This is my favorite video game in the world. I still don't understand it. That's how it's done. Literally the greatest JRPG of all time. Now that that's been established. What games out there are reminiscent of this absolute fucking masterpiece.

>>713466191 (OP)
the part at the end with Squall is going bonkers due to the time distortion is very Lynchian

and also, what OST's do you think actually rival this in quality?

>>713466357
yeah it is obviously inspired by him. and you know what, I love mulholland drive and don't understand that fucking movie either.

>>713466357
I need like a non dogshit explanation of what the fuck happens in the ending of the game. is squall actually there at the end or no?

>>713466191 (OP)
I like FF8 way more than most people as well. Except for Disk 3. Literally everything in Disk 3 is filler shit. If it was just Disk 1, 2 and 4, and they got rid of Rinoa, it would be one of the best games ever made.

As for what games are similar, nothing really. As much as people might hate the game, it has a unique aesthetic and tone. And very few games ever attempt to do the optimistic, bright near future setting. Let alone like FF8 did.

>>713466594
squall does not survive, rinoa does. rinoa does sorcery

>>713469092
The only thing I can think of that's similar is an anime few people ever heard of. And it probably won't appeal to FF8 fans.

>>713469146
>squall does not survive
he's there in the end, maybe off to the side so you couldn't see him before or maybe some gay the spirit of squall seeing rinoa again but it was for sure ambiguous

>>713469330
she brings him back somehow

>>713469092
it's for sure the most unique jrpg. interesting mechanics I would've loved to see expanded on and improved for future games. SE should just start making modern day jrpg's with like shit graphics and cel shading and style, and take each of like the ps1 games battle systems and improve on them in seperate spin offs

>>713469092
how about other jrpg's as good?

>>713469662
this as well as XII's battle system

>>713469529
as in from the dead? or in spirit?

>>713469983
either he was literally dead and in some fuckin purgatory place or he was ejected from the time&space somewhere, he gawn. rinoa changes the universe to fit him back in there.

>>713466191 (OP)
Expedition 33 listed it as one of their main inspirations

So after the events of the ending, rinoa then goes on to become ultimecia, forgets everything, and gets them all stuck in a time loop forever?

>>713470298
Rinoa becomes ultimecia in the time loops where she never loved or couldn't save squall. Saving squall is the end of the loops and also pottery.

>>713470298
this is my interpretation but it's intentionally left up to the player to figure out

>>713470380
so Squall is in fact alive and well at the end of the game

>>713470484
right after he dies he gets better

>>713470229
Yeah but I don't want to play that it looks like slop imo

>>713470520
"correct, after" not "immediately after"

>>713466191 (OP)
>my favorite video game
>I still don't understand it.
That's because you were molested or bullied in your formative years. Playing this game was the only thing in your life that made you feel whole so it's your "favorite video game".

>>713470642
lol kys faggot

>>713469773
Final Fantasy III and V
Chrono Trigger/Cross
Suikoden I-III
Dragon Quest III, IV, V, VIII

>>713470867
only ones I never played were suikoden. the sheer amount of characters probably with one note personalities always turned me off. if it really is great though I'll try it

>>713469773
is last remnant good?

>>713470642
This is probably the absolute peak of JRPG's you retard

>>713470939
Suikdoen I-III is my favorite trilogy in games and JRPGs. The huge amount of characters are good because they're the focus. As well as on ongoing story over each game. So it isn't overwhelming or feel like the characters are underused.

>>713470380
I asked chatgpt after listing the evidence:

This really feels like a deliberately ambiguous Easter egg rather than a statement of canon:

Square Enix gave us just enough resemblance and symbolism (ring, motifs, dialogue, reused models) to ignite speculation.

At the same time, they took steps to hedge—non-immortality of witches, lack of explicit timeline mechanics, purposeful denials.

Kitase later admitted the possibility that other developers may have intentionally layered in these ambiguous elements.

Conclusion: The creators clearly left breadcrumbs for fans who cherish mystery and thematic depth, but they didn’t want the story locked in a tragic paradox. This is intentionally ambiguous art, not a plot hole or a simple coincidence—but also not hard canon.

>>713472752
2/2
If you enjoy the theory for its emotional and thematic power—go ahead and embrace it. The evidence is tantalizing. But remember:

There are strong canonical reasons—like witch mortality and timeline consistency—against the theory.

Square Enix has sighed, waffled, and stayed vague, which only fuels debate.

Bottom line: It’s likely intentional ambiguity over coincidence, meant to deepen the lore. Whether it’s "true" is up to each player's interpretation—and that’s the beauty of surreal, Lynchian storytelling.