20 years ago one of the most ambitious games in the Final Fanatasy series was released. Final Fantasy VIII celebrates its 20th Anniversary today. Let's discuss and post our favourite moments, music and memories. Click banners & Images to open links to previews, art and music!
Happy Anniversary Final Fantasy VIII!
Anniversary Directory
Happy Anniversary Final Fantasy VIII!
Anniversary Directory
Published By:
Platforms:
Final Fantasy VIII was first released on the Playstation. It was later ported to PC and PS3 as a Playstation Classic and then finally to Steam. The game does not currently have a PS4 or Switch port something that will hopefully come soon.
Final Fantasy VIII released in 1999 and brought many changes and new ideas to the series. It was the first game to make the jump to realistically proportioned characters and with that brought gorgeous visuals. Like its predecessor Final Fantasy VII, pre-rendered backgrounds are used for town's and dungeons. A major part of Final Fantasy VIII is its heavy focus on the main protagonists thoughts, something we also hadn't seen in previous games.
The battle system was one of the bigger changes for the series. Added was a level scale system which challenges you by allowing monsters to become more powerful whenever Squall and your two party members level increases using the party average. The Junction system gave players customizable options that allowed for various play-styles. Summons(known as Guardian Force) were a huge component to the battle system as they allowed players to junction magic onto a characters stats thus increasing their power. GF's also learn abilities that can be used in battle AND outside such as the No-Encounter ability giving players the option to avoid random battles all together.
Final Fantasy VIII features many dialogue options and side quests with certain triggers. NPC's will have a variety of incidental dialogue when spoken to multiple times which created a more active world.
Example Dialogue Differences:
Triple Triad was a card minigame that tied into the junction system and was very well received. The ability to mod cards into items and spells gave another approach to VIII's gameplay. You can challenge people from all over with different rules that can be spread or abolished. The tutorial features a cameo of Orran from Final Fantasy Tactics.
Squall Leonhart
Height: 5'10
Age: 17
Date Of Birth: August 23rd
Blood Type: AB
Weapon: Gunblade Revolver
Profile:
A talented SeeD and a member of the select organization which was formed for the purpose of subjugating sorceresses. While carrying out his duty, Squall is afflicted by mysterious dreams which show him a story from the past and the life of a warm and candid man who seems so like and yet unlike himself. These dreams of the past, which seem at first glance to be without significance, soon are revealed to have intimate ties to the tale of Squall's present.
Rinoa Heartilly
Height: 5'4
Age:17
Date Of Birth: March 3rd
Weapon: Pinwheel
Profile:
As a part of the Forest Owls, Rinoa works to undermine the Galbadian government along with her fellow freedom fighters. She meets Squall when she goes to Balamb Garden to seek help for her group's plans to abduct the Galbadian president. She cannot help falling for the SeeD, yet she will find herself the unwitting inheritor of a sorceress's power, making her a liability and putting her life at risk during the war against the sorceresses.
Seifer Almasy
Height: 6'2
Age:18
Date Of Birth: December 22nd
Blood Type: O
Weapon: Gunblade Hyperion
Profile:
The head of Balamb Garden's Disciplinary Committee and yet the most problematic student within its walls. Despite his superior fighting skills, Seifer's belligerent attitude and inability to follow orders have left him famous for being unable to pass the SeeD exam. When he crashes one of Squall's missions, he is caught by the sorceress Edea and turned against the Garden.
Edea Kramer
Height: 5'6
Weapon: Magic
Profile:
A women made a sorceress at the age of 5, she is married to a man named Cid Kramer who together create Balamb Garden and SeeD. Originally she ran an orphanage for children orphaned by the sorceress war but it was abandoned when she disappeared. Now she seeks to destroy SeeD and Garden for reasons unknown.
Quistis Trepe
Height: 5'6
Age:18
Date Of Birth: October 3rd
Blood Type: A
Weapon: Whip
Profile:
An exceptionally talented young woman who became SeeD in fewer years than anyone before her. As Squall's assigned instructor, Quistis feels a personal responsibility for him.
Selphie Tilmitt
Height: 5'1 1/2
Age: 17
Date Of Birth: July 16th
Blood Type: B
Weapon: Nunchaku
Profile:
A newly transferred SeeD cadet from Trabia Garden. Energetic, always smiling, and never shy, this lighthearted mood-maker has been known to casually drop a dark joke or two.
