Now I know what your thinking, this is another hoax. We Final fantasy fans have been put through hell , but finally, at long last, this is the real thing. Everything here is one hundred percent true, straight from a press conference that square held today in Japan. Besides the logo and screenshot, gameplay information has been released. The details are: Technology is again present, and seems to be even more present in the characters' lives; a video showed a parabolic antenna appearing on the screen, followed by a formation of fighter jets The main theme of the game is love The main character is named Squall Leonhart, and the suppporting character is Laguna Loire. The character designs are more realistic and less anime-like. The characters are texture mapped for greater detail and appearance. All the characters will be visible while exploring, a first for the series. In addition to all of this, Square has stated that it will try to keep the release dates of both the Japanese and American versions relatively close, with less of a "lag" when releasing them. Final Fantasy VIII will truly be a game to watch for. Look out for a possibility of a Final Fantasy 8 demo on Square's upcoming release Brave Fencer Musashiden sometime in the summer (Japanese date).
The Story
Squall attends a military school known as "Garden". The school is for children ranging from six to
nineteen years of age. In the later years of a student's school career, they must take an exam. If the
student fails this exam, they are kicked out of school. Students learn many skills while training in school.
Of course, they learn how to use forces of combat, how to fight! But what makes these students different
from the other people in the World of Final Fantasy VIII is that they learn the special skill of magic, a
particularly difficult skill to master in their world. In fact, only the best of the best, the graduates of the
"Garden" can learn how to use magic!
The highest achieving students of Garden are eligible to join an elite forces group known as "SeeD".
Squall is rumored to be an extremely ingenious student at Garden, and attempts to join SeeD. This reminds
me of Cloud, in FF7, and how he tried to join the elite forces in that game, called SOLDIER!
Battle Information
Ah, the new battle system! There have reportedly been many new changes made to the battle system to
increase the actually strategy involved for an individual battle! Included in these changes is the ability to
"Draw" magic from your opponent. Once you select "Draw", you will be given another menu to either
"Use" or "Stock" the magic you have just drawn away from your opponent!
Use: Selecting "Use" allows you to use the magic you have drawn away from your opponent. In other
words, you will be taking your enemy's magic, and using it against him! Ha ha!
Stock: Selecting "Stock" allows you to save the magic you just stole from the enemy and allow you to
use it later!
A small note about the magic. Once you have drawn the magic from your enemy, you can only use it
once!
Another difference between FF7 and FF8 will be the amount of screen space that is used. In FF8, you
won't be bothered with a big status screen at the bottom of your screen. Instead, any information will be
displayed on top of the battle scene, blending in with the battle background. The menus that ask you if you
want to fight, use magic, or whatever will only be displayed when it is that character's turn to fight.
Tidbits
I'm sure you know by now that Leviathan is in the game! Well, there is new news in "Summoning
Monsters" category! It turns out that summoned monsters can gain experience like a normal character!
This means that the more you summon a monster, the stronger it gets!! Can you imagine if the Knight of
the Round got stronger each time you used it?
Chocobos, chocobos, chocobos...They're BAACK! Well, they may be back, but they're back with a
new look! Details on this new look have not been released yet, but the important thing is that Chocobos
are back!
A word about Squall's Gunblade. If you hit the R1 button at a specific time (currently unknown),
Squall's attacks will become stronger. I'm not sure how to find this specific time yet, but you are supposed
to just look at some gauge on the screen and that gauge will indicate when to press R1! I guess a little trial
and error never hurt anybody.
Just a CG screen shot, but still shows alot about the game.
Laguna Loire Age : 27 Profile : A strong sens of justice and charity. Popular and trusted by his companions. Laguna is the exactly the opposite of Squall. Originally a soldier, he is now a journalist who fights for justice.
Squall Leonhart -the hero of FFVIII Age : 17 Profile : Squall has a large scar on his forehead. He his expressionless and unfriendly. He cares not for himself and for others, and shows no concern about anything else.
Click here for the other Characters
Rumors
Rumors about Final Fantasy VIII !!! You guys (and gals)
will have to help me here. Please email any rumors you hear about!
Rumors I've heard so far:
FF8 has 4-5 CD's.
FF8 will be released late this year in Japan (or early 1999).
Cid and Red XIII are characters in FF8.
You can go back in time and meet Cloud and the others from FF7.
Squall Leonhart is a descendant of Tifa Lockheart.
Biggs and Wedge make small appearances in FF8!
There will a FF8 movie to be released near the year 2000.
Squall Leonhart is a descendant of Cloud Strife.
Facts about FF8:
The theme is love.
A new and more complex battle system.
Two main characters are named Squall Leonhart and Laguna Loire.
With Final Fantasy VIII on the way you probably
haven't thought about FF IX. Well Square has and it
seems that FF IX isn't that far away.
The budget for FF IX is set at $80 000 000,
that's $50 000 000 more than FF VII cost.
(That's a lot of millions!)
It seems they saw how good FF VII sold and decideded
to go all the way. With a budget that high, I expect this
will be quite the game...
Click here to see mor FF VIII Pics
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