Unless you're particularly good or especially bad at these games, you can expect to complete it in about 50 hours. And, in those 50 hours you can expect to be gobsmacked by the visuals which have been sharpened up for the PC release this time round , gripped by the amazing storyline, and left cold by the feeling that you're not actually having to do a great deal to progress.
A few things have changed since the last outing. As well as providing x visuals, the graphics are more conventional and Western in style and there's a distinct lack of cutesy surreal Japanese-ness, which is going to be good news for some us included and a source of distinct discomfort for other, may we say younger, players. Also, there's a new Junction system that provides access to magic and the extremely powerful Guardian Forces.
Squaresoft has tried to make this seem as complicated as possible, and if you can get a solid handle on the concept by sitting through the on-screen tutorials, then you're better men than us. It took us about an hour of solid head scratching before we realised that there wasn't actually anything to it.
The process goes as follows: obtain a Guardian Force and you get the option to Junction various abilities such as Magic, Draw used to obtain magic spells from either a Draw Point or an enemy in battle , Item and GF summon the beastie itself.
As you move through the game you're given access to more powerful magic, and as well as the characters levelling-up, your GFs do as well, learning new abilities in the process and improving their hit point tally for they can suffer the humiliating KO as well.
The fact that your GFs can take damage instead of you, when their summon-bar is charging down, adds another tactical element to the fights. That's about it though. If you're looking for a radical overhaul, you won't find it here.
It's still blatantly obvious that Final Fantasy VIII has originated from a console and anyone who says otherwise is talking from the wrong end. The peculiar control system is still present and correct, and the dialogue boxes look like they've been ported across from the SNES. It doesn't affect the quality of the game itself, but it's lazy programming and completely at odds with the cut-scenes that are by far the best we've seen on the PC, ever.
And we mean ever. Square must have commandeered every single workstation in Japan and had them running 24x7 for a couple of years to end up with as much quality footage as they have here. Then there's the story. It starts off as wet as a puddle, with too much slop and sentiment, but you just know it's going to improve.
Flashbacks mix with dream sequences and character betrayals to provide more plot twists than the entire archive of Tales Of The Unexpected. You genuinely care about the characters you're playing and although Squall, the central hero, is a bit of an arse, you still get attached to him. And, if you don't get out much - and you won't once you start playing this game - then Rinoa and Selphie should provide fuel for your fantasies.
Although admitting attraction to animated characters is not something we approve of. We're not giving away the plot. If you want to know what happens, you're going to have to be prepared to invest 50 hours of your valuable time repeatedly hitting the 'x' key on your keyboard.
Are we being a bit harsh on the gameplay? For the first ten hours of the game you can't put a foot wrong. Battles are too easy and it's impossible to wander away from the all-important storyline.
Progress through the second CD and fights start to level out and you're likely to see the 'Game Over' legend appear on your screen a few times. This uproots another problem: if you've played FFVII you will know that the summon spells take a long time to brew.
Fight someone powerful and you're likely to spend half an hour watching the most OTT spells that the Japanese have ever invented. We'd have to repeat the line "it gets repetitive" about 1, times to get the point across properly. Please: if you code a Final Fantasy IX, and we think you will, then let us escape from these time-wasters with a hot-key. If you want to sit through a minute batde that consists of 37 minutes of the same animation playing over and over again, then that's your business, but we've got better things to do with our time.
Also gone are the humorous and surreal sub-games, such as the motorbike chase and the Chocobo race. Throughout the whole of the first two COs, the best we got was a quick round of 'turn the wheel to open the hatch'.
To win you have to hit the 'a' key repeatedly for ten seconds. Talk about dumbing down. And these are two words that you're going to be muttering under your breath if you've played any of the respected RPGs from the Black Isle stable - Planescape. Torment in particular. However, we're well aware that there are a lot of people who like linear adventures and if this is you, then you cant do better than this. And despite all the criticisms that we've levelled at the game, we were still strangely addicted from the moment the first risible strains of music started spewing from our speakers.
