Why was (is?) it so controversial?
>WhyFaggot.
>>721001558It's not controversial at all you faggot cocksucking xitter immigrant
series peaked at 4,5,6. 7 to 10 are movie slop.
>>721001558>story made even less sense than FFVII>gameplay was worse than any FF game before it besides II>due to the easily misunderstood (bad) gameplay and story, people were then led to misunderstand the rest of the game such as the characters and their motivationsIf FFVIII had come out under any other name, no one would have bought it. It was coasting insanely hard on the Final Fantasy brand name.Objectively, the game's only saving grace is the soundtrack, which is indeed Nobuo Uematsu's magnum opus.
>>721001558>bizarre plot that falls apart as the game progresses>level scaling>no MP bar, spells are stocked like consumables>spells are used to augment stats, with better spells leading to better stat increases>this means better spells are best not cast at all>optimal way to play is to mash triangle at low health (until you get aura) until you proc a limit break, which are mostly QTEs>setting shifts even further away from fantasy to straight up sci-fidisc 1 is pretty good and the OST is stellar but it's a very bizarre game overall.
Reminder.
>>721001558After VII's gameplay tried to fiddle with the formula with materia, VIII tried to fiddle even harder and it became kind of weird.>all weapons are synthesis only>most efficient way to gain magic spells is to play cards>Summons and Magic are best used for stat buffs rather than actually using them in combat>leveling up is a detriment since it makes all enemies stronger>the final boss doesn't even let you choose your own partyA lot of people still seem to like it, but it has a lot of weird stuff.
>>721002634>VIIIfag likes the VII RemakesAs if your taste wasn't shitty enough.
>>721002634>>721002892>most obvious false flag since 9/11
>>721001558I suffer from crippling mentally illness which forces me to grind 99 of every spell via drawing but not crafting for some reason so the game is bad.
>>721002951>not changing rinoa into gookmoot>>721002892>>721002993Cope and seethe.
>>721001558because it wasn't a direct sequel to FF7, so it caught many by surprise.
>>721001558It's a shit game but the retards who played it as a kid and think it's epic or whatever refuse to let it go, similar to the KH fanbase after KH1. Actually there's a lot of similarities with the two.
>>721005225Exactly. FF7 picked up right where FF6 left off, and people were used to that.
>>721005374The difference is that KH2 has actual good gameplay and fixed every single issue with KH1.
>leveling up makes enemies scale higher than you>so you want to avoid combat>but combat is the only way to get moneyI like the story, and triple triad. But the systems are awful.
>>721001558its notits the second best game in the series behind 5
>>721002892I haven’t liked a FF since 10
>>721005545If the enemies scale higher than you, you're too dumb to play FF8, which shouldn't be possible.
>>721005545>but combat is the only way to get moneySo you didn’t play the game, got it.
>>721002814I like it BECAUSE it’s weird. It’s a very experimental game, which even bleeds over into the surrealistic story and there’s a lot of potential for build crafting.It wasn’t perfect, but I find an experimental game with its own unique identity more interesting than them just playing it safe. Also, Squall is perhaps one of the most misunderstood MCs in the franchise. He’s remarkably deep, but a lot of people took him at face value.>>721005386There are many people whose first FF was 7, so they were expecting 8 to be 7-2. 8 likely revealed to these newcomers that the series is an anthology series.
Great game, i just hated the junction system and how you don't need to level up, if it had normal leveling system like FF9 for example it would have been a better game.
>>721006103Leveling was more reserved for>get to 30 for the highest pay>hit 100 at endgame for the best drops
>>721005545You get money from salaries and selling items. The only thing battles give you is exp and AP for your GFs. And if you level up your GFs and Junction properly, you can easily outpace the level scaling. I got to Ultimecia’s Castles at Level 90 something, and I was still one shotting most things because of my set-up.
the english localization didn't helpif you didn't play it in english, there's a chance you had a better experience with ithttps://legendsoflocalization.com/articles/ff8-squall-whatever-japanese/personally played it in german and it's my favorite, story and gameplay wise. certainly with some bias
>>721006486>legends of localtroonslationImagine taking this retard as some kind of authority on video game translations/localizations.
