The Inside Scoop on Gaming

While this review isn't complete, as I'm only 16 hours into playing FF8, I think I've hit enough of the high point to give coherent overview.

OVERVIEW

Final Fantasy VIII (FF8) is the lastest entry in the long-running cartridge/CD-rom series of RPG's. Billed this time as a romance, FF8 follows Squall, a newly minted graduate of the elite Garden military academy. Along the way he encounters the beautiful Rinoa, leader of a resistance group fighting to free their country of Forest from the nation of Galbadia, and must strive to win her from his arch-rival Seifer, a disgraced ex-Garden student.

STORY

Story was the heart of FF7, and that fact hasn't changed here. Your characters, while having extensive freedom of movement, are esentially railroaded into the plot. The fun part comes from finding out the character's motivations, and puzzling out where the story is going.

FF8 seems to have ditched the sometimes heavy-handed enviromental theme from FF7, in favor of a straight military/romantic tale. You're still going to have to save the world, but at least you aren't going to be beaten over the head about wasting "Planet"'s resources.

That said, I rather miss Cloud's (from FF7) flashbacks. It gave the previous title a rather fun "What the f*ck is going on?" feel that is absent in FF8. Here, the only mystery that has currently cropped up is why Squall and his compatriots keep experiencing the lives of a trio of Galbadian soldiers.

CHARACTERS

With the linear plotline, there's no room for a true character creation system. You're stuck with Squall the soldier, though you can change his (and other) character's names upon first meeting them. Experience is gained through good ol' fashioned monster whomping, and is added together to make a characters rise up in levels. In a new twist, your Guardian Force (GF) can also rise up in levels, becoming more powerful as the game goes on.

Thankfully, some of the goofier character types from FF7, like Mr. T clone Barret, and the ever annoying Cait-Sith are absent. On the down side, all the characters so far are human, leaving out my favorite experimental subject, Red XIII.

MAGIC

Which brings us to the magic system. Characters gain the ability to use magic through the new Junction system. Essentially, they hook up with a GF, who provides the ability to cast or store magic. This replaces the Materia of FF7.

You gain the ability cast magical spells by stealing individual uses from monsters in combat (sort of like snagging charges from a wand), and then expending them by casting them yourself. Other magical charges can be found at random points on the map, which a character can take for use later.

There are other goodies involved here, but they are explained in some rather unhelpful on-line tutorials, rather than in the manual. I'm probably going to have to buy the hint book to figure it all out.

With no limit to 'mana' there is now no limit to how many times you can call up your GF in combat. Which is a little bit a problem...

COMBAT

Combat is simlar to the previous titles. A maximum of three PC's enter combat, against anywhere from one to four enemies. Each PC has a timer bar counting down throughout the combat. When the counter reaches the end, the PC is given the option to attack with a weapon, cast or stock magic, call up his GF, or use an item.

Due to the changes in the magic system, the emphasis on weapons has been downgraded *vastly*. Basically, you have no reason not to just keep calling up your GF and blasting your enemies repeatedly. In the case of many high-level monsters, it's a nessessity, as most magic and weapons do only 50-100 points of damage, while Shiva and her brethern can do anywhere from 300-1200 points. The only concession is that you basically can only call them up on alternate turns, but this hardly a problem given the amount of damage they can do.

GRAPHICS

Here's where FF8 really stands out. The two years since the previous title was released in the States have given the animators time to create some truly stunning CGI movies. The box advertises that there's over an hour of pure CGI here, and I'm inclined to believe them. The dance sequence at the Garden Festival is worth the $50 price tag alone, being a wonderful misture of spectacle, and character development, without a single word being spoken.

Characters look more human now, similar to those in titles like "Metal Gear Solid" and "Syphon Filter" rather than the cartoony figures from FF7. Unlike MGS and SF, there is even discernable facial expressions and eye movement, though much emphasis is still placed on body languages (mostly shrugs, arm gestures, and shaking from laughter).

