Info about FINAL FANTASY VIII:

Official game description:
**It is a time of war.** Galbadia, a Global Superpower, has declared war on Dollet, a country whose training academy is home to two personalities: the hot-headed Seifer and the 'lone wolf', Squall Leonhart. Both are equally at conflict with each other as their country is with Galbadia; to others, Squall appears lacking in team spirit, while Seifer lacks the discipline of his rival. However, a chance encounter with the free-spirited Rinoa Heartilly turns Squall's universe upside down; having thrived on discipline, Squall find the carefree Rinoa fascinating. He also begins to dream that he is Laguna Loire, a Galbadian army soldier…  
Meanwhile, a sorceress manipulates the most powerful men in Galbadia.  
Will Squall and his party succeed in defeating this maniacal sorceress and saving their world?  
What part does the mysterious Laguna play? Only you can decide what happens next, as the greatest Role Playing Adventure of all time returns...
Key Features:
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*   **Magic Booster**  
    When Magic Booster is used, the player’s inventory of the following spells is increased by 100:  
    Cure, Cura, Curaga, Fire, Fira, Blizzard, Blizzara, Thunder, Thundara, Sleep, Blind, Silence, Berserk, Bio, Esuna, Aero, Confuse, Break, Zombie  
    This feature can be used from the launcher.  
*   **Chocobo World**  
    This version of FFVIII includes the full game “Chocobo World” that was released as a separate application for previous versions. It is possible to play “Chocobo World” directly from the launcher after booting up FFVIII and by fulfilling certain specific conditions in the main game you will also be able to synchronise data between the two games.
**
New Game Boosters:
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**  
*   **High Speed Mode**  
    All scenes (including cutscenes, movies and battles, etc.) can be fast-forwarded. (Fast-forward speeds vary by cutscene, but average about five times normal speed.)  
    \* CAUTION, certain computers may not be able to process the game with High Speed Mode. If the game crashes while in High Speed Mode, please restart the game and refrain from using High Speed Mode.  
*   **Battle Assistance**  
    Grants the following advantages in battle:  
    \-ATB gauge always full  
    \-HP always full  
    \-Limit Break always available  
    \*Characters die instantly when suffering damage that exceeds their HP.  
*   **9999**  
    Normal attacks, certain Limit Breaks, and certain G.F. attacks deal 9,999 damage.  
*   **AP MAX**  
    Sets level and AP of all acquired G.F. to max when used on the world map.   
    \*May not function properly when used during event cutscenes.  
    \*These commands can only be executed via keyboard.  
*   **Magic and Gil MAX**  
    Sets inventory of each acquired magic spell to 100 and sets gil to maximum limit  
    \*Cannot be used on menu screens, during cutscenes, in combat or at shop. Usable when moving between areas while playing Laguna's Dream.  
    \*These commands can only be executed via keyboard.

Release date: Dec 5, 2013

Categories: Turn-based Combat, JRPG, Player Customization, Magic System, Tactical RPG, Non-linear Exploration, Side Quest System, NPC Relationships & Romance


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Strategic Turn-Based Combat (weight 0.55): The combat system is praised for its depth, customization via Guardian Forces, and satisfying limit breaks. Players enjoy the strategic freedom and visual spectacle of attacks.
- Innovative Junction System (weight 0.54): The Junction system is widely praised for its deep customization, strategic depth, and unique approach to character building. Players appreciate its flexibility, allowing for overpowered builds and personalization once mastered.
- Compelling Squall and Rinoa Romance (weight 0.5): Squall's character development and his relationship with Rinoa are central to the story, praised for their depth, relatability, and emotional impact. The romance is described as well-developed and touching.
- Addictive Triple Triad Minigame (weight 0.49): Triple Triad is celebrated for its strategic depth, addictive gameplay, and integration into the main experience. It is often cited as one of the best minigames in the franchise.
- Memorable and Well-Developed Characters (weight 0.45): The game features a rich cast of characters with distinct personalities, strong arcs, and realistic growth. Players emphasize their emotional attachment and the characters' role in driving the narrative.
- Iconic Soundtrack and Emotional Impact (weight 0.43): Nobuo Uematsu's soundtrack is highlighted as emotionally resonant, atmospheric, and unforgettable, with tracks like 'Eyes on Me' enhancing the game's narrative and cinematic weight.
- Deep and Emotional Storytelling (weight 0.37): The narrative explores themes like love, identity, and destiny, delivering a complex and emotionally resonant experience. Players highlight its maturity and epic moments.
- Immersive World-Building and Exploration (weight 0.32): The game's semi-open world design, atmospheric locations, and rich lore encourage exploration and replayability. Players appreciate the mystery and potential for further discovery.
- Long Playtime and Replay Value (weight 0.22): The game offers extensive content, including side quests, minigames, and optional activities, resulting in high replayability and a playtime exceeding 60 hours for deep exploration.
- Must-Play JRPG Masterpiece (weight 0.19): The game is regarded as a landmark in the JRPG genre, praised for its unique mechanics, storytelling, and lasting influence. It is recommended for fans and newcomers alike.
- Active Modding Community (weight 0.15): Mods enhance the game's experience, improving visuals, stability, and gameplay. The community has developed tools to modernize and expand the original content.

