Well, I experienced FF7...now it's FF8's turn! (giving it a second go around; this time doing the GF
Well folks after finally getting to experience FF7 I guess now it's time to do FF8 (you know the game that for some reason so many people hate around here)! I'm now up to right after the train mission and yes, I will freely admit the game is "different" in some of the rules. I do appreciate the fact, for one, that your AP points will automatically "carry over" into another category if your selected one is already maxed out so they're not wasted. I'm not so sure about me me (remember I name the main male protagonist after myself so I can truly "assume" the role of a character ) being this weird pre-emo looking guy but at least my girl is kinda cute...and if I'm not mistaken that ballroom dance scene is also one of the most iconic moments in FF history right?
And I will say the graphics (especially the characters being nice and tall and not as jaggedy and blocky) are a major step up from FF7...guess having a couple more years of practice with the PS1's specs does that? I wasn't so sure about the story's first impressions at first but now that I'm this far in it it'll be interesting to see what becomes of this whole "rebel alliance" thing.
Still that whole getting paid a salary and the other things that are different in FF8 will take a bit of getting used to.
And I will say the graphics (especially the characters being nice and tall and not as jaggedy and blocky) are a major step up from FF7...guess having a couple more years of practice with the PS1's specs does that? I wasn't so sure about the story's first impressions at first but now that I'm this far in it it'll be interesting to see what becomes of this whole "rebel alliance" thing.
Still that whole getting paid a salary and the other things that are different in FF8 will take a bit of getting used to.
Comments
Originally posted by: Wyldephang
Ignore what you hear other people saying about Final Fantasy VIII. You know, there's this nagging misconception that FFVIII didn't live up to our expectations when it first came out. That is strange because, in 1999, I recall that the overriding majority of critics and fans agreed that FFVIII was a worthy successor to the masterwork that came before it. There were even a few publications that declared FFVIII to be superior. So, ultimately, only you can decide whether or not the game is good. Personally, I liked it a lot, and definitely look forward to playing it again in the future. To answer your question, the ballroom dance wasn't a particularly iconic moment for me, but I do seem to remember it being plastered all over advertisements. Maybe that explains why that scene stands out.
OF COURSE it didn't live up to the expectations...there was no chance in a million years Square will ever catch lightning in a bottle again like they did with as I like to call the "Big Three" (FF6/CT/FF7). Now "being a worthy sucessor" OTOH is far more doable.
Yes Squall is at times sorta emo but try to look past that and enjoy the vast amount of characters the game has to offer!
Originally posted by: Firebrandx
If you want to talk about disappointment, part 9 is by far my vote for the worst. I even forced myself to complete it, and I hated every minute of it.
Final Fantasy IX was better than FFVIII at least they tryed going back to a fantasy setting.I think that's why so many people dislike FFVIII it started pushing the FF series too much towards sci-fi.
Originally posted by: TokinAlot
Originally posted by: Firebrandx
If you want to talk about disappointment, part 9 is by far my vote for the worst. I even forced myself to complete it, and I hated every minute of it.
Final Fantasy IX was better than FFVIII at least they tryed going back to a fantasy setting.I think that's why so many people dislike FFVIII it started pushing the FF series too much towards sci-fi.
I thought 9 was a great return to actual swords and sorcery roots of the series, whereas 8 had almost nothing like able about the setting and characters (to be repeated in 10).
and the scifi push itself isn't what was awful (Xenogears was great and heavy scifi). It was the ridiculously unlike able characters and the stupid gun blade thing.
Also, to, something about the whole world it was in just felt hollow.
Originally posted by: Estil
Okay I've gotta ask...you know how you have that paved/blacktop road? Did they borrow a page from Zelda 2 where you won't be bothered by enemies as long as you "stay on the straight and narrow"? I think it's kinda cute though a bit strange seeing as how one of the FF's had a "Here lies Link" tombstone (and I don't mean the kind of pepperoni and cheese). Why did they take a jab at Zelda BTW? To borrow a quote from the South Park movie, it's not even a real RPG anyway!
Is that from a later version of 1?
the original on the NES named Erdrick on the tombstone.
Originally posted by: arch_8ngel
Originally posted by: TokinAlot
Originally posted by: Firebrandx
If you want to talk about disappointment, part 9 is by far my vote for the worst. I even forced myself to complete it, and I hated every minute of it.
Final Fantasy IX was better than FFVIII at least they tryed going back to a fantasy setting.I think that's why so many people dislike FFVIII it started pushing the FF series too much towards sci-fi.
I thought 9 was a great return to actual swords and sorcery roots of the series, whereas 8 had almost nothing like able about the setting and characters (to be repeated in 10).
and the scifi push itself isn't what was awful (Xenogears was great and heavy scifi). It was the ridiculously unlike able characters and the stupid gun blade thing.
Also, to, something about the whole world it was in just felt hollow.
Oh I agree we can have sci-fi rpgs that are good but not in a game called Final FANTASYI have to disagree with you about FF10 though.It's not the best FF but I haven't played a FF since 10 if that tells you how bad things have gotten.
