Final Fantasy 8 or Final Fantasy 9?

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Jakandsigz

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#1 Jakandsigz
Member since 2013 • 6341 Posts
Despite the former making no sense (for a ff game) in almost everyway, I often come back to playing Final Fantasy 8 and Final Fantasy 9, even with all my issues with both of them. They are the only FF games I can go back and play (Ok, I have not tried to play through Xiii again yet, I might give it another chance) The way the character customization systems work and attributes, along with vast worlds and some very nice looking artwork and backgrounds, and some very atmospheric music make these two games the best Square has ever done, and at the moment ever will. But out of the two which do the legacy gamers think is better?
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JML897

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#2 JML897
Member since 2004 • 33134 Posts
I think 9 is by far the best of the PS1 Final Fantasies
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Pixel-Perfect

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#3 Pixel-Perfect
Member since 2009 • 5778 Posts

Final Fantasy IX is my favorite non-Pokemon game of all time, while I wasn't compelled to play past the first disk in VIII, so yeah...

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Solid_Link22

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#4 Solid_Link22
Member since 2006 • 5698 Posts

Final Fantasy IX

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Shenmue_Jehuty

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#5 Shenmue_Jehuty
Member since 2007 • 5211 Posts

FF8

I've always liked the FFs that have more of a sci-fi atmosphere to them, and also I like the characters, story and gameplay of FF8. I know a lot of people bitch about the junction and draw system, but I thought they were a cool, interesting, and dynamic systems that made the game better. I I like FF9 a lot too, but it's probably my least favorite FF aside from FFXII.

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travisstaggs

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#6 travisstaggs
Member since 2008 • 10562 Posts

Final Fantasy 9 is superior, imo.

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crimsonman1245

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#7 crimsonman1245
Member since 2011 • 4253 Posts

I love both of them, I would pick Final Fantasy 8. It took alot more risks.

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Legolas_Katarn

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#8 Legolas_Katarn
Member since 2003 • 15556 Posts
I thought Final Fantasy 9 was the best in the series.
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CecilChups

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#9 CecilChups
Member since 2013 • 205 Posts

FF8 was the reason I haven't played FF9 until 2009. My trust in the series stopped after FF8, but I'm SO GLAD I eventually got around to playing FF9. Such a far, FAR superior game IMO.

In fact, I might replay it. Right now.

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Djmaster214

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#10 Djmaster214
Member since 2005 • 3240 Posts

you know whats funny iv found its usually the first game a person has played, or they havent played either of them and choose the one they have seen the most good of, that being said iv finished 8 and half of 9 and liked 8s setting better

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Kemonojin

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#11 Kemonojin
Member since 2013 • 48 Posts
Final Fantasy 9 was better in my opinion.
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lazyathew

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#12 lazyathew
Member since 2007 • 3748 Posts

I am not a fan of 8. From what I have played, I like the story and characters. But I just can't get into the gameplay. I hate the Junction and draw systems. I love 9 though, it's one of my favorites in the series.

you know whats funny iv found its usually the first game a person has played, or they havent played either of them and choose the one they have seen the most good of, that being said iv finished 8 and half of 9 and liked 8s setting better

Djmaster214

Not me. I have played 8 before 9, 9 was actually the one I have played most recently in the main series. For the first time I mean. I was actually just after finishing my second playthrough of 7 :P

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Sweenix

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#13 Sweenix
Member since 2013 • 5957 Posts

Final Fantasy 9 is the greatest game ever.. so chose that :D

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Pixel-Perfect

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#14 Pixel-Perfect
Member since 2009 • 5778 Posts

I'm so glad that FFIX has become more recognized as time went on. Back in the day, I was one of the few IX fans on FF forums and such. :D 

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iowastate

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#15 iowastate
Member since 2004 • 7922 Posts

i like both Final Fantasy VII and VIII very much and have also played V and VI fairly recently....and FFs X, X-2 and XII but the last three are PS2 games.

I did play them all on my PS2....much easier that way

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WiiCubeM1

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#16 WiiCubeM1
Member since 2009 • 4735 Posts

9. No contest. No amount of counterarguments will sway my decision.

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KnightSkull

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#17 KnightSkull
Member since 2011 • 1481 Posts

I've never been able to get myself to finish 8 more than once. 9 on the other hand is a great game that I can play through any number of times. I find the characters and story of FF8 boring and uninteresting. The draw and junction systems were interesting but got old and repetitive fast.

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GreySeal9

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#18 GreySeal9
Member since 2010 • 28247 Posts

Final Fantasy 9 is much better than Final Fantasy 8. Better visuals, better soundtrack, a MUCH better customization system, much more likeable characters, funner battles, much better writing. The list goes on. The only thing that Final Fantasy 8 has on 9 is a more interesting art style. But the graphics are still worse.

