FFVIII: Disc 2 End

Before I took on the G-Garden I went to the desert and faught a ton of Cactuars. Yup, you can fight Cactaurs before getting the "air ship" later in the game. You just head near it using the little mountain pass, after the big forest. Enc-Half or Enc-None is a big help here, because the battle rate is very high. Anyway follow the desert to the point where you can see an island with a little green thing popping out of the sand. If you walk around on the very edge of the land near this island. You get into a fight with one or two Cactaurs every battle. They are hard to hit and run away quickly, but Squall doesn't miss when he is equipped with a good weapon so use him to take a few out. The best thing about Cactaurs is that they give only a few EXP, like 4. But gives tons of AP, 20 per Cactaur! If you battle here long enough you can teach you GF's all their abilities.

After all the random battles, it was time to take on G-Garden. This is the part where Squall finally take on the role he was given, leader. He takes command of the garden and helps everyone through the battle. There is one major dramatic point, near the beginning of the battle with G-Garden Rinoa gets in big trouble, when a part of the Quad floor breaks away, and she is left hanging. It's pretty odd how the characters just keep talking like normal, and take their time, with explaining to Squall that he has to save Rinoa. In fact Squall takes out time to make his huge speech, all while poor Rinoa is hanging there.

After his speech to the B-Garden, he goes to look for a way to save Rinoa. Squall gets attacked by a G-Garden soldier. This starts a little mini-game. After Squall escapes through the emegency door, he battles the soldier's zip line. It's a pretty simple game, Punch, Kick and Block... But it's easy to lose(you get to try again, but I think you lose a SeeD rank), if you are not careful and block the soldiers punches. A bonus to blocking is that after blocking enough damage you can do a deathblow punch the knocks the soldier off the rope. Sqall uses this mech suit to save Rinoa, who is still just hanging there, she's pretty strong ;)

Now that she is saved it's time to storm G-Garden. To get Squall and Rinoa in you run through a really cool FMV of a battle going on behind you. There are some pretty interesting things happening if you watch it as you run. Once inside the garden, it's a matter of running down the right corridors and entering the right rooms. After getting 2 of the 3 key cards that you need, there is another GF boss battle, this one is against Cerberus. If you are at high levels at this point in the game he can be another of the tougher fights. If you aren't it's a matter of beating him down with attacks. That's all I had to do. A few other tips would be to dispel his triple, and use float to avoid his Quake attacks.

Now that you have Cerberus, it's time to finish finding the sorceress. First you have to get a final key card, and enter the elevator on the second floor. Here you'll fight Seifer. He's not hard at all just draw-cast haste on your characters then go to town with Physical attacks. He'll go down. After Seifer loses the fight, the Sorceress escapes through the floor. She ends up in the large conference room. Once there you'll fight her almost instantly. First beat down Seifer again, once he's down the Sorceress can be attacked. She has GF Alexander, so draw that from her. Actually I'm sad to say that I got far too caught up in the fight to remember to draw the GF, and didn't remember until after I saved at the Disc change save. It's not too big a deal, but now I won't be able to get that GF until almost the very end of the game, where he'll be totally useless to me for the most part, unless I go back and earn AP for him. I was a little mad at myself for this.

On with the battle, she can be taken down with just attacks, because magic doesn't work, she relfects it. GF's work good too, especially Diablos. After the battle a very short scene plays out and Disc 2 ends. I just started Disc 3, when I realized that I had missed Alexander I was a little mad, and stopped playing to work on this, but I'm going to start playing Disc 3 as soon as this is up.

To be continued in the next post...

FFVIII: Running Around Balamb and Trabia Garden

This'll probably be another short one. I continued where I left off last night just outside Balamb Town. Once inside the town, you have to talk to the soldiers way at the back of town(they have aa dog), then go to Zell's house and then have the dog find the "captain". The captain turns out to Raijin, and you'll fight him infront of Balamb Hotel. There isn't much to this fight just take out the soldiers and then just take him out with attacks or GF. After you "Get him, ya know" you fight a second battle, this time it's both Fujin and Raijin. Fujin has Pandemona, draw that to add another GF to your collection. Fujin is also the one you have to worry about the most, she has an attack that can take down one characters HP to 1. That actually worked in my favor in this fight as it was Squall that was hit, so his Limit made short work of Raijin, it also triggered Blasting Zone, it's one of the most over the top things you'll see. Anyway that damaged both Fujin and Raijin. Then one final blast from Brothers took out Fujin. Another one for the W column.

After a short story sequence, where Fujin and Raijin explain they are on Seifer's side, you head to Trabia Garden. It's been destroyed by Galbadian missiles. It ain't pretty. Besides the standard walking around and talking to the remaining T-Garden students(and drawing some Aura from the draw point near the missile) you head to the basketball court, this is where one of the most controversial scenes in the game takes place. In simple form it goes something like this:

Irvine remembers living at an orphanage... The others except Rinoa(who wasn't there) remember living at the same orphanage... How could we have forgotten? Using GF made us forget...

