Is the extensive coverage of FF VIII killing it?
It's everywhere, even on this page. Tons of pics, character profiles, and news about the plot are floating around the internet, of a game that won't be out until next year. These pics and other stuff are feeding into gamers' desire to know about one of the hottest games ever, but is it killing a potentially great game?
By the time this game comes out, there will be no surprises. With the pics and two demos coming out (a nonplayable one with Parasite Eve and another playable one with Brave Fencer Mushai), the graphics and magic and fighting style will be no surprise. With five characters already revealed, we'll know most of our party before we get them. And you know that someone will take the import and translate it, maybe even blowing the WHOLE story for you?
The question is, do we want this? I think that this extensive coverage is taking away from part of the fun of games, of reveling in the graphics for the first time when you play the game and being shocked at who your allies and foes are. We might not have this with FF VIII, unfortunately.
Let's take Final Fantasy II as a for instance. Weren't you shocked when halfway through the game, that Golbez wasn't the villain, that he was actually Cecil's brother? Weren't you also shocked with the number of times that Kain betrayed you? This mystique could very well be gone with FF VIII. Let's hope that Square doesn't release any more info on the game (which is highly unlikely) to try and salvage the gaming experience of FF VIII.
What do you think? If you have a comment or suggestion fr new editorial, email me.