Final Fantasy VIII : The failed playthrough theory

So I feel like playing another RPG again. Last time I did Final Fantasy 7, check out that thread it's at the bottom somewhere of this video game section.

After counting the votes, Final Fantasy 8 wins out! I'm actually surprised some people picked 9, that always seemed like the unspoken\unknown game of the series.

So here we go, FF8 is underway!

 

Seen my cousin play through 9 already, so 8!

 

Voted 9 because it's my favorite game of all, but I still love 8, so it's all good with me!

 

Can't wait! I almost included Chrono Trigger but then that would just make the choices harder.

 

Alright Final Fantasy 8. I'll be playing through the epsxe emulator as it's easier for me (can't beat the turbo button for the grinds you know?). There's a PC version on steam I think, some updates and texture mods make it look respectable. I don't have that version and I'm not paying for games twice so I'll just run it through the emulator.

Final Fantasy 8, in my opinion I think it's good, not great. I say that despite beating the game twice and making it to the end the third time
I'll have no problems doing it the fourth time since I'm going to delve deep into the game and write out my experience for anyone who just happens to read this. The writting is part of my fun so I'm looking forward to it.

Major spoilers will go in a spoilter tag but obviously as the play through goes on I expect you to keep up. At the very least you'll recongnize immediately what parts of the game I'll be in by the many screenshots I'll take throughout.

One more thing, I'm going to have some fun with two theories about this game. I'll talk about the main story of course, but the theories deserve mention whenever possible (four times through the game, I need to cling to crazy but plausible stuff). Anyway I won't mention their names yet since in a way they're spoilers and it's early still.

Fanboy purists...sorry in advance

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Love this intro


I'm pumped up and ready to go. I just wish the beginning of the game wasn't a drag. Bunch of tuturial stuff. Let me get through all that and I'll put it in one big post.

 

So Squall wakes up with a scar and a headache inside a clinic. I missed the screenshot, an unknown lady walks by our room to check on us. She seems to recognize Squall but goes away before we could do anything. That's important by the way, already the game starts the foreshadowing.

Someone Squall does know visits him shortly after though. Our instructor Quistis drops by to check on our troublesome student. Yes, yes, "training" with Seifer is always too rough. This time it gave us a scar but hey, we gave him one too right?
Squall shrugs off her attempts to figure out what goes on in his mind, seems like we got a nosy instructor.

Spoiler

Nice pickup line

So we learn that Squall is some kind of student at Balamb Garden. This is where they train "Seeds", think of them as mercenaries. So after attending class we have to finish some kind of exam. We were supposed to do it before the game starts but Seifer picked that "training" and sent us to the clinic. That means that "I" have to do this part. A whole bunch of stuff now about the junction system and GF system is explained.

The game finally let's us out of Balamb Garden. Our destination is a cave to the north so we could complete our exam. Quistis is to support us so we're not alone. First thing first, I go to the forest and beat up this guy.

Spoiler

Draw some Cure magic at the very least. A little of everything. Anyway there's a cave at the north of the world map, enter it and find these two guys guarding it.

Spoiler

They let us choose a time limit to beat this place. I uh...forgot the reasoning why the time limit was important (or even if it was?)
I'm such a boss I pick 10 minutes. The enemies in the cave are mostly fire type that allow you to draw fire magic. I get a few but the time keeps clicking. Also be sure to draw a couple scan magic at least. Along the way Quistis tells us about previous students and their failure at this exam...

Spoiler

It's getting hot in here. Ifirt is going to make sure it stays that way!

Spoiler

First boss of the game is none other then the summon Ifrit. Make sure you have someone equiped with guardian force Shiva so you could lay the smackdown on him.

Spoiler

I crush him in a couple minutes, just spam Shiva. In this game there is no magic points, instead you rely on the magic you draw (max 100) or the GF themselves. If you summon the GF they take hits for you while summoning. Pretty useful, I forgot about that. Oh and don't bother summoning the other GF, his summoning burns time off the clock and the dmg was too low. I had Squall on healing duty.

