10 Disappointing Sequels To Iconic Video Games
1. Final Fantasy VIII
To many, Final Fantasy peaked with 1997's seventh entry, and what a heavenly experience it was. The characters were grounded, yet emotionally complex, the steampunk aesthetic was gorgeous and though the visuals haven't aged well, they never detract from the overall experience. Even today, Final Fantasy VII is on of the finest JRPG's around.
The same can't be said for its younger brother. Final Fantasy VIII is disappointing because, like many before them and even more after, Squaresoft decided to play around with the gameplay mechanics, and ended up ruining them.
Ditching the tried-and-tested materia-based progression system in favour of clunky junctioning was a mistake. Opting for a boring, emotionless protagonist didn't help matters, and these combined with a mediocre story made Final Fantasy VIII somewhat of a black sheep amongst fans.
Squall's brooding nature is more annoying than intriguing, the battle mechanics aren't offensive, but they're not special, and the setting was far less interesting than its predecessors. Final Fantasy VIII has its fans, and they're passionate about their darling, but most ended up disappointed at its inability to evolve a winning formula.
When the redeeming factor in your 40-hour epic is the addictive card-based mini game, there's a problem.