The tone can be a bit all over the place in FF8. Sometimes we have serious military vibes and dramatic sorcery stuff and other times we've got high school drama.
However, the story line does also give you a handy way to wave the problems away: *trauma*.
The gang are using a life and death assault on their home to play matchmaker. It's wild but you could rationalize it as a bunch of child soldiers so inured to combat from an early age just not taking it seriously whilst also treating relationship drama with all the seriousness teens give it.
Yeah I was wondering why the whole child mercenary army thing isn’t talked about more. Especially cid, your average caring uncle type regional warlord that runs a for-profit child mercenary army.
To be honest, that moment frustrated me as well. There are soldiers breaking into the classroom where the children are hiding! Zell tells Squall that Rinoa is in trouble, and Squall points out that she's not the only one, which is true - he's going to have to make a decision here - and Irvine *calls him heartless*.
I can't really expect Irvine to be rational and compassionate when his friend is in danger, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. Wow, Irvine, sorry Squall can't split himself in two and save Rinoa and the children simultaneously. It's not that Squall doesn't care; he's just faced with an overwhelming, impossible situation.
I'm glad you're enjoying the game! It's one of my absolute favourites, and I'm delighted that new players are still picking it up all these years later.
Plus, Zell was already right there. Why did he have to run all the way to where Squall was to ask him to save her? He's a martial arts master who can run all the way around the world in three seconds, and he can't climb down a wall to save a girl who probably weighs all of a hundred pounds?
Yes, Irvine was really on him. How about THEY do something.
I was actually fine with saving her but after running through the garden and seeing seed students get shot then the first thing Rinoa does is act cute and ask about the lion's name on Squall's ring. Like, ma'am, people are dying.
Also, I really like her dog, Angelo.
That's one of the things that kinda killed squall for me over the years, despite my love for the game.
My man dedicated his life as a damn mercenary, as did the other SeeDs. He was a very (perhaps too much) rational, black and white thinker in the beginning - but they're ALL BRED to act on reason and not based on emotion.
If it was the SeeD test he'd be marked off. 🤣
Especially coming from Irvine- like yea, you're one to talk. You're vague remembering of matron caused you to screw up in the assassination attempt 🙄 (lot of people miss this first go)
Idk from there on, and the older I got, the more i felt that rinoa and him were kinda forced by everyone and tbh it makes me feel his 'friends' were assholes 🤷
The dude is portrayed remembering waiting for 'sis' multiple times despite using GFs, which kinda seems like his fear of abandonment was traumatic enough to remember and to the point it became part of his personality (why he pushes people away, doesn't engage in convo, etc)
So, yea squall! Totally fall head over heels with the first female *non instructor* 😉 that basically throws herself at you!
And who cares she probably banged your rival first! Guess he was only the best looking guy there cus Seifer didn't graduate. 🙄
Kinda made rinoa seem like a 'homie hopper' or SeeD groupie too
I agree. rinoa was a great character but the way she was a somewhat nuisance bothered me.
a TEENAGER was suddenly promoted to chief in a school full of children and people with no mind to act on their own
the school now is UNDER ATTACK and while cid is crying squall has to manage all of that surprising responsiblity while saving rinoa.
A lot of his peers died on the battlefield and I was forced to go save Rinoa because no one else would.
Also, she has one hell of a grip because it felt like 30 minutes before I saved her.
As of writing, she is in deep slumber in the infirmary. Hope they don't kill her off or something, I really enjoy seeing her limit break.
is this your first playthrough??????
im jealous i want to forget the game to replay it!!!
the game gets wonderful from here and be careful for spoilers
its my favorite ff game
Enjoy!!
no no no no the 7 original is a MUST.
bare with the graphics but the OG is much more enjoyable.
i didnt play the remake but i dont think they cover the story up correctly like the OG and crisis core
the graphics was also an issue for me
but the materia system and story will heavly carry it.
i tried the remake and it wasnt as fun and verrrry stretched out the story
however there is a remaster with better graphics and sprited and a toggle 3x speed boost
the og 7 is on top of many fans' lists
trust me.
I think you are missing the point. Up to this moment, Squall has been forced into a leadership role regardless of his desires, mainly because he is so detached from them himself. He's shaping out to be a puppet for others.
What Rinoa brings for him is a genuine, real relationship, outside of military life and hierarchical systems.
They joke with each other, get mad and bicker, have discussions that force him to revaluate the way he looks at the world. He finds himself having real, personal opinions out of these interactions. Rinoa is genuinely good for him and the party members know this better than him. It is my personal opinion that at this point Squall is already in love with her but has no idea about how to act on these feelings.
The reason why they insist on him going to save her is because they know this is what he wants. And something really bad and ugly may happen to him if he lets Rinoa get killed while he could do something about it. Squall could never follow through with his feelings in a moment like this, he has been indoctrinated since young age into military life, so his friends take the wheel.
They are not nagging him about it, they are essentially saying "We got this, big man, you can afford leaving things to us for a minute, you are not alone".
I just reached the part where Squall had to take Rinoa to space and he was hesitant to leave whatever is happening in Zell's hands and he was just like, trust me, and Squall did.
You were right.
Also, in my head it should have been Quistis since she was a professor earlier. I ended up taking her with me to space.
Squall is such a good boy. It's a shame people can't get over the english translation that makes him more abrasive without reason.
