The fantasy is not over yet |
By Samara Secor |
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Perhaps you've seen the advertisements and you're wondering whether Final Fantasy VIII is really that good or just a bunch of hype. Maybe you're a veteran of the previous games and you want to know if it measures up when compared to what came before. Regardless of which category you fall into, this game is for you. The adventure starts off with a stunning example of the gorgeous full-motion video that is sprinkled throughout the game. Clips from further in the story break in at key points while the hero, Squall Leonheart, practices his fighting skills with Seifer Almasy, a fellow Seed cadet. Seed is the mercenary school that all characters attend. All of this is set to the game's theme song, "Liberi Fatali," which proves that Latin music is not completely dead. Graphics: Say goodbye to the blocky, polygonal characters of Final Fantasy VII. They actually resemble normal human beings now. Also, the transition between video sequences and normal game play is almost completely flawless. In fact, there is one instance where if you don't act during the video, your game will be over faster than you can say "chocobo." However, don't expect everything to be perfect. There are still some instances when the polygons break up, such as when Rinoa, the heroine, faints. Also, there are times when a pillar or some other object in the battlefield's background will actually poke through the middle of the stone wall created when you summon the Leviathan Guardian Force. Music: Technically, the quality of the music has reached new heights. Despite that, I could not find very many pieces that were truly memorable other than "Liberi Fatali," another vocal piece later in the game called "Eyes On Me," and the "Man With the Machine Gun" (Laguna's Battle Music). Weaponry: On one hand, you don't have to worry about spending every bit of money to upgrade your equipment. But, there's a reason that these weapons come so cheap. In order to upgrade, you must also get your hands on some items that aren't too easy to come by, such as Adamantine, Pulse Ammo and Energy Crystal. Triple Triad: This mini-game is fairly easy to learn and, in addition to being addictive, is integral to your success. Once the Guardian Force learns the Card Mod ability, some of the cards you win can be turned into those hard-to-find items that you need for upgrading weapons. On the downside, it can sometimes take as long as half an hour to nab one of the really rare cards if the random rule is in effect. Also, it's best to avoid challenging someone to a card game when you're on duty. Chances are it will lower your Seed rank, which means that your paycheck will be smaller, and other than selling the items that you collect, your paycheck is the only way you can get money. Story: What's a role-playing game without plot development? Not much. Now don't get me wrong. Final Fantasy 8 has its moments and, when taken on its own merits, is definitely a game worth playing. However, when compared to the other games in the series, it seems that Square Soft has let the plot go in favor of flashy cut-scenes. FMV has its place, but I'd like Final Fantasy VIII a lot better if a couple of cut-scenes were left out in favor of a story line that's a bit more developed. | |
Recently, Square Soft released the eighth installment in its best-selling series, Final Fantasy.