Don't Skip - Final Fantasy VIII Remastered

[@297fihsy]

As fantastic as Jones’ VO is, there’s a coziness to Ben’s voice that is really endearing. You feel the passion. I’m loving these Don’t Skips

[@Space__Burrito]

FF8 has one of the best soundtracks of all time praise be to lord nobuo uematsu.

[@purplatypus7405]

Correction it has THE BEST soundtrack of all time! Praise Nobuo Uematsu

[@MA-yv2tb]

Whatever the games weaknesses are, and there are many, music is not one. This was one of the first RPGs I played. And though mechanics got better, the music spoiled me. I honestly don’t think I’ve heard better. At least in a RPG.

[@kingofthesharks]

I agree. This is the BEST soundtrack in gaming. This is when Nobuo first implemented a few full orchestral tracks in an FF game, and even the MIDI tracks were of high quality. My top songs are: 10. Slide Show part 2 9. Dance with the Balamb Fish 8. Waltz for the Moon 7. Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec 6. Fisherman's Horizon 5. The Extreme 4. Eyes on Me 3. The Landing 2. Ending Theme 1. Liberi Fatali

[@purplatypus7405]

@@kingofthesharks Joking aside I actually agree I think it is the best Soundtrack in gaming also. My #1 is Balamb Garden but Man With A Machine Gun Is close

[@MA-yv2tb]

Force Your Way is the best battle music in FF and that is a hill I will die on.

[@orkz11]

I didn’t want this review to end. Such nostalgia. I played this game for years over and over again as a young teen back then. I 100% it, I played through it without saving, I fell in love with Rinoa, I learned eyes on me and sang it all the time. Sure I was pretty awkward and weird as a kid, but I never felt alone. Such memories...thank you for this.

[@trignite]

When i was ~10 i hated the eyes on me song, and I will never forget the day that my brother decided it would be funny to copy a tiny .mov file with the song into every since folder on my computer with a script. At the time, i didn't know how to do a search so I went through every single folder on the PC and deleted it hundreds of times. That aside, I loved the game, i remember scratching the third disc so i had to buy all 4 discs again and then a few years later i scratched the 2nd disc and had to buy it for a third time. I must've replayed VIII atleast 5 times.

[@Tallguyalec]

Heyo just wanted to note that this is specifically not a review. Don't Skips are a separate thing, for future reference. Just wanted to comment because this isn't the first time I've seen that mixup.

[@AquamentusLives]

Ben you’re getting really good at these! Keep up the hard work!

[@adamhentschel5490]

Thanks for shouting out the OST Ben! Really love this one a lot.

[@amurter19]

Completely agree that, while I dont want every game to do it, the fact that you can have crazy stats, high level magic, limit breaks every turn, and almost every final weapon before disc 1 is over is cool. The fact that you have people slog through or breeze through it depending on how much they engaged with and understood the systems is interesting too.

[@sebastianvonp1467]

This was my entry into FF and RPGs. back in the day it took me one year to finish it (could not beat adel for a long time). replaying it after all those years will be quite special for me.

[@danielmullin5134]

Was my first as well except I never beat adel at all as a kid. Was more than a decade later I finally beat her haha!

[@kingofthesharks]

My favorite FF game! This title was such a visual marvel when it came out....it took the style from FF7 and amplified it with gorgeous summon animations, consistent character models, and lots of integrated FMV action to blow gamer minds back in the late 90s. Not to mention, the soundtrack still holds up as well as it did 20 years ago. I'd highly recommend Marc Papeghin's "The Epic Final Fantasy VIII Medley" Part 1 & 2 if you've finished FF8 and wanna take a tour through the greatest gaming medley cover on youtube.

[@umildisplays8050]

Another great episode Ben, really appreciate you pouring your passion and dedication onto these :)

[@Capybara86]

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this Ben. VIII is underappreciated and you did a great job of summarizing its qualities and quirks.

[@AuramiteEX]

Ben! I'm playing through this right now. On disk 3 I'm blown away. Never played it before and it's so good! Soundtrack and story are truly excellent.

