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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsKazushige Nojima said criticism of Final Fantasy VII informed two story choices in Final Fantasy VIII: he avoided killing off the main characters and did not rely as heavily on flashbacks. That is a specific influence he described—not evidence that FFVII’s commercial success alone determined the sequel’s direction.
What did Nojima say about FFVII’s criticism?
In a 2019 report on a Famitsu interview, Siliconera said Nojima recalled hearing complaints that FFVII used tragedy to make players cry and leaned too heavily on flashbacks. Nojima connected that feedback to his approach to FFVIII: “That reflected in Final Fantasy VIII as well since I went with a story that didn’t kill off any of the main characters. We also didn’t go all-out with the flashbacks.” Siliconera’s October 9, 2019 report presents the remark in English; it should be understood as the outlet’s rendering of the interview, not a definitive English transcript.
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| 1 |
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Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII Remastered - Twin Pack (Nintendo Switch) | $34.29 | Buy on Amazon |
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Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (PS4) | $20.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Final Fantasy VIII Official Strategy Guide (Video Game Books) | $33.76 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Final Fantasy VIII | $28.13 | Buy on Amazon |
Two choices, not a blanket rule
Nojima’s point was about the treatment of tragedy and the amount of flashback storytelling. He did not say that FFVIII contains no serious losses or never uses flashbacks; he said he chose a story that did not kill off its main characters and that the team did not go all-out with flashbacks.
Why the game’s direction was broader than a reaction to FFVII
Contemporary development comments add context to Nojima’s later account. In a translated 1998 interview, director Yoshinori Kitase said the team wanted a brighter atmosphere after FFVII opened in a gloomy slum and dark city. He also described a desire to center the story on Squall and Rinoa while retaining a fantasy aesthetic. The interview is available in a later translation at shmuplations.
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- Final Fantasy VI - The following extra features are included:
- 3X speed mode
- ability to turn battle encounters off
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- final FANTASY VIII remastered - The following extra features are included.battle assist options (HP, ATB gauge, and limit break boosts).game speed boost (X3.no random encounters
Nojima’s contribution to that same interview collection describes another aim: focusing more on the present, with emotional weight coming from events as they unfold rather than from flashbacks. He also characterized story development as collaborative and said the outline could change when a change improved the game. Taken together, these comments suggest overlapping goals—tone, character focus, narrative emphasis, and responsiveness to feedback—not a single cause for every design decision.
What “FFVII’s success” explains—and what it does not
The 2019 account links audience criticism of FFVII to particular FFVIII storytelling decisions. The 1998 comments describe the developers’ broader creative direction closer to the game’s production. Neither source establishes that commercial success by itself dictated FFVIII’s overall design, and the cited interviews provide no sales statistic needed to make that argument.
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- - Battle assist - HP and ATB will always be maxed out, and limit breaks are available to trigger at any time.
- - no encounters - Turn on/off battle encounters.
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| Account | When and source | What it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Nojima on audience feedback | 2019 Siliconera report of a Famitsu interview | He connected criticism about tragedy and flashbacks to avoiding main-character deaths and using fewer flashbacks. |
| Kitase and Nojima on creative direction | Translated 1998 developer interviews, published by shmuplations in 2021 | The team sought a brighter tone, a Squall-and-Rinoa focus, fantasy elements, and greater emphasis on present events. |
Why FFVIII uses fewer flashbacks
Nojima’s comments point to both feedback and a storytelling preference. He said the team heard complaints about FFVII’s reliance on flashbacks; in the earlier interview, he also explained that he wanted emotional weight to arise from events happening in the present. That helps explain the direction without reducing it to a simple attempt to avoid repeating the previous game.
Quick Recap
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- Used Book in Good Condition
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