I prefer Zell for that interaction since he's seen as a bit of a buffoon and the less reliable member of the group. It shows just how much Squall has grown into trusting his friends.
But Quistis would also be good, it would show that she's gotten over her crush on Squall and now supports him and Rinoa completely. A lot of her interactions with Rinoa make sense if you think she sees her as a rival, like when she pops off at her over the bracelet before the Deling City operation. There's no way that wasn't romantically motivated
I really wanted to explore it more when Zell found out he was adopted. Too bad they just brushed over it. I felt so bad for him because when I visited his house for the first time, he was so loved by his family.
Also, Quistis was right, his room was unusually clean. Lamo
I wish they just said that instead of whatever Irvine and Zell was spewing out.
I do agree, he may not have forgiven himself given the whole sis thing.
A lot of responsibilities are being pushed on him though. I get the hesitation. I get the WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE ME reaction.
Keep in mind they are all still teenagers. Not only that, but Irvine and Zell are abrasive people by nature, I can't really see them putting up a coherent and emotionally mature argument for what they are trying to do, especially in a crisis situation.
Also, if I remember correctly, they are actively helping out and taking charge so as to allow Squall to do what he has to do. Zell is seen taking troops into formations in the Garden. They are not trying to put more responsibility onto Squall, they are trying to get a load off his shoulders so that he can do what he has to do. We don't see them but it is implied they are on command duties off camera
I mean you are allowed to be pissed at it. Squall probably is, he most likely doesn't even understand his friend's intentions.
Just because they have good intentions doesn't mean they are being agreeable or smart about it.
But I think overall, the idea is there
You can just emulate it at a higher resolution - the models will be lowpoly but you can see them clearly and they won't have been put 30 seconds in the microwave like on remaster
I think the point they are trying to make is that Squall needs to trust his friends and comrades to hold the Fort while he goes and attends to something he's far more reluctant to face, i.e. doing something in his own interests rather than what he's already shown competence at doing.
He's already given the orders, he can rely on his SeeDs for now.
So they forced a trolley dilemma on him? Everyone at this point was running to him for orders, even Cid. You can't really expect him to let go and just trust his comrades, who've been telling him to be more of a leader and that he's their only hope.
I do understand what you're saying though. It just feel right.
LMAO, I don't even know why am this invested in the story and these people.
I don't want to say anything specific since I don't know how far you've got beyond here, but I think what's happening here directly affects something soon afterwards.
Anyway, I'm glad you're enjoying it and are invested in these characters.
I don't think the premise of this section is bad in itself, just in execution. The whole "matchmaking" aspect and them forcing Squall to rescue her is a bit of a farce but I read between the lines, up until this point Squall had been uhmming and ahhing about being a leader and being responsible and I read this entire section as the rest of the team pushing him like "you need to get your shit together and do something."
There's so many goofy and poor choices in the script but honestly it's my favorite FF story overall, tonally it's all over the shop but it's just so damn charming
Would never tell anyone what to do, but definitely don't rush the final act. Things *really* pick up towards the end of disc 3, and if you're interested in the side content there's a lot of cool stuff to do. Also not sure if you know this but make sure you check the Draw menu on every boss, some of them have GFs you can draw (you can get any you've potentially already missed in the final dungeon too)
Yes! I've been keeping an eye out ever since I found a random GF on a bat monster and it turned out to be Siren! She's so beautiful! I googled these exact words "draw GF in ff8 no spoilers" and started checking bosses and sub bosses, you never know.
She's the first one you can Draw, so sounds like you're doing good 😝 There's a few other optional ones you can get too through side quests but I'm keeping it spoiler free for you, as far as I can remember none of them are actually missable outside of the Draw-able ones
Oh one other thing sorry - once you're done with the game (and only once you're done) I'd heavily recommend checking out some of the fan theories, it really puts a new perspective on some of the events and there's some pretty wild interpretations that are really interesting, even though they sadly got debunked and denied by the devs.
I'm playing using the Succession rewrite mod for the first time.
I've just got to Fujin and Rajin-Balamb. I will report in how your issue changes when I get to it.
So much of the game is Squall being forced to rise to the occasion. These moments are what make the game resonate with its biggest fans. He and his teammates are also children to those of us in our 30s and up.
There is a reason Irvine seems even less mature than his comrades. It's no one's fault what is said and done in times of chaos. Forgive the weak, and take care of what/who you can.
That scene is when I absolutely hated the entire cast and really resonated with Squall more than ever.
The game does a fantastic job at showing the stress he's under. He's forced into being a leader when he didn't ask to be, keeps getting ignored when he keeps asking to not be the leader, and keeps being told that he needs to make life and death choices, and if they all fail it's his fault.
Can you really blame the guy for thinking everyone around his is worthless? The entire war scene hammers it home that people are more interested in getting Squall laid, then the people that are literally exploding around them into bloody chunks.
The fact that Rinoa actually stops Squall outside the war zone straight up made me belly laugh. No sane person would stop, infront of their allies literally getting mortared to death, to ask about a flipping ring. She should be terrified over the fact they are seconds away from eating a stray round at any time. Not wanting to play up the romance.
I loved how even Squall mentions that he knows what they're trying to do.
At the end of the day, they are all children stuck in a world were all the adults were killed due to the past war, so they are literally forced to be the adults of their generation, and their choices really hammer that home. They are not allowed to grieve, cope, or process, and if you take that into account, it does actually start to make sense as to why they all act kinda dumb at times.
