*clears throat*

Whether people like it or not (and there's some loyalists out there which would stone me for saying this), Final Fantasy 7 was the apex of the Final Fantasy series - and it hasn't quite gotten back to that fever pitch since. Whether it was the advancements and opportunities seized by the new technology, the knock-down-drag-em-out advertising campaign that made you want to get your hands on the game, or just a case of the planets aligning, FF7 has been the biggest in the series bar none.

I think this was a big problem for FF8, because no matter what happens, you'd be comparing it directly to it's predecessor. A bigger problem is that I think the developers saw how much people loved FF7, and maybe misinterpreted what it was that caught their imaginations, and ran totally the wrong way with it!

Cloud was kinda dour but at least he was cheeky with a dark sense of humour. Strike 1 for FF8 though was to have a totally humourless, uninteresting prat as a main character. Sure, his design was cool, but as a character Squall has a stillborn personality. When I'm praying that the next time I have a Laguna flashback I stay as him, you know there's something wrong.

Strike 2 for me was Rinoa and the forced "love" theme. I just didn't buy it, and it didn't help that Rinoa was about as captivating on an intellectual level as Squall was (read: not at all, Charlie.)

Strike 3 was the general story. Don't get me wrong, the game had an awesome start. You're dumped into a great setting - a militant Hogwarts School of Wizardry, and an hour or so in you've kicked a Guardian Force's ass and on your way to a thrilling raid on Dollet. I think after the point you've been to Timber it all falls apart. The low point?

OH HEY WE ALL USED TO BE IN AN ORPHANAGE TOGETHER AND OMFG THE SUPPOSED MAIN VILLAINESS WAS OUR HEADMISTRESS!!11 O_O

Give me a break. You also have to love
the slavic speaking out-of-nowhere big bad that appears at the 11th hour. Ultimeci-who?

Dumb dumb dumb dumb.
Also, have of the cast put me to sleep. That includes you, Selphie and Irvine.

What did I like though?
I liked the more realistic character models, and how your party would follow you around in areas. I liked the more realised world - everything seemed more alive and bustling. Great design and detail in most locations. Even the little trains running around the overworld map was alot of fun.
I also liked Quistis. She was the video-game hawtness. I think that's half the reason why I think Squall is a complete and utter knob - why would you brush her off? Then again, even she isn't impervious to the short end of the characterization stick sadly, with her little excuse of liking Squall and then suddenly not just being incredibly hollow. I also liked Zell alot as a character, which I think puts me in a minority. Then again I also thought Fujin and Raijin were awesome. Seifer sadly was more like a much lamer Draco Malfoy.

From an advertising/marketing standpoint, they didn't really pull out the big guns for FF8 like they did for 7. There were a few TV spots but no print blitz at all. I don't think they've ever gone that all out since, sadly (like they should have for FF12).

Overall, just a bunch of bad decisions made FF8 less than stellar. They got the idea that a brooding asshat of a character is what people liked, so they put a fuzzy collared black jacket in a turd and called it a main character. They got the idea that a great love story would hook people in (and this time the girl would actually live), but sadly they just got people wishing that Sephiroth would jump down from a chandelier somewhere and slice Rinoa in half.

Presentation was all top marks, but everything behind the pretty graphics marked a less than fun experience.

Oh yeah, junctioning and DRAWING FOR HOURS sucked.

I'm definitly on the love side of the line here. The characters, plot, graphics, and general style or theme were appealing to me. Squall's personality turns some people off but I thought he was realistic (as I know or have met similar people)and made sense motive wise. Rinoa can be a tiny bit annoying every now and then but still is a pretty good character. Personally, I enjoyed the love triangles(or whatever polygon they were)and the whole orphanage connection thing. I'll admit that I wasn't too fond of the junctioning system. It's not my favorite FF but it is definitely one of my favorites.

I liked it alot, just reading this topic makes me want to start a new game on it! The boss is a pain in the arse!

in my opinion this is the best ff game i have played, there are many side quests that will keep you busy for hours and many boss fights. i will say that it does not have my fav story line because 7 has the best storyline this is just my fav i have beat around 20 times now and i am currently playing through it again.

FF 8 wasn't bad or good for me.

I didn't like the fact that you are bound to rely on GFs.

I liked the characters a lot though. Kept me going.

Love it.
The poll shocked me cause for the most part it has always seemed to be an underdog game. But it has been my favorite of the series. Laguna more then makes up for anything in this game.