Brett
Kevin
Ian
Terry
WMACS
DBHQ
Games
Links
Guestbook
I know I'm being a bit presumptious about this, but if you haven't heard about Final Fantasy VIII, then you're either dead, or think that video games are a complete childish waste of money and time. However, if you're one of the many that have caught FFVIII fever, then have no fear, because this site will give you all you need to know about the biggest RPG of all time (and don't worry, no spoilers!).
About Final Fantasy
Sequel after sequel, Squaresoft continued to break new ground with more dramatic plot development, deeper gameplay, and maturing character personalities. Although US gamers were unfortunate by being the victims of cancellations, delays, and dumbed-down games, players this side of the world eventually caught on this fledgling new type of game.
Although I haven't had the pleasure of playing all of these legendary games, I bought Final Fantasy VII almost the first day it came out, and I was spellbound by the excellent graphics, epic storyline, and interesting characters.
This long awaited title has been criticized as much as acclaimed since its announcement a little while ago. While a fantastic game on its own, it has the added task of topping one of the greatest games ever made and a natural competitor, Final Fantasy VII. However, Squaresoft has now learned many things about the uses of the Playstation hardware and import reviews love the game. The FMV sequences have been greatly improved, the amazing "Ballroom Dancing Scene" has been dubbed the greatest cinema ever made. Every detail down to eyebrows and lips have been put into account. The pre-rendered backgrounds have also been majorly tweaked and are now much more detailed. Characters have gone from the SD (super-deformed) shapes of most other RPGs to more lifelike figures, which fit the more mature plot. They are now nearly perfectly proportionate to their environments.
Enough of the graphics, the gameplay has received a serious overhaul, not only from previous FF games, but from traditional RPGs in general. The most shocking change would have to be the doing-away with armor and weapons, each character has only one weapon which can be upgraded throughout the game. Money is also received by getting paid according to your job rating rather than just winning battles. Other radical new changes have been made which you can read about in this site such as a new magic system. Overall, this looks to be a very interesting new way to play.
 |
VS |  |
| Pre-rendered backgrounds, beautifully rendered FMV sequences, and awesome battle effects make this one hard feature to beat. Blocky characters and inconsistent character models might push this back though. | More detailed pre-rendered backgrounds, infinitely more beautiful FMV sequences (i.e. the ballroom dance segment), and ridiculously elaborate battle effects push the Playstation to its limits. The more life-like characters are a plus also. |
Mechanics
| Featuring the well-received "Materia" system, it provided nearly infinite combinations of the colored spheres, producing many different effects to be explored. The Active Time Battle system is at its best with limit breaks and beautiful summons spells. | Given the "Junction" and "Draw" systems are a giant step away from traditional, this departure from the norm is just what the series needed to freshen up the game. Although simplified with the removal of armor and accessories, I prefer not having to spend hours at such a tedious task that eventually takes away from the game. |
Storyline
| The battle between a self-righteous vigilante group and an evil life-sucking conglomerate slowly reveals its true intentions. Discover the origin of the planet, and a powerful madman's plot to destroy all those who hurt him, as well as the rest of the world. The game takes epic proportions within the 2nd of the 3 discs when the intervention of the planet into the storyline shakes things up. With all the twists, turns, and revelations of identity, you'd have to be crazy not to like Final Fantasy VII's story. | Although I haven't gotten very far in the game. The basic plot is this: a young fighting school-graduate has been accepted into the most elite fighting mercenary group on the planet. He is very antisocial but a young woman he meets completely throws his world into disarray. The paths of characters intertwine as he is sent to assassinate an evil sorceress. I have been told from numerous sources that the story will focus on love, mainly between the main character and the mysterious woman. I'd have to say it lacks the more adventurous qualities of it's predecessor, but this might change later on. |
The Story
Characters
The Guardian Forces
The Magic System
For you FFVII people here are a few pics we found lying around.
FFVII logo
Cloud Strife
Tifa Lockheart
Sephiroth
Shiva
Flame Thrower
Shinra Mansion
Tower
