Only a few weeks after completing FFVII (and posting a review of it) I completed FFVIII a couple of days ago for only the second ever time and 18 years after the first time. Playing it through again made me realise how much of it I'd forgotten. For example I remember battling Ultimecia at the end obviously but barely remember battling any of her servants to get all my powers back yet I must've done at the time as there's obviously not a snowball in hell chance I'd have defeated her without them.
At the time I thought it was ok but preferred FFVII. I just didn't find VIII's plotline as compelling as VII's and I found myself missing the VII characters. However having played it through again I've started to appreciate it more.
Overall FFVII is still my fave but the aspects where imo I found FFVIII to be better were the following:
Graphics: More often than not I was impressed by the vistas of places like Balamb and Esthar and the architecture of Balamb Garden. I was quite impressed by the architecture in Timber as well. FFVII had less of these impressive locations imo.
Music: FFVII has some of the most brilliant music ever heard in video gaming history never mind FF history but for me FFVIII had the greater quantity of music that was above average. The music in Balamb garden, Balamb itself, Timber, the Timber Owls theme, the battle theme, the boss battle theme, Esthar, the list goes on. The music in the third and fourth phases off the battle with Ultimecia was incredible and even as someone who's not usually into love songs I found 'Eyes on me' wonderful to listen to especially at the end of the game.
Weapon upgrades: I found it quite satisfying finding the right items needed to upgrade the weapons rather than just finding or buying new weapons.
Limit breaks: I liked how each character had a unique way of learning new limit breaks like Squall adding new finishers to his renzokuken with weapon upgrades, zell adding new duel combos if you read Combat King Magazine issues or Rinoa teaching her dog new tricks to perform in battle if you read Pet Pals magazines.
Its been said a million times before by so many people but the junction system is a tad complicated but it's always good to see something a bit different with each FF game and while I still prefer the materia system in FFVII I did find the junction system quite rewarding once I got the hang of it.
Story wise well, I still don't rate the main plot about a time compressing sorceress as highly as FFVII's plot but it was ok. What really impressed me though on my second walkthrough and which I appreciate more now than I did the first time I played it was the love story between Squall and Rinoa. I thought the way that story developed was really nicely done and well developed and after everything they went through I was so happy they survived all that and got the happy ending they deserved. That music they played at the end "Eyes on me" oh my that really got to me. What a beautiful song!
Anyway overall I appreciate this game more than I used to and I get the feeling I'm far from the only one who has.
At the time I thought it was ok but preferred FFVII. I just didn't find VIII's plotline as compelling as VII's and I found myself missing the VII characters. However having played it through again I've started to appreciate it more.
Overall FFVII is still my fave but the aspects where imo I found FFVIII to be better were the following:
Graphics: More often than not I was impressed by the vistas of places like Balamb and Esthar and the architecture of Balamb Garden. I was quite impressed by the architecture in Timber as well. FFVII had less of these impressive locations imo.
Music: FFVII has some of the most brilliant music ever heard in video gaming history never mind FF history but for me FFVIII had the greater quantity of music that was above average. The music in Balamb garden, Balamb itself, Timber, the Timber Owls theme, the battle theme, the boss battle theme, Esthar, the list goes on. The music in the third and fourth phases off the battle with Ultimecia was incredible and even as someone who's not usually into love songs I found 'Eyes on me' wonderful to listen to especially at the end of the game.
Weapon upgrades: I found it quite satisfying finding the right items needed to upgrade the weapons rather than just finding or buying new weapons.
Limit breaks: I liked how each character had a unique way of learning new limit breaks like Squall adding new finishers to his renzokuken with weapon upgrades, zell adding new duel combos if you read Combat King Magazine issues or Rinoa teaching her dog new tricks to perform in battle if you read Pet Pals magazines.
Its been said a million times before by so many people but the junction system is a tad complicated but it's always good to see something a bit different with each FF game and while I still prefer the materia system in FFVII I did find the junction system quite rewarding once I got the hang of it.
Story wise well, I still don't rate the main plot about a time compressing sorceress as highly as FFVII's plot but it was ok. What really impressed me though on my second walkthrough and which I appreciate more now than I did the first time I played it was the love story between Squall and Rinoa. I thought the way that story developed was really nicely done and well developed and after everything they went through I was so happy they survived all that and got the happy ending they deserved. That music they played at the end "Eyes on me" oh my that really got to me. What a beautiful song!
Anyway overall I appreciate this game more than I used to and I get the feeling I'm far from the only one who has.