The quality of the graphics which are better than sex in places and the amazing storyline are the chief culprits, but Final Fantasy VIII goes beyond that. The best analogy we can use is the elder relative that comes to stay at Christmas: you're always willing to ignore the embarrassing bits because you love what's underneath. With a cohesive, engrossing story line and graphics that raise the bar higher than ever before, Pinal Fantasy VIII will immerse gamers in the promised land of role-playing nirvana.
What's new? Aside from hand-to-hand fighting capabilities, FFVIII introduces Guardian Force GF Cards, or spells, to give you an edge in your quest Also new for FFVIII are vehicles and trains that provide travel options other than your characters feet-- but at a cost Furthermore, you'll marvel at the daytime and nighttime settings that lend a long-absent note of realism to the Final Fantasy fantasy realm.
Just like FFVII, you're allowed only three characters in your battle party, and each are armed with a unique weapon. FFVIII introduces a new combat system, however--you don't have to mess with weapon, armor, or equipment menus. Instead, nearly every initial character-attribute is modified through the GF Card Junction system, which lets you tie magic stocks to your statistics.
The GF Cards must be equipped for your character to have any options during battle besides attack. These cards also give your characters various special abilities, which are built up using AP points as in Final Fantasy Tactics.
The only drawback is that the Cards are far too powerful early in the game, making it easy to win battles. During gameplay, the polygonal characters are almost completely integrated into the CG surroundings with only a slight drop in graphical detail.
Although the backgrounds are pre-rendered, they're filled with excellent details and moving elements that make them more realistic-looking. Another cool touch the character weapons that visually change every time your attack level is upgraded.
Plus, the music fits the action perfectly, from the rousing battle overtures to the beautiful melodies that underscore the dramatic dialogue. Of course, we were right there to snag one of the first copies of the demo, and now we're back with an updated preview of Square's incredible new RPG sequel.
First, some background on the story. Not much has been revealed yet, but here's what we do know. There's a strangely shaped building in the game that serves as a school for soldiers sort of like West Point--see issue , page The school is called Garden. Squall Leonhart, one of the game's main characters and main character in the demo version is one of the trainees of the school.
It's a private school for students between six and 19 years of age. If a student doesn't pass the graduation exam at some point between the ages of 15 and 19, he or she will be expelled from Garden. Garden graduates are exceptional people, and possess the ability to use magic.
An even harder goal than merely passing the graduation exam, however, is to become a member of SeeD, a special force that's known around the world of FFVIII. Highly capable trainees have a chance to try out for SeeD, and that's exactly what Squall is hoping for. The demo itself titled "Escape from Dollet" contains only a very small portion of Final Fantasy Vlll's gamepiay--no more than an hour or so at most.
The demo involves Squall and two new characters, Zell Dincht and Rinoa Heartilly--all SeeD candidates--taking part in a mission from Garden with their squad leader, the mysterious Seifer Almasy. Toward the end of the demo, they receive orders to withdraw from their mission and meet at the coast, which is when the timer kicks in just like in the FFVII demo , and they're given 15 minutes to get the hell outta Dollet. Even though it's rather short, the demo makes for a great teaser.
The world graphics are beautiful, the animation is even better than it was in FFVII, and the game's integration with FMV is remarkable--it's nearly flawless.
The ending in particular is awesome. The in-game characters look much more realistic this time, though the texture mapping makes for some pixelization when viewed up close. As we said in our last preview, you now see all party members at all times during the game instead of them just coming out during event scenes, as was the case in all previous FF games.
Since the game supports Sony's Dual Shock analog controller, you can adjust your characters' walking speeds from a subtle tip-toe to a full-on dash, depending on how hard you press the analog stick. Vibration is supported too, both in and out of battle scenes you can turn it off if you wish, of course.
Even the music is excellent, though there's not too much of it in the demo. Gameplay-wise, there are two new battle commands that have been revealed in the demo. Here's how it works: In the demo, you have three party members the entire time who go into battle: Squall, Zell and Rinoa. Squall and Zell both have a "Draw" command in their Command Menu. This allows them to "Draw" magic from their enemies and either "Use" it immediately, or "Stock" it for later use.
