Final Fantasy VIII – Complete Walkthrough (Step by Step Guide)

BALAMB GARDEN – THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY

The splendid prologue of Final Fantasy VIII takes place in the Balamb Garden infirmary, where Squall, the main character, awakens. As you answer the doctor’s questions, you’ll have the chance to customize Squall’s name if you wish. Afterwards, Quistis Trepe, instructor and team member, appears for a brief conversation.

After the dialogue, it’s time to go to the classroom. Once there, delve deeper into the game by inspecting Squall’s table and selecting the Tutorial. By doing this, you will obtain two Guardian Forces (GFs): Quetzacoalt and Shiva.

After leaving the classroom, you will meet Selphie Tilmitt, and any answer will suit her. In a nearby hallway, there is an NPC who provides a starting set of cards, so it is important to interact with him.

For the next phase, head towards the main gate, where Quistis will be waiting. Along the way, you will find a Draw Point that contains the Cure magic. Remember to assign the newly acquired GFs to the characters: Shiva for Quistis and Quetzacoalt for Squall. On the external map, battle against enemies, using the Draw command and accumulating spells, especially Blizzard. Keep battling until the GFs develop the Boost ability, and when you’re ready, save your progress and head to the Fire Cave.

FIRE CAVE – THE CHALLENGE AGAINST IFRIT

Upon arriving at the Fire Cave, you will be greeted by some NPCs. You can choose the time limit to complete the upcoming challenge, but this does not have a significant impact on the story. Inside the cave, move forward, taking advantage of the Draw Point that contains the Fire magic.

The biggest challenge in this cave is the encounter with Ifrit, a powerful boss. He is vulnerable to ice attacks, so use Shiva with Quistis and Blizzard magic with Squall. Ifrit uses Fire magic, but the biggest problem is his regular physical attack, so keep an eye on Squall’s hit points (HP). When Squall’s HP is low, use his Limit Break to inflict significant damage. When you defeat Ifrit, you will receive this GF.

After victory, return to Balamb Garden.

BALAMB GARDEN – TEST MISSION

Upon returning to Balamb Garden, head to Squall’s dorm and change into a more formal uniform. Then return to the main hall, where you will meet Zell Dincht. After the introduction, you will be informed of a test mission led by Seifer Almasy. Your next task is to go to the garage and get a car for Balamb City.

BALAMB CITY – THE PORT FOR DOLET

In Balamb City, you can challenge Zell’s mother to a card game in an attempt to win Zell’s card, but it may be wiser to leave that until later. Your main objective here is to reach the port and board a ship.

On the ship, talk to everyone present and then leave. After a beautiful cinematic sequence, the team arrives in Dollet, the next destination in Squall and company’s adventure.

DOLLET – THE SATELLITE TOWER SHOWDOWN

Once you reach Dollet, assign the newly acquired GF Ifrit to Zell and avoid equipping Seifer with any GF. He faces the soldiers that appear in his path and continues until he reaches a square where he must talk to Seifer. Soon after, go left to find some fallen people. As you examine them, you’ll face two Anacondours, which aren’t particularly challenging enemies.

Keep moving forward until you reach the entrance to the Satellite Tower. At this point, Seifer will leave the group and Selphie will join you. Make sure you equip Shiva to it. Inside the tower, collect the Blind magic from a Draw Point and save your progress before taking the elevator up to face Wedge and Biggs.

BOSS: WEDGE AND BIGGS

These two opponents are not extremely powerful, so use the opportunity to accumulate spells through the Draw command, and then use your GFs to defeat them. After a certain time of battle, a gale drives them out of the fight, introducing a new opponent: Elvoret.

BOSS: ELVORET

This opponent has a powerful wind attack that can cause considerable damage. Don’t hesitate to use your GFs and remember to use the Draw command to get the GF Siren. Additionally, collect some Double spells and keep your team healed as needed. Selphie’s Limit Break, Full Cure, can be extremely useful here.

After the confrontation, you will have a 30-minute limit to get to the beach. Assign Siren to a character of your choice and save the game again. Leaving the tower, you will face another challenge: the X-ATM092.

BOSS: X-ATM092

Use the Thunder spell repeatedly until you knock him down, avoiding using Quetzacoalt to save time. A strategy to make the fight easier is to apply Double magic to your characters. When the robot falls, escape from the battle by pressing the R2 and L2 buttons simultaneously. Then, run as fast as you can to avoid getting caught by him. If he catches you, repeat the same strategy and continue running away. Upon reaching the beach, Quistis will intervene to destroy the robot definitively.

BALAMB CITY – THE RETURN

When you arrive in town, Seifer will leave without you and you will have to walk back to Balamb Garden. Take the opportunity to accumulate spells with Zell and Selphie on the map and then return to Balamb Garden.

BALAMB GARDEN – THE RISE TO SEED

When you arrive, meet Cid in the main hall, then go right and talk to Seifer. After the conversation, go to the second floor and talk to everyone present. A man in a yellow hat will announce that you are now a Seed. After the graduation ceremony, talk to Cid to receive the Battle Meter item.

Return to the second floor, where Seifer and the others will congratulate you. In Squall’s room, change clothes and talk to Selphie about going to the ball. At this party, you’ll meet Rinoa Heartilly in one of the game’s most memorable scenes. After the dance, Quistis will invite you to a secret location in the Training Center.

Return to Squall’s room, change clothes again and go to meet Quistis in the Training Center. Make sure you equip GFs on it and go inside, taking the opportunity to collect some Silence from the Grats there.

If you want, you can face T-Rexaur, which gives 10 AP and is vulnerable to ice. When you reach a Save Point, enter the next door to have a long conversation with Quistis. After the conversation, save and continue along the right path. Someone will scream for help, and you’ll find a young girl being attacked by a monster.

BOSS: GRANALDO

Ignore the smaller monsters and focus on Granaldo. Use the Sleep spell on him so he can accumulate spells at will. If he awakens, apply Sleep again and when you’re ready, use your GFs to quickly defeat him.

After the battle, some men will take the young woman away. Leave the Training Center and return to Squall’s room to rest. The next day, take the weapons magazine from the bed and go to the Garden entrance. Cid will give you your first mission. After the conversation, talk to Cid again to receive the Magic Lamp item. Exit the Garden, save your game on the map and use the Magic Lamp item.