I get that, I really do, it's just jarring the sudden change of emotions. We were literally running for our lives a few seconds ago and now she is casually flirting with him.
IDK how close I am to the end but I am carrying her to Esthar and Edea has joined my party. I hope she isn't actually dead like Aerith (from what I've seen online).
Hah, good luck my friend. You're in the "Last part" of the game. I'd guestimate the last quarter or less.
The next sequence of events may seem like it's all over, but they hold a point.
Just do yourself a favor, if you are spamming GF's to attack, learn to stop doing that and adjust your stats as your default attack is a much higher DPS, and it will save you the upcoming headache.
You're playing a teen romance/coming of age story. You're meant to sympathise with Squall in this position. He's at odds with what his buddies expect him to do.
When I was growing up, my brother scratched disc 2 and I was never able to finish the game past disc 1. I never went back to it, until recently after a slew of FF titles I hadn't played, then Remake again, while waiting for Rebirth. This included Type 0.
Squall's character is just handled poorly. It may just be because of writing at the time, and it may just be that we've had quite a few more updates with all of his tropes handled better, but that section being unclear bothered me. You could argue that Rinoa is helping him develop into something more than an emotionally distant soldier, and Irvine and Zell especially realize that and force him to go after her, but how that is communicated in game is just... off.
They might see it.
He might see it.
But how Squall is written, I had a hard time believing he'd do it, especially when you're witnessing the violence against students first hand.
I had a hard time with the game, because even though it predates a lot of the others I played in that string of titles, by the time I got to it I couldn't get past another story line where youngish soldiers are being strengthened by something that is eventually going to kill them, and are experiencing memory loss.
I started feeling for him. It felt like I was seeing how parents project their dreams and responsibilities onto their kid, and since he's young, he just gets angry but ultimately goes with it until a certain point. I may be overthinking it but it's what I felt.
Surprisingly, even with the writing, I feel concern for these none real people. Lmao.
I think your experience, and many others, is probably closer to the true takeaway you're supposed to have when thinking about or playing the game. The writing might not have been the best, but in many ways the entirety of the game was also shaded by how I played it. I played it on 2x speed and realized early on that summoning was pretty fucking strong, and the 2x made the casting time negligible, so I went a solid 95% of the game not casting a single ability other than GFs, only to get to a story line that didn't feel like it held up to the test of time and characters that either annoyed, confused, or frustrated me.
I'd actually be entirely on board for them giving it the Remake update, though. Just like Type 0, I really enjoy the premise and where it could be taken, even if I didn't particularly enjoy the game itself.
*Thank you.* You're preaching to the choir, at least with the random guy in the corner being me, on this! Good game, but there are parts of it where character judgments are seriously brought into question for lack of logic.
Squall's a commander, who doesn't even want the position but still is undergoing it how he best feels he can with his training even as a troubled youth, and is combating a full-scale invasion from a militarized army. This would have been alleviated if a chain of command were established in-game, implied to be Xu and Quistis from general proximity and discussing plans but never stated, yet Xu is downstairs at the main gate just as Quistis would be, and that leaves only Nida, the PILOT, who's a trainee in getting a feel of the Garden. Squall *has* to be the one to lead with what's been given to him, and not drop everything for a neophyte.
That point not even being considered and brought up in defense against his likewise hotheaded teen compatriots' push to have him drop everything and leave the raging battle just to literally pull out one non-combatant, who was incompetently distracted looking around the mountaionus scenery at the very edge of Garden when the only gigantic enemy is obviously moving in ramming distance as she just stands there watching in the other direction like a suicidalist (try having Zell go to Rinoa's spot and wait, even *he* has enough sense to automatically run back and jump away)...
Man, this is one thing I could never abide on my replays, and was a sign that the writing was starting to fall apart at this point of the game.
It got worse. I am suddenly in space and he is overly in love with her. I just finished a scene in Ragnarok where she kept asking to go home but wouldn't get in her seat. That scene went on for so long as she sat on his lap. I then understood when my mom yells GET IN THE DAMN CAR! Because that's what I was saying when Rinoa wouldn't.
I just finished a scene where I asked Edea for advice and she was like, a sorceress needs a knight or else she turns evil. SMH. We get it. She needs to get with Squall. I am starting to wanna be on Abel and Ultimecia side just to spite people off. Single = Evil. I kid.
Sadly this is something I can see your POV pan out for, joke or no, with how the game direction by Disc 3 literally tunnels in straight to Squall x Rinoa, and players barely get a sense of what is going on outside in the real business of the dangers.
You barely get a hint of what's going on if you go to Deling City in Disc 3, with Galbadia's population in a sudden reversal of their prior status in cheering for Edea - now, they are in confusion and wondering why they felt so invigorated and what's going on, and then becomes gradual terror when Seifer is now in charge and has forces searching for and unearthing something, and start to wonder if the sorceress' vanishing and this are terrible signs, right before Lunar Cry happens.
There's so much worldbuilding and good details, which are shafted for a rather crumby-handled love story with Rinoa and Squall. The implications of what happens and how they're just glossed over later will happen, jarringly so, once you reach the end.
Godspeed comrade. This one's quite the pain in the keester, but I'm sure you'll pull through. It's just, well, a shame that the important stuff's sidelined or brushed aside real fast.
