Ok Elem here's my take on the game.
And before you go on saying "you could get magic from refining!" well you don't get that for a long while :| and cards were so boring as hell that getting the cards to refine for things sucked too...
Drawing magic also came with the option to cast it as you draw it, so we save, plus if one were to collect enough, they can complete a mission with less worry. Running out of a desired spell in it's time of need only learns us, so topping off on a spell makes the player feel good about moving onto bigger things. Being low on a desired spell adds suspense when the player is in a dangerous place, succeeding under these conditions and being able to wander the map again after was gratifying i think.
The cards in FFVIII is good fun too. We pick which cards we're going to play, and the winner gets to take one of the losers cards. losing a rare card does suck and usually calls for the reset button. The game is relatively simple too each number flips the lower number of the opposing side and we can get it back with combos and what not. For someone who sets out to collect every card (including that damn Pupu card) this card game is fun and tense. It's not necessary to play the card game but it's a nice thing on the side for some to say the least.
Elemmire said:
Face it, the game was flawed in terms of its system as well as its plot :\ it's not bad, no, it was fun for a bit but after awhile the constant drawing or crap to get OP and the fact you don't level (again, a big thing about an RPG, specially a FF) well.. ya.. the only reason people liked it as far as I can tell, usually their first argument and their real reason for liking it to such high praise is because it was a love story. Ya, love stories are nice, but this one was suck :\ the development of the feelings was just.. so fake feeling.
The game also had abilities we can assign to any character which assisted accordingly in missions as we pick who we're going to bring along. Keeping that character alive made for some nice battles. The only big difference between 7 and 8 is there is no MP gauge in 8. I don't see that as a major flaw. Traditional MP gauge means spending a turn taking an item to replenish the mana pool, In FF8 we get loaded first, and unload after to our hearts desire. Running out of spells in 8 is on the reckless side, as it is with the traditional MP gauge. The Draw system is faster and less time consuming when dealing with serious battles, to some that is better.
On a side note, when it comes to Limit Breaks, Cloud can't talk to Squall as Squall is the most powerful usable character in all of Final Fantasy. (correct me if I'm wrong) That makes for an excellent power trip when soloing the most powerful Weapons with a beefed up Squall while dropping various Godly limit breaks at random one after another. (When going against something like that, the others are more of a liability and less damage will be done in any given time.)
As for the plot and story in 8. I'd say it was filled with plenty of interesting aspects, from Squall being a tight ass about opening up to his friends, while gradually taking heroic actions against mission rules, that showed that he really does have a heart, and later ends up falling in love with someone he found to be a pest. Before he got to express his true feelings, he ends up making sacrifices for reasons he tried to resist in the first place. Reviewing the stories told in this game, that would be the main one, but not always the most favourable
Head Master Cid's wife turns out to be the wicked witch and as she's restored to he normal self he gets her back. That story on the other hand had a lot of depth and the party characters realize that they were childhood friends, which revealed they were being made to be who they are from time, and courageously accepted it and carried on with their battles.
Zell is depicted as an athletic punk who seemed to be bi-polar and has ADHD. His anger was followed by cheer, but he was all heart. It was for some reason very pleasing to go to his home town and visit his house. He, like all the others, i found to be a likable character.
Cipher in the end turns his back on evil, and his strange friends were always there by his side no matter where he went.
Laguna's story in my opinion was the most wonderful. He was goofy and comedic, also has a big heart, (he adopted and looked after that little girl, that pretty much scored him good points in my book) he had his loyal crew, and throughout his many adventures, he ends up being the president in a super advanced futuristic civilization who's mega city was hidden from the rest of the world. It was so nice to see such power and responsibility put in the hands of a good man. When we encountered the president of this strange hidden city, it was nice to finally meet up with this Laguna character in this shocking manner.
The Final FMVs at the end of FFVIII was more of a feel good FMV. Laguna's scenes showed that he lost someone, but still had someone he loved and his crew was still there for him. This scene expressed that he was fortunate and strong, even under the loss of someone he cared for.
The FMV during the credits with the video camera showed more detail of how the characters treat one another. After going through the game and taking in all the stories, that video camera FMV was good fuel for the imagination. FF7 has none of this.
In comparrison, FF7's story was more about how civilization was draining the life out of the planet, and we start off as terrorists, in a gloomy set up. First time around FF7, i was wondering which one of these 2 women Cloud would end up with, Cloud had his chance with 2 women that were virtually perfect for him, and he totally blows it due to no interest in having a women. Cloud is not a bad guy. He's very cool and the whole modern day sacred minded priest warrior/ "i care for my friends" thing really does work for him, but he failed to deliver the love, to a point where Tifa turned out to be a freak internet sex object more than any video game character in history. That is truly a result of dissatisfaction, and not only from the pervs perspective either.
For game play to each their own if the changes are that bothersome, as for the story and over all presentation FF8 mashes FF7 from a critics point of view. When i played these games for a 2nd and 3rd time, i found it more boring to cope with FF7's story.
I never had trouble with the other optional bosses XD but for some reason Ozma was a bitch and a half for me