After Ifrit is defeated he joins as a GF! Great now we could add him to our arsenal. Now you could freely do what you want in this cave since the time limit goes away. I head back to Balamb Garden for another lecture about GF and their abilities. Not only do they get XP like us, they get AP as well. The AP they get will grant them abilities which in turn allow us to equip them.
THIS IS IMPORTANT! DON'T BE A NOOB LIKE ME!
My first playthrough was painful because I didn't know about the beauty of STR 40% and MGC 40%. No seriously, getting those on some of the later summons is the difference between doing 500 dmg to 1000+ and drawing 3 Cura to 7 Cura.

Don't forget about AP and GF Abilities.

So exam is finished, we are now ready to join the rest of the squad on a mission. Quistis tells us to go get our uniform and report back at the front.

Spoiler

Looking good. Quistis has our squad set up, looks like we got some interesting characters joining us. First off is Zell Dincht and in the words of Squall "Lively? He's just loud. Can't I switch members?"
No we can't. Oh there he is.

Spoiler

Seems excited enough. We learn that Seifer is our Squad leader. He teaches us that if we look hard enough then we can find the "I" in TEAM

Spoiler

And Stay Out Of His Way!

Before we set off, the head master has some words with us. In the series staple, his name is Cid, a recurring name used throughout the series.

Spoiler

I didn't realize it before but... he kind of looks like Robin Williams.

We're now ready to set off. The upcoming part is cool so look out for it!

 

So we head on south to some harbor town and board our ship. Our mission, relieve Dollet's troops and make it to the center of their city. Seems Galbadia is beating them pretty good so Dollet has called on Seed to help even the tide. So it's time for our first real battle!
And they call this training?

Along the way we speak with Zell and Seifer. Oh and now is a good time to ask whether Quistis saw that girl in the medical ward from earlier, she says she didn't. This amuses Seifer, the guy is a jerk.

Spoiler

Lol Chicken Wuss

Now is time to see another cutscene as we hit the beach and listen to another great piece of music

Spoiler

We crush resistance as we make our way to the central area. Once there the group takes the time to relax.

Spoiler

Boredom settles in quickly as there is apparently nothing to do. Even the music shuts off indicating the lack of action. We notice a group of soldiers slip by and heading up to what seems to be a tower. Seifer, bored out of his mind, commands us to follow them. This is against our orders, but hey why not?

Spoiler

We head up and learn from one of the Dollet soldiers that monsters have taken up residence at the tower. Also we learn that whoever gets the final blow in combat determines the exp earned. I'm... not sure if that was just Seifer being an ass or if it's a game mechanic thing. Either way that's way to much micromanagement for me.

We find the soldiers going into the tower. What are they up too?

Spoiler

Seifer charges off after them like a maniac. Before we could decide what to do a newcomer shows up from behind

Spoiler

Her name is Selphie and she is a messenger. She needs to inform the squad leader Seifer of new orders. Of course he charged off ahead...
So then we follow!
We take the lift to the top of the tower where two Galbadian (Too lazy to spell check it now) soldiers are working on some kind of repair. In another series staple, they're the dynamic duo of Biggs and Wedge. Another extravagant cutscene shows what they're up to.

Spoiler

So this is what an alien SETI program looks like

Now it's time for a fight with the duo! The game fakes us out though, the real boss is some weird monster that blows the two away and comes after us.

Spoiler

Grab that Siren GF! You can draw "Doubles" from him too but frankly our magic stat is so bad it's not worth the time and effort right now. He has a stone breath move which presumably would petrify someone but it never did work against me. Stay in tip top shape and keep healing. After a while the monster goes down, he's not so hard.

Seifer makes his entrance now (what was he doing? Watching us do the dirty work ourselves?). Selphie tells him about the new orders, we have to evacuate back to the landing crafts and pull out. Ah that's right, they said the withdraw order takes top precedence.

