I wasn't sure what to expect went I started playing Final Fantasy VIII. Having played Final Fantasy VII, the bar was high. But this is Final Fantasy, it always meets and exceeds expectations, doesn't it?

After adapting to the new systems in the game, yes. Graphically, the game is stunning, surpassing VII's graphics by far. The characters when in polygons, when you are controlling them, look much more realistic. Not the cartoonish looking characters of VII. In the cutscenes, the characters look nearly life like. I was completely blown away by the cutscene graphics. Because the characters look more realistic when made up of polygons, the transition between game mode and cutscenes are a lot more smooth. The effects graphics for magic and such are about the same quality as VII, but still great as usual.

But graphics are about the only place this game can relate to Final Fantasy VII. Gone is equipment. You characters pretty much use the same weapons through the game, modified and upgrade at "Junk Shops" with parts you earn from battle and such. No armor, which is kind of disappointing because I liked having that sort of customization. Instead armor is provided by magic, which has also been altered. Limit breaks are treated as panic attacks that occur in dire situations. There's no meter to see when they will happen.

Magic has been altered, as I said. You "draw" magic from enemies and basically stockpile it. So the more magically powerful the enemies you fight, the better magic you will acquire. You junction magic to stats and become more powerful or resistant based on what magic you junction to the stat. There are Guardian Forces that you start with or earn, which replace Final Fantasy VII's materia. You junction them to your characters, and your characters can take advantage the GF's abilities. The GF itself can gain levels, become more powerful and learn more abilities. It's an interesting system, but takes some adjusting.

There is a card game you can play with most any character in the game and the winner wins prizes, usually cards. It's a game that takes some learning though, and you want to build up a good set of cards before playing because it's easy to get addicted, and if you have a weak set, you'll lose a lot of cards. It's a fun thing to play when bored of running from task to task in the game.

The only true complaint I have about the game is the minimal nerfing. Lack of equipment customization could be seen as part of it, but I don't see it that way. What I consider nerfing in the game is the fact you earn money based on your SeeD rank, a salary income that pops out of no where, and suddenly you have more money. You raise rank by answering trivia questions about the game, be it mechanics or whatnot. It's like a system of rewards for people who test themselves to make sure they understand how to play the game.

The changes in the game are different, but somewhat welcomed. The world in each of the games, historically, have been becoming more technologically advanced, so the changes in the game system are logical. It wouldn't make much since to be wielding a shotgun and being a pure black mage running around buying new spells. Nor would it make since to be driving a car wearing a suit of crystal armor. But because of the battle system, the epic storyline, and the complex world, the game is a Final Fantasy game.



Recommended: Yes