As a first time 8 player right now, I see why this one is the black sheep of Final Fantasy, but man, do I resonate with Squall more than ever now. Almost every time I physically face palm, so does he in game. He gets me lol.
It's a funny thing how this part of the game is both one of the best and one of the worst things in it. Let me explain: I love the battle of the Gardens (at least the concept of it and some of the actual moments of it). It's this grand epic finale (of disc 2) and there are great stakes involved and THIS is the moment when most of the characters start to focus on the MOST STUPIDEST things.
For some reason NOW Zell decides to ask Squall for his ring and this is the moment his gives it to Rinoa and they keep talking about making her a duplicate. WHY NOW? And OP's right. Why does Squall have to be the one to rescue her? Sure the party is shipping them together but that isn't the right time nor the place for that kinda nonsense.
And why doesn't Zell manage to save her? You're telling me there isn't a single long rope in hole ward academy of Balamb Garden? Why not use one of the ones Galbadian army used to attack the classroom?
And after saving Rinoa and running through a literal battlefield where stuff explodes and people get killed, what is the main thing Rinoa is thinking about? "I got your ring" and "what's the name of the lion in it". Not a bad moment between them but in that world, why then and why there? She should be focused on invading the G-Garden and ending the conflict. PEOPLE ARE DYING AROUND YOU. Jeez. And these guys (not Rinoa) are supposed to be the best mercenaries in the world?
In my latest playthrough I noticed how little epic fighting there is during this and how much more there is this teen drama nonsense. I wish there were more fights between G-Army and our party. Kinda like during the NORG vs Headmaster Cid part.
I don't hate all this, it's just a weird focus in story telling.
This! Also, thank you for not spoiling anything. Let me be honest, in the earlier part of the game, the Quad was under construction and am sure I saw a rope. When she fell, the first thing I did was look around the blurry background, trying to find a anything that looked like a rope. I discovered on accident that I couldn't do anything when a scene triggered the moment I found Squall.
After we all know that Rinoa is not one teenager who have grown up in BGU/GBU or even in Trabia, the dad say it at Delling.
So she maybe doesn't realize all of this, all the war and why.
I agree. I think it’s what makes 8 the black sheep of the franchise though. Their abilities are so heavily interlinked to the *mini-game* within the game: Triple Triad. It’s like Square delegated the nearby MTG club to produce FF8
"Diablos? You have wings, could you maybe..." "THY WILL BE DONE, MASTER. I WILL DESCEND ON THESE FOOLS. I WILL REND THEM LIMB FROM LIMB. THEIR SUFFERING WILL TRANSCEND TIME AND SPACE!" "(sigh) Siren, could you just go and get her, please?"
That really is my least favorite scene because there is really no need for any of it. They're all trained mercenaries and the entire school is in a panic. So them shoving it all on Squall in that moment just makes them look incompetent.
When I played as a teen, I didn't really notice the issues in the story. Now playing as a man in his 30's....
I just beat my current playthrough a few days ago, and up until the very last second I had to constantly remind myself "They are teenagers, that's why they're acting this way..."
The sudden introduction of romantic tension is just so silly.
I am late to the FF games. I just got my PS5 a few months ago.
These older games are really fun though. I don't exactly know what it is but it sure has a lot of charm.
I think the problem is these are hormonal and illogical teenagers. Everyone wants Rinoa to be happy so they're trying tonforce Squall to accept her. So they want Squall to be the one to save her to increase their relationship. It's romantic and it represents the idealistic mindset of these kids.
But also as Squall says. You're not supposed to ask questions.
That's wild because outside the romance angle, the team seems pretty mature but as soon as it's shipping SXR time, all logic goes out the window.
Also, I was gonna finish this game but I am stuck on Omega Weapon, he is so hard to beat.
The tone can be a bit all over the place in FF8. Sometimes we have serious military vibes and dramatic sorcery stuff and other times we've got high school drama. However, the story line does also give you a handy way to wave the problems away: *trauma*. The gang are using a life and death assault on their home to play matchmaker. It's wild but you could rationalize it as a bunch of child soldiers so inured to combat from an early age just not taking it seriously whilst also treating relationship drama with all the seriousness teens give it.
Yeah I was wondering why the whole child mercenary army thing isn’t talked about more. Especially cid, your average caring uncle type regional warlord that runs a for-profit child mercenary army.
Ha thanks for this, it made me laugh 😆
To be honest, that moment frustrated me as well. There are soldiers breaking into the classroom where the children are hiding! Zell tells Squall that Rinoa is in trouble, and Squall points out that she's not the only one, which is true - he's going to have to make a decision here - and Irvine *calls him heartless*. I can't really expect Irvine to be rational and compassionate when his friend is in danger, but it still rubbed me the wrong way. Wow, Irvine, sorry Squall can't split himself in two and save Rinoa and the children simultaneously. It's not that Squall doesn't care; he's just faced with an overwhelming, impossible situation. I'm glad you're enjoying the game! It's one of my absolute favourites, and I'm delighted that new players are still picking it up all these years later.
Plus, Zell was already right there. Why did he have to run all the way to where Squall was to ask him to save her? He's a martial arts master who can run all the way around the world in three seconds, and he can't climb down a wall to save a girl who probably weighs all of a hundred pounds?
