


Though experience points and levelling are still present, the biggest factor in growth comes from the stockpile of magic using the Draw command and attachment, or Junction, of it to characters. Gameplay is the biggest point of contention in Final Fantasy VIII. No matter how unpredictable the plot becomes, the players can rely on the great cast of characters to ground the insanity.Ĭharacter models look better, but the backgrounds remain the same.
#Final fantasy 8 laguna series
The trust and faith they place in each other in the face of these crazy, space and time-transcending events makes them all the more endearing, and the resulting camaraderie has the feel of the Final Fantasy series in its prime. As the plot develops further along, each moment tries to outdo that last with more frivolousness.ĭespite these outlandish moments, the characters and their interactions propel the story. If that sounds strange, then there is also the monster living in the basement of Balamb Garden who secretly runs the place, and a visit to outer space. Squall and friends view Laguna’s antics from the future through some strange power to gradually learn what is happening in the present, and eventually confront a threat from the future. While Squall and co.’s adventures are the main focus, players occasionally travel back to the past to take control of Laguna, a charismatic Galbadian soldier who aspires to become a world-travelling journalist. They are soon thrown into a conflict with Galbadia, and from there, the plot escalates into further absurdity. Squall and his teammates soon go on a mission-slash-practical exam to assist the city of Dollet against the Galbadian forces. The story starts off normally enough with Squall gearing up for his SeeD exam at Balamb Garden, which feels like a university-esque setting complete with classrooms, a library, cafeteria, and a training centre. The final result, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered, surprisingly made my second foray a much more pleasant experience than when I had first played the game back in 1999. Twenty years later, a remastered version is now available with enhanced character models and some modifiers to make gameplay more accessible. Hence, Final Fantasy VIII is often considered by some to be the black sheep of the Final Fantasy series, and disappointed many fans, including myself. Following on the heels of its highly successful predecessor, Final Fantasy VII, the next instalment with Squall and company deviated from the standard RPG formula by replacing the traditional sense of levelling up and buying better equipment with the concept of stocking and equipping magic to enhance stats. Upon its initial release in 1999, expectations were high for Final Fantasy VIII.
