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Final Fantasy VIII has sold over 9.6 million copies, third best selling FF game
- Thread starter Meows
- Start date
Yep. I remember holding a copy FFIX, looking at Adelberts doll eyes and Zidane's huge head on that cover and telling myself that money was better saved for the PS2.
We can minimize this achievement any way we want but there's no denying the game has a certain Draw.
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This is how I see it. VII and VIII shaped people's expectations, and IX simply didn't fit them. PS1 and all related software sales didn't just vanish overnight when PS2 arrived. XII didn't line up with what people were looking for after X either, and the launch of PS3 was even less of an excuse, yet another backward compatible system (every given model with hardware-based PS2 BC back then) that unlike PS2, struggled out the gate, and had anemic early offerings specific to the platform even by launch game standards. I love XII, yet hardly consider PS3's launch of all things an excuse for the original release's underwhelming commercial performance.
Yuck, sad that much better games like IX, XII, and X-2 (and that's just counting games released after VIII) sold less. Though VIII really had the power of VII to help it, no wonder IX sold much less (plus late into PS1 lifetime).
8 sold cuz of 7, Xv sold off the ff name(even tho ppl were screaming the name lost a lot of value from the heavens after 13 and 14 vanilla) ppl never wanna give credit when it's something they don't like I guess
Yup. They always have some excuse to explain something they dislike doing well.
It's always from threatened fans of the other games as if this diminishes the quality of what they like. It's okay if the entry you liked didn't sell as well as the one you dislike. It's not a personal attack on you or the game people.
X-2 is horrendous. They tried to retcon one of the best endings ever.
I see this tossed around all the time, with the level scaling this game has... Did Canada get some kind of easy version? Or are people REALLY bad at this game? I got people in FFXIV linkshells that swear up and down that FFVIII is impossible to beat if you level past 35. I swear everything in that game can be steamrolled with just physical attacks.
Also pretty impressed this game is still 3rd despite only having the PS1 release, the original PC release and steam. You'd think the way people praise IX and XII that they would be higher now especially that it's also on more platforms. Not to nention if "IX did horrible because of VIII", why would anyone bother with X after skipping IX, and X being the second best selling.
Also pretty impressed this game is still 3rd despite only having the PS1 release, the original PC release and steam. You'd think the way people praise IX and XII that they would be higher now especially that it's also on more platforms. Not to nention if "IX did horrible because of VIII", why would anyone bother with X after skipping IX, and X being the second best selling.
People struggling with VIII and blaming the level scaling sounds more like they didn't know how to Junction to me, especially given how many complaints the magic system tends to get among the game's detractors (the game can be made as difficult or as easy as one wants it to be if they know how). So yeah, I'd go with them just being really bad at the game.
As for X, it has more in common with VII and VIII in terms of sensibilities than the old school FF throwbacks (traditional fantasy, super-deformed character models) of IX, even with VII and VIII still being more contemporary. And while I wouldn't consider end of console life releases for IX or XII excuses for their limited commercial success, I would consider X being the first FF for PS2 and an early showcase for the hardware significant.
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My memory is a bit fuzzy, but didn't they announce IX's release date, X's release window and XI all at the same event?
I remember Tidus's model's clothes bouncing.
And having black hair. That really was a magical time to be an FF fan, since you got 2 amazing games back to back within a short period (and FFXI if you wanted an MMORPG).
No, it's super easy. The difficulty in VIII comes from people not understanding the game and approaching it like a traditional JRPG/FF game where leveling up and getting stronger weapons was the way to success. That's a trap in VIII, and one that many players - presumably younger ones - fell into. The game actually clearly explains the Junction system. But people will either ignore it or go auto or not bother building up spells through GF abilities and rely entirely on Draw, which is super slow and inefficient.
If you're exploring the game mechanics and not just trying to Force Your Way through it it's a very easy game.
This is one of the best regular boss themes in the series.
Also I beat FFVIII at Level 80+. I do recall the last boss taking quite a while, but it wasn't hard by any stretch.
OP
OP
The first boss of Disc 4 will shatter your mind if you don't understand the junction system and have been over relying on Guardian Forces. I think a lot of people gave up there because they just assumed it was hard and needed to grind but that isn't the case with this one. The final bosses of VIII are actually some of the hardest in the series if you do level to 100 and don't Armageddon Fist yourself to victory though.
Well, shoot, FF tactics 7,8,9,10 were all almost annual releases.
Ff7, x, and 8 all had several rereleased. Ports or remasters over many more years than 13 or 15
Being good games and touted classics, its easy to see why
FFVIII is great. I love all the PS1 games, but 8 will always hold a special place in my heart.
I beat the game at level 100. If you think the game is hard it's only because you didn't understand the junction or limit systems.
Also Triple Triad forever, best minigame
I beat the game at level 100. If you think the game is hard it's only because you didn't understand the junction or limit systems.
Also Triple Triad forever, best minigame
Sure, Final Fantasy VIII got a sales boost from Final Fantasy VII, but pretty much every sequel gets a bump from its predecessors. That's why companies sell games as sequels. Still, Final Fantasy VIII is a game that was well-received upon release, even if it definitely is not the game the masses expected, as the game's divisive nature attests to.
