1. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)Yeah, i know. A unpopular choice for favorite Final Fantasy/game ever but, Final Fantasy VIII means so much to me that it can't be beaten.
FF8 is the most nostalgic game for me, so nostalgic it gives me a strange feeling since it reminds me of a time so long ago that just seems like a dream if i try to remember. Even when i know for certain that i have played and finished FF8 many times, it's hard to picture me doing this this more than 10 years ago but, if i start a playthrough nowadays, i surely knows what to do, where to go, the little secrets, how the music goes... Crazy how memory works.
Part of the nostalgia comes from FF8 being the first RPG i ever played. It was really impressive compared to what i used to play during my childhood and i have no problems to admit that probably is one of the reasons behind my love for it.
It was many years after that i discovered FF8 is viewed as a love or hate it game, partly because of how much different it is if compared to the other entries, in a way that it even doesn't feel like a Final Fantasy.
Not only that, some systems and mechanics used in the game like Junction or Limit Break can be exploited, making the game pretty easy. Thankfully, i was just a kid and only played along, not quite understanding them.
What made me stay was the epic story and general mood/atmosphere of the game, especially in so many amazing settings that resemble real life modern/urban places, with a dose of advanced technology thrown into the mix.
Contrasts. At least, there is some things about FF8 that are universally acclaimed. Triple Triad and his music, per example. The Triple Triad card minigame is very addicting, in a way many people actually prefer it over the game
But, more than a simply pastime, it can be very useful since some cards can be modified into great items and magic.
As for the music, it's often praised as one of the best FF OSTs by the fans. Personally, it is my absolute favorite OST in all gaming. Liberi Fatali, The Man with the Machine Gun, Force Your Way, The Landing, Balamb Garden, Fisherman's Horizon, The Extreme... In short, pure VGM bliss. Unbelievable on how much it adds here.
Another nice fact is, before the Internet, this right here was my first English teacher. I used to pick dictionaries and all to understand some things since isn't my native language. Helped me a lot
Sure, FF8 has many flaws and i totally get what most people don't like about it but my "relationship" with it is a case of emotion over reason.