BOSS: DIABLOS

Initially, use Blind on him to avoid his strong normal attack. Avoid using GFs, as Gravija magic can destroy them. The battle will focus on Limit Breaks. Additionally, you can use Diablos’ Demi magic against him via the Draw command. When you win, you will receive the GF Diablos.

After the battle, return to Balamb Garden and look for two girls in the second floor classroom. He plays cards with one of them until he wins the Quistis card.

BALAMB CITY

Venture to Balamb City, where you’ll need to go to the train station and shell out 3000 gil to secure your ticket. During this segment, interact with Zell and Selphie, and don’t hesitate to enter the cabin when prompted. Zell will ask you a question, but the answer will not significantly alter the course of the game. Soon, the entire group will fall asleep and be transported into a joint dream.

LAGOON

You now control Laguna, Kiros and Ward. Your objective is simple: keep moving forward until you find a vehicle. Use it to get to Deling City, where you’ll go to the hotel and go down the adjacent stairs to request a table from the attendant. Júlia, the talented pianist, will enter the scene, and Laguna, taking advantage of the opportunity, will try to win her over. After the interaction, you will have a conversation with Júlia in her room. To access it, talk to the receptionist. After a prolonged dialogue, Squall and his companions will awaken in Timber.

TIMBER

When exiting the train, you will be greeted by Watts. Follow him to another train, where the performances will take place. After saving the game and obtaining Angelo’s letter by playing cards with Watts, you will find Rinoa at the end of the carriage. After the conversation, you will join her in another part of the train, where she will describe the plan in detail. After the discussion, let Watts know you are ready to begin.

Now you will find yourself on top of the train, using the directional pad to hide from the soldiers, while entering the codes that appear on the screen. After entering all the codes, you will enter the president’s carriage, which will turn out to be a monster. After the battle against the fake president and his most powerful alter ego, Gerogero, you will return to Timber with Rinoa in your group. Visit the Pet Shop to buy magazines for Rinoa’s Limit Breaks and head out of town.

Next, go to the Timber Maniacs publisher and search for the item “Girl Next Door”. After finding it, leave and go to the house next door. After peeking through the window, exit the house and head left. Enter the bar and talk to the drunk blocking the door. After defeating more soldiers, you’ll watch the real President Deling give a speech on the big screen before Seifer makes his appearance.

After this episode, you will return to the house and choose your group. With the tickets Zone gave you, take the train and talk to everyone, leaving Zell for last. Now, disembark at the next station and follow the forest between the mountains until the characters fall asleep.

LAGOON

Here, you are once again in control of the Laguna group. Follow the path to the left and go down the stairs until you reach an area with three doors on the floor. Move the middle door to make the soldier fall. Continue until you reach a cliff and face a group of soldiers. After the battle, Laguna will throw his companions into the sea and then jump. Here, you return to control of Squall’s group.

GALBADIA GARDEN

The journey continues to Galbadia Garden. There, go directly to the front of the main hall and go up the stairs to find the room indicated by the students. Talk to everyone until Squall leaves the room. Return to the main hall and interact with Raijin and Fujin. Next, go to the Garden entrance and meet your companions, where Irvine Kinneas will join the group. Finally, leave the Garden, take the train and talk to everyone until you reach Deling City.

JOURNEY IN DELING CITY

When you arrive in Deling City, be sure to board a bus headed to Caraway Mansion. When you arrive, talk to the guard stationed at the entrance. Unfortunately, he will not allow you entry and will instruct you to head to the Tomb of the Unknown King to prove your strength. Before you leave, visit the Shopping Arcade to upgrade your arsenal with new weapons. Take the opportunity to interact with local residents in a game of cards. Then leave the city and head east to reach the mentioned destination. Before entering the tomb, be sure to stock up on spells for Irvine, especially the Float spell.

ADVENTURE IN THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN KING

Although the tomb may look like a maze, it is less complicated than it appears at first glance. Before entering, save your progress and collect some Protect spells at the Draw Point. Then enter the tomb. Go straight ahead at the first intersection and examine the gunblade on the ground to get a code. Keep right at all intersections until you find Minotaur:

BOSS BATTLE: MINOTAUR

Use the Protect spell to defend yourself from normal attacks and Float to protect yourself from Quake. Collect some Life spells and then defeat him using your Guardian Forces (GFs). After the battle, he will run away, and you should continue heading right until you find a rope. Pull it to activate a device. Then, continue to the right until you find a lever and pull it too. Eventually you will find a crossroads with the gunblade containing the code. From here, continue forward until you find Sacred and Minotaur:

BOSS SHOWDOWN: SACRED AND MINOTAUR

Repeat the previous strategy: first defeat Sacred and then stock up on more Minotaur Lifes. Finally, defeat him using your GFs. When you win, you will receive the GF Brothers and the Sacred card. The unknown king will give you the Minotaur letter. Return to Deling City.

RETURN TO DELING CITY

When you return to town, go directly to Caraway Mansion and give the gunblade code to the guard, who will allow you entry. Inside the mansion, talk to everyone until General Caraway, Rinoa’s father, appears. He will explain the plan to assassinate Edea during a parade. Follow him and then return to the mansion. Your group will be divided into two: one led by Squall and Irvine and the other by Quistis, with Zell and Selphie. When the command passes to Quistis, try to leave the mansion. Rinoa will appear with an alternative plan to defeat Edea, but after a disagreement with Quistis, the group leaves the mansion.

Rinoa tries to carry out her plan, but is captured by two creatures controlled by Edea. Meanwhile, Squall and Irvine head to a location where a rifle was hidden. When they arrive, they face the creatures that captured Rinoa.

BATTLE AGAINST IGNIONS

When you encounter the Ignions, the battle will begin immediately. Once you start, make sure to collect the GF Carbuncle, which will be vital to your defensive strategy. Next, take the opportunity to quickly defeat the Ignions using the GF Brothers. There is the possibility of stocking up on their Break magic, however, it is not recommended. The focus should be on neutralizing them before they have a chance to use their most powerful attacks.

After winning the battle, Rinoa will rejoin the group. He explores the area and locates a trapdoor in the floor. Go down it and find a rifle on the ground, which will be useful for the adventure sequence. At this time, the command will return to Quistis.

