red anthropomorphic lion things and start a jail break and get in a jeep and drive out and drive back to Balamb which has been invaded by giant orange things and you save the day by... driving? Anyways you find out that the Empire or whatever is going to invade Balamb to get you so you drive to their army base and set the missile miss chance to maximum and drive out and Balamb is saved but now the Empire is bonus pissed at you so they send their rocket powered bike corps at you which you hijack and rocket to their Empire State Building and fight the President Witch who... escaped into the future? So now you need to get to the future so you need to find Future Town ran by a guy with a giant ridiculous frilly collar who tells you to... find a boat in an archipelago? I'm not sure that's right but I remember spending way too much time driving my slow ass boat finding that fucking tiny raft and it was kinda late game. I think the dance show happens here too. Then you go back to Future Town and hop in a space gun and go to the moon to fight the Moon Witch and randomly find a fully functional spaceship where the theme song plays. You take the spaceship and fly it into the monolith from 2001 and Seifer kills Odin and you can finally go into the future via time compression or so to punch faceless President Witch and then get back to the present through the magic of friendship and Zell finally gets a god damn hotdog.
... I have no clue where Laguna & Co. come into this at all. I think besides playing it back when it first came out I never got far in any subsequent playthroughs and it has been a very long time since I've actually gotten past the bits after the zombie president. I don't have any interest to play through the game again (junctioning is dumb. There's no actual opportunity cost or choice and exploiting it is as simple as "don't sperg out") and the hilarious LP of Robert and Worf's adventure seems to be gone so now I'll never recall the actual story :(
And since we're doing FF orders itt:
They are all the worst FF game.
Except FF5. I can't say that about FF5 even in jest.
e2: Thinking about it on the drive home I now remember a Laguna scene where he was filming a movie and a dragon busted it up. I have no idea what this means in any context to the storyline except that it existed. I also remembered Robin Williams is in the game as... Cid I think? A lame Cid but better than 6's Cid.
e3: FF8 also has
which is a pretty nice track.
I don't remember much after the first disk and what I do is all jumbled. You go to the drill prison and during a menial tasks shift you jump a jerk guard being mean to those red anthropomorphic lion things and start a jail break and get in a jeep and drive out and drive back to Balamb which has been invaded by giant orange things and you save the day by... driving? Anyways you find out that the Empire or whatever is going to invade Balamb to get you so you drive to their army base and set the missile miss chance to maximum and drive out and Balamb is saved but now the Empire is bonus pissed at you so they send their rocket powered bike corps at you which you hijack and rocket to their Empire State Building and fight the President Witch who... escaped into the future? So now you need to get to the future so you need to find Future Town ran by a guy with a giant ridiculous frilly collar who tells you to... find a boat in an archipelago? I'm not sure that's right but I remember spending way too much time driving my slow ass boat finding that fucking tiny raft and it was kinda late game. I think the dance show happens here too. Then you go back to Future Town and hop in a space gun and go to the moon to fight the Moon Witch and randomly find a fully functional spaceship where the theme song plays. You take the spaceship and fly it into the monolith from 2001 and Seifer kills Odin and you can finally go into the future via time compression or so to punch faceless President Witch and then get back to the present through the magic of friendship and Zell finally gets a god damn hotdog.
... I have no clue where Laguna & Co. come into this at all. I think besides playing it back when it first came out I never got far in any subsequent playthroughs and it has been a very long time since I've actually gotten past the bits after the zombie president. I don't have any interest to play through the game again (junctioning is dumb. There's no actual opportunity cost or choice and exploiting it is as simple as "don't sperg out") and the hilarious LP of Robert and Worf's adventure seems to be gone so now I'll never recall the actual story :(
And since we're doing FF orders itt:
They are all the worst FF game.
Except FF5. I can't say that about FF5 even in jest.
e2: Thinking about it on the drive home I now remember a Laguna scene where he was filming a movie and a dragon busted it up. I have no idea what this means in any context to the storyline except that it existed. I also remembered Robin Williams is in the game as... Cid I think? A lame Cid but better than 6's Cid.
e3: FF8 also has
which is a pretty nice track.
MoonWolfV
3001
It would've been cool if I could have chosen two instead of just one.
I like the story and the rapid pace it seems to have (at least to me) but I also like the risk-reward factor.
I like the story and the rapid pace it seems to have (at least to me) but I also like the risk-reward factor.
Bottom line:
Final Fantasy 9 had a mostly silly story with SD characters. Plus the random final boss that made no sense.
Final Fantasy X was satisfying, but entirely too depressing.
Final Fantasy X-2 was a good (if unneeded) resolution for the FFX story, but the whole sidequest-heavy feel made it kinda...
FF11, was some online subscription style game. No thanks, that means working like a dog and never getting to enjoy it. Plus our internet is small town.
Final Fantasy 12 was overserious, and although I liked the sidequests, meh the characters weren't fun and engaging.
Final Fantasy 1-7 were good on their own, but really FF7 was the first that didn't feel like they were experimenting on the system. And it had rough places like the Casino area, where you just lost the mood.
Final Fantasy 8 is also interesting since it seems to be designed so you can play it to use the card system, and low level until disc 3.
Final Fantasy 9 had a mostly silly story with SD characters. Plus the random final boss that made no sense.
Final Fantasy X was satisfying, but entirely too depressing.
Final Fantasy X-2 was a good (if unneeded) resolution for the FFX story, but the whole sidequest-heavy feel made it kinda...
FF11, was some online subscription style game. No thanks, that means working like a dog and never getting to enjoy it. Plus our internet is small town.
Final Fantasy 12 was overserious, and although I liked the sidequests, meh the characters weren't fun and engaging.
Final Fantasy 1-7 were good on their own, but really FF7 was the first that didn't feel like they were experimenting on the system. And it had rough places like the Casino area, where you just lost the mood.
Final Fantasy 8 is also interesting since it seems to be designed so you can play it to use the card system, and low level until disc 3.