[@felathar1985]

A good palate cleanser after the mess that was FFXV

[@tyler6644]

@@felathar1985 ffxv is very underrated.

[@kunaikilla]

Should I buy this game? It's on sale Right Now for $10.00.

[@fabricioycaza]

20 years... wow, I still remember the feeling i had walking out of a Game Crazy with this game on my hand.

[@reed1645]

The soundtrack really is phenomenal. I picked this up thinking it'd sit on my switch for months... nope... I got so addicted to it and played it non stop from start to finish. I just love the story, characters and the world. The combat system isn't the best in the series but it's still fun :). It's annoying how people were complaining about the backgrounds not being redone though and downvoting it on metacritic. It's one of the finest jrpgs ever made in my book :).

[@Dudldom]

I couldn't get over the dancing scene as a kid. I didn't know what motion capture was of course and this looked so real and smooth to me. It really set my expectations high in terms of what games can do.

[@charoleawood]

Wonderful writing and editing Ben! I love hearing an Allie's own voice review a game.

[@Dy1andilion]

Thanks Ben! I'm 40 hours into FF9 after you recommended it. It's awesome. I think it's pretty funny that it does a pick 10 sort of system for materia. So much flexibility to try out weird shit!

[@tearjuengi571]

Ben. Thank you for another excellent Don't Skip episode. OST is still one of the few I listen all the time.

[@olfchan]

Great Don't Skip, Ben! Love that you are doing the VO too. Helps differentiate them from reviews even more!

[@KumaTheta]

Always love Ben's reviews, and Ben's voice over is nice as well.

[@LandPirate62]

The new title screen looks so slick!! Awesome job with narrating Ben.

[@supersonic776]

BEN THIS IS AWESOME!!! Great job on highlighting the best parts of the game while remaining open about its shortcomings!

[@swordfish_00830]

I'm a little sadden there was no mention of Rinoas Dog Angelo 🐶

[@reed1645]

for some reason when I was a kid the idea of a dog leaping onto rinoas arm then being catapulted into enemies to cause an explosion never seemed weird... and I suppose it still doesn't :)

[@chrissagerim6167]

Every ost from this game gets me every single time...

[@ShazzleDazzle87]

It's Ben!!! Nice job dude and thanks for making this particular Don't Skip :)) FF8 was the first FF I owned and played myself (I'd watched a friend playthrough 7) and so it has a special place in my heart, despite its flaws.

[@lucaslui9665]

my favourite ff introduced by my favourite channel

[@jonnchr]

I recently started up the ps1 version since there was so much talk about ff8 recently and I noticed that some of the pre rendered backgrounds in this video seem a little blurrier than the original. Not to a huge degree but it is interesting how up-scaling can lose some details in these kinds of remasters.

[@RevanBC]

Scan lines from the CRT tvs smoothed out the prerendered backgrounds.

[@desdenova1]

Xenogears remaster, please.

[@TheChuggaBoom]

These Don’t Skips have been really great. Ben your doing an awesome jobs. I’d love to see some of the other allies throw their hand in the ring.

[@hkmrsrg1367]

FF 8 has the best music. I love this game.

[@TheSSJSnoop]

Very well done video, Ben 👏 I just wish they didn't make the backgrounds blurrier than the PS1 original. That's such a huge knock against this Remaster IMO

[@RizzRaz]

This is some of the best content coming out of EZA. Great work, Ben. I encourage every ally to eventually take a stab at this sort of presentation through Hall of Greats.

[@CuriousCorduroy]

I loved the game as a kid, but playing through it as an adult makes me appreciate it even more. I love the characters and how layered they are especially.

[@frankreynolds4413]

Just got this game and looking forward to playing thru it the first time on ps4!

[@QStorm321]

This is my 2nd favorite game (after The Last of Us), so it's awesome to see the coverage lately. I had a lot of fun replaying with the Remastered version. Great video!

