We didn't gel with Final Fantasy VIII's combat system (to the point where we had to dig ourselves out of a hole towards the end), and the major plot beats weren't all that compelling compared to, say, a game like Final Fantasy XV.
That said? Squall, Laguna and Rinoa's stories were so well-realized, and we were in tears by the time the game wrapped up. Visually, it also holds up like a dream: even several decades later, the way it seamlessly integrates pre-rendered video and in-game models is astonishing, the out-there designs of buildings and vehicles are eye-catching, and of course, the music itself is wonderful from start to finish. Even if the combat isn't your jam (it sure wasn't ours), it's all well worth seeing this game through from beginning to end.
That said? Squall, Laguna and Rinoa's stories were so well-realized, and we were in tears by the time the game wrapped up. Visually, it also holds up like a dream: even several decades later, the way it seamlessly integrates pre-rendered video and in-game models is astonishing, the out-there designs of buildings and vehicles are eye-catching, and of course, the music itself is wonderful from start to finish. Even if the combat isn't your jam (it sure wasn't ours), it's all well worth seeing this game through from beginning to end.