- A Gem in the Crown of RPG ClassicsIf there has ever been any rpg game that I completed feeling invigorated, not sluggish, it's FFVIII. The experience is a mixture of intrigue, suspense, emotion, and excitement all in one.
You begin as Squall, a pupil of Balamb Garden, which is no ordinary academy - it is in fact a mercenary-for-hire training ground, where members young and old are molded into well-educated, productive fighting machines. Eager to obtain initiation to Seed, the Garden's elite force, Squall finds himself briefed on harrowing missions he must face in order to make the grade. In constant competition with Seifer, his arch-nemesis, and new assigned comrades, going about his duties becomes harder as exterior threats rear their ugly heads in his direction. That, along with strange dreams that plague him as well as anyone in his vicinity, make for an unfolding of events that mark the connection between acquaintances, forgotten memories, and their impact on the fate of the world.
For a ten year old game, viii's graphics were almost unsurpassed for it's time. The sophisticated design and movement of player characters, both on the field and into the battles, are a far cry from the disproportionate statures of child-like character layouts we see so often in rpgs. There's definitely nothing "cute" intended in this game, which comes as a relief to the avid gamer. Enemies actually intimidate the player, thiers and the player character's stance and kinetics believable. FMV sequences are a step up from predecessing games, the only downside being the alteration of features and/or other details on the appearance of a character from movie sequence to sequence - for instance, the ending FMV seemed to show a different looking Squall, both in face and body, than in every other video sequence.
Music is a perfect compliment to the situations and events occurring throughout the game. Tracks migrate from field tunes reminiscent of old 80's nostalgic underground alterna-hits: pangs of synthesized notes in minor keys along with couth, plucky strings, perfectly implemented to aid the player in relaxing and pondering the situations and environment around them, to fully-orchestrated, demanding overtures of a "this
is it" nature. I'd actually be lying if I said I didn't find this soundtrack as one of the most fitting, original, and cherished of any I've heard in/for a game before.
Gameplay-wise, viii doesn't leave you without a challenge. Like with any true rpg, anything you receive, you must first earn, either through use of GP or gaining of exp. points. It is worth mentioning that unlike with most other level-based games of the genre, there is no doubling of required exp. points for advancement to the next level. A thousand points is all that is needed to progress from one to the next. However, as new areas are explored, enemies do in fact become nearly impossible to deafeat, unless you know what you're doing. Weapon and status strength is therefore earned through the draw system.
With the draw system, any kind or number of spells (or GF) may be drawn, or stolen, from an enemy or boss. Every enemy carries its own spells, and with the draw function, a character may "suck up" a number of them into their own inventory. These spells may then be implemented into the character's stat list. Of course, in order for certain stats (STR., DEF., etc.) to be raised, a GF must be assigned to make them available. GF stands for Guardian Force, viii's version of summon creatures (Ifrit, Shiva, Carbuncle, etc.). These GF may be drawn from enemies, usually bosses, or found throughout the map. Once assigned, certain stats on a character's menu become available for junction.
The junction system is also a new detail in viii. It allows for any number of drawn magics (up to 100) to be slotted into a character's stat menu. Magics can be split up, switched, taken or given. The more magic spells in a slot, the higher that character's stat number will rise. This is a great point of viii; the junctioning system allows the player to have the freedom and choice of custom designing each character's strengths and weaknesses. Eventually, with practice comes discovery of unique uses for the junctioning of GF's, and drawn magics, leading to such skills as a one-hit-kill, or invincibility against certain magics and status attacks, leading into straight-out absorption. GF's as well come with their own lists of learned abilities, which you may pick and choose in the order of which you wish them learned, thus leading to a better character-GF compatibility, as well as more open stat slots and greater strength.
As with other FF's, characters each have their own set of limit breaks, only now they greatly differ in functionality and frequency. Push-button combos, random spell inventories, and even a killer dog come into play here. Like with other FF's, these can prove critical, as this title also has an ATB-style battle system, which means battle sequences run on active time. Yes, we're talking the waiting for the bars to fill up while the three-person party stands in a line. Many players actually prefer this style of battle, however, as such a set up eliminates angle confusion, and makes for your brain to do all the work; stategically planning out your next series of moves and sizing up your local enemies so you may junction your party accordingly. In addition to the usual explore/fight/earn, there is also another nifty sidequest involved: a card game any character leading may play with just about anyone else in the world. It becomes addictive quite fast and is a good area to collect all cards coinciding with every entity in the game, or to trade and earn good benefits.
Also, in this game, there are no weapon shops, armories, or wizards with potions. Although the item list remains the same as it has, the element of sophistication still remains true in this department as well, at least in my opinion. This is a world of busy cities, tremendous technological advancement, space travel, state-of-the-art prisons, vehicles, weapons, and high-class political systems. Therefore, your run-of-the-mill sword and shield or magic wand will not suffice. Squall's weapon, for instance, is a gunblade, a melee hybrid of a broadsword with a trigger handle. Default weapons are assigned, of course, but your only option for progression is to earn items or tools in the field and use a mechanic to upgrade your model. GP is also not a concern as far as leveling goes; as a SeeD, a regular salary is allotted to you, recurring after a certain number of steps are taken. The amount is never set in stone, though; the player has the option of taking "written tests" in their menu, which are actually quizzes on enemy strengths and weaknesses, comrade stats, and other details of character fighting styles. With or without the tests, salary, and thus your SeeD ranking, may go up or down depending on your actions.
Of course, no rpg would mean a thing were it not for the storyline. The lifeblood of your endeavors, plot is what all your hours of hard work are for. Many mistake the main point of the story as that of love, yet it is perseverance, friendship, bonding, trust, and the gaining of maturity that hold the party together in their darkest hour. Indeed, every single character has an issue which comes to the forefront in the game; it's not just the main protagonist which hogs the stage. Although budding romance might seem the heart of the matter, it becomes a misconception to those that fully explore what the game has to offer - the sappiness and drawn-out areas equating to these themes are almost non-existent in the game. Regardless of what emotions or turmoils occur, and there are plenty, the deviation from everything that makes the title exciting and anything but trite never clouds the scene for a second. Any hint of emotion or inquisitive notions on the system don't make themselves apparent until disk 3. Squall is in fact meant to be the personification of the degredation, abandonment, moodiness, and self-doubt many of us feel. It is only through his dropping of petty inhibitions and learning of trust, coming to terms with his past, and true comraderie that he is able to bloom as a character with humanity. In this sense, the character development proves to be the best one will ever encounter in a game of this kind. In comparison of the beginnings of the story with disk 3-4, the protagonist turnaround is 180, a grand success on account of the story's writers.
It is always sad to reach the end of the game, fight the major boss, and watch the credits roll. Although the story does leave a few strings untied, if the player truly pays attention to the storyline presented, interesting and absolutely amazing deductions can be made without the game directly stating them, which to me is another first in the genre. Not that viii has any lack of shock and awe in terms of character and plot revelations and coincidences (ahh, fate). Every time I play this game, I learn something new. When I complete it yet again, I leave with a sense of something more than the pride of completing all quests, earning big money, and getting bored with instant kills. I marvel at the fact that there are people out there who make an art form out of touching whomever they can with their own innovative and ingenious sense of value, honor, and intelligence as can only be expressed in the avant-garde, original fashion of what's brought to us by today's technology. Even in the most unexpected places, answers are wrought with great citified fervor.
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