tag:cheerfulghost.com,2005:/games/1482Cheerful Ghost: Final Fantasy VIII2024-03-28T17:51:38+00:002020-12-21T03:30:21Ztag:cheerfulghost.com,2005:Post/45452020-12-19T21:12:10Z2020-12-21T03:30:21Z/Azurephile/posts/4545/final-fantasy-viii-remastered-is-beautifulFinal Fantasy VIII Remastered is Beautiful!<div class='youtube-player' data-id='Ch_xNzDk6aY'></div> <br/>Final Fantasy VIII is my ultimate, most favorite Final Fantasy of them all. I was introduced to it and the series about 20 years ago and I fell deeply in love with it. I don't know how many times I've completed this game, but I remember when I'd play it annually. Now, it's been remastered and the game looks beautiful! Check them embedded video that will show you the difference (between this and the original) to see for yourself. I haven't completed the game in this play through yet, but I feel like it deserves a strong recommendation (from one of FFVIII's biggest fans).<br><br>Aside from some upgraded and now beautiful textures, one slight difference between this and the original (the other version you'll find on Steam) is Chocobo World. I never played this until I played that other Steam version, because I didn't have the extra accessory to play it on the PS1. However, if you're looking for Chocobo World here, you're not going to find it, or at least I'm quite sure of that.<br><br>The game does have it's own launcher, kind of. It's fine though, it gives you a chance to tinker with some settings. One thing that this version does include, that was also included in the original Steam version, is a few cheats. You can significantly increase the game speed and turn off random encounters, for instance. I haven't used these and I don't really plan to, but it's still nice to have them.<br><br>If you love Final Fantasy VIII, you should definitely check this out. Even though this game hasn't gotten a "remake," having a "remastered" version is still great. I'm so glad my favorite Final Fantasy game got a face lift, it gave me a great reason to play it again!<br><br>The embedded video does show some of the negatives, such as lack of rumble and analog support. FPS was also mentioned and attributed to input lag, but as I've been playing, Squall's limit break seems normal.<br><br>What do you think about this? Is FFVIII one of your favorites? Are you glad it got remastered? Would you like to see a remake? Feel free to comment!2020-12-21T03:30:21ZAzurephiletag:cheerfulghost.com,2005:Post/41652019-07-29T00:59:55Z2019-07-29T00:59:55Z/Azurephile/posts/4165/final-fantasy-viii-remasteredFinal Fantasy VIII Remastered!<div class='youtube-player' data-id='wpx2Z2CCjPs'></div> <br/>I think this was already reported on here during the E3 stuff, but it's come more to my attention due to a friend sharing info with me on Facebook. At first, I ignored this news. I thought it was just for the Switch (which I may still get) and I believed that the Steam version was "remastered." But, it seems I was incorrect (please correct me if I'm wrong). I played it a few years ago on Steam and didn't have a problem with it, it looked fine to me. Although, I must admit, I never really complained about the graphics. I know the non-FMV stuff wasn't perfect, but kind of blocky/not smooth, but that never affected the love I have for this game. Apparently the "remake" is coming for all (current gen) consoles and on Steam. It might be something I get, I'm not sure, I'll have to wait and see. Hopefully it won't cost very much (I doubt it will).<br><br>What do you think about this? Let me know in the comments!<br><br>Source: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.slashgear.com/final-fantasy-viii-is-finally-getting-remastered-not-a-remake-10579979/?fbclid=IwAR0y521_15LDMOKKNvKLijkTK2w4DBwjuauKMxJ6w0NuTgOe49qilBbsPIs">https://www.slashgear.com/final-fantasy-viii-is-finally-getting-remastered-not-a-remake-10579979/?fbclid=IwAR0y521_15LDMOKKNvKLijkTK2w4DBwjuauKMxJ6w0NuTgOe49qilBbsPIs</a>2019-07-29T00:59:55ZAzurephiletag:cheerfulghost.com,2005:Post/27872016-02-01T23:22:21Z2019-12-08T23:19:45Z/Azurephile/posts/2787/eyes-on-steamFinal Fantasy VIII Steam Review<div class='youtube-player' data-id='4tFIJR5Sozs'></div> <br/><strong>Review<ul>
<br><li>Recommended <img alt="+1" src="/images/emoji/unicode/1f44d.png" style="vertical-align:middle" height="20" width="20" title=":+1:" /></li>
<br><li>Updated graphics</li>
<br><li>Achievements, cheat tool, and Chocobo World</li>