Common complaints:
- Poor PC Port Quality (weight 0.76): The PC/Steam port is widely criticized for its downgraded soundtrack (MIDI replacement), frequent crashes, and poor controller support. Many players report needing mods to restore the original PS1 audio or fix stability issues.
- Confusing and Rushed Story (weight 0.54): The narrative is frequently described as convoluted, poorly paced, and underdeveloped, with abrupt plot twists and unresolved threads. Players find the storytelling unclear and unsatisfying, especially near the end.
- Dated Graphics and Design (weight 0.5): Character models, enemy design, and overall graphics are criticized as blocky, unappealing, or poorly aged. Some players find the visuals painful to look at compared to modern standards.
- Tedious Leveling and Grind (weight 0.38): The leveling system is criticized for being grindy, with enemies scaling to the player’s level, making progression feel unrewarding. Dynamic leveling and magic extraction (Draw) exacerbate the tedium.
- Intrusive DRM Requirements (weight 0.18): The PC version requires a Square Enix account and online connectivity, even for offline play. Players criticize this as obnoxious DRM that limits accessibility.
- Poor Tutorials and Guidance (weight 0.15): The game lacks clear in-game tutorials, making mechanics like Junction, Draw, and item usage confusing. Players often rely on external guides to progress.
- Frustrating Achievement System (weight 0.13): Achievements are grindy and contradictory (e.g., requiring combat avoidance while also killing 10,000 enemies). Many players quit early due to the overwhelming or unrewarding design.

Gameplay feedback:
- Junction System Core Mechanic (weight 0.7): The game features a unique Junction system where players attach Guardian Forces (GFs) and magic to stats for customization and stat boosting. This replaces traditional leveling and allows deep character progression through magic and abilities.
- Draw System for Magic (weight 0.66): Magic is acquired via the Draw system, where spells are extracted from enemies or draw points and used as consumable stat boosts. This system is central to the game's magic mechanics and progression.
- Turn-Based Combat with ATB (weight 0.39): The combat system is primarily turn-based with Active Time Battle (ATB) mechanics, allowing for strategic pre-planning and timing-based attack boosts. It includes unique elements like limit breaks and Guardian Force summons.
- Guardian Forces (GFs) Customization (weight 0.34): GFs serve as summons, stat boosters, and ability unlockers. They level up independently, allowing players to customize characters through passive abilities and stat enhancements.
- Enemy Level Scaling (weight 0.32): Enemies dynamically scale with the player's level, reducing the effectiveness of traditional grinding and emphasizing strategic customization over raw leveling.
- Triple Triad Card Game (weight 0.32): A strategic card minigame called Triple Triad is integrated into the game, offering side activities with rule-spreading mechanics and interactions with GF abilities. It adds depth to exploration and rewards.
- Side Quests and Secrets (weight 0.27): The game features numerous side quests, optional bosses, and hidden interactions (e.g., library romance, Chocobo World), rewarding exploration and adding replayability.
- Magic and Item Refinement (weight 0.2): Players can refine cards into items or higher-level magic using GF abilities like CardMod. This system allows for crafting powerful spells and consumables from collected resources.
- Limit Breaks and Unique Abilities (weight 0.11): Limit breaks are special abilities with unique animations and activation conditions, often tied to low HP. They add strategic depth and visual flair to combat.