Oh wait. How long did it take her to tell us this!?
30 minutes! We got 30 minutes to get back to the beach!

We hurry back down the tower but get jumped by some giant mecha spider.

Spoiler

I could technically try to beat this thing but the game wants me to run so that's what I set out to do. The rewards for beating it isn't worth it.
It's time like this we need to use the thunder element

Spoiler

Don't ask me to spell his name

A few powerful hits will stun the mecha giving us the chance to run. We blaze through the city with the machine hot on our heals.

Spoiler

I hope the dog made it out...




Run Squall, Run!

As soon as we get to the beach Quistis pulls out her inner Rambo and lays waste to the spider with a mounted machine gun

Spoiler

Teacher of the year

Mission complete! Now we head home and reflect on the poor dog that got run over. Kidding, pretty sure I saw him scurry away.

We head on back to Balamb Garden on foot because Seifer took the car for himself and took off. Figures.
While there we meet with some of the faculty who tell us to meet up at the second floor for our results. Oh yeah, Seifer get's owned.

Spoiler

So how did it go? How about this?

Spoiler

Yes! Member of Seed! Now we're talking! But seriously Zell, stop walking like that.

Spoiler

Oh yeah, Seifer didn't make it in. Sucks to be him.
So we get to attend some ceremony thing afterwards. First we have to change into our Seed uniform. However someone is waiting for us in front of our room...

Spoiler

And this is where I'll stop

 

Okay so Selphie was just waiting for us to get ready for the party. Get changed, and talk to Selphie to attend it.
While there what does Squall do to pass the time?

Spoiler

Keep drinking, the party gets better

Just when our solemn drinking couldn't get more depressing, Zell tries to buddy,buddy with Squall. Yeah...

Spoiler

Get out of here, can't you see I'm trying to get drunk on cheap wine?

Can't keep hiding away Squall. We get treated to a cutscene of a girl who notices him and signals for a dance. His answer?

Spoiler

Now I remember why I love Squall

She won't take no for an answer and drags us to the dance floor anyway. We get treated to another cutscene where Squall shows the detrimental effects of cheap alcohol.

Spoiler

"Watch where you're going you Behemoth fat ass"
"Your mom is a Tonberry"

Eventually Squall pulls out his inner man mode and nails the final movement.

Spoiler

Did it impressed the girl? Not exactly, she politely leaves

Spoiler

Alone once again, Squall heads to the balcony where now Quistis get's in the picture.

Spoiler

Looks like she has something in mind. She further says this is her "last order". Cryptic.
We first get changed again in our room. This so called secret place is inside the training facility so we meet up with Quistis there. After another round of tutorial questions we make our way through the grounds until we reach the place Quistis was talking about.

Spoiler

She proceeds to tell us how she was demoted from her position as an instructor. She is now a Seed, just like us. We may now work together with her on some future missions. Her demotion was due to her failure as a leader, her superiors didn't think she was cut out as an instructor and this seems to bother her somewhat.

Spoiler

So she's obviously a little down on this. What does Squall our hero say to cheer her up?

Spoiler

Cheaper then hiring a psychiatrist

Squall clearly doesn't want to hear about other people's problems and he doesn't want their burdens weighing him down. Huh. Can't say I don't feel that way sometimes but I would never say it to someone's face either. Squall is doing the "anti-social" routine quite strongly.

So obviously we're not getting anything else out of this conversation so we head back. Along the way someone screams for help inside the training grounds. Squall maybe a jerk but he won't leave someone hanging.

Spoiler

It's the girl from the clinic at the start game! We beat up the monsters that were attacking her but then two strangers carry her off to safety before we can talk to her. Judging by Quistis's reaction she didn't know her either. Strange she would know our names though?
We go back to our room where Zell is waiting just to tell us our room has changed. Hit the sack and wake up the next day, we got a new mission to complete!