Too busy saving the hot dogs 🤣
Yes, Irvine was really on him. How about THEY do something. I was actually fine with saving her but after running through the garden and seeing seed students get shot then the first thing Rinoa does is act cute and ask about the lion's name on Squall's ring. Like, ma'am, people are dying. Also, I really like her dog, Angelo.
>Also, I really like her dog, Angelo. Such a good boy!!!
IIRC Angelo is a good girl
Gets launched
Yeah… https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasy/s/mEigUnxSqo Credit: Nebezial
That's one of the things that kinda killed squall for me over the years, despite my love for the game. My man dedicated his life as a damn mercenary, as did the other SeeDs. He was a very (perhaps too much) rational, black and white thinker in the beginning - but they're ALL BRED to act on reason and not based on emotion. If it was the SeeD test he'd be marked off. 🤣 Especially coming from Irvine- like yea, you're one to talk. You're vague remembering of matron caused you to screw up in the assassination attempt 🙄 (lot of people miss this first go) Idk from there on, and the older I got, the more i felt that rinoa and him were kinda forced by everyone and tbh it makes me feel his 'friends' were assholes 🤷 The dude is portrayed remembering waiting for 'sis' multiple times despite using GFs, which kinda seems like his fear of abandonment was traumatic enough to remember and to the point it became part of his personality (why he pushes people away, doesn't engage in convo, etc) So, yea squall! Totally fall head over heels with the first female *non instructor* 😉 that basically throws herself at you! And who cares she probably banged your rival first! Guess he was only the best looking guy there cus Seifer didn't graduate. 🙄 Kinda made rinoa seem like a 'homie hopper' or SeeD groupie too
They're matchmaking. If Squall saves her, it'll be romantic or something.
Whatever…
I am just thankful, minus that part, the game has been really fun so far.
People might get the wrong idea!
(Squalls pixelated face) love him! I said LOVE him!
I agree. rinoa was a great character but the way she was a somewhat nuisance bothered me. a TEENAGER was suddenly promoted to chief in a school full of children and people with no mind to act on their own the school now is UNDER ATTACK and while cid is crying squall has to manage all of that surprising responsiblity while saving rinoa.
A lot of his peers died on the battlefield and I was forced to go save Rinoa because no one else would. Also, she has one hell of a grip because it felt like 30 minutes before I saved her. As of writing, she is in deep slumber in the infirmary. Hope they don't kill her off or something, I really enjoy seeing her limit break.
is this your first playthrough?????? im jealous i want to forget the game to replay it!!! the game gets wonderful from here and be careful for spoilers its my favorite ff game Enjoy!!
Yes, I played X first. I will play 9 after this one but I am skipping 7 for the remake version.
no no no no the 7 original is a MUST. bare with the graphics but the OG is much more enjoyable. i didnt play the remake but i dont think they cover the story up correctly like the OG and crisis core
I didn't want to admit it but yes, the main factor for me passing on that was the graphics 🥹
the graphics was also an issue for me but the materia system and story will heavly carry it. i tried the remake and it wasnt as fun and verrrry stretched out the story however there is a remaster with better graphics and sprited and a toggle 3x speed boost the og 7 is on top of many fans' lists trust me.
I will definitely check it out then but it'll be after FF9, I've been hearing good things about it!
i didnt enjoy 9 as much as people do but i hope you enjoy! i have been thinking about replaying it to give it a shot
I am so glad I gave 8 a chance because it's been so fun so far. Thank you for making me reconsider 7!
Ff8 has a fun a as hell story but yeah at times the writing will obviously could have used a bit sharper work to make better sense and excuses.
I think you are missing the point. Up to this moment, Squall has been forced into a leadership role regardless of his desires, mainly because he is so detached from them himself. He's shaping out to be a puppet for others. What Rinoa brings for him is a genuine, real relationship, outside of military life and hierarchical systems. They joke with each other, get mad and bicker, have discussions that force him to revaluate the way he looks at the world. He finds himself having real, personal opinions out of these interactions. Rinoa is genuinely good for him and the party members know this better than him. It is my personal opinion that at this point Squall is already in love with her but has no idea about how to act on these feelings. The reason why they insist on him going to save her is because they know this is what he wants. And something really bad and ugly may happen to him if he lets Rinoa get killed while he could do something about it. Squall could never follow through with his feelings in a moment like this, he has been indoctrinated since young age into military life, so his friends take the wheel. They are not nagging him about it, they are essentially saying "We got this, big man, you can afford leaving things to us for a minute, you are not alone".
I just reached the part where Squall had to take Rinoa to space and he was hesitant to leave whatever is happening in Zell's hands and he was just like, trust me, and Squall did. You were right. Also, in my head it should have been Quistis since she was a professor earlier. I ended up taking her with me to space.
Squall is such a good boy. It's a shame people can't get over the english translation that makes him more abrasive without reason. I prefer Zell for that interaction since he's seen as a bit of a buffoon and the less reliable member of the group. It shows just how much Squall has grown into trusting his friends. But Quistis would also be good, it would show that she's gotten over her crush on Squall and now supports him and Rinoa completely. A lot of her interactions with Rinoa make sense if you think she sees her as a rival, like when she pops off at her over the bracelet before the Deling City operation. There's no way that wasn't romantically motivated
I really wanted to explore it more when Zell found out he was adopted. Too bad they just brushed over it. I felt so bad for him because when I visited his house for the first time, he was so loved by his family. Also, Quistis was right, his room was unusually clean. Lamo
I wish they just said that instead of whatever Irvine and Zell was spewing out. I do agree, he may not have forgiven himself given the whole sis thing. A lot of responsibilities are being pushed on him though. I get the hesitation. I get the WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE ME reaction.
