Final Fantasy VIII

No other modern installment of the series divided players as thoroughly as this one. Final Fantasy VIII from 1999 is a bold, ambitious and to this day passionately discussed experiment that decided to break almost every rule its predecessor had set on the PlayStation.

This time Squaresoft bet on realism. The characters were given realistically proportioned bodies instead of the earlier stylized figures, the story revolves around a strong romantic thread between the withdrawn Squall and the spirited Rinoa, and the whole game breathes a more serious, more grown-up atmosphere. Visually it was a staggering leap - the sweeping cutscenes were among the best that the hardware of the time could offer.

The core of the controversy, however, is the Junction system. Instead of classic buying of spells, you literally absorb them from enemies and then „junction“ them onto your stats, while drawing power largely from summoned beings (Guardian Forces). It is an inventive and deep mechanism, but at the same time notorious for how easily it can be exploited - a clever player can smash the game's balance to smithereens and turn it into a walk in the park. Some love it for the freedom it gives, others cannot stand it for the lack of traditional structure.

Above all this floats one unexpected gem: the card minigame Triple Triad. This optional pastime became more addictive than the main story for a great many players and remains one of the best-designed minigames in the entire series. Collecting cards and the combat strategies around them easily swallow hours of your time.

In sales terms it was a huge success that confirmed the strength of the brand after the phenomenon of the seventh. In terms of gameplay, however, the eighth remains an installment that divides - for some it is a misunderstood gem full of courage, for others a misstep. And it is precisely this contradictory nature that makes it one of the most interesting titles worth forming your own opinion about.

Why play it: For an ambitious, controversial and unforgettable installment with the addictive Triple Triad - an experience you will either fall in love with or debate passionately.