In the demo, you can Draw as often as you wish, and there doesn't seem to be any limit to how much magic you can carry or steal. This isn't exactly a good thing, as you could just run around getting into random encounters to massively build up your stock of magic spells; but then again, this is only a demo. We're sure the final game will have some sort of limit to how this works to keep the gameplay balanced. Rinoa, on the other hand, has a command called "G.
This seems to be the replacement for Summoning Magic, which has always been a staple of the FF series. Guardian Force acts much like a Summon spell did in FFVII--you select the command, choose a monster the demo version lets you choose Leviathan , and the monster comes and wreaks havoc on your opposition in an intense animation filled with blinding flashes of light and all sorts of incredible special effects.
You'll be able to evolve your Guardian Force monsters as they gain experience, so they can grow and become more powerful throughout play. In the demo, Squall and Zell both get special attacks that become available after they take a certain amount of damage.
Zell's is called Meteo Bullet, and it's a pretty cool attack that does a huge amount of damage. Squall's is called Renzokuken Sequential Sword Attack , and there are three different forms of it--each has its own special Limit Meter. On the meter are little triangles; as the meter fills up during the attack, you can increase the damage done by pressing Ri every time the bar crosses over one of the triangles. This is similar to Squall's normal attacks, which can be strengthened by pressing Ri just as his Gunblade cuts through an enemy.
Unfortunately, that's all we know. No official word on whether or not anyone else will have a Limit Meter has been released so far. But of course, we'll keep you updated.
That's all for new information this month. Be sure to keep checking back, because as new info is released, you'll find it right here. In the meantime, enjoy the latest barrage of screenshots we've prepared for you. Aside from a few instances of graphical breakup and distortion during close-ups, FFYIII's visuals remain con-sistendy spectacular. All the characters and surroundings sport excellent details, and the rendered cinematic sequences--more plentiful than those in FFVII--are among the best ever seen on the PlayStation.
The character graphics also give the game a more grownup feel. Given that there are three other discs to come, the tale doesn't even begin to take shape until the curtain falls on disc one.
Another notable difference is the new combat system. Why bother learning spells by building experience points when you can steal them?
FFVIII allows characters to draw spells from enemies during combat and then cast the acquired spell immediately or stock it for later use. Of course, tougher enemies yield more powerful spells.
While both games' graphics and narratives are unchanged, rendered cinema cut-scenes have been added to help flesh out each title's prospective story. The two-CD Anthology is slated for an early October release. On May 15 in Japan, Square unveiled to an enthusiastic press the latest installment in what is undeniably the most popular RPG series in the entire world. Always careful not to reveal too much too early, Square has only released a few minor tidbits about the game so far, as well as some screenshots and information regarding the game's first two main characters, Squall Leonhart and Laguna Loire.
At the press conference in Japan, and then again at E3, they showed off a brief video of the game, showcasing mostly FMV scenes and some early battle sequences from the game, which according to Square, is currently about 20 percent complete. The scene then changed to seven fighter jets airships?
Afterward, we saw a fleet of huge ships forging through the sea. Standing on the deck of one of the ships was Squall, who checks out a map before suddenly dropping into a flashback sequence that shows him running through a desert, being chased by an armed vehicle.
After this sequence, the video went on to show various battle scenes filled with flashy special effects , more FMV clips and a few in-game scenes. A couple of scenes worth noting were the awesome Leviathan summon spell which is shown wiping out a huge spider-like mech robot , as well as the aforementioned satellite tower unleashing a massive attack on unsuspecting opposition.
Needless to say, the video was impressive. When asked about the theme of Final Fantasy VIII, the game's producer, Hironobu Sakaguchi, responded "There are lots of elements in the game, but one of the members of the team. Sakaguchi explained that he wants to pursue a more in-depth and detailed story line for FFVIII, and he's seeking a more effective graphical expression for the storytelling. He added that he hasn't forgotten about the interactive elements that make it a video game, though.
This too will help make the in-game characters look more like their FMV counterparts. And last but certainly not least, for the first time in the series, all of your party members will be shown on the field at the same time.