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Articuno76

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#19 Articuno76
Member since 2004 • 19799 Posts
Playing through FF8 now (honestly the first time I've seriously sat down and played it) and I have found it feel really rough. One of my pet-peeve that drives me nuts is the way the directionality of paths between pre-rendered backgrounds don't match-up between screen transitions. This makes navigating the world unnecessarily disorienting. For instance you will have a camera placed sideways on where you are on a path which you run on either left or right. You run down the path towards the left of the screen and exit of the left side. The area you load into is now using a bird's eye camera. One path runs across the screen from the bottom-left running up to the top-right...the path you were taking in a straight line that used to run left now continues right-wards...think about that. Now multiply that nonsense design sense across several dozen pre-rendered screens and confounding more directions than simply left/right and you have the nightmare labyrinths that are Deiling City and Esther. What makes it worse is that a lot of the confusion could have been avoided with something as simple as simply mirroring the pre-renders to create consistency. I exclude the Brother's dungeon because the camera orientation trick is part of the puzzle design. It also bothers me that so far (from what I can tell) the optimal way to play the game is to avoid fights like the plague and when you do get into fights strip the enemy of magic, cards and their pants...and then run away. Once you know what items an enemy drops (and have drawn them to capacity) you literally have no reason to engage in combat at all. None. You can comfortably stay well above the curve with a little clever magic refinement at the beginning of the game. And then there are improbable plot twists and character relationships that seemingly develop out of thin air. Oh and characters doing things that are quite frankly...stupid (seriously, three well trained soldiers abandoning their post to apologise to a civilian. Who the hell trains these guys?). Sorry for the long post. These are just some of the thoughts that have been brewing in my mind since I started this game.
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Jakandsigz

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#20 Jakandsigz
Member since 2013 • 6341 Posts
[QUOTE="Articuno76"]Playing through FF8 now (honestly the first time I've seriously sat down and played it) and I have found it feel really rough. One of my pet-peeve that drives me nuts is the way the directionality of paths between pre-rendered backgrounds don't match-up between screen transitions. This makes navigating the world unnecessarily disorienting. For instance you will have a camera placed sideways on where you are on a path which you run on either left or right. You run down the path towards the left of the screen and exit of the left side. The area you load into is now using a bird's eye camera. One path runs across the screen from the bottom-left running up to the top-right...the path you were taking in a straight line that used to run left now continues right-wards...think about that. Now multiply that nonsense design sense across several dozen pre-rendered screens and confounding more directions than simply left/right and you have the nightmare labyrinths that are Deiling City and Esther. What makes it worse is that a lot of the confusion could have been avoided with something as simple as simply mirroring the pre-renders to create consistency. I exclude the Brother's dungeon because the camera orientation trick is part of the puzzle design. It also bothers me that so far (from what I can tell) the optimal way to play the game is to avoid fights like the plague and when you do get into fights strip the enemy of magic, cards and their pants...and then run away. Once you know what items an enemy drops (and have drawn them to capacity) you literally have no reason to engage in combat at all. None. You can comfortably stay well above the curve with a little clever magic refinement at the beginning of the game. And then there are improbable plot twists and character relationships that seemingly develop out of thin air. Oh and characters doing things that are quite frankly...stupid (seriously, three well trained soldiers abandoning their post to apologise to a civilian. Who the hell trains these guys?). Sorry for the long post. These are just some of the thoughts that have been brewing in my mind since I started this game.

I would have liked it to be longer if possible lol. It's an issue with all pre-rendered FF games but FF8 annoyed the crap out of me. You go left in one screen and then when you go to the next screen still holding left you go backwards or don't move and then for some reason you have to press down to continue, it's a damn mess. The other major of my two complaints it eh level system, which is pointless, while the idea of not grinning is fine, they punish you for doing it if you do want to. Some battle are impossible without certain stats if you level too high. I went through the game both times at release and recently the same way, when you get to the last disc, not using the junction system will catch up to you badly, because the majority of the game is a cakewalk, but if you get that far in and don't want to start over, you have to level up if you don't junction right and if you level up you can be just as or MORE screwed than you already were. And even then, I still like 8, and I am not entirely sure why. Not that I consider either of these too be the best in the series.
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Jakandsigz

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#21 Jakandsigz
Member since 2013 • 6341 Posts
much better writing. GreySeal9
Not that it's hard to do, and I have to question if they hired some random drunk on the street to write the story and ending (wow, just wow.)
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usmfan84

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#22 usmfan84
Member since 2004 • 106 Posts

Final Fantasy IX definitely! It is such an uplifting game. The characters are the best written of any FF game. They are not brooding depressing characters that litter a lot of the other games. They are upbeat, emotional and relatable.

