Final Fantasy VIII

Best: The gunblade

The idea of a sword that is also a gun is pretty silly, but dear reader, I ask you to consider something: it also rules. Squall’s iconic weapon became a Final Fantasy mainstay, and even with characters like Lightning wielding them in more recent games, Final Fantasy VIII’s version remains one of the most memorable. This is a series where weapons are nearly as visually recognizable as the heroes that use them, and the gunblade is one of the coolest examples of it, okay?

Worst: The Junction system

Sometimes reinvention leads to needless iteration, and Final Fantasy VIII’s Junction mechanic is an example of that. This mechanic makes casting magic a resource, rather than a replenishable constant in your arsenal. The biggest trouble is that collecting these requires some busy work and hunting down specific monsters who have the materials you need to cast the appropriate spell. Farming magic can feel like the game is wasting small increments of your time in rapid succession.