>>721006529you're right I should listen to random bitter 4channelers instead
>>721006486probably should've cropped this section instead
Was it controversial when it came out? I remember everyone was gushing over how beautiful the cutscenes, the model and the summon animations were when it came out. I'd say the junction system is one of the best mechanics classic FF (1-9) has ever conceived. It's better than materias and the AP/Trance system 7 and 9 do. It's actually fun exploring the world and looking for materials you can refine for magics and items. It's actually fun hunting for cards in Triple Triad because you can refine them into something new. The amount of stat/effects/build you can do on the fly is very fun and complex and I understand why some people didn't have the patience to fully embrace the system.
>controverisalIt literally wasn't. Everyone bought it and played it and loved it.
>>721001558It was not FF7, that's it
>>721006731I didn't even have internet when it came out. My schoolmates and me enjoyed it, though.I think the early internet discourse was tainted by Spoony's review. A lot of people just parroted him. Which, if they really feel that way about the game, is fine.
>tfw no GF
>>721006731It was polarising. Some people loved it, some people hated it. It was really different from FFVII, and that was always going to ruffle some feathers considering how much of a massive mainstream hit VII was.Spooney and ProJared are probably the game’s most outspoken critics, but with their loss in relevance, the bulk of the hate has died down.
>>721006835I didn't hate it back then, hell I don't even hate it now but I do remember liking FF7 and replaying that more than 8. I was basically the only kid I knew in my area who played JRPGs though so I couldn't tell you what the general consensus was
>>7210021845 was trash, would rather play tactics.
>>721005516Lol no, kh2 is shittier in everyway compared to 1 outside of late game combat
>>721001558It was too good. You just have to be above 100 IQ to like it.
>>721006486The English localization was one of the best I played.>>721006636Literally all the same thing.
>>721007259naw even early to midgame combat feels much better. attacks flow into each other better and you get a much better dripfeed of abilities that augment your moveset, plus you get shit like a launcher on square. KH1 is more enjoyable to use magic in if you're willing to menu-fu to exploit all elemental weaknesses because the available shortcuts are very limited
>>721007819Not him, but while 2’s combat is insanely polished, they nerf party members into the ground and there’s less of an emphasis on more tactical and methodical combat.
>>721001558>turn all enemies into cards: the video gamei love jrpgs where you don’t have to grind in order to win.the only time you need to grind is when you level up seifer during the first mission and draw lvl100 spells for junctionimg.then the rest of the game is a piece of cake.nothing controversial at all.
>>721008341the donald nerfs suck yeah, him being able to cast the same magic as you in 1 was super sick but I really only used Goofy in one as an MP gift and potion vending machine. I guess it's just a matter of preference, KH1's methodical nature feels nice to play as a caster, but KH2's more reactive gameplay feels much better in melee. There's a bigger emphasis on using block/reflect where KH1 you could just position smartly to avoid lots of attacks. I guess KH1 feels like a better fusion of action and RPG, where KH2 feels like a better action game overall.
>>721008652>really only used Goofy in one as an MP gift and potion vending machineHis Tornado ability actually allows him to have a higher DPS than Sora if he has a high enough strength. Ariel’s Spiral Wave ability is also broken for the same reason.
>>721005545>he didn't ace the SeeD exams
>>721009150I can believe that, but my thirst for MP is bottomless and I can't just have bambi out at all times, otherwise I wouldn't ever use any party member at all. infinite MP with bambi is just too good
It wasn't boring medieval fantasy, so it took having a bit of taste to appreciate the aesthetic
>>721001558It wasn't FF7 2.0 like the majority of fans wanted. But even for people who didn't want a copy of FF7, it has flaws. I like the game, until Disk 3. Then I can't stand it anymore. I've finished it once. But every time I try to replay it, I can't get through Disk 3. It's just so bad. I'd rather go replay FF3 or 5.
>>721009706how does that make sense considering ff7 is also in a sci-fi setting and was hugely popular
>>721009814It was a different flavour of sci-fi. VII was dystopian dieselpunk, whereas VIII’s aesthetic was more romantic and utopian. >>721009774I think Disk 3 is fine even though I’ll agree it’s the weakest disc. Its biggest problem is that it feels rushed. I swear the game feels like its on fast forward between you arriving at Esthar and reaching Ultimecia’s Castle.
