Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VIII is a
video game created by
Squaresoft (now
Square Enix) for the
PlayStation and
computer. The graphics have been improved since
Final Fantasy VII, so the characters now look more realistic. The
game engine has been changed significantly, adjusting to the new Junction system, a considerable change from Final Fantasy VII's materia system.
Characters
\n
Leonhart - A young student at Balamb Garden. He does not talk much and has the reputation of being a lone wolf.
Heartilly - A young, beautiful,carefree girl, daughter of General Caraway of Galbadia. Her tenderness, warm-hearted nature, and kind compassion makes her very endearing.
Trepe - Quistis joined SeeD at the age of 15, and due to her extraordianary talents, she quickly became an instructor. She now serves as Squall's instructor.
Dincht - A martial arts expert who joined Garden at 13 to follow in his grandfather's footsteps as a great soldier. He often blurts things out without thinking first.
Kinneas - Irvine is a loner from Galbadia Garden, who is called the 'Best Shooter in Garden', due to his sharpshooting abilities. He is also known a ladies' man.
Tilmitt - A young happy-go-lucky girl, Selphie seems out of place at a military academy. She has an overbearingly naive view of the world, and is always there when people need cheering up.
Loire - An ex-Galbadian soldier who has turned journalist and seeks to tell the world about the horrors of war. He is optimistic and fueled with a passion to assist those in need.
Seagill - Laguna's close friend and comrade in the Galbadian Army.
Zabac - One of Laguna's comrades, he lost his voice in a battle with Esthar Soldiers. He has a kind heart and follows closely with his friends and comrades, Laguna and Kiros.
Almasy - Squall's rival at Garden is a powerful warrior, but his high ego and inability to follow orders have earned his the label of 'problematic'.
Edea - A power-hungry sorceress who rules Galbadia. Her motives are as yet unknown, but SeeD has been dispatched to elimminate her.
- An extremely evil sorceress from the future who can reach across time and manipulate people. Her ultimate goal is the destruction of time itself.
Plot
\nThe nation of Galbadia, ruled by Sorceress Edea, has started a war against Dollet and Timber. Pleas of aid have been sent to Balamb Garden, an elite military academy which trains elite soldiers called SeeDs. Three young SeeDs are dispatched to deal with the conflict, but soon find themselves drawn into a conflict far greater than they could have imagined, a conflict which threatens the world itself.
Gameplay
\nThe gameplay in Final Fantasy VIII is quite different to that of Final Fantasy VII. Instead the new Junction System is used. This new system revolves around summon monsters, called Guardian Forces (GFs). A character must have a GF junctioned before he can use any command abilities in battle, like magic or items. Magic, for once, does not require MP; instead you draw magic from 'draw points' and from enemies. Armour has completely disappeared, and characters cannot be equipped with new weapons - instead the old ones are upgraded.
Music
\nNobuo Uematsu composed and directed the soundtrack for Final Fantasy VIII, and the theme song 'Eyes on Me' is sung by Hong Kong diva Faye Wong.
External Links
\nFinal Fantasy VIII Online\nFinal Fantasy VIII Shrine
Category:Final Fantasy
