After replaying the unique, 1997, Closing Fantasy VII not too long ago, I knew the subsequent step for me was to right away bounce into Closing Fantasy VIII. As my favourite recreation 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 completely different worlds, characters, and tales, they work collectively as virtually narrative cousins in an inspiring and engaging 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 comparable wavelengths. They inform comparable tales—albeit with very completely 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 fastened digicam angles. Taking part in them typically appears like a really comparable expertise. And, notably, each video games characteristic characters who battle with reminiscence loss.
However whereas FF7 places its protagonist, Cloud, by way of crippling episodes of ache on the reemergence of his recollections, FF8 is much extra light with its solid of orphans, virtually as if it needs to think about a greater future and current for them than FF7 affords its solid.
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FF7’s narrative typically feels sinister at instances, 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 traditional 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 recollections, they’re allowed extra space to be themselves. Protagonist Squall’s realizations and inside monologues are allowed to breathe and mentally wander. FF8 options much more inside monologues, lots of which doc the characters working by way of troublesome 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 recollections have light, as he’s pressured to cope with a set of cosmic expectations which can be onerous to totally comprehend. Whereas Cloud emerges from a much more traumatic previous, with sharp inside ideas that fairly actually wound him. Unpacking his recollections 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 state of affairs round Squall and the opposite characters are intimidating, little doubt, however the tone is wildly completely different. That is very true of the second the characters regain their recollections of themselves and one another.
FF7’s greatest tragedy is impactful, sharp, and harrowing, that includes the irreversible demise of a personality. FF8 feels prefer it needs to be kinder to its solid. Moments that may very well be a matter of life and demise, comparable to deciding find out how to cut up the celebration when Galbadia launches missiles at Balamb Backyard, don’t finish in irreversible tragedy. FF8’s characters reside to see one another once more, and reside to recollect one another in a extra light 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 form of dwelling that FF7’s characters, maybe except for Crimson XIII and possibly Yuffie, are afforded. Most locations in FF7 are in some state of oppression and tragedy. FF8, although, portrays extra regular, different 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 evokes extra optimism.
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That distinction is what makes enjoying these two back-to-back at all times a nice expertise. It’s simple to stroll away from FF7, I believe, with a way of despair and uncertainty. True, FF8’s conclusion can also be fairly mysterious, however it spends much less time beneath quick narrative stress like FF7 does. In consequence, enjoying FF8 instantly after FF7 supplies alternate views and evokes completely different emotional contours. The expertise of enjoying each affords a form 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 considering of FF7 and FF8 as associated to 1 one other, dealing with comparable settings and themes with completely different approaches. And shifting from one universe to a very completely different one, as Closing Fantasy used to, is the form of factor I hope the sequence regains. A lot as I’ve loved some sequels like X-2, XIII-2, and each FF7 remake installments, shifting throughout separate worlds whereas nonetheless vibing on appropriate themes is one thing Closing Fantasy used to do effectively, and is for my part much more attention-grabbing than sequels that provide little greater than extra lore dumps.
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