After replaying the unique, 1997, Closing Fantasy VII just lately, I knew the following step for me was to right away soar into Closing Fantasy VIII. As my favourite sport within the franchise, I can hardly resist any alternative to play FF8, however this time I felt extra inspired to attract factors of comparability and variations between it and FF7. Although they characteristic completely totally different worlds, characters, and tales, they work collectively as virtually narrative cousins in an inspiring and interesting manner.
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Although they’ve their clear variations, I used to be at all times struck by howFF7 and FF8 function on related wavelengths. They inform related tales—albeit with very totally different tones, and are each a fusion of science fiction and fantasy, using the tech of the ‘90s with 3D fashions superimposed over pre-rendered backgrounds with mounted digital camera angles. Enjoying them typically seems like a really related expertise. And, notably, each video games characteristic characters who wrestle with reminiscence loss.
However whereas FF7 places its protagonist, Cloud, by means of crippling episodes of ache on the reemergence of his reminiscences, FF8 is way extra mild with its forged of orphans, virtually as if it desires to think about a greater future and current for them than FF7 affords its forged.
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FF7’s narrative typically feels sinister at occasions, with bursts of static punctuating the frail thoughts of the aptly named Cloud Strife, with the menacing threats of the sport’s antagonists Jenova and Sephiroth lurking behind each nook. Cloud is never afforded a second to be a standard particular person, to have regular ideas. As a substitute, he spends a lot of the sport posing as somebody he’s not.
Whereas FF8’s characters have additionally misplaced their reminiscences, they’re allowed extra space to be themselves. Protagonist Squall’s realizations and inside monologues are allowed to breathe and mentally wander. FF8 options way more inside monologues, a lot of which doc the characters working by means of tough and complicated conditions. It’s one thing that Cloud is never afforded the chance to do. Squall’s ideas are befitting of an ungainly 17-year-old child whose childhood reminiscences have light, as he’s pressured to deal with a set of cosmic expectations which might be arduous to completely comprehend. Whereas Cloud emerges from a much more traumatic previous, with sharp inside ideas that fairly actually wound him. Unpacking his reminiscences is a violent ordeal, one which forces him, and his childhood good friend Tifa, to undergo a surreal and painful journey of recollection.
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In FF8, the pressures of the geo-political scenario round Squall and the opposite characters are intimidating, little doubt, however the tone is wildly totally different. That is very true of the second the characters regain their reminiscences of themselves and one another.
FF7’s greatest tragedy is impactful, sharp, and harrowing, that includes the irreversible loss of life of a personality. FF8 feels prefer it desires to be kinder to its forged. Moments that may very well be a matter of life and loss of life, comparable to deciding break up the occasion when Galbadia launches missiles at Balamb Backyard, don’t finish in irreversible tragedy. FF8’s characters stay to see one another once more, and stay to recollect one another in a extra mild manner.
The variations in how each video games depict their worlds, and the areas give to the participant are additionally of be aware. FF8’s Balamb Backyard, for instance, is a sort of house that FF7’s characters, maybe apart from Crimson XIII and possibly Yuffie, are afforded. Most locations in FF7 are in some state of oppression and tragedy. FF8, although, portrays extra regular, diversified home settings that aren’t as downtrodden and reliant on a dangerous power supply owned and distributed by a vicious, militant company. I typically discover the world of FF8 extra alluring to day dream about due to this. Or, on the very least, it’s a setting that conjures up extra optimism.
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That distinction is what makes enjoying these two back-to-back at all times a pleasing expertise. It’s straightforward to stroll away from FF7, I believe, with a way of despair and uncertainty. True, FF8’s conclusion can also be fairly mysterious, but it surely spends much less time underneath instant narrative stress like FF7 does. In consequence, enjoying FF8 instantly after FF7 offers alternate views and conjures up totally different emotional contours. The expertise of enjoying each affords a sort of trans-narrative decision that’s refreshing in a world dominated by a gentle development of direct sequels, prequels, and remakes in video games.
FF8 will at all times be my favourite Closing Fantasy, however I do love pondering of FF7 and FF8 as associated to 1 one other, dealing with related settings and themes with totally different approaches. And transferring from one universe to a very totally different one, as Closing Fantasy used to, is the sort of factor I hope the collection regains. A lot as I’ve loved some sequels like X-2, XIII-2, and each FF7 remake installments, transferring throughout separate worlds whereas nonetheless vibing on appropriate themes is one thing Closing Fantasy used to do properly, and is in my view way more fascinating than sequels that supply little greater than further lore dumps.
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