FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered in IOS

Roleplaying

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

92/100

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered on mobile is a nostalgic dream come true, bringing one of the most experimental JRPGs to the palm of your hand. The remastering of the character models is the real star here—Squall, Rinoa, and the rest of the cast look crisp and modern against the classic pre-rendered backgrounds. While the junction system is famously polarizing, it remains one of the most flexible and rewarding character-building mechanics in the entire series once you understand how to 'draw' and equip magic to stats.

This mobile port includes several 'quality of life' boosters that are essential for modern play. The 3x speed boost makes the grind for drawing magic much more bearable, and the 'no encounters' toggle is a godsend when you're just trying to navigate the world map to find hidden items. Whether you're playing for the epic story of SeeD mercenaries or spending hours perfecting your Triple Triad card collection, this version is arguably the best way to experience Squall's journey today.

Reviewed on: Sun May 19 2024
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

FFVIII has always been the black sheep, and this remaster doesn't change that. The new character models look great, but they stand out like a sore thumb against the blurry, low-res pre-rendered backgrounds. As Dinsun, I still find the Junction system to be a tedious mess that encourages breaking the game rather than playing it. That said, the 3x speed and 'no encounters' buttons are godsends for a man my age who doesn't have 80 hours to waste on grinding. It’s the best way to play a game that I still can't quite decide if I actually like.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Excellent music score
  • Essential quality-of-life features
  • Nostalgic value
  • Inconsistent visual remastering
  • Tedious Junction system
  • Awkward touch controls

Technical Report

Performance: Cloud saves are finicky; game can crash during FMVs on older devices.

Accessibility:
  • Battle Assists
  • Speed Boost

Audience Fit

Buy if: You are a JRPG fan who missed this or wants to revisit it with modern speed.

Skip if: You want modern graphics or traditional RPG progression.

Similar Games:
  • Final Fantasy VII
  • Final Fantasy IX

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun, critical veteran gamer
  • Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
  • Playtime: 30 hours
  • Status: Finished Main Story

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 1.0.2Tue Jan 30 2024

Version 1.0.2 Released

[1.0.2 Changelog]

- Added support for latest OS version.

- Fixed issue where the Select button on certain controllers was unusable.


------------------------------

・ This application requires approximately 2.55GB to download. Please be sure to allocate the necessary amount of time and space on your device before proceeding.

・ Only one download with a large amount of data will be required while progressing through the game.

・ Since it is a large application, it will take time to download. We strongly recommend connecting to Wi-Fi when downloading.

------------------------------

[Please read before playing]

* Entering or leaving vehicles such as cars and the Garden may occasionally get your character stuck between the vehicle and terrain features, or freeze the vehicle in place. This seems to happen more often when you leave your vehicle in close proximity to impassable terrain, or when you try to enter or leave your vehicle during certain scripted events. Currently, the only fix for this is to reload a previously saved game, so please make sure to save your progress often.

* Some locations may be difficult to navigate using the Speed Boost (x3). We advise you to turn off this feature in such cases.

* Make sure to check the FAQ section of our support page for solutions to common issues:

https://support.na.square-enix.com/main.php?la=1&id=442

We apologize for any inconvenience these issues may cause, and thank you again for your interest in our product.

■Summary

FINAL FANTASY VIII was first released on February 11, 1999. Beloved by fans, this title has garnered a great deal of popularity even compared to other installments in the FINAL FANTASY franchise, selling more than 9.6 million units worldwide. And now players can enjoy FINAL FANTASY VIII on their smartphone! With renewed character CG, the world of FINAL FANTASY VIII is now more beautiful than ever before.

This installment is a remaster of FINAL FANTASY VIII for PC. This application is a one-time purchase. There will be no additional charge incurred after downloading.

■Story

It is a time of war.

The Republic of Galbadia, under the influence of the sorceress Edea, mobilizes its great armies against the other nations of the world.

Squall and other members of SeeD, an elite mercenary force, join hands with Rinoa, a resistance fighter, to fight against Galbadia's tyrannical rule and to prevent Edea from fulfilling her ultimate goal.

■FINAL FANTASY VIII: Release Features

・Guardian Force(G.F.)

G.F. are summoned creatures in FFVIII used to protect the protagonists. Call upon them in battle to unleash their might and to increase their power alongside player characters. By junctioning G.F., players will be able to enjoy greater freedom in how they approach battles.

・Drawing

Obtain magic in FFVIII by drawing (extracting) it in battle. MP does not exist and players are limited to the number they have in their possession. Magic that has been extracted can be released on the spot or stocked for later use.