SLIDE THROUGH THE SEWERS WITH QUISTIS

Now with Quistis in command, navigate the underground sewers. Keep moving forward until you reach the gate location. Once there, go up to the second floor and watch the scene through the window. Once the scene ends, activate the device and the command will return to Squall.

THE CONFRONTATION WITH EDEA

The climactic moment comes when Irvine reluctantly shoots at Edea, but to no avail. At this point, Squall decides to take the lead and goes into a direct confrontation with Edea in an epic scene. However, before facing Edea, you will have to face Seifer with Squall.

BATTLE AGAINST SEIFER

Confronting Seifer may seem like a challenge, but with the right strategy, he will fall easily. Use normal attacks and he will be defeated quickly. If you prefer, using GFs can speed up your victory. After the battle against Seifer, Irvine and Rinoa will arrive, marking the time to face Edea.

FACING EDEA

The battle against Edea will be a greater challenge. She is known for her powerful spells, however, you can use the GF Carbuncle to reflect her attacks. If necessary, use Edea’s healing spell on your group using the draw command. The strategy here is to resist and keep sending your GFs until Edea retreats.

After the intense battle, Edea hits Squall with ice magic.

LAGOON

The journey begins with Laguna leaving her room to find little Elone in the living room. Talk to her and once she leaves the room, follow her to the bar located on the right where Kiros is waiting. He interacts with Raine, and then leaves the bar. Go across the bridge at the bottom of the screen, continue along the road until the end, fighting the monsters that appear along the way, and return to the bar. Go upstairs, watch the conversation and return to Laguna’s room. Examine the bed to advance the story, putting Laguna to sleep.

DESERT PRISON ESCAPE

In this phase, Quistis, Zell, Selphie and Rinoa find themselves in a cell, with Zell under their control. He interacts with all the characters until soldiers appear to beat Zell and take Rinoa. Meanwhile, Squall is in a recovery chamber, recovering from damage sustained in previous confrontations. Seifer conducts a brutal interrogation, but despite the torture, Squall remains silent. Seifer then reveals that Edea plans to destroy Balamb Garden and Trabia Garden with missiles.

In an effort to escape, the remaining characters in the cell pretend to be sick, attracting the guard’s attention. Zell takes advantage of the distraction to knock him out, allowing the group to escape. He takes the soldiers’ weapons and distributes them to his friends. However, before leaving, you will come across two old adversaries.

CONFRONTATION WITH WEDGE AND BIGGS

Wedge and Biggs are the next challenges. Weaker than before, they can be defeated easily with Shiva, Ifrit and Brothers. Make sure to stock up on some of their Regen spells before defeating them. After that, move forward until you find Squall.

Rescue Squall and prepare to split the group. Zell will be alone trying to open the exit, while the other group will be in an elevator. Interact with all elements of the elevator until it goes down. On the lower level, you’ll discover there’s no way out, triggering a shootout that will have everyone worried about Zell.

Take control of Zell, evading a soldier until captured. Squall will arrive to rescue him and then Irvine and Rinoa will appear to support the group. From here, split the group to go with Squall and Irvine. With Squall’s group, go up the stairs, and with Irvine’s group, go down until command returns to Squall.

Keep going up until you reach the place where Squall was trapped. Go left until you find a bridge and face two robots and a soldier. Use Quetzacoalt and Thundara to defeat them easily. After that, cross the bridge to watch a stunning CG cutscene.

With the escape complete, the group will be divided again. One group will be led by Selphie to the Missile Base, while the other, led by Squall, will go to Balamb Garden. He defines the groups and heads to the Missile Base with Selphie’s group.

MISSILE BASE INFILTRATION

Here, your group will be disguised as Galbadian soldiers. Enter the base and examine the panel next to the door to open the passage. Ignore the door guarded by a soldier, go down the stairs and head to the door guarded by two soldiers. Talk to them, then leave and go to the entrance next to the stairs you came down. Return to the previous door, interact with the soldiers again, and then return to the door guarded by a single soldier.

When the lights go out, go out and find some soldiers. Choose between fighting or outwitting them. Regardless of your choice, your group will be discovered, leading to a battle against the Galbadian soldiers.

COMBAT AGAINST GALBADIAN SOLDIERS

This battle will be relatively easy. Stock up on some Confuse spells from enemies and defeat them with GFs. Move everything in the room and activate the base’s self-destruction, choosing 40 minutes as a limit.

Return to the base exit, but the soldiers will launch the missiles. Go back until you find a fallen soldier, take his missile control card and use the EDEA password to activate the panel. Adjust the error level to maximum and proceed to the base entrance.

FIGHT AGAINST BGH251F2

Quickly defeat the BGH251F2 boss using thunder-based attacks and avoid using GFs to save time. His “Cannon” attack is powerful, so immediately resurrect any party member who is defeated. If you already have the Mug ability, try stealing an Adamantine from him.

After the battle, the missile base explodes with Selphie’s group inside, creating suspense for the next phase of the adventure.

BALAMB GARDEN

Upon landing at Balamb Garden, Squall and his team immediately notice chaos. It seems that the residents are looking for Director Cid, on orders from a mysterious figure called Norg. The first step is to head to the infirmary to confront a hostile creature. After the victory, talk to the doctor to learn more about Cid. She’ll even reward you with a useful item if you talk to her again.

Next, explore every corner of the Garden, facing the monsters that are commanded by individuals in yellow hats. Interacting with residents along the way can reward you with a variety of useful items. Once you’ve finished your exploration, return to the main hall.

A companion named Xu will appear. Follow her to the second floor, where you find Cid. He will give you a special key, which unlocks a secret in the Garden. Return to the elevator and use the key. The elevator will suddenly stop, revealing a trapdoor in the floor. Go down the stairs and go forward until you find another trapdoor. Go down once more and you will find a door.

Behind it there will be a wheel that needs to be turned in ten seconds. If you are unable to turn it yourself, another team member will help you. Once successful, go down the stairs that appear and continue up to the control room.

Move the panel and go down the stairs to find a gate with a green light. Go down once more and you will be confronted with two monsters, the Oil Boles, which are vulnerable to fire. Use GF Ifrit and Fira magic to defeat them quickly. If Irvine is in your party, his Limit Fire Shot will be particularly effective.