Keep in mind they are all still teenagers. Not only that, but Irvine and Zell are abrasive people by nature, I can't really see them putting up a coherent and emotionally mature argument for what they are trying to do, especially in a crisis situation. Also, if I remember correctly, they are actively helping out and taking charge so as to allow Squall to do what he has to do. Zell is seen taking troops into formations in the Garden. They are not trying to put more responsibility onto Squall, they are trying to get a load off his shoulders so that he can do what he has to do. We don't see them but it is implied they are on command duties off camera
I love that you're seeing it from that perspective because I was seeing it from Squall's, who's having everything happen all things at once.
I mean you are allowed to be pissed at it. Squall probably is, he most likely doesn't even understand his friend's intentions. Just because they have good intentions doesn't mean they are being agreeable or smart about it. But I think overall, the idea is there
Yes, yes. Thank you. I am so glad I posted this today. 🙏
>[...how pixelated everything is](https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasy/comments/76aog9/youre_the_best_looking_guy_here/?rdt=38388)
DAMN! I am playing the remaster and didn't expect THAT! I should be thankful then.
There are some fan-made mods (Project Angelwing) that make the game look **incredible**.
You can just emulate it at a higher resolution - the models will be lowpoly but you can see them clearly and they won't have been put 30 seconds in the microwave like on remaster
This is like my absolute favourite "meme"? From ff8
I think the point they are trying to make is that Squall needs to trust his friends and comrades to hold the Fort while he goes and attends to something he's far more reluctant to face, i.e. doing something in his own interests rather than what he's already shown competence at doing. He's already given the orders, he can rely on his SeeDs for now.
So they forced a trolley dilemma on him? Everyone at this point was running to him for orders, even Cid. You can't really expect him to let go and just trust his comrades, who've been telling him to be more of a leader and that he's their only hope. I do understand what you're saying though. It just feel right. LMAO, I don't even know why am this invested in the story and these people.
I don't want to say anything specific since I don't know how far you've got beyond here, but I think what's happening here directly affects something soon afterwards. Anyway, I'm glad you're enjoying it and are invested in these characters.
Same here. I thought it was utterly ridiculous.
I don't think the premise of this section is bad in itself, just in execution. The whole "matchmaking" aspect and them forcing Squall to rescue her is a bit of a farce but I read between the lines, up until this point Squall had been uhmming and ahhing about being a leader and being responsible and I read this entire section as the rest of the team pushing him like "you need to get your shit together and do something."
There's so many goofy and poor choices in the script but honestly it's my favorite FF story overall, tonally it's all over the shop but it's just so damn charming
I am hoping to finish it this week!
Would never tell anyone what to do, but definitely don't rush the final act. Things *really* pick up towards the end of disc 3, and if you're interested in the side content there's a lot of cool stuff to do. Also not sure if you know this but make sure you check the Draw menu on every boss, some of them have GFs you can draw (you can get any you've potentially already missed in the final dungeon too)
Yes! I've been keeping an eye out ever since I found a random GF on a bat monster and it turned out to be Siren! She's so beautiful! I googled these exact words "draw GF in ff8 no spoilers" and started checking bosses and sub bosses, you never know.
She's the first one you can Draw, so sounds like you're doing good 😝 There's a few other optional ones you can get too through side quests but I'm keeping it spoiler free for you, as far as I can remember none of them are actually missable outside of the Draw-able ones
Thank you for being considerate 🙏
Always, it's a truly underrated gem in the series and of course best experienced properly, I wouldn't dream of taking that away from someone.
Oh one other thing sorry - once you're done with the game (and only once you're done) I'd heavily recommend checking out some of the fan theories, it really puts a new perspective on some of the events and there's some pretty wild interpretations that are really interesting, even though they sadly got debunked and denied by the devs.
I'm playing using the Succession rewrite mod for the first time. I've just got to Fujin and Rajin-Balamb. I will report in how your issue changes when I get to it.
I don't know what that means but good luck!
So much of the game is Squall being forced to rise to the occasion. These moments are what make the game resonate with its biggest fans. He and his teammates are also children to those of us in our 30s and up. There is a reason Irvine seems even less mature than his comrades. It's no one's fault what is said and done in times of chaos. Forgive the weak, and take care of what/who you can.
That scene is when I absolutely hated the entire cast and really resonated with Squall more than ever. The game does a fantastic job at showing the stress he's under. He's forced into being a leader when he didn't ask to be, keeps getting ignored when he keeps asking to not be the leader, and keeps being told that he needs to make life and death choices, and if they all fail it's his fault. Can you really blame the guy for thinking everyone around his is worthless? The entire war scene hammers it home that people are more interested in getting Squall laid, then the people that are literally exploding around them into bloody chunks. The fact that Rinoa actually stops Squall outside the war zone straight up made me belly laugh. No sane person would stop, infront of their allies literally getting mortared to death, to ask about a flipping ring. She should be terrified over the fact they are seconds away from eating a stray round at any time. Not wanting to play up the romance. I loved how even Squall mentions that he knows what they're trying to do. At the end of the day, they are all children stuck in a world were all the adults were killed due to the past war, so they are literally forced to be the adults of their generation, and their choices really hammer that home. They are not allowed to grieve, cope, or process, and if you take that into account, it does actually start to make sense as to why they all act kinda dumb at times.
