I was amazed when I saw FF8's graphics (having been used to the Super Nintendo versions). The characters were startlingly life-like and the rest of the graphics were also very realistic.
The main characters are Squall, a moody military academy student, Laguna, an ex-soldier who became a journalist, Seifer, Squall's long-time rival and fellow student, Quistis, a young instructor and friend of Squall, Rinoa, an ambitious leader of a resistance group, Selphie, a girlish student at Squall's school, Zell, another student with great martial arts skills, and Irvine, a sniper with a love for the ladies.
Squall, Seifer, Selphie, and Zell start off as candidates for a special combat unit at Balamb Garden, a military academy. They are sent on a special mission and cross paths with Quistis, Rinoa, and Irvine in a plot to destroy a sorceress with evil power. The game takes them all over the world from quaint towns and villiages to big cities to a missile base in the desert to outer space. There are many interesting side quests where you gain items and a new card game called Triple Triad. TT is very addictive and would make a great stand-alone game, IMO. There is a lot of action and character development.
However, it is by far the most difficult FF game I've played, although there are tutorials within the game. (it's a bit of a pain if you've played before, though). I wasn't able to find my way through the game without a walkthrough like I was able to with FF2, 3, and 7.
FF8 also introduces the Junctioning system for using magic. (As opposed to only certain characters in 2, Espers in 3, and Materia in 7). It's a bit difficult to learn, and involves obtaining a Guardian Force, choosing an ability for it to learn, junctioning the GF, and junctioning the ability to the character. This can be a bit tricky, and you may want to consult an FF8 site for tips from other players.
As interesting as the side quests are, most are necessary for progress and if you miss one, you're stuck. Also, as your levels increase, so do your enemies' and you can get yourself wiped out very fast. Unlike, FF7, Limit Breaks only occur when your character is near death, so often can't help him or her. The storyline didn't seem as strong as it did in the others, but your mileage may vary.
Overall, it is a good game, but I just wasn't hooked by it like I was with previous ones. However, I think that, armed with a good gaming guide, walkthroughs, and cheat sheets, you'll do just fine.

Recommended: Yes