Overview
Final Fantasy VIII is a JRPG developed and published by Square, released in 1999 on PlayStation. I played it on PC. You play as Squall Leonhart, a student at Balamb Garden, an academy that trains SeeD, elite mercenaries.
It is the most divisive entry in the series.
Story and world
The story goes off in every direction towards the end, but the atmosphere of this world, between military academies and rival powers, makes it well worth the trip.
Gameplay
What divides people the most is the Guardian Force and junction system. Guardian Forces are summonable creatures you attach to your characters. Once a GF is equipped, you can "junction" spells to the character's stats (strength, defence, HP…), and you mostly get those spells by drawing them directly from enemies or from draw points. The problem is that this system completely breaks the game's balancing.
Alongside that there is Triple Triad, a built-in card game where you challenge people around the world to win their cards. It is one of the things that, for me, make it well worth the trip.
Graphics and music
The soundtrack, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, is part of what carries the game, along with its atmosphere.
Verdict
A junction system that unbalances everything and an ending that scatters, but an atmosphere, Triple Triad and a soundtrack that make it well worth the trip. A game I love despite its flaws.