No more will you have one guy walking around when suddenly three people jump out of him to start chatting. Now everyone will be shown simultaneously, all the time. The best news of all at this press conference concerned the game's release date. While it won't be released in Japan until "sometime this winter" which basically means anytime before the end of the fiscal year next March , the U. Another demo--this time playable-will come bundled with Brave Fencer Musashiden when it is released in November.
We'll have our own playable demo on July 14 when Brave Fencer Musashiden hits Japan, so expect more coverage of what will surely become the most anticipated game of real soon. Squall is a poker-faced, short-spoken man who carries a unique sword known as the "Gunblade.
He's a bit of a loner according to Square he has "little sense of comradeship for the people around him" , and he wears a necklace that bears a strange griffon-like symbol the same one that can be seen near the barrel on the Gunblade. According to character designer Tetsuya Nomura, he wanted the character's name to have the meaning of a passing shower, which is how he came up with the name Squall.
His last name, Leonhart, was the name of one of the main characters from an earlier 8-Bit Final Fantasy for the Famicom which never came to the United States. This isn't the first time Square has brought back names from earlier games in the series Unlike Squall, Laguna is a man of heart.
He knows love and respects his duties. According to Square, he's an optimistic and vigorous person who enjoys the confidence bestowed in him by those around him. Not much else is known about him yet, but we do know that he's a former soldier who now works as a journalist.
Apparently, Laguna and Squall, while both main characters, reside on different worlds. How their paths will cross hasn't yet been revealed, but the idea of possibly playing with two entirely different characters from the outset is quite attractive.
Granted, the spell effects are so unbelievably amazing that you'd think they might saturate the lower-end cards - but for one, I doubt that is the case, and two, I doubt anybody cares.
What might be a more realistic reason, I fear, is that they didn't want or understand that they should re-render all the backgrounds for higher-resolution PC graphics, and just stretched the lame PSX backgrounds; and that seriously detracts from the visual lushness that could've been experienced. As well, FF8 doesn't make use of antialiasing, and as such, when slower-motion things happen, such as your characters walking around and the like, you may notice quite a few jagged edges.
The screenshots will portray that and amplify that , as well; though, I should say, it isn't quite as apparent during the game, especially during spellcasting. Another area where SquareSoft is overstressing the gamers' tolerance is the interface. A PSX doesn't have a keyboard, we all know that. But I refuse to believe, no matter how convoluted and complicated the code, that in the 6 months that they spent "porting it" they couldn't at least make the user be able to gasp!
Similarly, when you have a lot of spells in your inventory, it'd be pretty nice to be able to press a letter and have the cursor jump to the first spell with that letter. Also, staying true to the FF7 tradition, there's no Load menu choice, so if you want to load an earlier save game you have to quit and reload.
As well, it appears SquareSoft went on an interface pruning frenzy, and removed some elements, which are absolutely redundant, and no gameplayer would ever even really need - such as, for example, a Quit menu option.
I mean hey, who needs one? Works for me, by the way. Rare to see a game that properly switches to Windows apps.
As we were taught in elementary school essay writing, 'text should flow from paragraph to paragraph', and this is a lame attempt at juxtaposing two paragraphs. Spellcasting in FF8 is a very mixed blessing. On the one hand, you're unlikely to find anything this beautiful in any game out on the market right now. Water effects, fire effects, ice, lightning, non-elemental - all of those were lovingly worked on by the graphics artists and are absolutely stunning to watch.
However, the effect, unfortunately, does wear thin after a hundred or two castings. Some might actually start to hate it after three or four. Just to give you an idea, the animation of Shiva, the ice elemental, takes approximately 15 seconds to play out - while the animation of Eden, the most powerful Guardian Force in the game, takes a full 76 seconds. Of course, the more powerful the Guardian Force, the more likely you are to have a tolerance as to the length of the animation - but an option to shorten them may have been quite nice.
Same thing for movies: you cannot skip them, which can get to be quite a drag, especially for the intro movie though, again, it does look absolutely ILM [Industrial Light and Magic - the people who brought us all the Star Wars effects].
Though fortunately, once you discover the GF ability called 'Boost', it will entertain you endlessly, or for at least another couple of hundred castings, as you mindlessly smash the 'A' button to make your GF execute an additional points of damage.
