FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED

Alright, dust off my old Triple Triad cards and head back into the world of Squall Leonhart. You know, the one with the perpetually furrowed brow and that ridiculously awesome gunblade? Yes, after all these years I've, believe it or not, returned to Final Fantasy VIII Remastered on Steam. Let's get right to it, shall we?

Story: 9/10

Oh, the story. It is pure Final Fantasy with a sprinkling of teenage angst, military intrigue, and a little amnesia. This, for me, is where FFVIII excels most. The Garden system, the SeeD organization, the war with Esthar, the mysterious Sorceresses… it's all just so enticing. I remember staying up late in my teenage years studying the lore, trying to decipher its past mysteries. Replaying it now, it still receives my approval. The time-travel aspect may sound very convoluted for some, but fate, love, and sacrifice resonate even deeper with me now than back then. The characters are portrayed as real people, complete with their flaws, their evolving flaws, for example, the journey of Squall from being an emotionless loner to someone who lets himself care.

Gameplay: 7/10

The Junction System is quite a controversial issue; and, I'll admit that, even after all these years, it's still a little... clunky. It takes a while to get used to drawing magic and junctioning to your stats to power you up. Grinding can feel slightly tedious at times; particularly at the beginning. But, even all that tedious intimidating time, mastery of the system, the perfect combinations of GFs, and breaking your way through the game with overpowered magic give you a good, if not great, feeling. The remaster itself comes with some QoLs like speed boost and doesn't-encounter options that are simply terrific and somehow makes the grinding part feel better: The Triple Triad card game that remains as addictive as ever, proved to be a constant distraction, keeping me hooked for hours.
 

Graphics and Sound: 8/10

Let's be clear: it is a remaster, not a remake. So, don't expect the kind of visual overhaul found in the Final Fantasy VII Remake. The characters and environment will still shout out PS1. But they could up-scale the textures, raise the resolution, and just apply a lot cleaner presentation overall. It looks better than I ever remembered and feels fresher. Pretty great looking up against the backdrop. What shines, as always, is the music. Uematsu's score is straight up legendary. Melancholic as "Eyes on Me" gets, soaring in battle thematically, the soundtrack is a masterpiece, elevating that game crazy high.
 

Overall: 8/10

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered definitely feels like returning to a game that holds dear memories in my heart. This game is not the perfect one. It is flawed, and Junction system still brings in slight frustrations. But then again, reading the tales, knowing the characters, being touched by the beautiful music, and the added QoL convinces one to nurture their own experience with the game as an old-time player as well as with new players. Memory lane conversion it is-a great way to relive the good times with a game that has spurred my love for RPGs. If you liked its original version, then this remaster is one for you. New to the series? This is a perfect entry point and a truly unforgettable experience. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go…I think I hear the call of Triple Triad!