Spoiler

We're to go to Timbur to help out some resistance people. We get the password stuff and get told to head to the train station. After checking over the junction set up (Yes! I got STR 20%!), I head on over to the station in the only town on this continent (forgot the name). I save inside the train and make my stop here.

 

No comment? I'll continue regardless.

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We board the train but something strange happens to our party. Some kind of sleeping spell knocks us all out.

Spoiler

Now all of a sudden we take control of three total strangers. Its worth mentioning that Squall is seeing this as well.

Spoiler

Even the battle music changes. The three are Laguna, Kiros, and Ward. The new trio head over to Deling for some R&R. While at some hotel Kiros and Ward pressure Laguna to make a move towards Julia, tonight's entertainment for her lovely music.

Spoiler

Unfortunately things don't quite go his way...

Spoiler

However he get's a huge break when Julia arrives to the table herself. This cues Ward and Kiros to ditch Laguna like true bros.

Spoiler

Nevermind guys, looks like Laguna is almost at home plate.

Spoiler

So this is what Squall dreams about...

So they spend the night talking (Yes talking!). Laguna finally shakes his nervousness off and talks about himself freely. He learns that Julia wants to be a singer but has had trouble finding some good lyrics. That changed tonight though when she saw Laguna. High praise, just when you think something might happen next...

Some random military guy knocks on the door and commands Laguna to do something.
Drats.
About now this weird dream sequence ends and the game returns to Squall, Zell, and Selphie.

Spoiler

Now this is a real bone I have to pick with this game. I never understood this dream sequence and
*spoiler*

Spoiler

future dream sequenced

Now maybe the game explains it at some point but I don't remember. We'll see, something else I'm looking for replaying this game again.

So anyway it seems the party is okay, nothing was stolen or anything like that. Apparently they all shared this dream, this is something they'll have to report to the headmaster later. For now, we have a mission to complete.
They arrive at Timbur and after giving the correct password they're let in to the secret train. It seems these resistance guys aren't cut out at all.

Spoiler

Squall get's told to fetch the "princess". We do so and get a surprise sight.

Spoiler

It's the girl from the party. Her name is Rinoa and she's trying to get independence for Timbur from the Galbadian army.

Spoiler

So basically our plan is to kidnap the president inside his train carriage. The plan was explained to me in a way that was completely confusing. However actually doing it was easier (Except for the fact I swapped the Triangle button with the Circle button. The game is weird with the default controls).

I'm not going to explain what we did here. Just not worth the effort. Just know that we hijacked a moving train carriage while switching it with a dummy one.

So now we could confront the president!
However... he's a fake. They knew in advance that the resistance was coming so now we fight!

Spoiler

What is he doing to Selphie!? Why is Squall and Zell uninterested!?


I'm melting!


Fake within a fake, Fakeception!

I beat both forms and we regroup at the train. It seems this contract is going to be pretty hard to fulfill. Speaking of which, what was the Seed contract? Squall and the party ask Rinoa and she pulls this out from Cid.

Spoiler

Until Timbur's independence. This could take a while.

I'll stop here

 

Well, if we're making recommendations already, and you plan on doing more of these, I'd like to throw Shadow Hearts into the ring (also hope you'll get around to FFIX one of these days!)

 

Sounds interesting. I couldn't really get into Cross but maybe I wasn't really being fair to it back then. My expectations for RPG's in general have really fallen (Only exception is next week's release of Trails in the Sky SC. I haven't been this hyped for a video game since Halo 2)

Haven't tried Shadow Hearts but heard of it. I played many JRPG of this time era.

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I got lost at this part messing up my pacing. The president is going to make some kind of special broadcast so Rinoa thinks this is a good time to declare Timbur's independence using his broadcast equipment. After wondering around Timbur's streets and back alleys I finally remember\find out that I'm supposed to go towards some bar near the back of some homes. After finding some key card outside I go in and see there's a drunk spewing all kinds of garbage about the resistance and how they cost him his job and such. Anyway I give him the card he dropped and he lets us by to where the broadcast station is.

