Reflections: Favorite Final Fantasy

Most people find the first 3D Final Fantasy, the 7th installment, the number one FF out there because of its revolutionary graphics and its irreplaceable and touching story. And because of that, the Final Fantasy to follow it was overshadowed and gained poor reviews due the fact that it could only follow in the footsteps of FFVII. FFVIII was the first sci-fi FF available on the PSX and is my favorite Final Fantasy despite having a poor reputation. Perhaps if the 7th had followed the 8th, there would be a much different view on FFVIII, but unfortunately that never happened. I can only stand by my favorite FF and hope that someday people will see behind the dark walls of FFVII that mist over FFVIII and realize what an incredible game the 8th Final Fantasy really is.

Final Fantasy 8 was honestly my first Final Fantasy. I don’t mind telling my friends that perhaps it’s my favorite because it was my first. However, I do tell them that even though I might have a little bias towards the other Final Fantasies I’ve played following it, I still believe that the combination of beautiful storytelling, unforgettable characters, and epic and exciting music is what causes me to announce that FFVIII is the best Final Fantasy out there.

It was a story mixed with love and combat, science fiction and wizardry, and gods and goddesses. It’s a game that has to be played through to understand, but when done so nothing can be compared to its epic grandness. In general the story follows students from a combat academy that battle an evil sorceress from destroying the world. .It may sound cheesy, but really mere words cannot describe the grandeur of such an amazing game. It can only be played through to be believed.

Besides the story’s plot, the characters are what make up the story. And here the six main characters include Squall Leonhart, Rinoa Heartilly, Quistis Trepe, Selphie Tilmitt, Irvine Kinneas, and Zell Dincht. Even after all these years I am still able to remember each character’s name. It just shows what a lasting image these six imaginary humans have left me. Squall with his cold and quiet demeanor, Rinoa with her cheerful passion, Quistis with her caring compassion, Selphie with her outgoing personality, Irvine with his love for women, and Zell with his erratic behavior all made me believe find FFVIII so much more wonderful. I was able to connect to each character in some different way and it just all made me love Final Fantasy 8 more and more.

Finally, the music is often tossed aside for not being as important as gameplay and plot, but in Final Fantasy 8’s case, the music is one of the key defining parts that bring out FF8’s unique features. First off, the main theme of this Final Fantasy was the first choral main theme of the series. It’s not much to say that but my love for FFVIII causes me to compliment this game in anyway possible. Secondly, because of the science fiction behind the game, there was a need for techno in the futuristic city of Esthar. The originality found in each futuristic piece was great. Finally, the love song, Eyes on Me, will always bring a tear to my eye. The love between Squall and Rinoa was so great, but Squall kept denying it until the heartfelt ending. This was when Rinoa’s tears brought Squall back to life and the track Eyes on Me soon began playing afterwards.

All in all, Final Fantasy VIII will always hold a special place in my heart even if nobody else believes the same. The other two PSX installments were touching as well because of their own stories and music, but the ones from FFVIII are incomparable. FFVIII will forever live on in my heart as the absolute best Final Fantasy.