Final Fantasy VIII Remastered Reviews
What saves Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is the fact that it is still Final Fantasy VIII, and that it is still a very interesting entry thanks to its ambiance and unique setting.
Final Fantasy VIII remastered looks better than the original in a lot of ways. While the game deserved much more love than it got, The story is great and the there are options for newcomers to make things easier. Worth it to check out.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is a prime example of how to do a remaster well. Improved graphics modernize the experience, and modifiers help alleviate the grind issues.
The story and characters are still engaging, the score sounds as beautiful as ever, and the art design looks impressive.
When it comes down to it, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is still a great game. It has some flaws that bog down the experience from the original release, but it still has some great enhancements.
You will only need to play Final Fantasy VIII for its innovative battle system. Though a HD remaster worthy of your time, its confusing, messy narrative may drive away some players looking to get into the Final Fantasy franchise where far better examples exist.
Final Fantasy VIII is the favourite instalment of yours truly. Its story is consistent and powerfully emotional, the characters relate well and the way they meet up makes sense.
Final Fantasy VIII is still a great game and if you're playing it for the first time, I'd suggest getting this version. If you already have an earlier release however then it's hard to justify the cost. A few graphical tweaks and some blurring isn't worth the money for me: I could get a similar effect by taking off my glasses before playing and save myself 16 quid in the process. A poor remaster of a great game
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered has released and there is a lot of nostalgia for it to live up too. While the game keeps several essential systems intact and improves on the character models, I would have like to see more visual improvements throughout the game.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered takes a 20-year-old game and polishes it to HD standards -- sort of. While the core gameplay remains intact, as does the epic story, this half-hearted remaster leaves fans wanting more.
This is easily the most skippable entry of all the mainline Final Fantasy games on the Switch right now, but if you find yourself to be a fan of either the Final Fantasy series or the JRPG genre, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered proves to be a release that’s certainly worth your time
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered doesn't live up to its name and only really succeeds in making Final Fantasy VIII playable on current systems.
The essence of Final Fantasy VIII is all there is, and every element of the game is there in its place like two decades ago, but the aspect with which it presents itself highlights the little care dedicated to the graphics sector.
Review in Italian | Read full review
All in all, Final Fantasy VIII: Remastered is a solid port. The new character models look nice, and the additional features are all welcome. At its core, it's still Final Fantasy 8, and almost nothing has changed about it. If you were a fan of the original, you'll like the remaster, and if you weren't, then it's unlikely this will change your mind. This is likely the definitive version of the game, blurry backgrounds and all, and it's well worth picking up for anyone who's looking to experience FF8 for the first time.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered reintroduces this iconic RPG from the 90's to the present, accompanied by beautiful graphics that will stand the test of time. However, the original problems with the gameplay continued in this version
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Although it was overlooked by many at the time, and unfortunately looked down on as ‘the game that came after Final Fantasy 7’, Final Fantasy 8 offers a mature and gripping story filled with characters you’ll grow to love. Now that it’s available on all current platforms and looking better than ever, there’s never been a better time to jump in and give it a shot if you’ve ever been interested in playing it.
Final Fantasy VIII is worthy of another playthrough, and new players will appreciate the assists, but the remaster doesn't provide enough difference to constitute buying if you already own the original.
Overall, Final Fantasy VIII is totally what you make of it. If you aren’t into grinding this game will most likely suck without the use of the in-built convenience options. If you were looking for something largely improved, this is definitely smack bang in the middle of “Just port it over” and “Let’s put a huge budget in this!”. But in saying that, I’m enjoying my time with Final Fantasy VIII again. Now that I’m older and I can appreciate the complexity of this game, it’s been given it a new lease of life for me. Sometimes that’s all a game needs in a remaster.
Regardless of your feelings toward Final Fantasy VIII, there’s something timelessly endearing about this often-forgotten title. The plot progresses well, the characters grow into their roles despite a rocky start and the soundtrack is one of the best in the series’ history. The gameplay is largely unchanged and the battle assist options do cut out some of the grind, which will appeal to those looking to experience the story again without the need to grind through levels. It may not be the remake fans have been crying out for, but it is a solid reminder of how charming these early turn-based games were back in the day, and well worth a play all these years later.
Final Fantasy VIII isn’t without its flaws, and it spreads them fairly evenly across story, mechanics, and pacing. Happily, the speed boost on offer in the remaster fixes the pacing, which effectively papers over the cracks in the grind-heavy mechanics. What you’re left with is a fun, somewhat silly, and beautiful RPG. And on Nintendo Switch, you can play it anywhere. This really is the best way to play Final Fantasy VIII.