Next up on the list is the modified magic system. To fill you in, in Final Fantasy VII, you would equip what was known as Materia the easiest parallel would be spells in traditional RPGs which would add certain capabilities to your character.
Without going into too much detail, they would do things such as allow your character to heal himself, summon certain creatures, automatically retaliate when attacked without needing an extra turn, cast minor elemental spells, and so forth.
In FF8, while the idea of having spells was kept, the way it was implemented was drastically changed. Now, the main item in the inventory of any character is the Guardian Force or GF, as it is referred to in the game, and which is often cause for some rather amusing associations. There are many GFs in the game, but the main similarity in them is that they don't come to you asking for wisdom and guidance, but you have to either defeat them or Draw them from your opponents - more on Drawing later on.
That can be quite a drag, since you will often not think about drawing it from an opponent, but in general, appears to be a good system. Drawing is new to Final Fantasy, and it works thusly. When you fight an enemy, whether a boss or a regular enemy, you can draw magic or a GF from him, and Stock it in your character's magic inventory.
You can then cast the Stocked spell using the Magic menu. The upside of this is that a character is not limited to the extremely low number of Materia slots like in FF7; on the other hand, drawing too much magic different kinds becomes extremely cumbersome in the sense that it's absolutely impossible to find anything in the menu anymore. As well, as you draw more of the junctioned magic, its effect will increase. As you play on, you might draw 40 more Fire magics from enemies, and that statistic will automatically rise with each new magic joined.
You aren't only limited to drawing from monsters, too - often, you will run across Draw Points, which look like several intertwining pink streams, but they aren't quite as frequent, and can only be used once, while the monsters can be drawn from indefinitely. Unfortunately, what I said above doesn't come in too useful, or at least at the beginning of the game. Why, might you ask? In the specific example that I gave above, it assumes that you execute a physical attack on your enemy, whether with a gun, a sword, a whip, a fist, or whatever else can inflict pain.
In FF8, though, almost never at least at the beginning will you use physical attacks - simply for the reason that they don't do nearly as much damage as they should to make them worthy. Even with upgraded weapons, I don't seem to be able to do over damage with the special 'trigger' move of Squall - and that, to bosses that have 16, HP or more. Incidentally, in FF8, whenever you do happen to attack using your sword, you can virtually double the normal amount of damage that it inflicts if you press the trigger button E by default just at the right time - that is, when the blade just starts to touch the opponent.
Another complaint that I have about normal attacks is that limit breaks are extremely hard to achieve. Not cool. The story is where SquareSoft always shines, in the best of times and in the worst of times.
The story of FF7 fascinated many and kept them glued to the screen of their TVs and their PCs for hours unend, battling the forces of evil, the Shinra, the Weapons, and all that bad stuff taken together. FF8 differs little: while I haven't finished the game yet, so far, the story while not exactly out of a Hitchcock movie, where, to put it lamely, when someone opens a door you can't be sure it'll be opened all the way - much less about what's on the other side is quite wonderful.
As many might know, the theme is based around love the "touchy-feely stuff" , and revolves around Squall, a newcomer to the ranks of SeeD, an elite for-hire mercenary force. Before we go on, however, allow me a quick sidetrack. Why is it that SquareSoft's main characters are consistently named after weather effects? First Cloud, now Squall? And more, why does the adverse competing power always have a similar name?
First Sephiroth, now Seifer? Anyway, moving on. As the story unfolds, at a first glance, you see an arrogant young man, caring little about those around him, and brushing off any emotional approaches from anyone as irrelevant and 'soft'.
But as the background of his childhood is revealed throughout the game, you realize that he isn't an arrogant asshole, but rather nothing but a scared child, who lost his sister in early childhood and spent most of it searching for her, needing her guidance, protection and loyalty.
For those of you into Japanimation, think of Ikari Shinji - that was the first thing I thought of. So as he moves through the world of FF8, Squall realizes more and more that he isn't alone, and he can't be alone forever, and more and more does he go deep into himself, searching, looking for his real self.
His emotional problems are often revealed in quotes like " Why doesn't someone come and tell me what to do? That means I'll be relying on others again
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