Zell Dincht
Height: 5'5
Age: 17
Date Of Birth: March 17th
Blood Type: B
Weapon: Gloves
Profile:
A SeeD candidate studying at Balamb Garden. Zell is known as a hot-headed young man who lets passion guide his actions, with reason taking a back seat. Though small in stature, his relentless physical training has turned him into a true dynamo.
Irvine Kinneas
Height: 6'0
Age: 17
Date Of Birth: November 24th
Blood Type: A
Weapon: Shotgun
Profile:
A sniper from Galabadia Garden and a ladies man, Irvine is assigned to Squall's group on an assassination mission. He acts confident but crumbles under pressure.
Laguna Loire
Height: 5'11
Age: 27(young) and 44(older)
Date Of Birth: January 3rd
Blood Type: B
Weapon: Machine Gun
Profile:
A person with a connection to Squall, who views Laguna through mysterious dreams. Though Laguna was once no more than a clumsy Galbadian soldier, before long he becomes a crucial player in events that will determine the fate of the world.
Kiros Seagill
Height: 6'4
Age: 23(young) and 40(older)
Date Of Birth: July 16th
Blood Type: O
Weapon: Paired Sharp Blades
Profile:
A soldier who teamed up with Laguna and Ward when they were in the Galbadian army. Though constantly dumbfounded by Laguna's behavior, Kiros has resolved to stick with him to the bitter end.
Ward Zabac
Height: 7'0
Age: 25(younger) and 42(older)
Date Of Birth: February 25th
Blood Type: A
Weapon: Harpoon
Profile
A Galbadian soldier who, along with Kiros, was part of a team led by Laguna. Ward loses the ability to speak after being wounded in battle, but still manages to make himself understood through sheer affability and charm.
In Order: Original Soundtrack/Fithos Lusec Wecos Venoc/Piano Collection/Chip Album
The original soundtrack is composed by Nobuo Uematsu. The most notable song is Eye's On Me which featured singer Faye Wong.
In Order: Dissidia/Final Fantasy Record Keeper/Black Mages/World of Final Fantasy
Arrangements from all across the series mobile & crossover titles.
Platforms: PS2/PSP/PS4/Vita Features: Squall/Rinoa/Quistis
About: Boardgame crossover between FF & Dragon Quest
Music: Don't Be Afraid/Man With The Machine Gun
Platforms: 3DS/IOS/Android
Features: Squall/Seifer/Rinoa/Laguna/Edea/Ultimecia
About: Rhythm game featuring Final Fantasy music & characters
Features: Squall/Seifer/Rinoa/Laguna/Edea/Ultimecia
About: Rhythm game featuring Final Fantasy music & characters
Platforms: PS2/PSP/PS4/3DS/IOS/Android
Features: Squall/Seifer/Raijin/Fujin/Selphie
About: Crossover Between Final Fantasy & Disney
Platforms: PS4/PC
Features: Gunblade Class/Revolver/Dissidia Squall
About: Mainline Final Fantasy MMO
Features: Gunblade Class/Revolver/Dissidia Squall
About: Mainline Final Fantasy MMO
Platforms: PS4/Arcade
Features: Squall/Rinoa/Ultimecia/Edea
About: Crossover Fighting Game
Platforms: PS4/Vita/Switch/IOS/Android
Features: Squall/Quistis/Moomba
About: Final Fantasy Crossover RPG
Features: Squall/Quistis/Moomba
About: Final Fantasy Crossover RPG
Platforms: IOS/Android
Features: Squall/Rinoa/Zell
About: Original Final Fantasy Characters/Story Crossover
Platforms: IOS/Android
Features: All characters
About: Scenarios/Stories redone in pixel art
Features: All characters
About: Scenarios/Stories redone in pixel art
Platforms: IOS/Android
Features: Squall/Rinoa/Angelo/Ultimecia
About: Crossover Puzzle Game
Platforms: IOS/Android
Features: Squall/Laguna/Ultimecia
About: Crossover Puzzle Game
Features: Squall/Laguna/Ultimecia
About: Crossover Puzzle Game
Platforms: IOS/Android/PC
Features: Squall/Rinoa/Seifer/Ultimecia/Summons/Enemies
About: Card RPG
Platforms: IOS/Android
Features: Majority of VIII characters
About: Dissidia Turn Based Brave System
Features: Majority of VIII characters
About: Dissidia Turn Based Brave System
Artists: Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshitaka Amano
Unused Content(Click For Link):
Dollet Demo Unused(Click For Link)
Orchestra Melody & PS2 Tech Demo:
*Will be updating more later
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