CONCLUSION

Even with the clunky new magic-combat system, FF8 is wort a look for gamers new to this series. If you loved FF7, buy this title. You won't be dissapointed.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Final Fantasy VIII
Author: n/a Category: CD-Rom Company/Publisher: Squaresoft Line: Final Fantasy Cost: $49.95 Page count: n/a Capsule Review by Royce Day on 09/20/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Anime	While this review isn't complete, as I'm only 16 hours into playing FF8, I think I've hit enough of the high point to give coherent overview. OVERVIEW Final Fantasy VIII (FF8) is the lastest entry in the long-running cartridge/CD-rom series of RPG's. Billed this time as a romance, FF8 follows Squall, a newly minted graduate of the elite Garden military academy. Along the way he encounters the beautiful Rinoa, leader of a resistance group fighting to free their country of Forest from the nation of Galbadia, and must strive to win her from his arch-rival Seifer, a disgraced ex-Garden student. STORY Story was the heart of FF7, and that fact hasn't changed here. Your characters, while having extensive freedom of movement, are esentially railroaded into the plot. The fun part comes from finding out the character's motivations, and puzzling out where the story is going. FF8 seems to have ditched the sometimes heavy-handed enviromental theme from FF7, in favor of a straight military/romantic tale. You're still going to have to save the world, but at least you aren't going to be beaten over the head about wasting "Planet"'s resources. That said, I rather miss Cloud's (from FF7) flashbacks. It gave the previous title a rather fun "What the fck is going on?" feel that is absent in FF8. Here, the only mystery that has currently cropped up is why Squall and his compatriots keep experiencing the lives of a trio of Galbadian soldiers. CHARACTERS With the linear plotline, there's no room for a true character creation system. You're stuck with Squall the soldier, though you can change his (and other) character's names upon first meeting them. Experience is gained through good ol' fashioned monster whomping, and is added together to make a characters rise up in levels. In a new twist, your Guardian Force (GF) can also rise up in levels, becoming more powerful as the game goes on. Thankfully, some of the goofier character types from FF7, like Mr. T clone Barret, and the ever annoying Cait-Sith are absent. On the down side, all the characters so far are human, leaving out my favorite experimental subject, Red XIII. MAGIC Which brings us to the magic system. Characters gain the ability to use magic through the new Junction system. Essentially, they hook up with a GF, who provides the ability to cast or store magic. This replaces the Materia of FF7. You gain the ability cast magical spells by stealing individual uses from monsters in combat (sort of like snagging charges from a wand), and then expending them by casting them yourself. Other magical charges can be found at random points on the map, which a character can take for use later. There are other goodies involved here, but they are explained in some rather unhelpful on-line tutorials, rather than in the manual. I'm probably going to have to buy the hint book to figure it all out. With no limit to 'mana' there is now no limit to how many times you can call up your GF in combat. Which is a little bit a problem... COMBAT Combat is simlar to the previous titles. A maximum of three PC's enter combat, against anywhere from one to four enemies. Each PC has a timer bar counting down throughout the combat. When the counter reaches the end, the PC is given the option to attack with a weapon, cast or stock magic, call up his GF, or use an item. Due to the changes in the magic system, the emphasis on weapons has been downgraded vastly*. Basically, you have no reason not to just keep calling up your GF and blasting your enemies repeatedly. In the case of many high-level monsters, it's a nessessity, as most magic and weapons do only 50-100 points of damage, while Shiva and her brethern can do anywhere from 300-1200 points. The only concession is that you basically can only call them up on alternate turns, but this hardly a problem given the amount of damage they can do. GRAPHICS Here's where FF8 really stands out. The two years since the previous title was released in the States have given the animators time to create some truly stunning CGI movies. The box advertises that there's over an hour of pure CGI here, and I'm inclined to believe them. The dance sequence at the Garden Festival is worth the $50 price tag alone, being a wonderful misture of spectacle, and character development, without a single word being spoken. Characters look more human now, similar to those in titles like "Metal Gear Solid" and "Syphon Filter" rather than the cartoony figures from FF7. Unlike MGS and SF, there is even discernable facial expressions and eye movement, though much emphasis is still placed on body languages (mostly shrugs, arm gestures, and shaking from laughter). CONCLUSION Even with the clunky new magic-combat system, FF8 is wort a look for gamers new to this series. If you loved FF7, buy this title. You won't be dissapointed. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)