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BigBen11111

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#23 BigBen11111
Member since 2003 • 1529 Posts
I gotta say I'd loved FF8, the game is charming & touching, I also like playing the card game. I've yet to play FF9.
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spike6958

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#24 spike6958
Member since 2005 • 6701 Posts
How is this even a question? IX is a Masterpiece, it's easily the best 3D Final Fantasy game, and puts up a great fight to take the mantel of best game in the series IMO. As for FFVIII, it's the biggest insult to the Final Fantasy name, and that's saying a lot with titles such as FFX-2, FFXIII & XIII-2 under it's belt.
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Blueresident87

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#25 Blueresident87
Member since 2007 • 5981 Posts

I would say 8 and then 9.

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Gue1

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#26 Gue1
Member since 2004 • 12171 Posts

I like everything about FF8 except the story which is pure excrement. I kind of liked the story of FF9 but didn't like everything else that much, so to me FF8 is the better game but FF7 is the best of them all. The materia system, sidequest, music, characters, story, the world... I love everything about FF7, except for its ugly graphics.

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Gue1

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#27 Gue1
Member since 2004 • 12171 Posts

How is this even a question? IX is a Masterpiece, it's easily the best 3D Final Fantasy game, and puts up a great fight to take the mantel of best game in the series IMO. As for FFVIII, it's the biggest insult to the Final Fantasy name, and that's saying a lot with titles such as FFX-2, FFXIII & XIII-2 under it's belt.spike6958

 

are you trying to say that these 3 abominations (FFX-2, FFXIII & XIII-2) are better than FF8? Is this a joke?  :roll:

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Seabas989

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#28 Seabas989
Member since 2009 • 13567 Posts

IX destroys VIII.

What is it with this board and Final Fantasy? :P

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Ilovegames1992

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#29 Ilovegames1992
Member since 2010 • 14221 Posts

9 is the best FF game ever made.

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Arach666

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#31 Arach666
Member since 2009 • 23285 Posts
FF8 was the only PS1 era FF game I really enjoyed,FF9 has put me off from the start with the character models and overall style of the game,couldn´t stand it.
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#32 rawsavon
Member since 2004 • 40001 Posts
I think 9 is by far the best of the PS1 Final FantasiesJML897
Aside from Tactics I agree - it is the best of the 3 FF's on the PS1. In addition, I found FF8 to be average at best when it was released and even worse now...I thought that story was terrible as a teenager; would be near impossible to stomach as an adult
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iowastate

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#33 iowastate
Member since 2004 • 7922 Posts

9. No contest. No amount of counterarguments will sway my decision.

WiiCubeM1
not everyone has the same opinion - could you please tell us why you think FF IX is better than the others
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Jakandsigz

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#34 Jakandsigz
Member since 2013 • 6341 Posts
[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

9. No contest. No amount of counterarguments will sway my decision.

iowastate
not everyone has the same opinion - could you please tell us why you think FF IX is better than the others

People used to do that here but don;t expect that now.
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Ilovegames1992

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#35 Ilovegames1992
Member since 2010 • 14221 Posts

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

9. No contest. No amount of counterarguments will sway my decision.

iowastate

not everyone has the same opinion - could you please tell us why you think FF IX is better than the others

I think mainly because it doesnt have that extremely 'emo' feel to it and the really bad characters that the previous one had, maybe that makes it feel better than it actually is i dunno.

It feels like the whole game is a quiet nod to some of its previous era ancestors. 

That's what i feel about it anyway. 

Along with its good combat, good fun characters, excellent soundtrack and a pretty intriguing plot.

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Articuno76

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#36 Articuno76
Member since 2004 • 19799 Posts

[QUOTE="iowastate"][QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

9. No contest. No amount of counterarguments will sway my decision.

Ilovegames1992

not everyone has the same opinion - could you please tell us why you think FF IX is better than the others

I think mainly because it doesnt have that extremely 'emo' feel to it and the really bad characters that the previous one had, maybe that makes it feel better than it actually is i dunno.

It feels like the whole game is a quiet nod to some of its previous era ancestors. 

That's what i feel about it anyway. 

Along with its good combat, good fun characters, excellent soundtrack and a pretty intriguing plot.

You know I'm playing through the Japanese version now and I can't help but feel either because something was lost in translation, or because I'm at an age where I can see all the characters other than Squall being retards but...well, I actually get Squall. He creates conflict with others by being seemingly standoffish but that is simply because of the gap between what he thinks (and what he thinks is EXACTLY what I as the player an thinking. 'Why is every else so retarded? Why would anyone do that in this situation? etc) and what he says. If there is one disappointing part of his character development it's that he gets dragged down to the level of the people around him when he was the only sensible, rational character to begin with. Damn. In an ideal world FF8 would end not with the power of friendship and love conquering all but Squall's self-efficacy rubbing off on the other party members and them getting their acts together. Pff, slackers.
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Jakandsigz

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#37 Jakandsigz
Member since 2013 • 6341 Posts
[QUOTE="Ilovegames1992"]

[QUOTE="iowastate"] not everyone has the same opinion - could you please tell us why you think FF IX is better than the othersArticuno76

I think mainly because it doesnt have that extremely 'emo' feel to it and the really bad characters that the previous one had, maybe that makes it feel better than it actually is i dunno.

