14 DAY TRIAL // While Final Fantasy XIII is the Square Enix game that has the world in an uproar, it doesn't meant that the rest of the franchise isn't getting any more love. FF XIII might have been released in Japan today, but North America will have to wait until March, and, if these gamers need a fix for their Final Fantasy addiction, then Square has prepared something special for them. After Final Fantasy VII proved to be a popular hit on the PlayStation Network, and had a firm grip on the number 5 in the top for several months, Square Enix has decided that it's time to release another classic FF game on the PSN and satisfy the need for a JRPG with Final Fantasy VIII.
With rather scant details, the game is placed alongside Buzz Quiz World and District 9 in the Coming Soon section of Sony's newsletter. While the price is one of the things that aren't mentioned, the previous retro Final Fantasy title released on the PSN, VII, was tagged at $9.99, so it's most likely that this one will share the same price. Also, as the “Coming Soon” additions usually go, the game should be available in about a month's time.
Final Fantasy VIII had the slight misfortune of having to follows in the footsteps of its previous release, VII. As such, it was only natural that gamers would compare the two titles, and this came at a high price for Squall and the rest of the characters of FF VIII. Final Fantasy VII was a very good game and it became the most iconic one of the series, especially after Enix released Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, a superb, full-length, CGI movie.
But VIII was another great addition to the series and, while no one can deny that, opinions on the game are probably the most controversial ones. Some fans loved it, while others hated it, and with few opinions in between, the title never really got a proper objective analysis from the fan community. But, hopefully, that will change with this PSN release, as, all these years later, spirits should have cooled down and prides should no longer be hurt by comparisons made between the two Final Fantasy games.