Final Fantasy 8 - Editorial

by Archangel

1) - Finally, Square has created an advanced polygon display system, allowing them to manipulate polygons sufficiently enough for expression. Yes, I know you'll throw the Lifestream sequence from FFVII at me, but remember how jerky and polygonal they looked? Cloud's spiked hair looked like a weapon from 'Edward Scissorhands'. Especially the Cloud-clone in the upper-left.

2) - Most people say that FFVIII does not have a plot. While the plot does leave something to desire, it is a plot, but it is split into three layers:

- The (main) plot: The love story between Rinoa and Squall, with Seifer as the antagonist. This ends when Squall slices Rinoa out of the Sorceress Device (can remember its name) in Esthar.

- The Succession of Witches plot: The Ultimecia -- Edea -- Rinoa -- Ellone relationship, which ends with the death of Ultimecia in her castle.

- And, the Laguna plot, revealing the past of the President of Esthar. This is a minor plot, but needs to be noticed. Ends with the last Connection by Ellone.

These plots, unfortunately, tend to run ragged of each other like a bad Harry Turtledove novel, with many points of view. However, they do connect at the end. Instead of the normal all plots interweaving (no pun intended) at the end, first Laguna joins with the main plot to defeat the Succession of Witches. Unexpected, to say the least.

3) - FMV - Polygon Transitions were created in FFVII, and refined in FFVIII. The train sequence would not be what it was with the train dejunctioning (again, no pun intended, I always use junction this much) in Polygon Mode. The fact that they were very well coordinated and that they did take the time to make the FMV slowly turn into the Polygon impressed me.

4) - The music was so beautifully orchestrated in FFVIII. Particularly, the opening theme, though I regret to mention that I had to take a phone call and missed 'Eyes on me'.

I hope I have lent you some appreciation for the technological masterpiece that FFVIII is. Now, sit back, relax, and listen to the opening theme.

Lithos... Wusec... Vithos... Wenosec...

Oh, by the way, I'll be 'here'... at ghitufire@yahoo.com for any remarks.