Okay it's a bit better than that, and it fits in with the story of the Fated Children, but I think this is the weakest and strongest part of the story. Weakest because it's a pretty weak to just say GF made us forget. But Strongest because it really brings the characters together that much more. Just my thoughts on it. Regardless the show must go on, and the next stop is Edea's House(the orphanage) , but G-Garden is there waiting for you. That'll be tomorrow, Disc 2 will be done and I'll move on to Disc 3 as well.

(23h 18m)

FFVIII: A Concert and Back to Balamb

This is going to be a short one. The main part of this section is the Concert that Sephie puts on to celebrate Squall becoming the leader of the Balamb SeeDs. There is two sets of Dialog depending on what song you pick. If you pick: Electric Guitar, Sax, Bass Guitar and Piano, get a version of the games theme Eyes On Me. This choice kinda shows just how silly Squall can be. He does his drama and Rinoa leaves. Selphie calls Squall a big Stud in both sets of dialog, but he's far from one if you pick this.

And just for you I did both. If you pick Tap(tap dancing), Flute, Violin, and Guitar, you get a country or folk style tune. The dialog on this one is much better. Squall does the same thing for the most part but Rinoa doesn't get mad at him so easily and she tries to get it through Squall's thick head that his friend love him and want to help him. He just has to let them. I reccomend this one, but if you save before this, you can try both for yourself, reading the full dialog.

After the scene with Rinoa is over, the game turns to Squall in bed, it triggers the flash back of when he was a kid. These are really the clues to why he behaves the way he does. And basically thats all I did for today. It wasn't all that interesting, no boss fights or battles, but I did head back to Balamb and am read to take on that next part later today(Aug6).

(22h 02m)

FFVIII: Master NORG and Crash Landed at FH

I got busy, but I'm back now...

To start off this session, was the battle with Master NORG. Turns out he's been running the Garden, and that he was the one that gave the order to take out the Sorceress. Turns out you weren't part of the plan, Gabadia Headmaster Martine used you. You also find out that Cid and Edea are married. Any way NORG ends up getting mad and attacking you.

He's a pretty easy boss, not much to worry about. To win have one character always attack the blue orbs, because they slow change from Blue to Yellow to RED. And like NORG says "LOTS-OF-MAGIC-WHEN-RED". The other two characters bash away at NORG's compartment. After taking enough damage it will be destroyed and NORG will be in the open. He has Levaithan, so draw that before you take him out. NORG is a little tougher when exposed, but he does little damage (around 300). Just uses some GF's or attack him, you'll win.

After the fight visit the Infermary and talk to Cid, you can ask him a few questions, but while the answers are interesting, they do little for the progression of the game. After talking with Cid, if you go near the directory board, you'll trigger a cut scene of Xu telling you that there is a ship approching the drifting Garden. The ship turns out to be Edea's ship and it is controlled by the White SeeDs, you remember the ones that took the girl away after she was attacked in the Training Center?

Your next mission is to find Ellone, yes, the little girl from the Laguna Scenario, except shes grown up. She's also the girl that Squall saw in the first few minutes of the game and the girl I mentioned just a bit ago. Anyway, she's in the Library, to simplify things. Squall does his drama, and Ellone leaves on the SeeD ship. Squall then gets in his thinking mode, he really confuses himself in this one, he also has a little flash back that gets slowly filled in as the game goes on.

The garden ends up drifting right in to Fishermans Horizon or FH(as they call it). The people of FH don't like the Garden or SeeD being there because they don't like fighting. Squall tries to appologize to the mayor. I love the attitude that Squall gives the Mayor at the end of this scene. As you leave the mayor's house Galbadian soldiers attack FH. The Mayor goes to talk to them: "He's Dead" thinks Squall...

There is a little battle with the Galbadian Gaurds, they can be taken out in one hit. Then you face the broken carrier from the missle base, somehow it survived being in that huge explosion. You can Mug a Adamantine from it, if you are lucky(I guess I was lucky)... Just hammer away with GF's and Attacks and again you'll win with NO trouble at all... It turns out that the Missle Base team of Selphie, Irvine and Rinoa escaped sure doom in that big carrier. The group is reunited, but at this point it's a bit short lived as they want to talk about it later. Squall and Rinoa have one of their first moments in this part. Squall's answers are great, I really like that: "I guess I kind... felt the same way too... maybe..." one it's pretty classic. Squall then explores FH, there's not all that much to do. So this is where I stopped. I'll have more later tonigh(Aug5)

(21h 35m)

FFVIII: Imprisoned Pt2, Missiles, and a Flying Garden?

Escaping the prison is pretty straight forward. There is just lots of running up and down the floors. After all the running, your character realize that there is no escape from the prison which is high above the desert floor, and there is a small boss fight. It's not that hard, but you have to watch out for the Mirco Missile, which do 1500+ damage. After the fight your characters run across a bridge that connects the towers of the Prison, which are now screwing into the earth. After the cool FMV, the characters leave the Prison in some Galbadian vehicles.

After missiles are fired at Trabia Garden. The main cast splits into 2 parties, one that is going to G-missile Base and the other going back to B-Garden. The first focus is on getting Squall's party (mine including Zell and Quistis), on to a train. This scene has a little comic relief when the guard chasing the train falls.