After the battle, advance to another control panel. Fiddle with the controls until an elevator appears and takes you to the third floor of the Garden, which has now become a moving vehicle.

The next day, head to the main hall and talk to Norg. He blames the Seeds for the near destruction of Balamb Garden and demands that Squall and his friends be executed. Of course, you won’t accept that.

During the fight with Norg, keep attacking with GFs until Norg becomes vulnerable, then use Draw to extract the GF Leviathan. Pay attention to the spheres on either side of Norg – when they turn red, use normal attacks to avoid the Tornado spell. After defeating Norg, you will be called to the second floor.

There, you discover that a group of Seeds from Galbadia have come to collect Elone. Find Elone in the library and hand her over to the Seeds, who will take her away. After that, talk to Cid on the third floor, who will reveal that Balamb Garden is on a collision course with the city of Fisherman Horizons.

FISHERMAN HORIZONS

After the Fisherman Horizons accident, the next step is to apologize to the city’s mayor. Find him on the second floor of his residence and talk to him. Then challenge him to a card game until you win the Quetzacoalt card.

Once you find the mayor, follow him, saving your game and picking up the Regen magic point along the way. You will find the mayor talking to a soldier from Galbadia. Defeat the soldier to help the mayor, and then an old enemy will reappear – the BGH251F2 robot. Use Leviathan to deal significant damage and defeat him easily.

After destroying the robot, Selphie’s team will emerge from inside the robot. They had used the robot to escape the missile base. After talking to them, she returns to Balamb Garden and heads to the Quad.

There, you will be tasked with assigning musical instruments to each of your friends. Choose the guitar for Zell, the violin for Irvine, the flute for Selphie, and Quistis will tap dance. Your choices will affect the type of conversations Squall has with Rinoa later.

The next day, you will be able to control the Garden as if it were a vehicle. Use it to travel to Balamb City.

BALAMB

Balamb City is submerged in the oppression of Galbadia’s soldiers. Zell, one of the warriors who joins your team, helps you penetrate the besieged city. Find a third team member and interact with the soldier guarding the city gate.

Head to Zell’s residence, but be sure to talk to the soldiers present before entering. Once inside, talk to Zell’s mother, then make a quick exit. If you haven’t gotten Zell’s letter from his mother yet, this is the ideal time to do so.

The next task is to meet up with the soldiers stationed at the hotel entrance. After the conversation, head to the port and interact with everyone present. Return to Zell’s house and go up to his room. If Irvine is on the team, you will be treated to a comical scene.

After resting and saving your progress, return to the port. You will notice a dog that will run away towards the train station. Following the dog, you will find Raijin, who runs to the hotel. The battle approaches:

BOSS: RAIJIN

Raijin is a challenging opponent who has an attack that drains a lot of energy. Use Protect on all team members to protect yourself. Avoid using Quetzacoalt or electrical spells, as Raijin absorbs them. Instead, use Leviathan and Diablos to take him down. After beating him, he will retreat to the hotel. Fujin will appear to help you in the next battle:

BOSS: RAIJIN AND FUJIN

When starting the fight, extract the GF Pandemona from Fujin and use Shell to protect yourself from his tornado magic. Continue to use GFs like Leviathan, Diablos, and Brothers to defeat them. Your limits will also be of great use. After they are defeated, Raijin and Fujin will retreat. Return to Balamb and look for a man dressed as a waiter. Play cards with him until you win the Pandemona card. Your next stop will be the Trabia Gardens, but before that, consider completing some optional tasks:

ODIN’S PALACE

Before entering Odin’s Palace, make sure you have the Enc-None skill from Diablos. Upon entering, continue forward until you find two stairs. Go up the one on the left and interact with all the devices present. Return and examine a statue to reveal a new staircase. Climb up it and follow it until you find another staircase. Go up again and get the eye from the statue. Go back down and continue forward to the next screen. Place your eye on the statue and note the code that appears. Then, remove both eyes from the statue and return to the statue where you found the first eye. Enter the code to reveal a secret door and enter it to face Odin:

BOSS: ODIN

Odin is a challenging boss that requires a specific strategy to defeat. He doesn’t attack, but if time runs out, he will use Zantetsuken, killing the entire group. Therefore, you need to be quick. It is recommended to have Squall, Zell and Irvine on the team with low HP. Use Haste on all party members and Meltdown on Odin. Then, unleash a barrage of Limit Breaks until Odin falls. Avoid using GFs as they don’t do much damage and are very time consuming. When you defeat him, you will receive the GF Odin.

CONQUERING GF TONBERRY

Return to Odin’s Palace and fight 20 Tonberries. After that, the Tonberry King will appear. Defeat him to acquire the GF Tonberry.

SHUMI VILLAGE

At the entrance to Shumi Village, there is a Draw Point with the Ultima spell, which you can get for 5000 gil. Go to the elevator and then go to the house at the back. Note that a Moomba will block your entry to one of the houses along the way.

In the house in the background, talk to the man near the statue. He will ask you to speak to the Elder. Return to the house that Moomba was protecting, talk to the Elder and agree to help the sculptor with the Laguna statue.

Return to the house in the background and talk to the sculptor. He will tell you that he needs five special stones to build the statue. Find and deliver the stones to him. Once you’ve done this, talk to the Elder again. He will thank you and give you a “small gift”, the Phoenix Pinion, which summons the GF Phoenix. Afterwards, you can leave for the Trabia Garden.

TRABIA GARDEN

Trabia Garden, Selphie’s academic home before her transfer to Balamb, now finds itself devastated by Galbadia’s military might. After landing, advance through the green portion to enter the Garden ruins. Walk straight until you reach the central square, where Selphie will meet an old friend. While the two talk, go right, reaching a cemetery. Here, it is possible to find a Draw Point with the Zombie magic.

Return to the square and this time go left. Use Siren’s Move-Find ability to discover a hidden Draw Point containing powerful Aura magic. Continue forward until you come across a basketball court, where the group will engage in a prolonged nostalgic moment. The memories will reveal that everyone in the group, with the exception of Rinoa, lived together in a house under Edea’s care. The use of GFs was the reason they forgot these memories. Now, they seek to understand the reasons behind Edea’s change. Before you go looking for answers at Edea’s house, challenge Selphie’s friend to a card game and get her letter.

