The misunderstood child

by NemoFebes@aol.com

Many people hail Final Fantasy 7 as Square's crowning achievement, and 8 its low point.  While I definately do not feel that Final Fantasy 8 is the highlight of the series, I also feel that it is highly misunderstood.

Most pro FF7 enthusias claim that FF8's plot and characters are boring, compared to that of FF7.  While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I feel that FF's characters appear boring because they are much more subtle and thus life like then those of 7's.  Final Fantasy 7's has perhaps the flatest and most sterio typical characters in the entire series.  With the exception of a cheesy change of heart by Cloud, no other protagonist developes into more than we see them to be during their first appearance.  A good example of one is Barret.  Barret is how the Japanese see the typical black American  male.  Most of his personality is actually a cheap ploy of noticible characteristics many DMs use to make a semi-interesting NPC on the run.  Each character wears a mask saying "I'm the wacky teen age one," or "I'm the wholesome girl next door one," or "I'm the tormented soul one," and never change masks during the rest of the game.  The complete disreguard of a  logical timeline for all of the events in the story also displays a lack of planning in advance.

Many complain that 8's characters all seem too much a like.  At first they may appear such, but before you critique this look at any small group of people hanging around together.  With the exception of a few rarities, you will not be able to determine which type of 'character' each of these people are.  You would have to listen to them speak, verbally and nonverbally, and observe how they interact with the world around them to determine what kind of person they really are. This is the case with Squall and company.  They are not boring or similar (maybe Rinoa is a little boring) but complex and
developed.  Sure you know Zell has a temper early on, and we know that Selphie is clumsy, and Squall is reserved, but they all have a way of suprising you by reveiling another side just when you least expect it.  7 simply did not do this for me.

Another complaint I hear about 8 is its level of ease.  While it certainly is easier than the original, it is certainly not easier than 7. I beat 7 in 24 hours of game time (since I didn't partake in the god awful chore of Chocobo breeding, speaking of wastes of time).

In closing, Final Fantasy 8 isn't the horrible game many claim it to be; but rather, it is misunderstood.