</ul>*Note this post was written before the Remastered version, so it's about the first Steam game, not the second*</strong><br><br>It was about 15-17 years ago that I was introduced to Final Fantasy VIII, which was my introduction to the Final Fantasy series. It's kind of hard to believe it was that long ago, but since then I've come to love Final Fantasy games. FFVIII is definitely my favorite among them, I immediately fell in love with nearly everything about it including the characters, stories, side quests, music, and more.<br><br>The Junction system is one of the main things that sets this game apart from the others in the series. The typical FF summons, are called “GFs” short for “Guardian Forces,” like Shiva, Ifrit, Bahamut, and many more. In order to use them and magic, you have to “Junction” them. Doing also allows you to set magic to various character stats like HP, Strength, Vitality, and more. You get magic by using the “Draw” command at a Draw Point or from monsters. Some magic is better for certain stats than others.<br><br>My only problem with the game is when it comes to the parts when the story takes you back into the past. Only certain characters time travel at various points in the game. Their Junction configuration gets transferred to characters in the past. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes some members or the past don't get properly Junctioned. This means you have to reconfigure your Junctions before, during, and after these events take place. However, you can get by with not setting up all of the characters in the past with Junctions, but it gets a bit tedious to have to constantly reconfigure your characters.<br><br>In the years after my introduction to this game, I've played it numerous times. During a few of my college years, I often played it at least once a year. In more recent years, I haven't played it very often. I gave it a try a few years ago on my PS3 and HDTV, but I didn't finish it. Recently, however, I became interested in playing it once again after seeing that FFIX would be coming to PC via Steam. This rekindled my interest in the series.<br><br>So, I decided to jump in and buy FFVIII and VII on Steam. I played VIII first, deciding I would go a bit backwards. Immediately, I was greatly impressed by how this version of the game has <strong>updated graphics.</strong> Only minor backgrounds and character models reflected how the original game looks. This was really the first HD re-release of a game that I played and I was totally wowed.<br><br>The Steam version also includes numerous other additions such as <strong>achievements, a tool to “cheat” in magic, and Chocobo World.</strong> CW was a mini-game that, until recently, only those with a PocketStation could play, which was only available in Japan. Due to that, I was only able to try it out recently.<br><br><strong>Chocobo World</strong> is a very small and simple game with simple black and white only graphics. It opens by default in a very small window. You gain access to it once you get a Chocobo in the main game. The very small mini-map contains dots which represent Event encounters. These encounters can be friendly creatures that give you items and weapon bonuses or, more commonly, fights with monsters. Initially, the main objective is to find MiniMog. After that, you can continue to explore CW and eventually you run into a female Chocobo who needs to be saved from CW's final boss.<br><br>There is little music in the game and it gets repetitive, but fans of the series will recognize it from FFVII. Controlling your Chocobo is simple using the directional keys on the keyboard and CTRL. When encountering a monster, both it and your Chocobo have to wait for the ATB to count down to 0 before they can attack (and they do so automatically). You can speed this up for your Chocobo by continuously pressing the left and right keys. Your Chocobo is equipped with a “weapon” which can be upgraded by encountering a Moomba. The weapon contains four squares, each contains a single digit. When you attack, the game randomly chooses one of those numbers to determine how much damage you do. So, having a weapon with the digits 9000 means that you have a one in four chance to actually hit your enemy. Once you defeat an enemy, you get a “stone” that randomly goes into a position on a 3X3 square. In order to level up, three stones must match up in a line. If your HP is reduced to zero, the fight is lost and your Chocobo will end up sleeping to regain HP. While exploring, your Chocobo may end up randomly falling asleep, watching TV, or going fishing to replenish it's HP. You can wake it up or get it back to exploring by using the CTRL key.