Edea’s residence is located in the south of the map, just beyond the Odin Palace. When you arrive nearby, notice Galbadia Garden flying over a forest and head towards it. Galbadia Garden is under Seifer’s command and moves in for an attack.

At this time, you will be responsible for giving orders at Garden. After choosing all the options, go down the elevator to join your companions. Form a group and head to the Quad. There, find Zell and give him Squall’s ring. Talking to Rinoa, leave the place.

While Squall is in the command center, Seifer begins instructing the soldiers for the attack, storming Balamb Garden with their motorcycles. Control now passes to Zell’s group. Continue until the end of the Quad, where Rinoa ends up losing her balance due to the impact.

Head to the Garden entrance and find Squall’s group. After the dialogue, choose two characters to accompany Squall and go up to the second floor, in the classroom. Get ready for a great battle against Galbadia’s soldiers who invade the room with their flying machines. Avoid prolonging this fight, as they can use Demi magic.

Return to the command center on the third floor and find Dr. Kadowaki. She will inform you that the situation is delicate and that Squall needs to motivate his companions. Go up with the doctor to the control cabin and have Squall inspire everyone.

Now, it is crucial to save Rinoa. Return to the second floor. A girl will inform you that she lost her younger brother. Head to the end of the corridor, talk to the boy, who will end up running after the dialogue. Immediately, a Galbadia soldier will attack Squall, pushing him against the wall. Press X and choose the third choice, then the second, to open the emergency door.

Head to a unique battle against the soldier. Use the square button for defense, triangle for punches and X for kicks. If the battle proves challenging, choose the “Try again with HP+200” option to gain an advantage. After winning the confrontation, Squall will use the soldier’s flying vehicle to rescue Rinoa. Once on the ground, follow Rinoa to the entrance to Galbadia Garden and, after a brief conversation, enter the area.

GALBADIA GARDEN

After gathering your team in Galbadia Garden, you must look for a location to save your progress. After that, move to the right, go up the stairs and start a dialogue with Raijin and Fujin. After the interaction, continue to the right, entering the first door you find. There, you come across a student, who you must talk to to obtain Cardkey 1.

With the card in hand, return to the save point location and head left, using Cardkey 1 to open the door. Cross the hockey field and go forward through the next door. Then head to the opposite door to get Cardkey 2 from another student.

After acquiring the second card, return to the area where Raijin and Fujin are and continue climbing, heading to the end of the corridor. Use Cardkey 2 to open the door, cross the basketball court and advance to the main hall. Before you get there, however, notice a staircase on the left. Ignore her for now and continue forward to face Cerberus.

CERBERUS

Before facing Cerberus, be sure to save your progress at the save point behind him. The fight can be challenging, especially if Cerberus uses Triple, which allows him to cast three spells in a row. In this case, use Dispel to neutralize this effect. To defeat him, apply Aura to Squall and throw Renzokuken at him. GFs like Leviathan can also be useful. Avoid using Pandemona and Quetzacoalt. Stealing a Spd-J Scroll with the Mug command can also be valuable. When you defeat Cerberus, you acquire the GF of the same name.

GALBADIA GARDEN

After defeating Cerberus, head left and enter the next door to find a student who will give you Cardkey 3. With this card in hand, return to the stairs mentioned previously, go up and head right to an elevator. Use Cardkey 3 to access it.

On the upper floor, you will find Seifer and Edea. Prepare to face Seifer once again. Although Seifer is stronger this time, Shiva and Leviathan may be enough to take him down. Avoid using Ifrit and try to steal a Hero with the Mug command.

After Seifer’s defeat, Edea disappears. Take the elevator down and go straight to the second floor of the main hall. Use the Move-Find ability to find a secret Save Point. Save your game and prepare for the final confrontation against Edea.

DEFEATING EDEA

Edea is now your main opponent. She has a powerful magic called Maelstrom that is similar to Demi, but also prevents her characters from using limits. So use Esuna on Squall and if he is low on HP, use Hero on him. Then continue attacking Edea with Renzokuken until she is defeated. You can also steal a Royal Crown from her with the Mug command.

After the victory, a strange event occurs: Rinoa appears to be possessed and kisses Seifer, who then disappears. Edea looks confused and Rinoa faints. What is happening?

BALAMB GARDEN

Squall returns to bed worried about Rinoa and decides to visit her in the infirmary. He is then called to Edea’s house.

EDEA’S HOUSE

When you arrive at Edea’s house, talk to Cid, who will take you to Edea. She explains that she was possessed by the witch Ultimecia, who came from the future and whose goal was to find Elone and take possession of her powers. Edea adds that only Elone can save Rinoa. After hearing everything, she challenges Edea to a card game to get Edea’s letter. She returns to Balamb Garden and visits Rinoa in the infirmary, where Squall falls asleep.

LAGOON

Laguna is in a tight financial situation and decides to do extra work as a film actor, where he plays a knight who must save the princess from the terrible dragon. The plan goes awry when a real Ruby Dragon appears. After a series of events, which include a minigame and a battle against the Ruby Dragon, control returns to Squall. He returns to Edea’s house to continue the adventure.

EDEA’S HOUSE

When starting this phase, the player must look for and talk to Edea. She will share information about the location of the White Seeds ship and deliver a letter of authorization. The next task is to move Balamb Garden towards the “C” shaped continent at the southern end of the map. This process can be a little complex and require attention and patience from players.

SEED’S SHIP

Entering the Seeds’ ship may not be very welcoming. Move forward and you will find Watts and Zone. If you collected the “Girl Next Door” item in Timber, give it to Zone. In return, he will give you Shiva’s letter. Continue towards the door at the end of the hall and talk to the person inside. There, Squall will deliver Edea’s letter. He will inform you that Elone is no longer there, as she was taken to Esthar by the soldiers. Then return to Balamb Garden and make your way to FH

PATH TO ESTHAR

Upon arriving in FH, Squall will be forced to carry Rinoa along tracks that cross the ocean. When he reaches the end, Squall will find his friends who will accompany him. Edea will also temporarily join the group. Talk to her and when Irvine and Selphie appear, select a group and proceed.

