Final Fantasy VIII (1999)

When it comes to Final Fantasy experiences on the original PlayStation, Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX are easily the most celebrated numbered entries—and for good reason. Of course, there was another title stuck in the middle of those two that, while not enjoying the same level of popularity as its predecessor and successor, has still managed to sustain its own dedicated following of adoring fans: Final Fantasy VIII. And I don’t think any conversation about the impact of the original PlayStation is complete without it.

FFVIII arguably endures in the hearts of its fans for many reasons: It’s a moving coming-of-age story set in a strange, hard-to-comprehend world. Its off-beat RPG mechanics are capable of being entertainingly exploited and utterly broken. The game features a rich, hybrid sci-fi/fantasy world with numerous cities and settlements to explore as you piece together its strange, time-bending narratives about moody teenagers shouldered with the burdens of protecting the world and each other. It didn’t land with everyone. But those of us for whom it did are still thinking about it nearly 30 years later.

I would argue that FFVIII’s dark horse status, however, is part of its character. While other FF games receive endless celebration and expensive remakes, the joy of FFVIII’s greatness is a sort of “if you know, you know” status for fans. In the last 30 years, I’d argue that the PlayStation brand has been home to many such experiences (fans of lesser-celebrated PlayStation titles like Heavenly Sword, Killzone, and SOCOM know what I’m talking about). FFVIII, to me, is one of the best early examples of that: Owning a PlayStation meant you could enjoy landmark titles while also finding some genuine hidden gems in its vast library. — Claire Jackson