I know everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but for this sort of game, bad opinions are rendered useless! This game is underrated for the wrong reasons (sadly FF9 is too). You'll find that most people who hate FF8 like FF7. This is not true for all but from what I have seen, most. And some of them can't even get the damn character's name right or played the whole game through, but still giving a review. I have heard this is a romance game. Actually, FF10 was the most romantic one. Play it over if you don't believe me. I have beat FF7 including all the other boring milked parts. I can honestly say, "IT WAS NOT AS HALF AS GOOD AS 8!!!" Don't get wrong, FF7 was great but as I easily breezed through it on first try without training, I realized that it was no challenge. The storyline didn't have me screaming for more (just being honest). After everything I heard about FF7, I had my hopes up high. They were dropped when I discovered that there was nothing special about this game when I already beat FF8. And still I am waiting for a Final Fantasy that can match this one. The only thing keeping my interest in FF7 was Sephiroth and Vincent. Vincent actually was the only lead character I played with when discovering him in Sephiroth's mansion after he set it aflame. Oh and this was when Cloud was loosing himself. So we not only lost him but Tifa for a short while too. I could give so many reasons why FF8 is one of the best RPGs out there but of course there will always be someone you can't please.