・ Junctioning

This system allows players to equip G.F. and stocked magic to characters in order to increase their power.

■ Additional Features

・ Battle Assist

Max out HP and ATB gauge during battle and activate Limit Breaks at any time.

・ No Encounters

Players can choose to turn Battle Encounters on or off.

・ 3x Speed

With the exception of certain cutscenes, players can choose to proceed through the game at 3x speed.

[Minimum Requirements]

iOS 13.0 or higher


Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

------------------------------

・ This application requires approximately 2.55GB to download. Please be sure to allocate the necessary amount of time and space on your device before proceeding.

・ Only one download with a large amount of data will be required while progressing through the game.

・ Since it is a large application, it will take time to download. We strongly recommend connecting to Wi-Fi when downloading.

------------------------------

[Please read before playing]

* Entering or leaving vehicles such as cars and the Garden may occasionally get your character stuck between the vehicle and terrain features, or freeze the vehicle in place. This seems to happen more often when you leave your vehicle in close proximity to impassable terrain, or when you try to enter or leave your vehicle during certain scripted events. Currently, the only fix for this is to reload a previously saved game, so please make sure to save your progress often.

* Some locations may be difficult to navigate using the Speed Boost (x3). We advise you to turn off this feature in such cases.

* Make sure to check the FAQ section of our support page for solutions to common issues:

https://support.na.square-enix.com/main.php?la=1&id=442

We apologize for any inconvenience these issues may cause, and thank you again for your interest in our product.

■Summary

FINAL FANTASY VIII was first released on February 11, 1999. Beloved by fans, this title has garnered a great deal of popularity even compared to other installments in the FINAL FANTASY franchise, selling more than 9.6 million units worldwide. And now players can enjoy FINAL FANTASY VIII on their smartphone! With renewed character CG, the world of FINAL FANTASY VIII is now more beautiful than ever before.

This installment is a remaster of FINAL FANTASY VIII for PC. This application is a one-time purchase. There will be no additional charge incurred after downloading.

■Story

It is a time of war.

The Republic of Galbadia, under the influence of the sorceress Edea, mobilizes its great armies against the other nations of the world.

Squall and other members of SeeD, an elite mercenary force, join hands with Rinoa, a resistance fighter, to fight against Galbadia's tyrannical rule and to prevent Edea from fulfilling her ultimate goal.

■FINAL FANTASY VIII: Release Features

・Guardian Force(G.F.)

G.F. are summoned creatures in FFVIII used to protect the protagonists. Call upon them in battle to unleash their might and to increase their power alongside player characters. By junctioning G.F., players will be able to enjoy greater freedom in how they approach battles.

・Drawing

Obtain magic in FFVIII by drawing (extracting) it in battle. MP does not exist and players are limited to the number they have in their possession. Magic that has been extracted can be released on the spot or stocked for later use.

・ Junctioning

This system allows players to equip G.F. and stocked magic to characters in order to increase their power.

■ Additional Features

・ Battle Assist

Max out HP and ATB gauge during battle and activate Limit Breaks at any time.

・ No Encounters

Players can choose to turn Battle Encounters on or off.

・ 3x Speed

With the exception of certain cutscenes, players can choose to proceed through the game at 3x speed.

[Minimum Requirements]

iOS 13.0 or higher


Ratings & Reviews

3.6 out of 5 with 383 Counts
Age Rating 13+

Screenshots

FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 1FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 2FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 3FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 4FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 5FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 6FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 7FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 8FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 9FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 10FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 11FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 12FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 13FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered screenshot 14

Final Fantasy VIII Remastered brings the legendary 1999 RPG to mobile with updated visuals and refined gameplay. Players take control of Squall Leonhart, a student at Balamb Garden, as he is swept into a global conflict involving a powerful sorceress. The game features the unique Junction System, where players 'draw' magic from enemies to power up their stats, and the iconic Triple Triad card game. This version includes boosters such as 3x speed, battle assists, and the ability to turn off random encounters.

Features

1

Updated high-definition character models

2

3x Speed Boost for faster exploration and combat

3

No Random Encounter toggle

4

Battle Assist (HP/ATB/Limit Break max) options

5

Includes the full Triple Triad card game

Tips

Promotion Videos

FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered – Official Launch Trailer - YouTube

Related Videos

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Gameplays

Q&A

It allows you to customize your characters' stats by equipping magic directly to them, making your party powerful without relying solely on experience points.

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