Uh, near the start, the game does suddenly throw in some tutorials that explain Junctioning on the player. The tutorials are rather overwhelming and don't do much to tell the player that playing Triple Triad, modding cards, and refining items into magic is by far the most efficient way to get stronger (or that you can't ignore the Draw command entirely or else you'll miss some GFs). I don't take that much issue with the Junction system (I've had fun with it, but it's not my favourite levelling mechanic), but I think Final Fantasy VIII could have eased players into the system a lot better. I don't feel like I really got it until my second attempt at finishing the game, as it's not very intuitive.
Uh, near the start, the game does suddenly throw in some tutorials that explain Junctioning on the player. The tutorials are rather overwhelming and don't do much to tell the player that playing Triple Triad, modding cards, and refining items into magic is by far the most efficient way to get stronger (or that you can't ignore the Draw command entirely or else you'll miss some GFs). I don't take that much issue with the Junction system (I've had fun with it, but it's not my favourite levelling mechanic), but I think Final Fantasy VIII could have eased players into the system a lot better. I don't feel like I really got it until my second attempt at finishing the game, as it's not very intuitive.
Never played FFVIII but I do have memories from since my friend played it for a long time... those summons... :P
I just bought the steam version last summer in a fit of nostalgia when I was unhappy about playing the playstation on modern tv.
I'll probably end up buying the game twice more before all is said and done. Luckily it's affordably priced.
It's funny you mention this, considering a huge complaint in modern gaming is hand holding. I believe the game does run you through GF abilities, it just doesn't specifically tell you to card mod and refine items. At that point the game would have no challenge because then you'd just be handing everything to the player. All you have to do is look through the abilities and experiment a little for yourself. The one that should be easiest to stumble on is L Mag-RF from Siren. Available as soon as you get her, only 30AP, and if you use the skill you should immediately notice it'll give you Curaga from Tent, an item you're basically guaranteed to have. At that point you have two GFs with HP-J, and putting that Curaga on there will give you a huge boost beyond anything you will have drawn that early on in the game. Big eureka moment. I don't expect people to be doing Disc 1 Lionheart easily, but the game does a good enough job to subtly leading you through the Junction system. If you're a kid just mashing through the tutorials and not reading abilities - which I suspect a lot of people who first played the game two decades ago were - you'll probably struggle.
Plus everybody has internet now. The answer to everything in the game is literally a google away.
My first FF game and probably my favourite since I kind of grew apart from the series after FFIX.
I have no nostalgia regarding FFIX's more traditional setting since FFVIII was my first FF. I really wish they would patch in updates to the pre-rendered scenes later by using those algorithms to make everything high resolution.
I have no nostalgia regarding FFIX's more traditional setting since FFVIII was my first FF. I really wish they would patch in updates to the pre-rendered scenes later by using those algorithms to make everything high resolution.
Not surprising to me considering its status as FFVII's follow up, and the marketing was SUPER effective on me back then -- the graphical fidelity over VII felt like a huge leap to me as a kid. Full scale character models, more vibrantly detailed pre-rendered scenery, and to be even the CG cutscenes looked better. It was so easy to get excited about it!
Upon its release, the story largely went above my head, but I still adored the art style and personality quirks of the cast enough to see myself through most of the game, and only grew to appreciate it even more as I got older and saw more and more appreciation write ups and such thru forums.
Can't wait for Remastered!
Upon its release, the story largely went above my head, but I still adored the art style and personality quirks of the cast enough to see myself through most of the game, and only grew to appreciate it even more as I got older and saw more and more appreciation write ups and such thru forums.
Can't wait for Remastered!
Well deserved and still my favorite FF title.
I don't think any hype for a Final Fantasy title has come close to VIII honestly. Those moments and marketing through 1998 with that banging E3 trailer to every Weekly Famitsu having some reveal or new GF information in the 6 months to release were something. I still have the various mag articles from EGM etc when the game was announced. lol
Lawd and then importing Brave Fencer Musashiden for the demo that had that wicked melody remix, and then I imported a Dual Shock controller and couldn't believe it when my controller when nuts during the Leviathan sequence in the demo...lol
I don't think any hype for a Final Fantasy title has come close to VIII honestly. Those moments and marketing through 1998 with that banging E3 trailer to every Weekly Famitsu having some reveal or new GF information in the 6 months to release were something. I still have the various mag articles from EGM etc when the game was announced. lol
Lawd and then importing Brave Fencer Musashiden for the demo that had that wicked melody remix, and then I imported a Dual Shock controller and couldn't believe it when my controller when nuts during the Leviathan sequence in the demo...lol
VIII has also outsold IX on Steam according to SteamSpy, well after VIII's "reputation" would be well-known by players. Just a bunch of excuses from salty IX fans who seem to love attacking VIII for some reason.
Well and truly deserved. VIII is such an exceptional game that spoke to me in so many ways, so I'm glad it's in the top three sales wise.
I'm enjoying all the salt from the IX fans struggling to come up with any reason as to why VIII being in the top three totally isn't because it's a good game that has its own deserved fan base. Stay salty losers.
I'm enjoying all the salt from the IX fans struggling to come up with any reason as to why VIII being in the top three totally isn't because it's a good game that has its own deserved fan base. Stay salty losers.
FFVIII was a very good game and it deserves its success. It was also helped out my a massive marketing push, along with the popularity of Final Fantasy being at a peak following VII.
Amazingly, there can be multiple reasons as to why things succeed.