[@MrKatra14]

💯 same for me

[@screamingargonaut3399]

What a nice surprise, Ben! I've always had a soft spot for FF8 and am actually 3/4s of the was through the remaster. I would like to add that the Boost mechanism goes a long way towards making the summons less tedious while also making them more powerful. Also, you reminded me that I still need to get Doomtrain, which was one of my favorites.

[@Domino2097]

i see Ben got the PC music glitch during the Battle of the Gardens too haha 01:02

[@dnightwalker]

Game levels up with you, so "Enc-None" is your bet friend.

[@VegasAceVII]

this is one of my biggest gripes about the game. It punishes you for leveling up.

[@deimosclay4298]

The game is not hard if you junction properly, even very easy if you exploit it with card modding. Never really understood this line of thinking.

[@dnightwalker]

@@deimosclay4298 Yeah. Do enc-none, junction the right things, use cards to get the best weapons and remember that limit breaks activate when your health is low. After that you can pretty much breeze through the game and finish it on record time. Don't know. I just like the feeling that I've outsmarted the game

[@reed1645]

@@VegasAceVII yea, I think the biggest issue is the game doesn't tell you. when I was a kid I assumed levelling up would make everything easier. I only learned that enemies level too because I got the strategy guide.

[@hannayman4448]

Yeah I agree, I like doing JRPGs the old fashioned way - level up till you smash the bejeezus outta things. Having to learn abilities with your GFs is good. Drawing is a real pain(thank god for speed boost!) but I was never into the card game(it's great but I enjoy playing for 10 minutes then want to move on) I've struggled to keep my levels down

[@dannybski9620]

Dammit Ben, I love you and I'd like to play this again, but now is simply not the time. I'm about to jump into Link's Awakening and Dragon Quest XI S, then I'm probably going to be behind for all the November releases. :) That said, the new don't skip format is great. There were a few parts where your dialogue felt a little flat and unexcited, but for the most part it was spot on. I'd say just be sure to let your personality shine through!

[@yaeven4943]

Thank you Ben, very cool!

[@MrBrabbzy]

That cozy Ben VO man

[@snowf6307]

That was a fantastic review--loved the way you wrapped it up at the end

[@antoniovidal9595]

Ben back at it again!!!!!

[@musy345]

The Don't Skip series was awesome. U guys should bring it back.

[@ds90seph]

Firstly, I'm ecstatic to hear Ben doing some VO again. Secondly, I know I'm likely the only human being left on the planet who can't come to grips with the junction system, but I do still love this game and its soundtrack. If anyone can recommend a tutorial/thorough explanation it would be much appreciated. I experienced this game through an LP, but I desperately want to try it considering I'm a huge FF fan.

[@purplatypus7405]

I am super happy this video was made! I love love love FF8 it is tied with FF10 for me in best FF game and are both in my top 10 games of all time. I think the point about drawing is only half true though I do think most players will experience that however I almost never have to draw since I learned how to effectively make all my magic from items but I am far from a first timer so I expect my experience is different and I do remember drawing for hours as a kid.

[@akiinmoonlight79]

my fave game of all time ! everyone should play this masterpiece ♥️

[@kanyekubrick5391]

Akiin Moonlight man the whole summon/feedig thing is honestly keeping me away. Seem confusing

[@akiinmoonlight79]

@@kanyekubrick5391 it really isn't ^^ ~ i got it as a child right so...😂

[@lethalassassin1754]

I feel dumb that I can’t understand this game or how the junction system works. No youtube video has been able to explain it so I understand. I’ve played games with complex mechanics and can get the hang of them i don’t get it.

[@mrgameart4733]

Nowadays I don't have the time to play as many games as i'd like to so I try not to play through a game I've previously completed. I use the OST to get my nostalgia hits... I heard my 4YO Daugher singing 'Eyes on Me' in her room the other day, felt quite special.

[@danielscott70x7]

Excellent review - in every way. Well done, Ben!

