Today’s game is Final Fantasy VIII (technically the Remaster). I picked this, IX, XIII, XV all up recently with a sale. What’s with the sudden interest in final fantasy? I’m a big fan of Symphony’s. I think they’re a highly under appreciated and really important form of Public Art that’s slowly vanishing (Seriously, if it’s in your budget go check out your local Symphony. They might have something that interests you). Earlier this year I took my friend to see Distant Worlds at our local Symphony for his birthday. He’s a big Final Fantasy fan. Especially XIV.
I’m sure where people can see where this is going, i heard Not Alone and was moved too tears (for IX), I saw the opening too XII and was interested, and XV I saw you get too push a fucking car and was sold (not even joking). So then you might be wondering “what about VIII?”. Well. I remember when I was little I always heard the “Squall is Dead” theory. Suffice to say I remembered that while picking some out and it piqued my interest in picking it up. Is it a stupid reason? Probably. But It sold me.
As for the actual game, I have mixed feelings. Combat only seems to run at around 15 FPS for me. Which isn’t great. I’m not a big “I need 60 FPS at least” guy. But 15 FPS is way too choppy. I was legitimately starting to feel a little sick. Overworld seems fine though.
Setting wise though I love the setting. Academy settings are really interesting to me and this seems to have that covered. Tying back to the “Squall is Dead” thing, it does actually make me wonder how the hell things escalate (even if he isn’t dead). Because I want to know how we go from “Academy” to “Holy fucking shit. He just got impaled with an iceberg 2x the size of his own head”.
Anyways. I got Ifrit, named him Greg, and I’m planning to settle in for a longer play session tomorrow. I’m not expecting a long game, especially because I’ll be making use of the boosts to avoid spending too much time grinding experience. I’m hoping I enjoy this and didn’t waste 5$.
I've never really got into FF as a series. The only ones I actually completed were just the FF3 DS remake (I barely remember anything about it) and 9 on the Switch that I got because it was the one that looked the most "fantasy" to me. It was nice, had its moments.
The rest is mostly stuff I've abandoned. Started XIII, got bored in the long beginning corridor, stopped playing. Never could get through FF6 either, I just can't care about its characters and disjointed storytelling.
Everything I get from the most "Nomura" episodes by pure cultural osmosis, especially everything around FF7, tells me I won't enjoy it.
That’s what my main fear is. It took a while for me to get hooked on 7’s remake, and with 8 being a more traditional RPG rather than 7’s hybrid thingy it has going on I’m a little nervous I’ll get bored. I’m glad I picked it up on sale at least. I know the people in my family sharing at least will get some use out of it