I know this is sooo subjective, but i would like to know your opinions. I am gaming since the time of Pong. I had an Atari and an Intellivision. I also enjoyed a Nintendo and a Super Nintendo consoles. Played a bit the N64. I only knew the Sega Dreamcast and the Nintendo handhelds through magazines. Sure, also had my share of PC games. But the consoles that defined my life are the Playstation and later the Nintendo Wii. The 360 is getting a lot of love from me now but that is another story. The Playstation and Final Fantasy VIII destroyed my life as a gamer and also defined it. That's what I wanted to talk about now.

I am aware of the fact that a lot of people say that the previous one (FF7) is the better game, the real breakthrough. I don't want to debate that because I couldn't play FF7 entirely, so I don't know. And don't care. I just want to talk about FF8, about how great it was. (Or how great it still is?)

The last game (an RPG) that I played for more than 80 hours was Oblivion. Great game by the way. But live this hobby of mine with a sensasion of a lost paradise, like, I don't know how to put it, like nothing is as good as FF8. I compare every rpg I play with FF8. And I don't think is been a game better than FF8. I am having this feeling since FF9. In fact, I feel like the franchise is going downhill since that point.

Where to start? In the game, the world is huge, with different settings. It is beautiful and dangerous when needed. The story is engaging, intriguing. The characters are well developed. The music was awesome!! I never got tired of the Guardian Forces animations. The game was long, very long ( 4 CDs ), the ending was epic, the love story was believeable. The main quest was great and the side quests or minigames  were fun. The cards game was very fun. To me, it is like the perfect game, or the perfect jrpg.

Maybe this is the memory of another me. And this is the Nostalgia factor that kills the reviews of a lot of current games. Unfortunately I sold my Playstation along with all the games and I cannot go back right now to re play FF8. I could however buy it again (I just checked and it is very cheap on Amazon ) and play it on my PS2. I may do that in the near future. And maybe I can see how nostalgia ruining gaming to me or maybe find out that really, objectively,like there's no game like it. Or maybe I just should leave it as it is.

In the meantime, did you enjoyed FF8? Do you have a similar feelling about this game? Or with another one? What is the thing that you like the most about FF8?

PS: Enjoy this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB30RVWeuP8&playnext=1&list=PL685D7189B672C757&index=13

I just saw FF8 in a used PS1 game bin for 200yen and when I picked it up, it reminded me that I don't like FF8 at all. I used to be a big Final Fantasy fan until FF8, but that game just killed my interest in the series for later games. I still like the older games, but FF8 is just so terrible. FF13 is even more playable than that garbage.

...slowly puts down the used FF8... and goes back to looking forward to FF4 Complete.

I'd say don't replay it. I had fond memories of it too until I popped back my FFVIII CD in my PSOne. I quickly lost interest (about at the point where they are planning to attack a train). The battle system fails in many points, magic sucks (almost no damage), drawing spells is tedious and casting GFs over and over gets boring fast.

Now on the what I still like of the game: the cinematics (especially the intro), the music (love love love Liberi Fatali, Fisherman's horizon and Don't be Afraid are good too) and Triple Triad!

I remember playing the demo that came with Brave Fencer Musashi, I was pumped, the entire first disc was amazing, when Squall drove that Rolls-Royce like a madman and got served by the queen anyway it was great. but as I got to the third disc it got kind of boring and I hated the junction system, and the Laguna plotline.

Final Fantasy VIII is the second best Final Fantasy game after Final Fantasy VI in my opinion.

It also was the second Final Fantasy game I played (FFVI was the first one) :P

The things I liked best about it were the story and the characters... the battle system was awesome too... I loved the Guardian Forces and the Limit Breaks... specially Squall's Lion Heart!

The game had a pretty good soundtrack too! and many of the bosses were cool... my favourite boss fights are Bahamut, Ultima Weapon, Omega Weapon, Seifer, Griever and Ultimecia!

I still remember the FMV when you disembark on this city (Dollet?), it was so cool :P

I loved catching Rinoa on space, lol.

My favourite GFs are Shiva, Quetzacotl, Doom Train (status effects FTW, lol), Bahamut and Eden (Massive damage!).

I think I need to replay this game on an emulator... now that I remember I started Final Fantasy VI again on an emulator and never continued it, lol.

P.S: I also liked Jumbo Cactuar, lol

i loved FF8 back when it first came out but by god it is bad, squall is so hateable all the characters (except rinoa) are awful the fighting system sucks it has a boring world.

I dislike FF8 the most from all FFs except the NES ones. Only the soundtrack stands out for me.

i couldnt agree more. i tried playing it again earlier this year..Could not stand it.

I loved Final Fantasy VIII. Played it two to three times. I never forgot Esther city soundtrack. It is very otherworldly. Final Fantasy VIII has many memorable moments that my mind can't erase.

But i fell more nostalgic about Final Fantasy IV, the first Final Fantasy i played. It was love at first play. :)

FF8 is my favorite FF game and my favorite game of all time. I absolutely LOVED it.