Then enter the clear part ahead and you will be in a snowy area. Continue until you reach the edge of a cliff. Here, you must take the left path to find a new path. Continuing on, you will encounter a monster, Abadon.

FIGHT AGAINST BOSS ABADON

This opponent is undead, so the best strategies to defeat him are using Curaga, Phoenix Down, Life, Alexander. It’s your choice.

After defeating Abadon, move forward until you reach the edge of another cliff. However, there is something strange happening, the edge of the abyss looks like a wall. Keep examining until a passage opens up above. Climb the invisible ladder, continue forward until you find a panel. Interact with it, choose all the options and move forward until you reach an elevator. Exit via a second elevator, and the wonderful city of Esthar will be revealed. Here, Squall and his group will fall asleep again.

LAGOON

At this stage, the player must interact with the guards near the elevator and then Moomba. After a brief interaction with the co-worker, a confrontation with a soldier is inevitable. The player must defeat this soldier, as well as a second one that appears. Help from Kiros and Ward will be available during these battles. After victories, use the elevator to meet with Dr. Odine. An important tip is to look for the weapons magazine in the corner of the laboratory before chasing the elusive Dr. Odine. He will finally reveal Elone’s location.

ESTHAR

After finding Elone, command returns to Squall and the group is led to the presidential palace. Dr. Odine will grant permission to go to the space station, where Elone is. Before going, he plays cards with Odine until he acquires Ward’s card. Take this opportunity to visit the Esthar shopping center and purchase useful items. If you already have Tomberry’s Familiar skill, you can acquire valuable items, especially from the book store.

CONQUERING THE GF DOOMTRAIN

Before entering the Lunar Gate, head further south to Tears Point. In the center, between several statues, take the Solomon Ring. Now you need 6 Malboro Tentacles, 6 Steel Pipes and 6 Remedy+. Once you have all these items, use the Solomon Ring and the GF Doomtrain will be yours.

LUNAR GATE

Once there, you must choose a character to join Squall and Rinoa on the space journey. Zell and Edea are not available to choose from. After the transport capsule takes off, follow Angelo and watch the CG cutscene.

ESTHAR

Back in Esthar with Zell and Edea’s group, head to Dr. Odine’s laboratory. Zell will mention that the Lunatic Pandora is approaching, and Odine will share his plan to invade. He will give you the entry location, and you will have five minutes to get there.

LUNATIC PANDORA

Once inside, explore for hidden items. Once you get everything, go to elevator 1 and move forward. You will be expelled by a robot, passing command to Squall.

LUNAR BASE

After a CG cutscene, take Rinoa to the infirmary. Along the way, find Ellone and challenge her to a card game to win the Laguna card. After that, he escorts her to the control room. Here, you must challenge the scientist to a card game and win Alexander’s card. After these interactions, Rinoa will be possessed by Ultimecia again.

After getting knocked down twice while trying to stop Rinoa, you’ll see another CG cutscene. Then grab the astronaut outfit and follow Rinoa. Unfortunately, the door will close before you can follow it. After talking to the astronauts, head to the control room.

In the next moment, follow the scientist to the escape pod and talk to Elone to take the elevator down. After another conversation with Elone in the escape pod, you will have to rescue Rinoa in space. The goal is to keep it in the center of the screen, using the triangle to move the screen faster. If you fail on the first try, you can try again until you succeed. Once successful, Squall and Rinoa will enter the Ragnarok ship.

RAGNAROK

Start by saving your progress and pressing the button on the left to seal the entry. Proceeding to the next room, you will have a dialogue with Rinoa. Make sure you have equipped the appropriate GFs on her before proceeding. When you come across a peculiar creature, you will have to deal with eight aliens of different colors (red, green, yellow and purple), two of each. The challenge here is to eliminate two aliens of the same color, one after the other, to prevent them from being resurrected. Follow the script below for easier execution:

1. Go down the stairs, defeat the purple alien.
2. Proceed quickly to the left, avoiding the red alien, and defeat the second purple one.
3. Return to defeat the red one, then go to where the first purple alien was and go up the stairs to find and eliminate the second red one.
4. Go forward to kill the first yellow alien. Return to where you eliminated the second purple alien and go left, go straight past the green one and go left to eliminate the second yellow one and then the green one.
5. Return to the location with the stairs and enter the door next to the big red door to find and defeat the last alien.

After the emotional and romantic conversation between Squall and Rinoa, they will return to the planet and Esthar’s soldiers will take Rinoa. She enters the room next to the elevator on the ship to reunite with her friends. Now, you have the opportunity to complete some optional events before going to Edea’s house.

SORCERES MEMORIAL

At this stage, Squall rescues Rinoa, and the crew is freed by a familiar character. Inside the ship, the team decides to go to Edea’s house. At this point, you can explore some options. For example, there are two islands, “Island Closet to Heaven” and “Island Closet to Hell”, where you can find Draw Points with the best spells in the game. However, the enemies on both islands are level 99, making them dangerous.

To gain AP, you can fight the cactuars in the desert near Esthar. They are easy to defeat and provide 20 AP points. When you’re ready, head to the island where a cactus appears and disappears into the sand. Fight the Jumbo Cactuar to get the GF Cactuar.

BATTLE AGAINST BOSS JUMBO CACTUAR

This monumental confrontation takes place against Jumbo Cactuar, a large and thorny boss. Although it is a unique fight, it has a considerable challenge: the “10,000 Needles” attack. This specific attack has the ability to reduce a character’s entire HP, so it is crucial to be prepared to quickly reverse the damage.

As soon as the Jumbo Cactuar delivers this devastating blow, immediately use the ‘Full Life’ spell. This will completely restore the affected character’s HP and ensure they stay in the fight. Other than that attack, the Jumbo Cactuar isn’t as fearsome as it seems.

To begin your counterattack, start by using the ‘Triple’ spell on one of your characters. Then employ the ‘Water’ spell to take advantage of the Jumbo Cactuar’s weakness to the water element. Simultaneously, instruct a second character to summon Leviathan, the water GF who will deliver powerful attacks against the Jumbo Cactuar.

However, before unleashing Leviathan’s fury, apply the ‘Aura’ magic to Squall. This specific spell will allow Squall to use the special ‘Renzokuken’ technique more frequently, causing significant damage to the Jumbo Cactuar.

