FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,183 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered Game Cover
The last remaining PlayStation-era Final Fantasy title to get a remaster has arrived on Switch.
Starting at €19.99Buy now
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"Final Fantasy VIII Remastered" is a role-playing game with enhanced visuals and features. The player controls a group of mercenaries fighting against a powerful sorceress, exploring various locations and completing missions. Be aware that some technical issues may occur, such as getting stuck between vehicles and terrain, or freezing vehicles in place, which can be resolved by reloading a previous save. Some locations may also be challenging to navigate.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,183 reviews
story365 positive mentions
grinding193 negative mentions
  • The remastered character models look great and enhance the nostalgic experience.
  • The addition of quality-of-life features like 3x speed and no random encounters makes gameplay more enjoyable.
  • The story, music, and character development are engaging, making it a memorable experience.
  • The remaster is poorly executed, with blurry backgrounds and low-resolution assets that clash with the updated character models.
  • The game frequently crashes, especially when using speed boosts, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • The junction and draw systems can be tedious and convoluted, making the game feel grindy and less enjoyable for some players.
  • story1,200 mentions

    The story of Final Fantasy VIII is a polarizing aspect among players, with many praising its ambitious narrative and emotional depth, particularly the central love story between Squall and Rinoa. However, it is often criticized for its convoluted plot, uneven pacing, and reliance on confusing mechanics like memory loss and time travel, which can leave players feeling lost. While some find the story engaging and rich with character development, others view it as a chaotic mess that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The story is engaging and sensitive, even if it does go wildly off the rails near the end of the game.”
    • “The story, centered around Squall Leonhart and his companions, has moments of brilliance but often suffers from uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters.”
    • “The story is complex and engaging, never a dull moment or empty filler.”
    • “The main characters and story I think are probably one of the game's weaker points.”
    • “The story itself just didn't draw me in at all.”
    • “The plot was convoluted and poorly paced and poorly explained.”
  • graphics673 mentions

    The graphics of the remastered version of Final Fantasy VIII have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while character models and battle graphics have been improved, the backgrounds remain largely unchanged and often appear blurry. Some appreciate the nostalgic charm and enhanced visuals, while others criticize the remaster as a minimal effort that fails to meet modern standards, suggesting that players might achieve better results using mods on the original version. Overall, the remaster offers a slight upgrade but lacks the comprehensive graphical overhaul many had hoped for.

    • “The game's presentation is awesome, by way of its graphics still looking gorgeous for such an old game - even considering the slightly sloppy remaster - for example, cutscenes are firmly groundbreaking for its time, and the music is a treat with a ton of awesome tracks, too.”
    • “Graphically, Final Fantasy VIII was a marvel for its time, with beautifully rendered cutscenes and detailed character models that pushed the original PlayStation to its limits.”
    • “The graphics have been updated to be more in line with modern standards, which has helped to bring the game's stunning environments and character designs to life in a way that wasn't possible before.”
    • “First of all, the graphics are horrendous for being a 'remastered' version.”
    • “It just sucks knowing 'what could have been' if they had spent more time on this game than just downloading an HD character graphic mod from a fansite and calling it a day.”
    • “The graphics almost look worse in many cases, the text is gross, and the analogue controls are completely screwed.”
  • music544 mentions

    The music in Final Fantasy VIII is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting Nobuo Uematsu's score as one of his finest works, often comparing it favorably to the soundtracks of other entries in the series. Tracks like "Eyes on Me" and "Liberi Fatali" evoke strong nostalgia and emotional responses, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and storytelling. While some criticisms exist regarding the remastered version's handling of music, the overall consensus is that the original soundtrack remains a standout feature, enhancing the game's charm and appeal.

    • “Seriously, this score is on par with the composer's Final Fantasy VII soundtrack in its delight and range.”
    • “The music is fantastic as well, as it tends to be with Final Fantasy, and worth listening to separately.”
    • “Overall, what's remarkable to me about the music and score of Final Fantasy VIII is how effectively it is used in the storytelling aspect of the game.”
    • “The music is sub par for a FF game.”
    • “I thought they'd hit a new low with their original release of this game -- the music, which was one of the game's absolute best features -- had been reduced to MIDI format, and the company couldn't even be bothered to fix it.”
    • “Music: mostly forgettable other than the final boss music and a few other pieces here and there.”
  • gameplay508 mentions

    The gameplay of Final Fantasy VIII is characterized by its unique junction system, which allows for extensive character customization but can be confusing and unintuitive for players. Many reviewers noted that the game penalizes frequent battles due to its level-scaling mechanics, leading to a grindy experience, while others appreciated the innovative draw mechanic and the engaging card game, Triple Triad. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some praising the game's ambition and uniqueness, while others criticize its convoluted systems and lack of traditional RPG elements, making it a polarizing entry in the franchise.