It feels like the whole game is a quiet nod to some of its previous era ancestors. 

That's what i feel about it anyway. 

Along with its good combat, good fun characters, excellent soundtrack and a pretty intriguing plot.

You know I'm playing through the Japanese version now and I can't help but feel either because something was lost in translation, or because I'm at an age where I can see all the characters other than Squall being retards but...well, I actually get Squall. He creates conflict with others by being seemingly standoffish but that is simply because of the gap between what he thinks (and what he thinks is EXACTLY what I as the player an thinking. 'Why is every else so retarded? Why would anyone do that in this situation? etc) and what he says. If there is one disappointing part of his character development it's that he gets dragged down to the level of the people around him when he was the only sensible, rational character to begin with. Damn. In an ideal world FF8 would end not with the power of friendship and love conquering all but Squall's self-efficacy rubbing off on the other party members and them getting their acts together. Pff, slackers.

It's actually more clear in the ENG translation, the issue though is Final Fantasy fans outside of TItus don't think there are dumb characters. Squall literally is the only one using critical thinking and half the fanbase call him a douche for it.
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Ilovegames1992

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#38 Ilovegames1992
Member since 2010 • 14221 Posts

[QUOTE="Ilovegames1992"]

[QUOTE="iowastate"] not everyone has the same opinion - could you please tell us why you think FF IX is better than the othersArticuno76

I think mainly because it doesnt have that extremely 'emo' feel to it and the really bad characters that the previous one had, maybe that makes it feel better than it actually is i dunno.

It feels like the whole game is a quiet nod to some of its previous era ancestors. 

That's what i feel about it anyway. 

Along with its good combat, good fun characters, excellent soundtrack and a pretty intriguing plot.

You know I'm playing through the Japanese version now and I can't help but feel either because something was lost in translation, or because I'm at an age where I can see all the characters other than Squall being retards but...well, I actually get Squall. He creates conflict with others by being seemingly standoffish but that is simply because of the gap between what he thinks (and what he thinks is EXACTLY what I as the player an thinking. 'Why is every else so retarded? Why would anyone do that in this situation? etc) and what he says. If there is one disappointing part of his character development it's that he gets dragged down to the level of the people around him when he was the only sensible, rational character to begin with. Damn. In an ideal world FF8 would end not with the power of friendship and love conquering all but Squall's self-efficacy rubbing off on the other party members and them getting their acts together. Pff, slackers.

I think a lot of people hate the fact that Squall is such a brooding loner whiney kind of character. Regardles of how true to life that is, especially within the target audience for FF games ha.

And i'm one of the few that likes FF8 becaue of the connection with my childhood. 

But yes, he's a cold, detached soldier but does have strong feelings deep down inside, thats quite a cliche trope in character development. 

I personally liked Zell because he was so dumb as a character i rooted for him. 

But yes i get you.

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Articuno76

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#39 Articuno76
Member since 2004 • 19799 Posts

Finished it (FF8) the other day. It was much shorter than I remember it being (42 hours without rushing) and a heck of a lot easier...guess I was just stupid kid when I first played it.

Anyway, I've been looking at the Rinoa = Ultimecia theories which make a lot of sense. And funnily enough I can't find Square's official denial of the theory online anywhere...and yeah, I've even looked through Japanese cyber-space where interestingly enough the idea that Square announced a denial at some point is never brought up in discussion. In stark contrast to English boards, Japanese board posters never bring up the 'official refutation' of the theory. They don't so much as allude to it even in threads that go on today.

Apparently a strategy guide talked with a source within Square and extrapolated that it was false...but the source isn't named as far as we know making the information second-hand in addition to having being filtered down through the language barrier. And moreover the information doesn't exist anywhere in the Japanese webosphere (you know, the language the game was made in). Something about that seems really bizarre.

Also factor in that FF8's story as a whole doesn't make an awful lot of sense as a whole (it feels like something is missing) without the theory and suddenly it seems very credible. It doesn't save FF8 from the fact characters do really baffling things at times or that they aren't all that interesting but it does make a lot of the sub-text of the game make an awful lot of sense.

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LittleMac19

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#40 LittleMac19
Member since 2009 • 1638 Posts
IX, if all of VIII was based on Laguna instead of Squall I would probably think differently
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Goldflower1234

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#41 Goldflower1234
Member since 2013 • 37 Posts
JRPGs... lol