haha how many times did you have to run through the same puzzles

@karkarov: you sound like a fun guy to be around at parties.

@zombiepie: The later party members you pick up will be better. Don't lose hope!

Final Fantasy VIII sucks so much

I do not envy you

Don't lie. Irvine is the worst

@bocam:

@theblue: @hassun: @dochaus: @bocam: @thatpinguino: @marinoAlright this is going to break your hearts, but I can now say with about 90% assurance that I cannot play this game anymore. So here's my problem:

The PC controls are causing me to not be able to play this game. One example, I attempted to perform Zell's limit break, but all of the prompts are either PS1 controller prompts or incredibly inconvenient keyboard keys. Then we have Squall, who I just found out I have to press G and not X to perform his. There are entire screens where I have no idea how to navigate them.

I'm sorry but I cannot play this game.

@zombiepie: Can't get your hands on a controller? Either way I don't remember having any issues playing FFVIII on PC...

It's still baffling to me why anyone would pick 8 for their first Final Fantasy. I'd think picking up the HD version of 10 would be the more obvious choice. Or the start of the 3D era, 7. Or one of the beloved SNES ones, 4 and 6.

The longer it's been since I've played this, the better in my more RPG experienced mind FF8 gets.

Oh, and the batshit has ONLY just BEGUN (wait until someone tips you about the hidden battle tricks that turn it into an entirely differently played game).

Of all the things to make someone ragequit FF8, I did not expect keyboard controls to be the one to do it.

@hassun: @theblue: IT'S ALL GOOD IN THE HOOD G! I BEAT DIABLO AND WE ARE BACK ON TRACK!!!

Sure, but as I indicated on the first blog entry I do not own any Sony platforms, and the Steam versions of IV and VI are the DS remakes which didn't feel authentic. Also, it's going to be funnier if I'm playing 8.

@zombiepie: Final Fantasy 8 on PC was my first one as well. The controls are batshit insane, but you'll get used to it.

@zombiepie: Yeah, I get the reasoning, though VII is also available, isn't it? (not that that one is all that much better without any nostalgia to back it up) Incidentally, I also played this game on PC back in the day. On a keyboard. I remember it not bothering me that much because back then you had weird ass control schemes and other hoops to jump through to play on the PC all the time.

Quistis is 18, a year older than Squall. If you were Squall tell me you wouldn't. >_>

one thing to reduce your insanity, I find it preferable to just physically attack or use the magic command than to summon, simply because of the animation time (and if you have a good Str-J or Mag-J you'll deal more damage anyway), you may have to heal slightly more, but you will go less crazy. Also you are at the point where you can increase your salary by doing the seed tests in the menu, so look those up and money won't be an issue for buying potions

if you are dead set on summoning, there is a boost ability that I don't want to know how badly is implemented in the pc version, which is another reason to drop the summoning

also, there are two pages of abilities on the GFs if the controls have obscured this, and several GFs have refining abilities where you can turn common drops into magic, learn those ASAP to avoid draw-grinding

other than that, enjoy the ride

Ha, bravo.

@meatball: If you were Squall you totally wouldn't. After all, you'd be Squall.

Easily, unironically, the best Final Fantasy, I can't fathom how people can be so wrong about that.

This cannot be emphasized enough and I don't recall if game ever tells you about it. I like the Junction system because it allows for greater customization of your party, but tutorials also make it look more confusing than it really is, not helped by the terrible controls of the PC-port. Basically, getting full stacks of basic spells by extracting them from items makes the game much more enjoyable as you don't have to rely on long-cast GF summons.

Still, FF9 or FF10 would have been better (=boring) choice for first FF game. FF7 is mixed bag, for many it was their first FF game but it has not aged well at all, controls are clunky which is not helped by the poor camera-control common to early 3D titles. Also sounds and graphics are not up to what you'd expect from PS1 game and it feels like a game between generations. Even the SNES games have fared better, you could put FF5 and FF6 on Steam today and they'd be objectively better than most of the 2D-RPGs being sold there.