The game then focuses on Selphie's party(mine with Rinoa and Irvine). This is a simple little part of the game. There is really only one important thing, set the error ratio of the missiles to max. The missile for Balamb are still fired, much to the disappointment of your team and it ends with a boss fight against a big carrier. A few blasts of Quezicotl and Thundaga, and it's over. The scene end with a dramatic scene of Selphie's party realizing they might just die there. The base blows up, in a FMV and the game leaves you to wonder how they could have survived.

Now back to Squall at the Garden. The Garden is in chaos! While Squall was gone there has been a division of the garden. Apparently there is a garden master and he is after the Headmaster. So what you must do is run around to each of the areas looking for the Headmaster. You'll see Xu and head up to the 3rd floor and find that Cid was in his office the entire time. The missiles are on their way, and a plan is needed to save B-Garden. Cid gives Squall a key to the MD level of the garden, down there you must make it down to the bottom. There is a button mashing minigame, to open a valve. I find that you usually need at least 2 of the characters to open it. After a couple of other ladders and switch pressing, there is another boss fight. This fight against Oilboyle, actually two of them. It can be a tricky fight, but a few Ifrit summons and some Limit Breaks will dispose them quickly. After this fight Squall and friends find the panel they where looking for. Squall pushes buttons and the platform rises up through the floor collecting Cid and rising high above his office. The Garden is now mobile, but, the missiles are about to hit. They just miss and the garden floats off. In a little drama, B-Garden is about to crash into Balamb town! Squall comically presses buttons on the control panel and B-town is saved.

That's where I stopped for now. Next up will be Master NORG, the garden Master, and Fisherman's Horizon(FH). That'll be tomorrow.

(20h 34m)

FFVIII: Start Disc 2 and Imprisoned Pt1

Disc 2 starts in Winhill in another Laguna scenario. Not all that much happens here, if you pay attention you can learn that Julia(the pianist for the 1st Laguna scenario) is gets married to General Caraway making her Rinoa's Mother. Anyway you go from one end of Winhill to the other and the scenario ends.

The next scene starts with Zell, Rinoa, Selphie and Quistis in prison. The story switches back and forth from Squall getting interogated by Seifer. Zell enacts his revenge on "Mean Guy" and he gets the partys weapons back. Then they beat up Biggs and Wedge again (those poor guys). Drawing Haste from Wedge is a good plan, it becomes very useful.

And that's where I stopped, I went down to F1 and got Combat King 001, and stuff, then I saved on the F6. I'll escape the prison tomorrow.

(18h 14m)

FFVIII: End Disc 1

Hello, I got a bunch in today. First thing I did was play a bunch more cards, Gayla-ST Mag Ref-Meltdown. I got enough meltdowns to full fortify a second characters Vit-J. I was going to get some for a thrid, but at this point I didn't have a thrid Vit-J. I also played enough cards to get a couple characters even better weapons. Squall has the Cutting Trigger and Rinoa ended up with the Cardinal(which is her second best weapon.)

I had enough playing cards so I finally decided to finish Disc 1. So after you give the Idno (47 remember, although each file is different). Your party meets General Caraway, who turns out to be Rinoa's Father. He shuts Rinoa in a room and tells the SeeDs the great plan for taking out Edea. He basically takes you out of the mansion and walks you through it. Just before the groups head out, Rinoa "breaks" out of the room, and comes up with a plan of her own. Quistis throws the book at her, and your party leaves and gets set at their posts for the parade. Quistis feels bad for "yelling" at Rinoa so she takes the "gateway team" back to the mansion to appologize. Mistake. They get locked in the mansion. They end up getting out by ways of a secret passage through the sewers.

The other team of Squall and Irvine are waiting for the parade to start. Rinoa goes off on her own to try to make her plan work. She gets knocked around by the Sorceress. Edea makes this nasty speech and kills Vinzer Deling. She then sends two huge creatures after Rinoa. To make a long story short. Squall and Irvine save her by taking out the Iguions. It's not a tough fight, with the Junctions I have, their swipe attack did 50 and their powerful Magma Breath did 130+. This boss hold one of the drawable GFs, Carbuncle. Brothers GF took them out in one use.

The gateway team makes it through the sewers just in time to shut the gates on the monument, trapping Edea and her "kight" Seifer inside. Irvine almost chokes, but fires a shot, that the Sorceress blocks with ease. Squall jumps down from the clock tower and drives a car up to the gates. The first part of the final battle of disc 1 is versus Seifer, I took him out with two hits. The second is against Edea, she uses "aga" magic that does 300+ damage. You can stop this by using your newly aquired GF Carbuncle, summoning him casts Reflect on your party. Edea doesn't like this because her only attacks are magic, so she goes about dispelling everyones relfect status. She's so busy doing that, she forgets to attack at all, alowing you to GF her for the win. If she dispels all your characters before the fight is over just summon Carbuncle again and the same thing happens!

After Edea has had enough, a FVM showing her lanuching a huge icicle at Squall is shown (impaling him through the shoulder) and disc 1 ends.

This is continued in the next post.