Performance notes:
- Controller compatibility issues (weight 0.22): Users report widespread problems with controller support, including undetected devices, mismatched button prompts, and manual mapping frustrations, particularly in the Steam port.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.15): The game crashes during critical moments like cutscenes, loading screens, or specific in-game actions (e.g., using a gunblade or controller). Some users report needing single-processor mode to mitigate crashes.
- Audio quality problems (weight 0.13): The Steam port has downgraded soundtrack quality, MIDI-related sound issues, and audio glitches during fights, detracting from the experience.
- Performance lag and freezing (weight 0.12): The game suffers from stuttering, lag, and freezing, especially during battles or GF attacks. Some users experience low FPS (e.g., 15 FPS in battles).
- Save file corruption risks (weight 0.05): Random save file deletions and corruption occur, often linked to cloud syncing, causing significant frustration for players.
- Limited modding support (weight 0.04): The modding scene is smaller compared to other *Final Fantasy* titles, though mods can fix some performance issues.
- Grinding disrupts progress (weight 0.04): Older mechanics, such as excessive grinding, make the game difficult to progress through for modern players.
- Unresponsive buttons (weight 0.03): Some users experience buttons not responding during gameplay, likely tied to controller or input device issues.
- Screen burn-in risk (weight 0.03): A faint hand icon flashes endlessly at the top of the screen, potentially causing screen burn-in on OLED displays.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for JRPG/FF fans (weight 0.68): The game is consistently recommended for fans of Final Fantasy, JRPGs, or those who value deep storytelling and emotional impact. Many reviewers emphasize its status as a must-play for enthusiasts of the genre or series.
- Prefer remastered/modded versions (weight 0.46): Reviewers strongly suggest playing the remastered version or using mods to improve textures, music, and overall experience. The Steam port is often criticized for its technical shortcomings.
- Nostalgic but flawed experience (weight 0.23): While praised for its storytelling and nostalgia, the game’s execution (e.g., graphics, mechanics) is polarizing. It’s often recommended for its unique charm despite its flaws.
- Mods rebalance gameplay (weight 0.17): Specific mods (e.g., Ragnarok, Succession) are recommended to address balance issues or enhance the experience, especially for completionists.
- Requires patience and guides (weight 0.13): The game’s unbalanced leveling, obscure systems, and complexity make it difficult for casual players. Many recommend using strategy guides or mods to mitigate frustrations.
- High replayability and depth (weight 0.13): The game’s flexible systems, multiple playthroughs, and deep mechanics reward patient players, making it highly replayable for veterans.
- Emulation or original hardware preferred (weight 0.12): Reviewers recommend emulating the game or playing on original hardware (e.g., PS1) to avoid DRM issues or technical limitations of the Steam port.
- Wait for a sale or discount (weight 0.08): Due to its issues, many suggest waiting for a price drop unless the player is a hardcore fan or willing to invest in mods/remasters.
- Remake potential acknowledged (weight 0.08): Many believe the game’s great ideas could shine with modern execution, advocating for a remake to improve clarity and emotional impact.
- Not for newcomers (weight 0.06): The game’s complexity and dated mechanics make it unsuitable as a first Final Fantasy experience. It’s best for those familiar with classic JRPGs.