To further accelerate your victory, use the ‘Meltdown’ spell on the Jumbo Cactuar. This spell will drastically reduce the boss’s defense, making his attacks even more effective. Upon winning the battle against Jumbo Cactuar, you will be rewarded with the GF Cactuar, a powerful force to add to your arsenal.

After the triumph over Jumbo Cactuar, it’s time to venture deeper into the game. Head to the southernmost part of the map, located in the bottom right corner. Look for a small structure not marked on the map. Landing here will take you to the Deep Sea Research Center.

EXPLORATION OF THE DEEP SEA RESEARCH CENTER

At the Deep Sea Research Center, attention and silence are essential. The light mechanic is a challenge to overcome – you can only advance when the light is off. If the light is on and you try to advance, prepare for combat.

Move slowly towards the light mechanism. When you get there, you will be faced with two options. Select the first option to face a Ruby Dragon. After defeating him, two more options will appear. Choose the second one to fight another Ruby Dragon.

After this second victory, two more options will appear, however, a third hidden option is available. By choosing this secret option, you will confront the powerful Bahamut.

BOSS BATTLE: BAHAMUT

This is an intense battle that requires caution. Bahamut’s Mega Flare deals significant damage to all characters, so be prepared to use a Megaelixir if necessary. Use Aura on Squall and Zell to intensify the power of their limit breaks, Renzokuken and Duel, respectively. You can try to stock up on Bahamut’s Flare spell, but it’s a risky strategy. By defeating Bahamut, you will earn the GF Bahamut, a valuable prize.

After this exciting battle, a hole will appear in the ground. Make sure Zell is in your group before heading down, as he will be needed for the next steps. Down below, there are a series of levers to be maneuvered and passages to be opened, finally leading to an elevator.

EXPLORATION OF THE UNDERGROUND AND BATTLE AGAINST ULTIMA WEAPON

In the basement of the Deep Sea Research Center, save your game and prepare for a series of combats, even with the Enc-none equipped. This area is a good place to collect Star Fragments, Curse Spikes, and Inferno Fangs.

At the end of the area, you will find a panel. Use Move-Find to reveal a secret Save Point. Save and interact with the panel to face the most significant challenge yet: the battle against the Ultima Weapon.

This fight is difficult and requires solid strategies. Stock up on GF Eden early on. Each character has a specific role in the fight and it is essential to take advantage of their unique abilities. Use Full Life when the enemy uses Light Pillar, use Hero and launch limited attacks.

After victory, return to the surface of the Deep Sea Research Center. Now Enc-None works again. The next stop is Edea’s house. A long conversation with Rinoa awaits you, which will culminate in a summons from the president of Esthar.

MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF ESTHAR

Upon arrival in Esthar, head to the presidential palace. The revelation that the president is Laguna is surprising. During the dialogue, select options from bottom to top and listen carefully as Laguna explains the plan to defeat Ultimecia.

Before leaving for Lunatic Pandora, take the opportunity to play cards with Laguna and acquire Squall’s card.

INVASION OF LUNATIC PANDORA

The invasion of Lunatic Pandora is marked by an incredible computer graphics (CG) video showing the Seeds entering this enigmatic scenario. After watching the animation, exit Ragnarok and prepare for immediate combat.

BOSS FIGHTING: RAIJIN AND FUJIN

The duel against Raijin and Fujin can be uncomplicated if you use the right strategy. Use the GF Eden, with a Boost maximized to 250. With this tactic, victory comes without much difficulty. After the fight, the duo will dodge, but follow them. You will meet Wedge and Biggs, who, tired of fighting, retreat peacefully. Follow your path, go to elevator 2 and go down it. Proceed to elevator 1 and continue moving forward until you encounter another challenge.

DUEL AGAINST THE BOSS: MOBILE TYPE 8

This opponent is more complicated. Mobile Type 8 has a devastating attack that reduces all characters’ health to 1. If he uses this attack, use Hero on Squall and Zell and then attack with his limit breaks. If you need to, heal yourself with Curaga or Megalixir. This enemy must not resist for long.

Continue your path and you will meet Raijin and Fujin again, this time in the company of Seifer. The two decide not to fight anymore and leave, leaving Seifer behind. Prepare for the last confrontation with Seifer.

BOSS BATTLE: SEIFER

At the beginning of this battle, Odin will try to attack Seifer, but will be destroyed. Attack Seifer with your best limit breaks and GFs, and try to steal a Holy War from him. After a while, Gilgamesh will make his appearance and defeat Seifer, ensuring victory. However, Seifer gets up, captures Rinoa and takes her to Adel. Prepare a group to rescue her and save your game – this ends the game’s third CD.

LUNATIC PANDORA – RINOA’S RESCUE

Resume the search for Seifer, head left, go up the stairs and continue moving forward. Soon, a scene will be triggered where Adel takes over Rinoa. It’s time to save her.

FACING THE BOSS: ADEL

Before starting combat, use Regen on Rinoa, as Adel drains her HP. If necessary, use Elixir or Curaga to keep her healthy. Avoid using Squall and Irvine’s limit breaks, as they can hit Rinoa. GFs are definitely out of the question in this match. The best strategy is to use Aura on Zell and Duel Adel, as it is the only limit break that does not affect all enemies. Just avoid using Burning Rave or My Final Heaven. If time is not an issue, a single Duel should be enough.

After the fight, Elone will send the Seeds to the future. When you arrive at this new time, you will find several Save Points. Save your game and continue on your journey.

WITCH HUNT

In Final Fantasy VIII, during a continuous journey through different eras, you will have to deal with several confrontations with sorceresses. Don’t worry though, they don’t pose much of a challenge and, for the most part, can be defeated with a single regular attack. The exception is the last sorceress, who is notably more powerful. Use the best Guardian Forces (GFs) you have to defeat her. After victory, you will be taken to Edea’s residence. From here, head to the beach and witness the deaths of some White Seeds, the work of Ultimecia. Continue climbing the chains to reach Ultimecia’s castle.