It's about now we realize there is almost no way we could break through the president's security to broadcast our message. Squall uses this time to berate Rinoa and the resistance for their apparent lack of "leadership". Harsh words.
Now the President starts his broadcast.

Spoiler

Free donuts at the voting station. Thank you and have a nice day.

He says he has a new ambassador he calls "the sorceress". What does that mean? Well we don't really get to hear much more becasue out of no where Seifer grabs the president! Quistis is there too and calls for Squalls group to help!

Spoiler

Lol Chicken-Wuss

Chick- I mean Zell accidentally slips out that everyone in the room is part of SeeD. The president hears this and is obviously not happy that the mercs would step to this level. Way to let the cat out of the bag Zell. Apparently Seifer took it upon himself to capture the president. He broke out of the garden and injured several people. That's why Quistis is here, she was trying to reign him back in. Seifer in a state of panic backs himself into a corner where a mysterious stranger arrives.

It's the sorceress! She offers Seifer a "way out" and teleports them out of the station.

Spoiler

During the confusion the president slips away armed with the knowledge that members of SeeD were sent to remove him from power. That's a good way to bring down your mercenary group guys.
Rinoa says that her base was found out but we could hide out at some of the other resistance group hideouts. The realization that Galbadia has Seifer and that SeeD is in danger of facing it's wrath settles in. They wonder what will happen to their former comrade. Except Squall, he doesn't seem to be bothered much by this.

Spoiler

Not much for optimism. Rinoa takes offense that Squall seems disconnected with this. It makes sense though, the game hints that she and Seifer were and item and we already know that Seifer and Squall were rivals.

After discussing what to do next, Quistis reminds Squall of his training. In the event of being unable to return to their garden, go to another SeeD garden. The nearest is the Eastern Galbadia one. We leave the safe house where one of Rinoa's people gives us tickets to board the train. He gives up his own ticket for the newcomer Quistis. Nice guy but he needs to check out those stomach ache problems he has.

Spoiler

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I forgot to save somewhere along the line and ended up doing another half an hour of gameplay before saving. Since I'm not going to make this post any bigger then it needs to be I leave it at this point.

 

Okay this is more of a direct continuation of yesterday. My memory of what occurs before reaching the next save point is already getting blurred.

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So the party of Squall, Zell, Selphie, Quistis, and Rinoa board the train towards the Galbadia Garden where our fellow SeeD members also reside. The train trip is quiet. Selphie goes on and on about "I love trains", Rinoa talks a bit about the resistance stuff, and Zell gives us the staple of any good RPG dialogue "..."

Make sure to actually get off the train at the first stop. I don't know what happens if I miss the stop. Should have tested that, could have been funny (or really annoying)

I actually kind of get lost here since the game isn't clear on where to go. I somehow get it right as I'm supposed to go to this patch of wooded area that triggers the next cutscene.

Spoiler

So that's why Zell has been so quiet. He's really worried about SeeD facing repercussions by the Galbadia army. Of course Squall is his usual self and is rather callous about the whole affair.

Spoiler

Rinoa once again berates Squall for his apparent lack of empathy. Between you and me this is hardly the time for this kind of argument. Before it goes any further though we get hit by that "dream world" thing that hit the party earlier.

Spoiler

This time Quistis joins in leaving Zell and Rinoa the odd ones out. Don't know what's going on but on to Laguna's sequence of events!

Spoiler

This is definitely Laguna

This time the trio are on some kind of patrol duty. I have no idea where we are so I explore this weird place. Enemies are the typical cannon fodder that they been sending at me for some time now. It's weird that we're playing as Galbadian soldiers but I don't really know who the enemy is. Also did I say this place is weird?

