Final Fantasy VIII provided a new RPG experience when it was released. For its time, the graphics were revolutionary and battle system was very unique. In this game, summoning is extremely important to all aspects of the game, including everything from character attributes to prices at shops around the world. For the first time in a Final Fantasy game you couldn't just muscle your way through every fight using pure brute force. FFVIII also had another unique feature in its mini side card game that is pretty fun, challenging, and rewarding in itself.
Many people ridicule this game and write it off as one of the weaker games in the franchise. Although I can see where some people are coming from, I have to disagree on the whole.
The weaknesses in this game lie in the battle system which lacks the ease of some of the other games Final Fantasy games. The game is based primarily on the levels and abilities of your Guardian Forces (summons) since attacking is, for the most part, useless in important battles due to its comparative weakness.
But, these things put aside, the game still remains thoroughly enjoyable. For one thing, the cinematics of the GFs when summoned are awesome, so their domination of the battle system does not hurt the game too terribly. Also, the soundtrack for this game proved to be yet another masterpiece by Nobuo Uematsu.
As a side note, if you are looking for a challenge, play the "Queen of Cards Side Quest." It is one of the rare cases in video gaming where you really do need a strategy guide or it would be close to impossible to figure out. Overall, depending upon the depth that the game is played at, it can be extremely challenging.
Altogether, this game's strengths outweigh its weaknesses and I would have to say that, on the whole, it is one of the best, and most challenging, games that I have ever played. And, although in my opinion it is no Final Fantasy VII, it proves to be another great installment in the Final Fantasy Series.
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