Originally posted by: Majesty ZX
Call me when you get to IX.
I dunno, it took me about 40 hours to complete each of the FF's so far (I've finished 1, 4 (except last boss), 6, 7; well the main quest anyway) and this game (and the next one) is on FOUR discs so it may be awhile. But at least you get your money's worth right?
Originally posted by: arch_8ngel
Originally posted by: Estil
Okay I've gotta ask...you know how you have that paved/blacktop road? Did they borrow a page from Zelda 2 where you won't be bothered by enemies as long as you "stay on the straight and narrow"? I think it's kinda cute though a bit strange seeing as how one of the FF's had a "Here lies Link" tombstone (and I don't mean the kind of pepperoni and cheese). Why did they take a jab at Zelda BTW? To borrow a quote from the South Park movie, it's not even a real RPG anyway!
Is that from a later version of 1?
the original on the NES named Erdrick on the tombstone.
Yeah the PS1 version reads Link and it's the NES version that reads Erdick (ironically Square would buy out Enix, the DQ/DW creators several years later)...at least Erdick does star in a real RPG (in fact Dragon Warrior on NES is given credit for being the first console RPG).
Originally posted by: Estil
Originally posted by: Majesty ZX
Call me when you get to IX.
I dunno, it took me about 40 hours to complete each of the FF's so far (I've finished 1, 4 (except last boss), 6, 7; well the main quest anyway) and this game (and the next one) is on FOUR discs so it may be awhile. But at least you get your money's worth right?
I wouldn't take disc-count as an indicator of length relative to the other games.
These are CD's and they have a ton of pre-rendered CGI. (and as you've noted the graphics are better than what was in FF7, so more space is required to contain the pre-rendered stuff)
Originally posted by: Estil
Originally posted by: arch_8ngel
Originally posted by: Estil
Okay I've gotta ask...you know how you have that paved/blacktop road? Did they borrow a page from Zelda 2 where you won't be bothered by enemies as long as you "stay on the straight and narrow"? I think it's kinda cute though a bit strange seeing as how one of the FF's had a "Here lies Link" tombstone (and I don't mean the kind of pepperoni and cheese). Why did they take a jab at Zelda BTW? To borrow a quote from the South Park movie, it's not even a real RPG anyway!
Is that from a later version of 1?
the original on the NES named Erdrick on the tombstone.
Yeah the PS1 version reads Link and it's the NES version that reads Erdick (ironically Square would buy out Enix, the DQ/DW creators several years later)...at least Erdick does star in a real RPG (in fact Dragon Warrior on NES is given credit for being the first console RPG).
Yeah, I remember that now.
I guess on the NES they were battling Dragon Warrior/Quest directly, at the time.
But on the PS1, they were battling Nintendo itself...
Originally posted by: Estil
Yeah the PS1 version reads Link and it's the NES version that reads Erdick (ironically Square would buy out Enix, the DQ/DW creators several years later)...at least Erdick does star in a real RPG (in fact Dragon Warrior on NES is given credit for being the first console RPG).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_Enix
Actually, that's not how it happened. Enix was the "surviving company" of the merger, meaning they were the ones who had the upper hand, financially.
(Also, interesting side-note, didn't realize they owned Taito)
Originally posted by: cirellio
Yes iirc Square was still bleeding from The Spirits Within at the time.
Geez what did they do, sell their souls/spirits to them for $5?
Also am I allowed to give anyone else besides Squall (Estil) and Riona (Denise) custom names? I know you can do so with those GF/Function creatures but in that case I'll stick with the defaults. I named Riona's dog Blue after an Australian Shepard dog I had growing up.
I know some hate doing that and insist on sticking with the default names but if the traditional definition of an RPG is to "assume the role of a character", well there you go. And to borrow a quote from Mister Rogers, in the days of pencil/paper/funny shape dice RPGs like D&D, didn't people sometimes like to get dressed up in costumes to look like them [the characters]?
Oh, and I don't believe you can change the names of the other party members--just Squall and Rinoa, and her dog. Don't worry, though, custom names return in FFIX.
I'm now right after the part right after we meet that sniper guy...am I the only who thinks the part(s) where you watch the train go from one place to another look kind like watching a model train set? Hey is Batman somewhere in Deling City? That does kinda look like the Bat Signal you know!
Also I couldn't help but notice in FF7 and FF8 I often see some weird dot patterns on some of the textures...I thought the PS1 (and N64) could use a full 16.7M color palette (which is about how many different colors a normal human eye can see) and thus that shouldn't be necessary right?
Originally posted by: TokinAlot
Originally posted by: Firebrandx
If you want to talk about disappointment, part 9 is by far my vote for the worst. I even forced myself to complete it, and I hated every minute of it.
Final Fantasy IX was better than FFVIII at least they tryed going back to a fantasy setting.I think that's why so many people dislike FFVIII it started pushing the FF series too much towards sci-fi.
Care to explain why they immediately went right back to futuristic after part IX? Could it be that it wasn't as well received by the public?