Other player notes:
- DRM issues with Square Enix (weight 0.05): Frequent complaints about mandatory Square Enix account requirements and server-related DRM issues, causing accessibility problems for some players.
- Mods improve PC graphics (weight 0.05): Players use mods (e.g., Rebirth Flame, SeeD Reborn) to enhance graphics, suggesting the base version’s visuals are lacking or outdated.
- Achievements harder than remaster (weight 0.05): Players report the achievement set in this version is more difficult compared to the 2019 Remastered edition, making completion more challenging. This may frustrate achievement hunters.
- Mandatory launcher requirement (weight 0.03): The game requires a launcher to play, which some players find inconvenient or unnecessary, adding an extra step to the startup process.
- Modding unfriendly structure (weight 0.03): The game’s structure makes modding difficult, such as restoring the original soundtrack, limiting customization options for players.
- Refunds denied by Steam policy (weight 0.03): Players attempting to refund the game were rejected due to Steam’s refund policy, despite dissatisfaction with the product.
- Specific achievement desires (weight 0.03): Players express interest in specific achievements, such as scanning all enemies or defeating a mechanical spider, highlighting engagement with the game’s challenges.
- Game size feels outdated (weight 0.03): Players describe the game’s file size as 'old-fashioned,' suggesting it feels small or underwhelming compared to modern titles with larger installations.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.22): Players frequently cite bugs, performance issues (e.g., low FPS, crashes), and technical problems (e.g., unrecognized controllers, DRM requirements) as major sources of frustration. The game's mechanics, such as the junction system, grinding, and magic extraction, are also criticized for being tedious, unintuitive, and poorly explained, often leading to wasted progress or repetitive gameplay.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.15): The game evokes strong nostalgia due to its personal and emotional connections to players' pasts, particularly for those who grew up with it during the PS1 era. Many highlight its impact on their childhood, memorable soundtrack, and unique mechanics, which foster a deep appreciation for its legacy in the JRPG genre.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Players express disappointment with the game's outdated feel, poor port quality (e.g., downgraded soundtrack, technical flaws), and underwhelming storytelling, including weak character development and plot twists. The lack of modern improvements, such as proper controller support or quality-of-life features, further exacerbates this sentiment.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): The game is admired for its bold storytelling, innovative mechanics (e.g., the junction system), and willingness to experiment with the Final Fantasy formula. Players praise its poetic narrative, character development, and high-quality soundtrack, which stand out as unique and audacious for its time.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players derive satisfaction from overcoming the game's challenges, such as mastering the junction system or defeating superbosses, often after resolving technical issues with mods. The depth of the story, character growth, and the sense of progression, particularly in later stages, contribute to a rewarding experience despite initial flaws.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): The game is appreciated for its creative mechanics, emotional depth, and strategic gameplay, which offer a unique and replayable experience. Players value its ambitious themes, character relationships, and the charm of its music and world-building, even if some aspects require time to grow on them.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): Excitement stems from the game's freedom in character building, engaging side content like Triple Triad, and the thrill of replaying it with mods. The flexibility in gameplay (e.g., cheesing or challenging runs) and the nostalgia of revisiting a beloved title amplify this emotion.
- Affection (weight 0.03): Players express affection for the game's story, characters, and world-building, often highlighting emotional moments and relationships. The game's flaws are embraced as part of its charm, with many considering it a beloved 'black sheep' of the Final Fantasy series.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.03): Enjoyment is derived from the game's fun mechanics, such as collecting Guardian Forces, exploring the world, and engaging in side activities like the card minigame. Despite its flaws, players find the gameplay and cinematic experience highly entertaining.
- Love (weight 0.02): The game inspires deep love due to its romantic storytelling, memorable music, and personal connections to players' lives. Many consider it their favorite Final Fantasy title, cherishing its narrative, characters, and the emotional impact of its ending.
- Amusement (weight 0.02): Players find amusement in the game's quirky characters (e.g., Laguna, Seifer), humorous dialogue (e.g., Rinoa calling Squall a meanie), and personal anecdotes related to gameplay mishaps. The card game and playful interactions also contribute to this lighthearted emotion.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): The game's convoluted menus, unclear mechanics (e.g., junction system), and poorly explained tutorials often leave players confused. Story elements and exposition dumps are also criticized for being hard to follow or nonsensical.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance arises from tedious combat, grinding, and technical issues like incomplete controller support. Some players also express frustration with specific characters (e.g., Rinoa) or the requirement to create a Square Enix account for a single-player game.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players feel anger toward poorly executed story moments, combat mechanics, and technical failures (e.g., crashes, progress loss). The rejection of refund requests and Square Enix's false claims about the port's quality further fuel this emotion.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players express hope for a future remake by Square Enix, which they believe could improve the game's accessibility, modernize its mechanics, and address long-standing issues. There is also hope for more Final Fantasy ports to PC.
- Awe (weight 0.01): The game inspires awe through its ambitious mechanics (e.g., the junction system, final dungeon) and high-quality cinematics. The seamless transitions between gameplay and cutscenes, as well as the spectacle of its action sequences, leave a lasting impression.}