Final Fantasy 8 Turns 25 This Year: A Retrospect
I remember staring at the waves playfully caressing the shore as the wind quietly whistled in the distance. “I’ll be here” gently appears on screen followed by a melodic chorus as Nobuo Uematsu’s Liberi Fatalis starts its monumental build-up while being treated to some amazing CGI. This is just a taste of what’s to come as I was about to embark on an epic tale of political turmoil, internal conflict, and bonds that can’t be broken. This is Final Fantasy 8, a game that celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. It’s a game that is often overshadowed by Final Fantasy 7, the game before it, but heralded as one of the great by those who played it 25 years ago. Let’s take a look back at this phenomenal title that captivated the hearts of many a gamer.
Final Fantasy 8 follows an endearing cast of characters, memorable antagonists, and an intriguing support cast throughout its reality and time-bending story. Not a lot of it makes sense at first, but eventually, all the threads weave into an epic tale. Squall, the main character, an edgy protagonist with a chip on his shoulder, is not very likable at first, but that changes as the journey ventures forth, allowing the character to develop as a leader among his SeeD peers. It was my first introduction to the Final Fantasy series, and I hadn’t previously been engaged by a story quite on this scale before. There were some confusing moments in the story (that was initially spread over 4 discs) such as switching to another party, along with support characters, when disc 1 ended on a cliffhanger, but as the story neared its conclusion, pieces started falling into place. It’s safe to say that for me, I really never wanted it to end, but it ended beautifully.
The game was ahead of its time seamlessly blending FMV with in-game graphics in some amazing transitions that purposefully and expertly kept players engaged in the story. While we look back and laugh at things like the “Handsome Squall” meme, Final Fantasy 8 managed to cleverly use 3D, 2D, and FMV backgrounds and settings along with higher detailed character models and superb spell effects that made every battle exciting. Whilst the Junction system was, and still remains clunky, the unique draw system negated using potions to recharge mana, making spells more of a consumable item you could obtain off certain enemies. The GF summons were also something to behold with series favorites like Ifrit and Shiva making an appearance, also managing to integrate them into an integral part of the story.
There was also a great diversion in side missions like decoupling train carts to assassinate an evil political leader, as well as the collect-a-thon of Triple Triad, which managed to make a glorious resurgence in Final Fantasy 14 Online. Players could collect (and lose) valuable cards based on the enemies encountered in the game, as well as train a certain GF to be able to randomly turn enemies into cards. Triple Triad was a fairly balanced game meaning that even the best cards have their weaknesses, and a player caught unawares could lose their coveted Ifrit card.
Another standout feature of Final Fantasy 8 was its amazing score by legendary Nobou Uematsu, who treated us to amazing tracks like Balamb Garden, which is still going strong amassing over 3 million plays on Spotify alone, not to mention the countless YouTube uploads. The soundtrack was a perfect mix of fast-paced battle music, complimented by dulcet piano tones, strings, and woodwinds to make an engrossing score to complement the world you were being absorbed in.
To me, Final Fantasy 8 will always be one of my all-time treasured games. It had some big boots to fill after the runaway success of Final Fantasy 7, and while it didn’t manage to beat the sales of the previous title, it managed to create a legacy of gamers who will swear that 8 is the better PS1 title. Whether it is or not comes down to personal opinion, but for this lucky writer who plays games day in and day out, I can always find time to revisit Squall, Rinoa, Selfie, Zell, Irvine, and Quistis. Going back to Final Fantasy 8 doesn’t feel like playing a retro game, but more like a reunion with old friends.
If you liked this video let me know, and I would love to hear how Final Fantasy 8 impacted you. If you have another game that you hold dear, let me know so I can check it out. If you want to check out Final Fantasy 8, the remake is on the Switch E-shop and it’s a great way to play this incredible RPG.
Thank you for reading my thoughts on a game that I certainly hold dear. For all things Nintendo, I’ll be here… so if you come here… you’ll find me.
