FF8 second to FF7

by Mike Harnest

Final Fantasy VIII hit store shelves and it wasn't long before it was ripped off these shelves and popped into those wonderful boxes of joy we call PlayStations. So, well, I beat it.

Final Fantasy 7, arguably the greatest game, let alone RPG, of all time, had its faults, so did SQUARE listen to our complaints and praises? And on with the answers....

Undeniably, the game starts off slow. The intro gives us some ooh's, aww's and "what is this 'i'm waiting' shit" about, but then it goes into ultimate park. Up until the point when Squall and Co. are dispatched to Timber WAY too much time is spent with useless "don't forget to go change" trips to your room. One exception, though, is the dance scene. A colourful moment of RPG glory introducing one of the most real characters video gaming has ever seen: Rinoa. Coincidentally, as your party meets up with Rinoa's rebel group in Timber, the story picks up.

The story overall, is actually nothing spectacular. Not nearly as complex, vivid, or entertaining as FF7's. It just seems like less happens. In Midgar alone, you can remember exploring the slums, the wall market (undeniably cool), racing up the Shinra building and both raids on the reactors. FF8 feels limited in variety of missions. The first 3 hours consist of the Fire Cavern and the escape from Dollet (a wonderful ending chase, but still only one mission compared to 3).

Another area where FF7 is triumphant is in the villainy. When thinking about FF7, the use of two super-villains in opposition with eachother, as well as your party, offers more than the evil Galbadia being manipulated by a Sorceress. In FF7 your goals aren't always clear, as one of FF7's high points was deciding the greater threat at different intervals, and the fact that Cloud's party needed the help of one villain to defeat the other. In FF8 your objective changes, but its simply a switch to a higher up. Also, both games contain a "recurring" villain, for a lack of a better word. A villain that serves as the "right-hand man" as you can't really have the main villain keep coming on to the screen, mainly because this would reduce the dramatic effect. FF8 has Raijin, Fuujin and, primarily, Seifer. Simarily FF7 has the Turks, Scarlet, Heidagger and Palmer. The Turks are undoubtedly the best of the lot, as they are more three-dimensional as characters than the rest. Raijin and Fuujin's abandonment of Seifer was not nearly as dramatic, or interesting, as the Turks contemplating their actions. Granted, Seifer was a well-made character, though. Presented early as a rambunctious teenager, he is continuously pressed further in over his head. SQUARE used GREAT symbolism with the white of his cloak indicating purity, as each time he is beaten the more he puts his trust into the sorceress and his jacket blackened. Overall, a great portrait of a detiorating man, but more of him could have raised the drama.

But Final Fantasy VIII shines with the protagonists. Rinoa and Squall are absolutely fascinating, REAL characters. Never before have personalities been so defined in a video game, so interwoven with the gamer. The player is placed often with two vastly different things for Squall to say, such as "That's too bad" to "Other people have problems too, you know." With a set personality, the gamer follows what you would believe Squall would actually say. As the game progresses however, the choices are made subconsciously more difficult because Squall moves from being so harsh to more compassionate. Unlike FF7, in which the closure comes before the final battle, there is still development after the battle with Ultimecia. This is very important. The 2 most dramatic scenes are those at the end and that in space. They are so emotional because they are so connected together. Upon rescuing Rinoa and boarding the Ragnorak, you are waiting for Squall to show his emotions. But he is REAL. Naturally, at first he doesn't know his emotions at the beginning. And just like anyone else in this world, after realizing his feelings he can't bring himself to tell her. As they are alone in the ship, who doesn't chant "kiss her, you idiot!"? and, at the end, as the camera rolls back, it happens. An ultimate relief. "Finally!"

And all of this with the game's 2nd greatest character. The first, is indisputabely Rinoa. FF8 is the story of Squall becoming a lion, his own symbol of strength and pride. Rinoa is all ready one. Rinoa has the strength for her to offer herself as a self-sacrifice for the world. Made cunning, she is entirely likeable and relateable. Both of these characters are even better written than the at-war-with-self Cloud.

FF8's biggest downfall are its towns and overworld. FF7 took full advantage of the PlayStation' lighting capabilities. It used strong, rich colours. FF8's overworld seems drab, as the colours are pastelly, making the world seem less fun to explore. FF7's towns were well defined. Each with its one characteristics. In FF8 each town has multiple screens leaving the player with little to define each town. As you are shuffled from place to place by train, everywhere seems the same (minus the Gardens).

So how does FF8 do with technical things. Is the junction system good? An improvement over the Materia and Esper system, it is also more difficult to understand. But it does become 2nd nature. To stop things such as casting Knights of the Round five times and killing the last boss, the GF's are given HP as well. It seems SQUARE is listening. Another nod to SQUARE with regards to translating and difficulty. The game is much more difficult than FF7. Another thing missed are just simple caverns, tunnels, mountain passes. With Seifer finding the Lunatic Pandora under the ocean, why not have a submarine introduced? Although Triple Triad is extremely addictive, it does not hold up to the snowboarding, and motorcycling of the Gold Saucer, perhaps one of the greatest RPG ideas of all time. With music, again the overworld is disappointing. A cheer-i-o song does not hold up (even close) to Final Fantasy VII's theme. The same could be said about the rest of the soundtrack, as it isn't horrible, but nothing very extraordinary.

The truth of the matter is that Fianl Fantasy VIII has a strong cast. Little things like shimmying up a wall of a cavern covered in ice add variety to a game. Having towns you dont have to visit makes the world seem larger. If you become frustrated at a particular point, you can go to an amusement park. I must commend SQUARE for not trying to make a scene that is the "Aeris' death of Final Fantasy VIII." One big moment that represents the entire game. Overall the game is great. It is highly enjoyable, but not quite a match to Final Fantasy VII.