MEGA-BAMPU
Okay, so since break began I've finally had time to really settle down and play the game. I beat FFVIII earlier today, and I think I can easily say it was better the second time through. A truly awesome game with some awesome characters, awesome storyline (although it wasn't without it's wtf moments), and probably one of the best soundtracks in any Final Fantasy game.
Some specific notes about the game (spoilered for those of you who haven't beaten it, if any):
Spoiler Below - I nominate Lion Heart as the most game-breaking special move in any game, ever.
- Pandemona and Doomtrain had some of the coolest summon designs in any FF game.
- Killing Tonberries for hours to get the Tonberry summon was no fun at all.
- DAMN IT, ZELL, WHY DO YOUR DRAWS ALWAYS FAIL?
- I loved the space scene. Very heartwarming.
- What I hated even more than killing Tonberries was spending two Save Point-less hours descending to the bottom of the ocean to get the Eden summon, all the while fighting inescapable battles with the toughest enemies in the game every three-to-five steps. By the time I got Diablos to learn Enc-None, I had already beaten Ultima Weapon. Crap.
- The time compression sequence in Disc Four (in which you battle the various sorceresses, emerge at Edea's House and then discover Ultimecia's castle) is one of the most mind****ing sequences in any game I've ever played.
- Due to the fact that I was about 10 or 11 the first time I played the game, I never really picked up any of the hints that Laguna and Raine were Squall's parents, but now... wow.
- Did I mention the epic soundtrack?
I'd give the game an A. Tomorrow, I'll start FFIX. Woot!