<br><br>Getting your Chocobo leveled up helps you in the main game by increasing the damage that the summon can do. Cactuars in CW also give you items, which transfer over to the main game. So, this mini-game has a few ways to help you out in the main game. There's even a Steam achievement for getting the Chocobo to level 100. I accomplished that and beat the final boss, but I spent a few hours playing it, at least 4 or 5.<br><br>One of the things I didn't have to try to do in the main game was grind to get to level 100. My characters actually reached that level while I was grinding for rare items for weapon upgrades. Still, I finished the game and explored almost all of the side quests in just 64 hours. In some previous playthroughs, I did work on the card mini-game, but decided to ignore it this time around.<br><br>So, if you like Final Fantasy games, especially this one, I strongly recommend jumping back in and getting this Steam version. I've noticed that other games in the series are also available on Steam and I've decided to jump back in.<br><br>Chocobo World: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Chocobo_World">http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Chocobo_World</a><br>FFVIII on Steam: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/39150/">http://store.steampowered.com/app/39150/</a>2019-12-08T23:19:45ZAzurephiletag:cheerfulghost.com,2005:Post/18982014-02-19T21:08:58Z2014-05-12T23:48:34Z/CapnCurry/posts/1898/final-fantasy-viii-you-can-t-go-home-againFinal Fantasy VIII: You can't go home again.CapnCurry's post on Final Fantasy VIII:<br/><br/>Final Fantasy VIII was one of my favorites in its era. If you had asked me about it last year, I'd have said it was the last "true" Final Fantasy; Final Fantasy 9 was a fond retrospective of the era and Final Fantasy X began the decidedly inferior era of "modern" Final Fantasies. I'd have also contended that "as goes Final Fantasy, so goes the RPG industry," so to say True Final Fantasy is tantamount to saying True RPG. What makes a True RPG? Here's what I'd have told you:<br><br>A True RPG uses stats-based combat, and player skill is represented only by strategy in selecting orders.<br>A True RPG gives you choices in where to go next. Corollary: the tutorial phase of the game is only over when you can meaningfully choose where to go next.<br>A True RPG rewards curiosity and exploration; some of the game's finest treasures will be had by finding something secret.<br>A True RPG has a compelling story; you should want to finish the game in the same way you want to see the end of a movie.<br><br>There are more (I've got opinions), but these are the interesting ones for the purposes of this writeup. These are some of the ways I'd have insisted that FFVIII shines.... but on my last playthrough, I realized that the game actually fails to deliver on all counts.<br><br>I've often derided FFX for being an "RPG on Rails" - until the very end of the game, your path is literally one-dimensional; you can go forwards or backwards. Same with FFXIII. I couldn't shake the feeling that "tutorial mode" persisted right up to the end of the fourth disc. But FFVIII does the same thing - you don't actually get a choice of where to go next until the middle of disc 2, and once you *are* given that choice, you really only have two options: sidequest city that you have NO REASON TO KNOW EXISTS, and next plot point. You can also find a Chocobo Forest, which doesn't help you because by the time you get there you have land transportation covered.<br><br>Rewarding exploration? Not so much. You can find magic draw points, but your magic caps out pretty quick. Or, you can get cards, which refine into items, which refine into magic. There are a couple of Guardian Forces you can find in the wild, but they're either obvious or they're so hidden as to nearly be easter eggs; they don't reward exploration nearly as much as they reward buying the official strategy guide (which was the thing you did Back Then™).<br><br>As far as the story goes, it's obviously a subjective call. All I can really say is that if your story hinges around a high school that teaches its students to fight with personally styled weapons, the heroes all have amnesia and the villainess is a time traveller, then you'll have an easier time impressing 19-year-old Mark than 33-year-old Mark. <br><br>Ultimately, I think I was really playing the game I expected it to be, and not the game as it actually was - like, I believed that I could explore, so I didn't notice I couldn't. I'll be interested to see how Skyrim holds up for me in 15 years. Has anybody else here experienced this kind of thing? I'm curious how common this actually is.2014-05-12T23:48:34ZCapnCurry