    • “The gameplay gets some time to get used to, but once you fully grasp the junction system, it becomes amazing, as I've never experienced a JRPG with a more customizable system than FF8's.”
    • “The various side-systems (item refining, triple triad) all feed back into the junction system, so pretty much everything you can do feeds back into mechanical progression.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, the junction system is extremely unique.”
    • “The gameplay is unbelievably slow and grueling.”
    • “The mechanics around the battle system are incredibly tedious and the game effectively penalizes you for battling too often, despite bombarding you with random battles at times, effectively detracting from the whole concept of being awarded for grinding and exploration.”
    • “There's also the fact that the game has level-scaling, one of the few mechanics that automatically makes most games worse just by being in the game.”
  • grinding193 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the draw and junction systems tedious and convoluted, often leading to a frustrating experience. While some appreciate the ability to become overpowered through grinding, the game's level scaling punishes players for traditional grinding, making it feel counterintuitive. However, the introduction of a 3x speed feature has been praised for alleviating some of the tedium associated with grinding, allowing players to focus more on the story and gameplay.

    • “The necessity of drawing spells from enemies to stockpile magic can become tedious and disrupt the flow of the game.”
    • “Enemies get stronger as you level up, essentially punishing you for level grinding.”
    • “The mechanics around the battle system are incredibly tedious and the game effectively penalizes you for battling too often, despite bombarding you with random battles at times, effectively detracting from the whole concept of being awarded for grinding and exploration.”
  • stability62 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent audio and visual glitches, crashes, and performance issues, particularly when using the speed-up function. While some players have experienced smooth gameplay without major problems, many others have found the remaster to be buggy and unplayable at times, leading to frustration and recommendations to opt for the original version instead. Overall, the remaster's technical issues significantly detract from the experience, making it a risky purchase for those seeking a stable gaming experience.

    • “It's super playable, with no glitches (so far).”
    • “Runs great and I do like the updated character models.”
    • “Great game, good version, don't listen to the negative reviews, runs great and looks good.”
    • “Game still has a lot of technical issues that cause graphical glitches and crashes even early on into the game.”
    • “But don't risk buying this port: it's buggy, crashes, and if you're unlucky like me, you'll find out the game is unplayable halfway through your run and, therefore, not be eligible for a refund because it happened after more than 2 hours of gameplay.”
    • “Game is buggy... the framerate randomly collapses, I'm using the newest drivers and no other game has any issues... it can't keep 60fps in menus (sometimes it just locks to 50), 30fps on field/world map (it keeps going to 15-23) and the battle fps of 15 won't stay there also, battle menus are too slow too!”
  • humor52 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and experimental nature, with memorable moments and funny dialogue that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the contrast between serious character tones and the absurdity of situations, as well as the clever integration of character thoughts into the narrative. While some visual inconsistencies add to the humor, the game's off-beat charm and well-developed characters contribute significantly to its comedic appeal.

    • “A lot of quirks are well done, jokes are funny and still land, the idea to show the thoughts of the main character instead of just the spoken dialogue adds so much to each scene.”
    • “Zell and his hotdog arc, Laguna getting the cramps, Rinoa's handmade train model, Squall's serious tone in contrast to every hijinks going around him—so many memorable moments that made me laugh and enjoy the vibe of the game.”
    • “It's a beautiful, charming, funny, crazy, and even convoluted game at times with parts of its story and the junction system.”
  • optimization51 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, broken framerates, and stuttering issues that detract from gameplay. Despite some improvements in graphics and customization options, the remaster is often considered worse than previous versions, leading to frustration among players. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be subpar, with many feeling it was not ready for release.

    • “Mechanically speaking, there is a lot of customization and optimization here.”
    • “I was over the moon that the characters and enemies got retouched textures and models, and the game had been given some bug fixes and an optimization pass or two over the original PC release.”
    • “Funny enough, the 3x speed increase the FPS at 50-60 FPS and the game runs smoothly.”
    • “The framerate is likewise not improved, and in some cases I swear the performance is even worse than the previous PC port.”
    • “With that being said, this remaster is horribly optimized.”
    • “- Poor performance; I don't know how they shipped it this way, but the framerate is broken and it actively hampers the visuals and ruins the gameplay, making timed attacks feel awful to pull off.”
  • monetization49 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been overwhelmingly criticized as a "lazy cash grab," with many reviewers expressing disappointment in the minimal effort put into the remaster. Players feel that the product does not justify its price, often recommending the original version instead. Overall, the sentiment is that the game exploits nostalgia without delivering substantial improvements or value.