ULTIMECIA CASTLE

Arriving at Ultimecia’s castle, you will notice that her abilities are blocked. To remove these seals, you must defeat the castle guardians. The journey will be divided between two groups, which can be exchanged in the green circles spread around the castle. I recommend that you keep two male characters in the main group, led by Squall, and you’ll understand why soon. Start by heading up the stairs to confront the first guardian.

BOSS: SPHYNXINARA

Your main strategy against Sphynginara should be to focus on regular attacks, as this is the weakest of the guardians. Make sure you have protection against the Death status and have a high speed (Spd). With these conditions met, the battle should be completed in just two turns. After defeating him, you can unlock the “Magic” skill. Now, go through the door ahead and try to get past the chandelier. If you have two male characters in the party, the chandelier will fall. Go down and open the hatch to face the second guardian.

BOSS: TRI-POINT

Tri-Point has a counter-response to normal attacks, which is a thunder attack. Therefore, it is essential to have protection against this element. If Selphie is in her party and has high Magic, she can use the Meteor and Ultima spells. By defeating Tri-Point, you will be able to unlock the “Limit Break” command.

Then go back and head to the green circle to press a switch. Switch to the other group and head to the chandelier. Now, you will be able to get through it. Continue to the next door to face the third guardian.

BOSS: KRYSTA

If Irvine is in your party, use Aura magic on him and attack with AP Shot. Krysta will likely be defeated instantly. If Zell is in your party, do the same and attack with Duel. Upon death, Krysta will cast the Ultima spell, so it is important to have high magic resistance (Spr) and full HP. When you win, unlock the “Ressurection” command.

With this group, return to the main hall. Don’t go down the stairs; instead, go to the door on the right and continue until you find a room with two elevators. Get on one of the elevators and it will go down. Exit the elevator and it will go up again. Return to the elevator and switch to the main group. Follow the same path the other group took, get on the elevator so the other group can go up and switch back to this group. Enter the next room to obtain the “Flood Gate Key”. Exit and return to the elevator, switch to the main group and exit the elevator.

Continue to the next screen. To the right, near the end, there is a hidden door, but it is locked by the “Treasure Vault Key”. We will return to this door later. Now, return to the main hall, go up the stairs and go to the door on the right. Note that there is a bell at the top. Memorize this location and continue. You will come to a room full of paintings. Look at them all and then look at the bigger picture. Choose the options “VIVIDARIUM”, “INTERVIGILIUM” and “VIATOR” to reveal the next guardian.

BOSS: TRAUMA

Use Aura magic on Squall and cast Renzokuken on Trauma. Generally, a single use of this ability will be enough to defeat Trauma. If this doesn’t work, repeat the process. After defeating Trauma, unlock the “Command Ability”. Now, go through the next door and go down to the basement. Use the “Flood Gate Key” on the lever next to the door and pull it to open the door. Then the door will close. Get the “Prison Key” and get ready to face the fifth guardian.

BOSS: RED GIANT

Red Giant has an extremely high defense. To defeat him, use Aura magic on Squall and cast Renzokuken. While this doesn’t do much damage, it is still useful. The other party members should use Demi magic to deal good damage. If necessary, heal yourself with Curaga magic. By defeating him, you can unlock the “Item” skill. Use the “Prison Key” to exit the room. Continue to the room with a fountain and get the “Treasure Vault Key”.

Now go to the door that was locked and enter. Move the coffins until they are all open and prepare to face the sixth guardian.

BOSS: CATOPLEBAS

Starting with Catoplebas, your method of defeating him must be quick and effective. The ideal strategy involves using Aura magic, followed by Renzokuken, Duel or AP Shot skills. Although it is an offensive tactic, be careful with its meteor attack when it is close to being defeated. With full HP you will survive and after the battle you will unlock the GF command.

After the fight, head towards the organ room beyond the fountain, where you’ll need to play all the notes at once. If successful, it will open a door leading to a Rosetta stone. The next room is a prison, where you will need to pull a lever to increase the water level and get the “Armory Key”. Use this key to open the locked door and prepare for the next fight.

BOSS: GARGANTUA

Gargantua will appear after a less challenging fight against Vysage, who can be defeated with normal attacks. To beat Gargantua, it is vital to have protection against negative statuses. Casting Limits repeatedly will also be effective. After defeating him, the “Save” command will be unlocked.

BOSS: TIAMAT

The next boss is Tiamat, who is particularly dangerous due to her Dark Flare attack, similar to Bahamut’s Mega Flare. It deals high damage, so caution is essential. Limit combinations from Squall, Zell or Irvine, and the third character’s Eden should finally take him down. After that, the “Draw” command will be unlocked.

If you’d rather face the most powerful boss in the series, Omega Weapon, head back to the fountain room with the main group and switch to the other group. Remember to examine the rope near the entrance to the bell room, then quickly switch to the main group and run to the organ room before time runs out.

BOSS: OMEGA WEAPON

The confrontation with Omega Weapon starts with him using Lv 5 Death. Protection from death will be essential here. The rest of the battle will involve Squall using Meltdown, Rinoa casting Aura on Squall and Zell, and the strategic use of Holy War, Megalixir, and more powerful attacks to beat the boss.

BOSS: ULTIMECIA

The final battle against Ultimecia presents a unique set of challenges. It starts with Maelstron, and the solution is to use a megalixir. Use Aura on all characters and cast your most powerful limits. When Ultimecia is defeated, she summons her own GF, Griever.

BOSS: GRIEVER

Griever is a dangerous opponent with the ability to use Pain and Doom. Protection against these statuses is vital. Continue casting Limits until Griever is defeated, at which point Ultimecia will unite with Griever to form a new entity.

BOSS: ULTIMECIA + GRIEVER

In this phase, Ultimecia + Griever will use all of the previous attacks, plus a new one that involves throwing several planets at you. Keep everyone’s HP full and continue to use caps until it is destroyed. Finally, Ultimecia will return in her most powerful form.

FINAL BOSS: ULTIMECIA

The final battle begins with Ultimecia using Hell’s Judgment, which will reduce everyone’s HP to 1. Use a Holy War and keep casting more powerful limits. Keep an eye on the screen for “Draw Apocalypse,” indicating that Ultimecia is charging up her most powerful attack. By defeating Ultimecia at this stage, you will have completed the game after about 60 hours of play and will be able to enjoy the wonderful ending of the game.