Disappointments in the RPG realm seem to be occurring more and more as the years drag on. From games like Grandstream SaGa and Shadow Madness, to Legend of Legeia and Parasite Eve, the overall quality of RPGs has seemed to drop. This is probably due to their popularity these days, caused by the "Big Boom" as I would like to call it. This "Big Boom" was the day FF7 was released, some 2 years ago. When FF7 was released, many new people were introduced into the genre of the RPG. It's too bad that the follow-up to this monumental game is less spectacular than one would hope.

To have an interesting RPG, you need a very involving story, with developed characters, and a system of order in which you can manage the lives of these characters. A non-linear plot helps, and graphics and sound don't detract from the game either. You package this with something original, and you usually have a game that may not be perfect, but is a fine RPG to play and is worth your time. FF8 is NOT an example of this; rather, FF7 to FF6 is a great example. It has an average plot, sure, but everything else more or less falls into place, and it is packaged with originality, and some of the old which made the series fun to play. FF8 offers the following.

Average Graphics: 74%

I am I out of my mind, you say? No, not at all. Sure when you look at the game in quick review, it's easy to conclude that it probably has the best graphics thus far in the RPG genre. The backgrounds are great, and the CG is top notch. However, even though the characters maintain a good amount of detail, they are very blocky, and less then a pleasure to look at. The GFs (guardian forces) are amazing to say the least… in some cases. Quetzalcoatl, for example, is a marvel to look at, but GFs such as Big Brother are full of glitches, so the same can't be said for it. The spells are surprising below average compared to the GFs, but this is not very noticeable anyway because you don't use the spells frequently to begin with. The battle graphics are, at best, average because the environment detail is limited. These battle backgrounds where sacrificed to help the frame rate of the awesome GFs, which at times can fill the screen with color at 60FPS. The worst part about the graphics is the color palate, which easily strips 20% from this overall graphic score. Everything in this game, the world, towns, battles, and spells (excluding the GFs) are VERY dull. The minute you walk on the world map, you will know what I am talking about. Water has never looked so gray.

Average Music/Sound: 70%

Why didn't Square use a Redbook audio format? The music in this game is great, far better then the 70% that I gave it, but the midi format does not suit it at all. Nobou Uematsu is a great composer, and it's a travesty to see his work mauled by a dumb sound format. Music such as the blue fields (the overworld theme) and the opening theme are just horrible and don't suit the atmosphere. There are, however, some nice tunes, which are very memorable, it's just too bad that, on the whole, the midi songs just don't cut it. If a Redbook audio format were used, the music in the game would sound a lot better, and I would raise my mark considerabl, probably to a 92%.

Poor Gameplay: 55%

The Final fantasy series has hit a low in the gameplay department. In the past, FF games had a system that was enjoyable, and lacked a very frustrating learning curve, or time-consuming management hassles. Sadly, FF8 does not follow this at all, partly because of its extreme originality. MP is done away with, and to replace it, you now have a draw command, which lets you draw magic from enemies. You can carry about 20 different spells at once, and with each spell, you can have a maximum of 100 casts, depending on the number of units of the spell you drew. You can also use special skills to make magic from items that you find during your quest. This tactic of dealing with magic is not only dumb, but very frustrating because once you run out of magic, you have to spend too much time getting another 100 of the depleted spell by drawing or using a special skill on an item which you don't have. This proves to be very frustrating, no matter how much patience, or how much love you have for RPGs. Leveling up has also changed a fair bit. Unlike previous FF games, you can max out within the first 10 hours or so of the game. However, enemies also level up with you, creating a very boring road to the finale. I guess this was Square way of adding challenge to the game, but in my eyes, it only adds frustration, and too much unneeded length. Since 70% of the game you are using GFs anyway, just imagine fighting enemies with 10,000 plus HP at the beginning, and having to continually cast GFs which take up a minute a shot and only do 2000 or so damage. Sounds tiresome, doesn't it? The worst part about the gameplay, however, is the frustration, and time-consuming Junction system. It's been praised by many as the best management system in an RPG. I, however, beg to differ. A good system needs an equal amount of payback and supply. In other words, if you put 5 minutes of your time into customizing your characters, you should get 5 minutes of value back in your fighting strength, and ease of battle. This element of the junction system is flawed. You could spend an hour managing all the different elements of the junction system because of its poor menu design, and in return you get a party which still relies heavily on GFs and has a marginally better defense against physical and magical attacks. This is definitely not balanced and is not what I would call "the best management system in any RPG". The gameplay in FF8 really loses because it is too original, too unbalanced, and not enough Final Fantasy.

Below Average Story: 62%

I always found it odd that Square chose the theme of Love for FF8. If done correctly (which is extremely difficult), this theme can really make a game shine. Just imagine how much character development would spring from such a theme, and all the connections between the characters emotionally. The problem, however, is that we are not talking about a full-length book, written by Shakespeare; we're talking about a 4 CD game. How can someone generally display love, so that everyone over 13 could accept it? How can you add pop culture to this theme? There are so many conflicts that love can sometimes be more controversial then religious themes, such as those in Xenogears. With this in mind, FF8 does not do the theme of love well at all. The game drags in a couple who obviously have no backbone for their actions during the game. This, partnered by extremely lacking character development destroys the story, and any love that exists between Rinoa and Squall. How can I care for any of these characters if there backgrounds limit me? I don't know Squall or Rinoa at all, so how can I understand their love for each other, and therefore be interested at all. In other words, no emotional connection = who cares. Once this general theme is unsuccessful, you try to make connections to individual characters, and you try to reason with some of the ideas the game spews towards you. However, all of the characters are rooted to the same origins, meaning in harsh terms that there is absolutely no character development. How is this game saved with a horribly unsuccessful theme, and no character development? A well paced plot. Even if you can't relate to the characters, understand their actions, or bare with the generally horrible, simple story, you will love the plot, which thickens like a good book as the game moves on.

Below Average Control: 60%

The menus in the battles are standard, like most RPGs, yet the junction system, and the menus associated with it, are overly complex and could use some work. Since equipping is non-existent, no comments could be laid there. Generally, the control in FF8 is responsive, but the horrible menus within the junction system really detract from what would be a good score.

Overall: 65%

FF8 is quite frankly below average for a Square game and any game in general. It lacks in all categories, and supplies too many new things to hold in the hearts of many previous FF fans. When you take a beloved series and strip everything that made the series so well liked, you can't expect everyone to take to the changes. It's an evolution for the FF series. The standards have been changed, and sadly, many old fans might depart from the series because of this new style. Farewell to the old, and sadly give welcome to FFMs (Final Fantasy Movies). See you at 9.