    • “This isn't really a remaster, just a quick cash grab playing off people's nostalgia for an amazing classic.”
    • “It deserves all the criticism it is getting; all the issues that people list point to a lazy 'remaster' that is just clearly a cash grab.”
    • “Don't get me wrong, it is a good game and one of my favorites in the Square Enix FF series, but this is a clearly half-arsed and shameless cash grab on something that was already available in multiple forms, and the product quality does not reflect the price.”
  • character development46 mentions

    Character development in Final Fantasy VIII is generally praised for its depth and the interesting backstories of its characters, particularly Squall, who experiences significant growth throughout the game. While some characters, like Zell, show promising development, others are perceived as bland and lacking depth. Overall, the game offers a compelling narrative with moments of strong character interaction, though some players feel that more development could have enhanced the experience.

    • “Final Fantasy VIII has a very good storyline, good gameplay, cool character designs with good character development.”
    • “They all have an interesting backstory which puts focus on in-the-moment interaction and reaction for character development.”
    • “His character development was great and I really liked how he slowly grew to open up by the end of the game.”
    • “I know a lot of people criticize the game for its corny character development.”
    • “Though none of them are particularly dislikeable, they are rather bland and don't show much character development.”
    • “This same conflict occurs within Squall's character development: his obtuse and complicated inner dialogue often gets 'washed out', or confronted, by the real situations he faces and the real people he loves and leads.”
  • emotional42 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players expressing that it moved them to tears and resonated deeply through its romantic and heartfelt narrative. While some critiques mention convoluted mechanics and narrative missteps, the overall sentiment is that the story's emotional highs and poignant moments make it a memorable experience, particularly for those who appreciate a good love story. Despite mixed feelings about the remastering quality, the emotional impact remains a significant draw for both new and veteran players.

    • “It's not a game, it's a great work of art, it's a touching movie, it's a romantic and moving epic.”
    • “I recommend this game solely for its incredibly touching - and different - story.”
    • “Its story is consistent and powerfully emotional, the characters relate well and the way they meet up makes sense.”
  • replayability23 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of the game is highly regarded, with many players appreciating the junction system and additional features like the card game Triple Triad, which enhance the experience. While some users noted that the game is relatively easy due to its level-scaling mechanics, the improvements in graphics and quality of life updates have made it more enjoyable to replay. Ratings for replayability vary, with scores around 6 to 8 out of 10, reflecting a solid but not universally perfect replay value.

    • “I love everything about this game - the story, the world, the monsters, the replayability with the GF/junction system, the party members.”
    • “Honestly, FF8 is probably the easiest Final Fantasy game I've played, but that's not bad. The game has a system in place where it bases enemies off your level, so if you can stay low level, the game is easy. It also has a lot to offer in replayability from the junction system alone, as well as for people who love card games, as there is a game called Triple Triad which I think a lot of people like more than the main game.”
    • “Replayability: 8/10 (story run), (6/10 perfectionist run with PC version improvements).”
    • “Honestly, FF8 is probably the easiest Final Fantasy game I've played, but that's not bad. The game has a system in place where it bases enemies off your level, so if you can stay low level, the game is easy. However, it also has a lot to offer in replayability from the junction system alone, as well as for people who love card games, as there is a game called Triple Triad which I think a lot of people like more than the main game.”
    • “Not even your remasters are playable!!”
    • “But that, therein, holds the appeal and value in replayability.”
  • atmosphere15 mentions

    The atmosphere of the remastered version of Final Fantasy VIII is widely praised for successfully reviving the nostalgic elements of the original game, particularly through the inclusion of the original PS1 music and familiar visual designs. Players appreciate the enhanced graphics while noting that the emotional depth and mood of the game remain intact, making it a compelling experience that resonates with long-time fans. Overall, the remaster strikes a balance between modern improvements and the cherished atmosphere of the classic title.

    • “This port has the original PS1 music in it, which to me makes a big difference in the game's atmosphere (as opposed to the other one that has MIDI).”
    • “Love the song 'Eyes on Me' and I still cry watching the ending... the mood and atmosphere this game gives me is irreplaceable.”
    • “Because the new version has a feeling, or atmosphere that is lost from the original one.”
    • “Final Fantasy VIII Remastered has its flaws -- the draw system is still a total pain in the arse -- but there's a magic and atmosphere to Squall's often mental adventure that's incredibly endearing.”
    • “I'm happy to say that this version was exactly what I was looking for: to revive the atmosphere of the game I played when I was seventeen years old with my PSX, with a graphic improvement adjusted to the modern era.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

19hMedian play time
20hAverage play time
8-43hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs

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