[@MonsterMJ]

what an amazing review from you ben the writing is soo good this was my first FF game

[@christoffersjostrom4555]

Don't Skip: Ben Moore! Love these man, so happy I picked up Hollow Knight! Don't know if FF is for me though, but you sure made me interested!

[@snixelpig]

This was my first FF and It hooked me. Collecting Guardian Force's was my favorite part.

[@doncot]

The reason the draw mechanism feels so tedious is because it's a novice strategy. Advanced users are expected to use item refining to create magic which is hell of a lot more efficient and less time consuming.

[@Idle_Wilder]

Gunblades are funblades

[@borgs101]

Never played the ps FF games ( I was a N64 kid) played 7 and 9 on my Switch and really liked them, this video got me hyped for 8 even more!

[@kyril98741]

You can gain magic through card and item by using GF ability. It is far quicker and easy to gain high level spell early in the games.

[@igotbit9454]

omg the memories from this game. picking it up on sale gogogogogogog

[@CoNfUzLeDaNdLoSt]

Great job Ben, loved it!

[@blasphemer18]

Came here since I saw FF VIII available now on Playstore. A cup of coffee and FH theme is always a perfect pair.

[@heshamvoiceovers3397]

Idk why your voice slightly reminds me of derek stephen prince's voice. The voice of Uryi Ishida from the english dub for bleach. Anyhow great review man i was sold as soon as you said we can turn off random encounters xD

[@Giru]

Well done Ben! It's like being DM'd into why a game is great

[@smokeguz]

Por si hay alguien interesado en jugar está versión en Español que sepa que hay varios bugs que pueden dejar pantallazos negros en momentos puntuales (y que además se potencian con la velocidad X3). Pueden googlear al respecto, no hay fecha para un parche sobre esto, pero está confirmado que tiene que ver con el idioma Español.

[@smokeguz]

(annoying bugs in the Spanish version of the remaster)

[@gnarly_charley]

I played this game once and didnt use the junction system the whole game until I got to the final dungeon and had to quit because i was too weak. It was so confusing as a teenager

[@USMCbrantley]

Another quick tip. In cave to get ifurit you can speed up the battles without effecting your time limit. LOVE FF8

[@Myrkskog]

20 years, eh? Makes me feel old. Still, those 20 years haven't damped my hatred for the junction system.

[@frickthefuckoff]

That's what has, and will likely still keep me away.

[@VariaPrime]

Why do you hate it?

[@Myrkskog]

@@VariaPrime I think it was down to Materia being so good. That system was engrained in my growing teenage mind. Still to this day, I use it as a standard to which any RPG is compared. Going from that to the Draw and Junction system seemed like a... bad alternative.

[@kelph228]

lil tear drop at the end...

[@Renk1]

Great episode! I’m playing through FFVII for the first time right now (on PC with the Remako mod) but FFVIII is definetly on my list too.

[@bencampos8817]

Loving this remaster right now. Chipping away at it when I can!

[@Ruko]

For your first time playing this game, i definitely recommend going to the original, there are many technical and graphical aspects that didn't get to this version, if you can't on a PS1 and a CRT at least make it on a PS3 through PSN and still try to do it on a CRT, those backgrounds will thank you. Now for a replay the convenience options are cool as well as the character models, even if they don't fit with the backgrounds.

[@michaelcoffey1991]

I loathed FF8 when it first came out I was in the worst FF game of all time camp. Will be picking it up now as an adult so I can see if my views on it will have changed over time. Was a fun watch thank you for the upload.

[@yoloalchemist]

Is it just me, is this the first time Ben has ever narrated a video here? Because YES that is also some really good narration.

[@TotemoGaijin]

Nah, he's done...I think 2 of these before with his own narration. Don't Skip: Metal Wolf Chaos, and Don't Skip: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood

[@yoloalchemist]

@@TotemoGaijin Oh thanks. I'll make sure to check them out.

[@bengotagun]

Well done, Benny!

[@AlexTheRed1985]

Beat it again in 4 days when it came out last month. No regrets. Lol.

