People who seem so cliche in Disc 1 are molded over time into loveable personalities by Disc 3 or 4. The story is gripping and intense from start to finish. Definitely not an epic you will soon forget. Possibly the weakest point of Final Fantasy VIII is music. Although it's good, it's not as good as Uematsu's previous works.
Sound effects complement battles perfectly, they're always right on cue.
Although it was a tad over-hyped, Final Fantasy VIII is nothing short of the best Playstation game yet. The eight chapter of the Final Fantasy legacy lives up to the name, and beats out its prequel in every aspect. I like the new battle system. I like the huge overworld. I like the graphics.