Spoiler

I could be wrong but I can't seem to find the option to label the exit\entrance points on the overview like in FF7 (you know the red arrows and green arrows signifying places of transitions?). This game could really use that. How could I have known I was supposed to head north at this point? That looks like a steep incline to me.
If this place was supposed to make me feel confused it did a good job. I do progress though and eventually Laguna decides that the best progress is the type where you destroy the enemy and make it towards the end.

Spoiler

No pigs were actually harmed during the making of this screenshot

Eventually I finally find a save point. This is where I'll stop.

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I'll be extremely busy this entire week. It's possible this playthrough would be in limbo for a while but don't worry, I'll be back.

 

OOPS

OOPS

So I uh...did it again. I lost my save data. Somehow when I moved my data over from my old computer to this one I forgot to transfer the emulator save files. Really sorry about that. Like the FF7 playthrough I dug up several sites for a save file for where I was. Unfortanately all of them seem to be of the "cheat" variety putting everybody at level 100 and such. Also I couldn't find the specific spot I was in.

I don't want to start this game over. Even though I haven't really made a lot of progress this isn't exactly a game I was overly thrilled to do all over again.

I can't summon the mental energy required to do this. I was prepared to play this from where I was (pretty sure you're about to meet your next party member soon).
If by the impossible off chance someone has a save file right after the events depicted above I would love to hear from you. Otherwise I can't bring myself to start over, it's a mental thing. What is it, five hours or so?

So let's try to make it up bit, the real reason I wanted to do this was to explore two fun theories regarding the game. Spoilers below!

Spoiler

Squall is dead. Yes that's right, at he end of disk 1 he dies! The idea of going through the game with this assumption might have been really fun.

The other one is the Rinoa is Ultimicia. This comes about much later and actually seems to hold some merit. Playing by this assumption would have been very interesting (not to mention I'll be having some fun regading the naming of "Griever"...)

I don't know about you guys but I like to combine both of them

 

Well, this is embarrasing.

I know what that is like, since I lost all the save data for Final Fantasy Dissidia. Only in my case, I got carried away and deleted my save data while playing the game. The delete save date option should be kept well away from the load game option.
Anyway, I got someone else's save data, but I had the same issue: no room for improvement (except for one character I really did not want to play as).

Actually, I *think* I have save data to match your last post on the playthrough, but it is on my PSP. Maybe if there was a converter for save data from PSP to PS1 Emulator and back...

EDIT
I was wrong, about the position in the story my save is on. It seems to be at the next event with Laguna.

 

Okay. Regarding the "Dreams." They are actually caused by a sorceress in the Future, whom you actually meet and is a younger version of herself in the "Present." The game gets weird because things in the Present are being influenced by someone in the future who is sending the minds of the "Present" people in the "Past" to put an end to the Galbadian war before it ever happens and stops the resurrection of the Evil Sorceress. Essentially, Laguna is thought to be the father of Squall. Because of that the Sorceress in the "Future" is attempting to send him back in time to (Control?) (Influence?) the battle outcomes of Laguna and make him into a hero and savior.

After actually meeting Laguna, (He became mayor of a city and is quite a good guy actually) the dreams essentially stop. Laguna is Older now. Old enough to be Squall's father. Of course that is what is hinted at if you get all of the easter eggs in the game. Indeed, before Squall heads off to lay the smack down in the final fight, Laguna basically tells him that Squall must come back, because they've got a lot of things to talk about.

 

Trying to remember what Final Fantasy Dissidia (that PSP fighting game) had when you picked Squall versus Laguna. I recall it wasn't anything interesting. At least compared to Squall versus Ultimicia when she says something like "Care for this dance?" which is pretty much exactly what Rinoa asked Squall in the beginning of the game.

Hmm!
This game is better for me when I go in with all kinds of crazy theories since the main plot sort of seemed ambiguous to me. Open for interpretation.

 

I've beaten the game only once but I'm actually doing a play through right now. Since my PS shit brix a long time ago, I've bought the game on steam and I'm playing through it on my laptop.