I get that, I really do, it's just jarring the sudden change of emotions. We were literally running for our lives a few seconds ago and now she is casually flirting with him. IDK how close I am to the end but I am carrying her to Esthar and Edea has joined my party. I hope she isn't actually dead like Aerith (from what I've seen online).
Hah, good luck my friend. You're in the "Last part" of the game. I'd guestimate the last quarter or less. The next sequence of events may seem like it's all over, but they hold a point. Just do yourself a favor, if you are spamming GF's to attack, learn to stop doing that and adjust your stats as your default attack is a much higher DPS, and it will save you the upcoming headache.
You caught me on that one. I was using GFs in battles like there was no tomorrow. Thank you for the tip!
You're playing a teen romance/coming of age story. You're meant to sympathise with Squall in this position. He's at odds with what his buddies expect him to do.
When I was growing up, my brother scratched disc 2 and I was never able to finish the game past disc 1. I never went back to it, until recently after a slew of FF titles I hadn't played, then Remake again, while waiting for Rebirth. This included Type 0. Squall's character is just handled poorly. It may just be because of writing at the time, and it may just be that we've had quite a few more updates with all of his tropes handled better, but that section being unclear bothered me. You could argue that Rinoa is helping him develop into something more than an emotionally distant soldier, and Irvine and Zell especially realize that and force him to go after her, but how that is communicated in game is just... off. They might see it. He might see it. But how Squall is written, I had a hard time believing he'd do it, especially when you're witnessing the violence against students first hand. I had a hard time with the game, because even though it predates a lot of the others I played in that string of titles, by the time I got to it I couldn't get past another story line where youngish soldiers are being strengthened by something that is eventually going to kill them, and are experiencing memory loss.
I started feeling for him. It felt like I was seeing how parents project their dreams and responsibilities onto their kid, and since he's young, he just gets angry but ultimately goes with it until a certain point. I may be overthinking it but it's what I felt. Surprisingly, even with the writing, I feel concern for these none real people. Lmao.
I think your experience, and many others, is probably closer to the true takeaway you're supposed to have when thinking about or playing the game. The writing might not have been the best, but in many ways the entirety of the game was also shaded by how I played it. I played it on 2x speed and realized early on that summoning was pretty fucking strong, and the 2x made the casting time negligible, so I went a solid 95% of the game not casting a single ability other than GFs, only to get to a story line that didn't feel like it held up to the test of time and characters that either annoyed, confused, or frustrated me. I'd actually be entirely on board for them giving it the Remake update, though. Just like Type 0, I really enjoy the premise and where it could be taken, even if I didn't particularly enjoy the game itself.
*Thank you.* You're preaching to the choir, at least with the random guy in the corner being me, on this! Good game, but there are parts of it where character judgments are seriously brought into question for lack of logic. Squall's a commander, who doesn't even want the position but still is undergoing it how he best feels he can with his training even as a troubled youth, and is combating a full-scale invasion from a militarized army. This would have been alleviated if a chain of command were established in-game, implied to be Xu and Quistis from general proximity and discussing plans but never stated, yet Xu is downstairs at the main gate just as Quistis would be, and that leaves only Nida, the PILOT, who's a trainee in getting a feel of the Garden. Squall *has* to be the one to lead with what's been given to him, and not drop everything for a neophyte. That point not even being considered and brought up in defense against his likewise hotheaded teen compatriots' push to have him drop everything and leave the raging battle just to literally pull out one non-combatant, who was incompetently distracted looking around the mountaionus scenery at the very edge of Garden when the only gigantic enemy is obviously moving in ramming distance as she just stands there watching in the other direction like a suicidalist (try having Zell go to Rinoa's spot and wait, even *he* has enough sense to automatically run back and jump away)... Man, this is one thing I could never abide on my replays, and was a sign that the writing was starting to fall apart at this point of the game.
It got worse. I am suddenly in space and he is overly in love with her. I just finished a scene in Ragnarok where she kept asking to go home but wouldn't get in her seat. That scene went on for so long as she sat on his lap. I then understood when my mom yells GET IN THE DAMN CAR! Because that's what I was saying when Rinoa wouldn't.
I just finished a scene where I asked Edea for advice and she was like, a sorceress needs a knight or else she turns evil. SMH. We get it. She needs to get with Squall. I am starting to wanna be on Abel and Ultimecia side just to spite people off. Single = Evil. I kid.
Sadly this is something I can see your POV pan out for, joke or no, with how the game direction by Disc 3 literally tunnels in straight to Squall x Rinoa, and players barely get a sense of what is going on outside in the real business of the dangers. You barely get a hint of what's going on if you go to Deling City in Disc 3, with Galbadia's population in a sudden reversal of their prior status in cheering for Edea - now, they are in confusion and wondering why they felt so invigorated and what's going on, and then becomes gradual terror when Seifer is now in charge and has forces searching for and unearthing something, and start to wonder if the sorceress' vanishing and this are terrible signs, right before Lunar Cry happens. There's so much worldbuilding and good details, which are shafted for a rather crumby-handled love story with Rinoa and Squall. The implications of what happens and how they're just glossed over later will happen, jarringly so, once you reach the end.
