FF8 is a WEIRD game. It also was my introduction to the depth of power publishers have over the game review "independent" press.

FF8 was universally lauded by the major sites as the best JRPG since sliced bread. In reality it had an unlikeable lead character, an absolutely bizarre plot with time flashbacks that were totally nonsensical, the main party was composed of thoroughly unlikable teenagers, the plot twists about their shared mother was just dropped out of nowhere, the game mechanics required you to "junction" to a summon spirit to get things out of your backpack, leveling up was actually a bad thing, and ... just so much more. Cards. Draw grinding. Gunblades.

This VERY LONG review perfectly tears it apart, but, uh, warning it has epiteths like "fag" and others that date it to the teenage slang of the late 90s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFTkY0IFL1g

I think he may have rereleased this at some point and cleaned it up of the unfortunate language.