>>721001558It wasn't Final Fantasy VII-2
I was an adult when 8 came out. I started playing Final Fantasy back at 4, which was 2 at the time. For all the oddities of 8, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE AT THE TIME. IT WAS THE PINNACLE OF PS1 TECHNOLOGY. Try to remember that. And back then we just treated the fucktarded story the same way one treats the "story" of Dragon Ball Z; enjoy the cool bits, handwave the retarded shit. Should we go back and examine Resident Evil 2?
>>721010182I feel the opposite. Disk 3 is painfully slow because it's just watching hours of dialogue of the characters go full stupid. Then once you get through all that, the characters and story just act like it never happened and return to what things were at the end of Disk 2.It really feels like they just forced a "love" story into a plot that didn't plan to have one. Like late in development Kitase was sitting there going "wait, where's my love plot! I want a love plot! Put one in!" And the writers are like "fuck...how do I shoe-horn in a love plot to this story about time travel and generational change?" This is also why Rinoa's events in Disk 1 and 2 feel tacked on. And after the whole space fiasco, Rinoa just becomes a tag along character.
>>721010990Rinoa was pure Japanese wankery. OH HAY THISA SOLCERESSU MUSTA GO WITH PAHTAY!! MAYKA HERR LOWVE INTARESSUU!! Just... wat. Imprison her.
>>721010990>It really feels like they just forced a "love" story into a plot that didn't plan to have one.Love is the overriding theme of the entire game. The problem is that the love people (and the advertising) focused on is merely romantic love but love for family, friends, country, chivalric love, these are all important themes that are present throughout the entire game.Also Squall's entire character growth doesn't happen without him being in love with Rinoa since the entire point of his character is that his "cool silent badass" shtick is just a childish version of what he thinks a soldier is; he and Rinoa are both incredibly childish characters. Actually most of the party, save Irvine, are. But Rinoa is the one who gets him to start opening up, thinking he's lost his friends (Selphie and whoever you send with her) in the missile base and then finally losing Rinoa are what cause Squall to break out of his childish way of acting and be more open with how he feels and that all culminates with the Ragnarok/Eyes on Me scene. The romance isn't tacked on. Squall falling in love with what's basically a Manic Pixie Dream Girl is way too cetral to his growth and thus the game's plot.
>>721001558the word you're looking for is divisive
>>721012062>Love is the overriding theme of the entire game. The problem is that the love people (and the advertising) focused on is merely romantic love but love for family, friends, country, chivalric love, these are all important themes that are present throughout the entire game.This is complete bull because the only one that this would apply to is Squall or Rinoa. Rinoa's father does love her, but the story basically forgets he exists after his one event. And Laguna doesn't even know he exists until Disk 3. And it's other people who guide Squall to Laguna. Almost everyone else is an orphan. And you can try to make the argument that Cid and Edea "love" them. But it's a really weak argument when they're using them as tools.The FF developers consistently over many games prove they don't understand love. Their idea of love is they watch Star Wars or Gundam and emulate their take on love. Which are infamously bad.>Also Squall's entire character growth doesn't happen without him being in love with Rinoa He makes his greatest strides in breaking out of his shell in Disk 1 and 2. BEFORE he gets involved with Rinoa. When Rinoa gets involves he actually REGRESSES back to his closed off, scared self. Which is why so much of Disk 3 sucks. By the middle of Disk 2, he's opened up to his teammates, taken command of his team and the garden and is voicing his opinions. Once Rinoa gets involved, he goes back to hiding his feelings and acting like a scared child.
So much time is wasted every time the game makes you switch up party members and you have to swap your GFs, skills, and spells to the new group. Then for the final dungeon you need to run around as two groups and unlock every piece of gameplay. And for the final Fuck You, the final boss randomly picks which characters it wants you to start the fight with. FFX and XII are so much easier to play for rarely having to put up with that kind of crap.
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>>721001558Bad story and bad gameplay. Also a lot of young guys hated it at the time because it felt like it was appealing to the Titanic audience.
