This review contains spoilers
This is the best game ever made.
Coming hot off the back of 7, an international sensation that thrust square front and center of the videogame scene, the madlads decided to make a fully modern final fantasy who's main plot was a romance. Nothing about the development makes sense. That said, I can't think of another game which is so bold about its romance. Most relegate romance to subplot, treat it as a dirty secret, or hide behind innuendo. 8 is bolder, and the romance is one of the most ambitious ever penned. Squall and Rinoa get a beautiful tale spun, one that acknowledges previous and former love interests in a very adult and mature fashion, whilst being filled to the brim with tropes and melodrama as befitting the stakes of the plot. The game is bold enough to tackle its themes earnestly, fear of inadequacies, fear of being alone, fear of failure just to name a few.
My favourite moments are too numerous to list but I do want to shout out when loveable himbo Squall forsakes everything and everyone to walk Rinoa miles to a doctor on the off-chance he can save her. Like bro you have a flying city you don't need the cardio.
Laguna is to 8 what Zack is to 7, but more realised. Both are puppies, and both deserve the world. The Man With The Machine Gun goes hard, and I always show up for my boy Laguna.
Rinoa trying to keep pace with the mercenaries, and lamenting that she can't, only to be shown Griever by Squall, and deciding "Maybe I'm a Lion too" lives rent free in my pigeon brain.
I replay 8 yearly, and it ages like fine wine.
I'll admit I have my grievances with a few mechanical aspects, but if Squeenix remakes the game, just call me, I know how to make it perfect. Decouple magic from stats, or have a hardcap for stat boosts from spells. Add voice acting, and give Squall to Ben Starr. Add more Garden v Garden battles, and more Squall x Seifer duels. Give Quistis literally anything to do after the first 3 hours of game.
Remember the time they used Liberi Fatali at the Olympics? That was weird
Coming hot off the back of 7, an international sensation that thrust square front and center of the videogame scene, the madlads decided to make a fully modern final fantasy who's main plot was a romance. Nothing about the development makes sense. That said, I can't think of another game which is so bold about its romance. Most relegate romance to subplot, treat it as a dirty secret, or hide behind innuendo. 8 is bolder, and the romance is one of the most ambitious ever penned. Squall and Rinoa get a beautiful tale spun, one that acknowledges previous and former love interests in a very adult and mature fashion, whilst being filled to the brim with tropes and melodrama as befitting the stakes of the plot. The game is bold enough to tackle its themes earnestly, fear of inadequacies, fear of being alone, fear of failure just to name a few.
My favourite moments are too numerous to list but I do want to shout out when loveable himbo Squall forsakes everything and everyone to walk Rinoa miles to a doctor on the off-chance he can save her. Like bro you have a flying city you don't need the cardio.
Laguna is to 8 what Zack is to 7, but more realised. Both are puppies, and both deserve the world. The Man With The Machine Gun goes hard, and I always show up for my boy Laguna.
Rinoa trying to keep pace with the mercenaries, and lamenting that she can't, only to be shown Griever by Squall, and deciding "Maybe I'm a Lion too" lives rent free in my pigeon brain.
I replay 8 yearly, and it ages like fine wine.
I'll admit I have my grievances with a few mechanical aspects, but if Squeenix remakes the game, just call me, I know how to make it perfect. Decouple magic from stats, or have a hardcap for stat boosts from spells. Add voice acting, and give Squall to Ben Starr. Add more Garden v Garden battles, and more Squall x Seifer duels. Give Quistis literally anything to do after the first 3 hours of game.
Remember the time they used Liberi Fatali at the Olympics? That was weird
TheRetroBassist
5 days ago
Thank you for taking the time to write this, I think every FF8 who has read it appreciates it.