Final Fantasy VIII Hype

by B. Nieds 

I recently walked into my local video game store and started browsing through the magazine section. Then on the cover one particular magazine, I saw in bold letters: Final Fantasy VIII Pics. Interested, I looked at the article and the pictures.

Now being a fan of Final Fantasy and Square, I don't mind looking at previews of upcoming games from them. And I certainly didn't mind looking at an article about the next sequel to the FF series. However there are times when things can become too hyped.

This is one of those times. Now, given the fact that the previous installment of the FF series was a little too over-hyped (although well deserved) and was also one of the best games ever to hit the video game market, I can understand it if people get excited when they first hear of a new sequel in the works. But (and I stress the "but") when people start to compete for being the first to bring new pictures and new updates to something that won't even be out until next year, then you start to feel that this is something that is going to get out of hand.

Case in point: Several mags have already shown the same pics of this game claiming that they're the first to bring it to you. Don't believe me? Check out your local newstand or magazine rack. That tells you something right there.

There are other things to point out that this game is going to be way over-hyped. We already know that the main character is going to be Sqall Leonhart. We also know there another male character, and a female character. One mag graces us with shots of the Leviathian Summon Spell. We even know what weapon the main character is using. This game will not be out until late '99 , yet we already know all of these things? That's proof enough.

So the point of this opinion is to get readers and fellow RPG'ers to stop all of the predicted hype before it starts. If it's this bad now, then trust me, it is going to be a whole lot worse when we get nearer to release date. Everybody will be sceaming, "This is going to be the best game yet", and," If you don't get this game you'll be a loser for life", before the game is even halfway completed. This just conceals the facts of what the game is actually like.

We need to stop before we get ahead of ourselves and we don't need to know everthing right away. FFVIII is still a long way off, and we have time to learn everything about on what is sure to be a really good game. Just don't drive people nuts about something that won't be released until next year.