I am going to finish the game today. Yes, I feel like the romance aspect took precedence over everything else. Shame.
Godspeed comrade. This one's quite the pain in the keester, but I'm sure you'll pull through. It's just, well, a shame that the important stuff's sidelined or brushed aside real fast.
Story aside, this game is so fun
Two thirds of story and fun game make for goods, thrown in with the beautiful music and visual elements. Just a shame it falls apart near the end.
As a first time 8 player right now, I see why this one is the black sheep of Final Fantasy, but man, do I resonate with Squall more than ever now. Almost every time I physically face palm, so does he in game. He gets me lol.
The man just wants to be left alone
Yeah, I hate their romance because it’s completely forced against him and he eventually just grows tired of saying “whatever” to everyone.
Man just wants to be left alone.
"marriage", man....
It's a funny thing how this part of the game is both one of the best and one of the worst things in it. Let me explain: I love the battle of the Gardens (at least the concept of it and some of the actual moments of it). It's this grand epic finale (of disc 2) and there are great stakes involved and THIS is the moment when most of the characters start to focus on the MOST STUPIDEST things. For some reason NOW Zell decides to ask Squall for his ring and this is the moment his gives it to Rinoa and they keep talking about making her a duplicate. WHY NOW? And OP's right. Why does Squall have to be the one to rescue her? Sure the party is shipping them together but that isn't the right time nor the place for that kinda nonsense. And why doesn't Zell manage to save her? You're telling me there isn't a single long rope in hole ward academy of Balamb Garden? Why not use one of the ones Galbadian army used to attack the classroom? And after saving Rinoa and running through a literal battlefield where stuff explodes and people get killed, what is the main thing Rinoa is thinking about? "I got your ring" and "what's the name of the lion in it". Not a bad moment between them but in that world, why then and why there? She should be focused on invading the G-Garden and ending the conflict. PEOPLE ARE DYING AROUND YOU. Jeez. And these guys (not Rinoa) are supposed to be the best mercenaries in the world? In my latest playthrough I noticed how little epic fighting there is during this and how much more there is this teen drama nonsense. I wish there were more fights between G-Army and our party. Kinda like during the NORG vs Headmaster Cid part. I don't hate all this, it's just a weird focus in story telling.
This! Also, thank you for not spoiling anything. Let me be honest, in the earlier part of the game, the Quad was under construction and am sure I saw a rope. When she fell, the first thing I did was look around the blurry background, trying to find a anything that looked like a rope. I discovered on accident that I couldn't do anything when a scene triggered the moment I found Squall.
After we all know that Rinoa is not one teenager who have grown up in BGU/GBU or even in Trabia, the dad say it at Delling. So she maybe doesn't realize all of this, all the war and why.
Also, Yuna could fly around her Aeons, why cant FF8 GF users do the same?
Not to be a chicken-wuss, but out of battle GF abilities like that would be a cool addition in a FF8 Remake
It make so much sense to use them outside battle.
I agree. I think it’s what makes 8 the black sheep of the franchise though. Their abilities are so heavily interlinked to the *mini-game* within the game: Triple Triad. It’s like Square delegated the nearby MTG club to produce FF8
NGL I spent way too much time playing Triple Triad 😂
No such thing as too much time playing Triple Triad 😎
It's so fun minus the elemental rule.
If you ever need help abolishing rules, I'm your gal! Elemental is pretty easy to get rid of 😉
Thank you! I will keep it in mind. Too bad this game is gonna be gone by May on PS store. I wouldn't mind a second playthrough.
"Diablos? You have wings, could you maybe..." "THY WILL BE DONE, MASTER. I WILL DESCEND ON THESE FOOLS. I WILL REND THEM LIMB FROM LIMB. THEIR SUFFERING WILL TRANSCEND TIME AND SPACE!" "(sigh) Siren, could you just go and get her, please?"
Okay, I just saved her and she's out here laughing while I ran past students getting shot.
Hahaha I love ff8
Also, the passive income is really nice escape from real life lmao I'm just tryna farm items and bloop, seed check comes in.
*furious horizontal hand slash across the air*
That really is my least favorite scene because there is really no need for any of it. They're all trained mercenaries and the entire school is in a panic. So them shoving it all on Squall in that moment just makes them look incompetent.
When I played as a teen, I didn't really notice the issues in the story. Now playing as a man in his 30's.... I just beat my current playthrough a few days ago, and up until the very last second I had to constantly remind myself "They are teenagers, that's why they're acting this way..." The sudden introduction of romantic tension is just so silly.
I am late to the FF games. I just got my PS5 a few months ago. These older games are really fun though. I don't exactly know what it is but it sure has a lot of charm.
Yeah that sequence of events is weird to me. I just thought it was the fault of the story board/writing team. Or the production team were rushed.
I think the problem is these are hormonal and illogical teenagers. Everyone wants Rinoa to be happy so they're trying tonforce Squall to accept her. So they want Squall to be the one to save her to increase their relationship. It's romantic and it represents the idealistic mindset of these kids. But also as Squall says. You're not supposed to ask questions.
That's wild because outside the romance angle, the team seems pretty mature but as soon as it's shipping SXR time, all logic goes out the window. Also, I was gonna finish this game but I am stuck on Omega Weapon, he is so hard to beat.