Game of the Week: Final Fantasy VIII | Video Games, Reviews ...

Final Fantasy VIII was released for the Playstation in 1999. This entry in the renowned RPG series courted controversy, and continues to do so. It seems to play with the foundations of how a Final Fantasy game should work, perhaps a push too far in an attempt to be original. This has led the title to be both loved and hated in equal measure. Let?s take a closer look at just what has resulted in this divided opinion.

One of several innovations to the Final Fantasy mechanics is the junctioning system. Oddly, levelling on its own is more of a hindrance than a help. This is due to the fact that the myriad of opponents you?ll face in the game take on levels equal to your party. The stat boosts they gain while earning experience in this way are vastly superior to your own. Which of course leaves you terribly humbled in comparison. This is quite a departure for the grinding-happy genre, and remains a real bone of contention among players. It does not mean, however, that you can?t create an overpowered uber-party if you wish to. This is where the odd notion of junctioning comes in.

Junctioning begins with your GFs. These are Guardian Forces, the summon monsters of Final Fantasy VIII. Each one must essentially be equipped to a party member. When they are summoned to attack, they will not require MP but take a short time to materialize. During this period, their own HP will replace that of the character and will take the brunt of any assault aimed at them. GFs are lesser party members in their own right, learning a wide range of abilities to power up your fighters. Each of your character?s stats are tied to a certain ability. As each is learned, you can equip a spell from your arsenal to that stat in the Junction menu. Choosing the appropriate magic is the best way to build your combat strength. A healing spell linked to HP, for example, will grant a huge boost to your health.

The subject of magic marks another jarring change for veteran questers. MP is not used, instead magic is either acquired from enemies using the Draw command or refined from items. Each method grants you a certain number of the spell in question, up to a total of 100. This indicates the amount of uses of the spell you have stocked. A greater number also increases the effect of a junctioned spell on the related stat.

All of these are cited as contributing factors in Final Fantasy VIII?s notoriety. Continuing a successful series is always a delicate balancing act for developers, particularly with a franchise as beloved as this. Changing too much will often lead to an outcry, while the other route can yield accusations of staleness. Damned if you do, damned if you don?t.

With that said, the Playstation triumvirate of Final Fantasy VII, VIII and IX are some of my favourite games of all time. I?d say VIII was the oddball, black sheep of the family, but I found it just as engaging. The storyline was a highlight for me, I enjoyed Squall Leonheart?s journey from antisocial teenager to reluctant hero. There are so many memorable moments, ranging from fighting the hundred-feet-tall Jumbo Cactaur to the reunion with Rinoa aboard the Ragnarok. In a similar case to Super Mario Sunshine, some will agree with me and welcomed the changes, while others hated the game. Ultimately, it?s for the individual player to decide. Still, an entry in a popular franchise that dares to mix things up should perhaps be celebrated on its own merits, alongside the damaging comparisons being drawn.

Source: http://www.gamingsurvival.com/2012/03/24/game-of-the-week-final-fantasy-viii/

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