Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

[Armando]

Humor me here. Had an argument with a friend and I figured this was as good a place as any to start a poll and get an answer. Feel free to explain your choice.

[Malacite]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

I liked 'em both. In fact I don't think I've ever not liked a numbered FF (even X-2, for all it's shittyness at least had a genuinely good battle system)


I found that 8 was the first to have some very real, believable character growth (Squall opening up to others) and it was interesting to finally have a romance title for once. My big gripe with 8 was it was far too easy and the story was just so horribly contrived... I mean, time compression? GTFO. They could have come up with a better plot than that and still made it a romance. Also didn't Nobuo actually win awards for 8's musical score?


As for FF9 how can you not love 9? It's a tribute to the series up to that point. Sure, in a lot of ways it was just FF 4 with a new cast but for anyone who's a fan of the series there's a lot of nostalgia to enjoy.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

I really enjoyed 8. Nine was ok but I never finished it (got up to the last hour) and 8 I did finish.

[Tickmeoff]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

8 and 4 are the top of the FF games list for me.

9 is probably right under that.

[Balfree]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

IX for me though I liked both.

Vivi is still one of my favorite characters to date too.

[Jarre]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

I had to mark both, as both had highlights for me.

The story and cut scenes were excellent with FFVIII, but the draw system i didn't like. FFVIII was also the first FF game I played (followed by VII and then IX)

IX was ok, the story was good, funny and the graphics were great, it just felt a bit more childish to me than previous storylines.

I'm a bit of a sucker for a good storyline and plush graphics and each installment has impressed me.

[Feba]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

Haven't had a chance to play IX yet, but after playing 8, I have a hard time imagining I'll like it less. 8's plot was horrible, it's almost completely unmemorable. The battle system was interesting, but ultimately a failed experiment. And the "Jail Breakout" scene is easily the worst segment of any FF game, ignoring FFXI's "I'm not going to make sense because I know you're just going to google it anyway" quests.

[Rostum]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

9 is a far superior game to 8 in many ways.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

FFIX falls short of FFVIII in a few ways for me:

(1) Ultimate weapon requirements are more stupid than they were in FFX (even dodging lightning was more fun).
(2) Not enough sidequests.
(3) Final boss that makes no sense.
(4) Tetra Master is an unbalanced shitheap before the balanced mathmatical greatness that is Triple Triad and Sphere Break. If SE took Triple Triad online, I swear I would play it almost every day.


FFVIII falls short on plot - and it wasn't the first romance of the series, FFIV was tyvm - but when you really get deep into Junctions and Triple Triad, the game just keeps on giving. There were also so many memorable and epic boss fights and it had the better final boss theme just for bringing back that classic FF bassline.

Oh and Squall eventually gets over himself. Something other emo SE protagonists could learn to do (looking at you, Cloud and Neku). Quistis also makes the game more awesome for being one of the better characters in it.

[Armando]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

Keep it coming people! 10 more votes and I'll be satisfied.

Oh and Squall eventually gets over himself. Something other emo SE protagonists could learn to do (looking at you, Cloud and Neku).

I don't know, I found that Cloud wasn't so emo in the original FFVII. He was pretty apathetic about others' situations but he still had somewhat of an attitude, especially when mocking Barret. And he could actually hold a conversation like a normal person. But then SE hit him with the Emo Ray for Kingdom Hearts and Advent Children, turning him into Vincent with a sword(s).

[Ketaru]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

Storywise, I prefered IX. I felt there was more equal treatment and emphasis among most, if not all the main characters. The final boss was, yes, a bit off-putting. But otherwhys, there wasn't any point in the story that I felt dragged. The universe of IX was also much more interesting to me.

And not that I hate romances, but I didn't find Rinoa to be all that captivating, especially when standing her next to many of the other recent female protagonists.

Music-wise, I don't feel like VIII's attempt at having more subtle themes was entirely successful.

As for gameplay, I'm not for either or. To be honest, I'm not sure any of the Final Fantasy games' battle systems are so different that I can pick one over another. Well, not the numbered games anyway. I actually rather like the Tactics series.

[Malacite]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

I don't know, I found that Cloud wasn't so emo in the original FFVII. He was pretty apathetic about others' situations but he still had somewhat of an attitude, especially when mocking Barret. And he could actually hold a conversation like a normal person. But then SE hit him with the Emo Ray for Kingdom Hearts and Advent Children, turning him into Vincent with a sword(s).

Thank you. Am I the only person sick of that word being used to describe every main character with emotional issues? You'd be fucked up too if you were in Cloud or Squall's shoes. Cloud was just a wuss (and apparently some kind of genetic super-freak) that ended up with a bad case of amnesia/mistaken identity. Squall was abandoned as a child at an Orphanage by his only family. How would you feel if the only person you were close to and depended on just suddenly disappeared without a trace one day while you were very young?


And I gotta disagree on a few points BBQ made about nine. There were a decent amount of side quests, and the only ultimate weapon that was a drag to get was Steiner's. I'll admit Chocobo Hot & Cold wasn't as fun as racing and raising but it still paid off decently. Finding the treasures on the world map wasn't that bad either. Not like FF8's Queen of Cards quest, omg. Hell, I loved that card game but still refused to finish that quest partly because it just made an already easy game impossible to lose.


What irked me most about 9 was the animation style. Good grief why was everyone super-deformed? Was Squaresoft on some kind of chibi-high? Oh well. Kuja was a decent combination of Kefka and Sephiroth (they could have made him less effeminate in his appearance however...) and I think I speak for everyone when I say this;

JUST WTF WAS QUEEN BRAHNE?! Ugliest NPC EVER >_> (At least in an FF)

Oh and Honk if you love Quina :3

[Tickmeoff]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

Oh and Honk if you love Quina :3

Someone actually used Quina?

[Ketaru]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

Someone actually used Quina?

He had Mighty Guard, calculated damage spells that ignore defense, the earliest and most accessible form of Auto-Life, got a petrification weapon very early on, and gets some of his best spells early in the game. Many of them are just as good later on as they were early on. Oh, and Bad Breath...

Why wouldn't anyone use him?

[Tickmeoff]

Re: Which did you like better: FFVIII or FFIX?

Why wouldn't anyone use him?

Because he's ugly D: