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The earliest FF game to use 'real' people - rather than the stumpy 'super deformed' midgets popular in the Far East - Final Fantasy VIII was the second big Western breakthrough for Square's all-conquering RPG series. Epic storytelling, deep character development and cinematic presentation was par for the course with latter day FF games and the eighth was no exception. Unfairly, VIII is perhaps most famous for being not as good as VII. The game was so overcast by its older brother's shadow that many dismissed it as an inferior title - but while it doesn't quite reach its predecessor's stratospheric achievements, VIII remains a standout title and a must-play for any console RPG aficionado.

Memorable for...
Diablo. One of the coolest summons in the game and it starts off in your pack, hidden inside a rusty old lamp! Rub it though and you gain the ability to summon Hell's avenger, thundering in to help you from a sphere of black gloop before smiting your enemies and scattering to the winds as a cloud of bats. Awesome.

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