[@USMCbrantley]

Quick Tip. The First mini boss at the Tower section during the SeeD exam make sure to Draw ASAP you'll get a GF

[@michaelfavocci6722]

Good job Ben!

[@sufamidan1006]

I played the hell out of this game when it first game out and I never registered any of the common complaints it’s had since. It was always a masterpiece in my eyes.

[@allen604]

Who remembers the ballroom dance cut scene?

[@MonsterMJ]

ben i play it right now and i love it thx

[@SheezyBites]

I really loved this game the first time through... by the time I came back to it to play again I had already learned how to completely break the system and beat everything with minimal ease. The fact you can get triple and attack junction so early in disc 1 leaves you one-shotting almost half of the game. I still have a soft spot for the game, and say you shouldn't skip it, but also, keep your expectations in check.

[@charoleawood]

I think you mean "maximal ease"

[@Falco.exe93]

Hey, you guys finally gave Brandon a vacation and did a video yourselves? Nice!

[@MrSunshine3]

Keep it up Ben!

[@TechWithSean]

VIII never clicked with me. The PS1 FFs aren’t my favorites, but VII and IX I can go back to at least.

[@purplatypus7405]

Might be worth trying it out again. I find FF8 even better with story, characters, music, pacing, customization, humor, epic moments than both FF7 or 9. I do find the combat to be a little more wild west of RPGs than those 2 though but even then its pretty fun imo.

[@VegasAceVII]

One of the worst in the series. I found 13 more playable than this endless grind.

[@krungys]

@@VegasAceVII VIII is the least grindy FF by a massive margin. level 1 runs are both easy and encouraged by the game's systems.

[@purplatypus7405]

@@VegasAceVII I love and respect your opinion however IMO this game has nearly zero grind as you can turn off all random battles and all enemies scale with your level so there is never a need to grind to beat the game that being said there for sure is a lot of opportunity to grind if thats what someone wanted to do.

[@shadowmomochiuchiha6839]

thank you for not slandering this absolute masterpiece of a game.

[@kielbrooke501]

Thank you, Ben. I love FF8!

[@blOOdcybOrninja]

Glad the series is ongoing again

[@platonicdescartes]

Got the Platinum trophy for the VIII remaster a couple weeks ago, it was well worth the journey to revisit the game. I like the game, but wouldn't consider myself a huge fan. I only like it about the same amount as 7, but far below entries like 6 and 9.

[@tomatomtom4921]

It would be my most fav FF game if it wouldn't be for the lvl system... Grinding for hours, just to lvl up and get overwhelmingly stronger was one of the biggest parts of the fun.

[@commanderlichking1150]

Will always be my favorite

[@lebowskidee7557]

Jones has some competition in Ben with VO

[@mobileshaman2364]

Well Ben, you've got me

[@HadesWTF]

HOLDS UP

[@dt7353]

Loving replaying the game. Well worth the money

[@scrappedbits]

Powerful intro.

[@rudidellama3718]

I'm not gonna skip, just gonna wait modders to upscale the backgrounds and maybe add back analogic moviment :)

[@xNPCx]

It is definitely disappointing that the backgrounds did not see the same update effort that the character models got.

[@XxGimmeDANGERxX]

What's the song at the end

[@insanecomedion1223]

The thong song

[@kyril98741]

This games sacrifice a lot and introduce a whole new way to play. It is like botw to Zelda only that it is not received well by some of the fans because it was too much of a difference. Although I really like this games, I feel surprise a lot of people bashing this games. However recently, a lot of its fan stand up and defend this games. This made me happy.

[@NeBrAkAnEiZzAr]

Ben, Don't stop please.

[@quanticprophecy]

S-tier video Ben.

[@Zjonishealing]

Just got to galbaldia garden and we’ll all I can say that it’s an okay game it’s really hard to not grind it’s like everything I know about final fantasy is just out the window

[@SJmapler]

Ben's makin' vidya's, n' dey're good. Dis is good.

[@andrealorenzini5099]

Well, summons are long so you have the time to support them