Final Fantasy 8 Walkthrough, Guide, Gameplay, and Wiki
by Ushapriyanga
Updated May 04, 2023
Final Fantasy 8 Wiki
Final Fantasy VIII is a popular RPG video game that was released in 1999 for the PlayStation console. It is the eighth main installment in the Final Fantasy series and is set in a fantasy world with sci-fi elements. The story follows a group of young mercenaries led by Squall Leonhart as they get involved in a conflict initiated by a sorceress named Edea Kramer, who has taken control of a powerful military state.
While on a mission to defeat the sorceress and the forces that manipulate her, Squall struggles with his role as a leader and develops a romantic relationship with his comrade Rinoa Heartilly.
The game was developed by Square during the localization of Final Fantasy VII in 1997. Final Fantasy VIII features realistic character proportions, 3D graphics, pre-rendered backgrounds, and a departure from many Final Fantasy traditions. It was also the first Final Fantasy game to have a vocal piece as its theme music and to eliminate the use of magic points for spellcasting.
Critics praised Final Fantasy VIII, and it was a commercial success, grossing over $151 million in its first day of release in Japan and over $50 million during its first 13 weeks in North America.
The game has been re-released on various platforms over the years, including a Windows port in 2000 and a PSOne Classic version on the PlayStation Store in 2009. As of August 2019, Final Fantasy VIII had sold over 9.6 million copies worldwide. In 2019, a remastered version was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One, and in 2021, it was released for Android and iOS.
Final Fantasy 8 Walkthrough and Guide
Here is the complete walkthrough.
Disc 1
Fire Cavern: The first stage of the game is the Fire Cavern. In this stage, you need to navigate through the cavern and defeat Ifrit, the fire demon. This stage serves as a tutorial for the game's combat system.
SeeD Field Exam: Once you have defeated Ifrit, you'll move on to the SeeD Field Exam. This stage tests your abilities as a SeeD member, and you need to complete various tasks such as defeating enemies, solving puzzles, and navigating through different environments.
Inauguration: After passing the SeeD Field Exam, you'll attend your inauguration as a SeeD member. Here, you'll meet various characters who will become important throughout the game.
First Mission: Your first mission as a SeeD member will involve infiltrating a city to gather information. This mission will test your stealth and combat abilities.
TV Station: The TV Station stage involves navigating through a TV station to rescue a character who has been taken hostage. This stage requires you to use your wits and combat skills to defeat enemies and overcome obstacles.
Galbadia Garden: In the Galbadia Garden stage, you'll infiltrate a rival Garden to gather information. This stage is similar to the First Mission stage, but it's more challenging.
Brothers: The Brothers stage involves defeating two powerful brothers who are causing trouble. This stage requires you to use your combat skills and strategic thinking to defeat the brothers.
Assassination: The final stage of the game involves assassinating a key figure. This stage is the most challenging and requires you to use all of your skills to overcome various obstacles and defeat powerful enemies.
Disc 2
D-District Prison: The first stage of the game is the D-District Prison. In this stage, you need to navigate through the prison to rescue a character who has been taken captive. This stage requires you to use your combat skills and strategic thinking to defeat enemies and overcome obstacles.
Missile Base: Once you have rescued the character from the prison, you'll move on to the Missile Base. This stage involves infiltrating a missile base to prevent a missile launch. This stage is more challenging than the previous one, and you'll need to use your stealth and combat skills to succeed.
The Garden Master: After preventing the missile launch, you'll attend a meeting with the Garden Master. This stage involves interacting with various characters and making decisions that will affect the story.
Fisherman's Horizon: The Fisherman's Horizon stage involves visiting a town to gather information. This stage requires you to explore the town and interact with its inhabitants.
Occupied Balamb: The Occupied Balamb stage involves infiltrating a city that has been occupied by enemies. This stage is similar to the Missile Base stage, but it's more challenging.
Trabia Garden: In the Trabia Garden stage, you'll infiltrate a rival Garden to gather information. This stage is similar to the Galbadia Garden stage but is more challenging.
Clash of the Gardens: The final stage of the game involves a clash between two Gardens. This stage requires you to use all of your skills to defeat powerful enemies and overcome various obstacles.
Disc 3
White SeeD Ship: The game's first stage takes place on the White SeeD Ship. In this stage, you'll need to navigate through the ship to reach a destination. Along the way, you'll encounter enemies that you'll need to defeat using your combat skills.
Esthar: After completing the White SeeD Ship stage, you'll move on to Esthar. This stage involves exploring a city to gather information and complete tasks. You'll need to interact with various characters and solve puzzles to progress.
Lunatic Pandora (first visit): The third stage of the game takes place at the Lunatic Pandora, where you'll face off against enemies to progress through the area. You'll need to use your combat skills and strategic thinking to overcome obstacles and defeat powerful enemies.
Rinoa: After completing the Lunatic Pandora (first visit) stage, you'll move on to a stage focused on Rinoa. In this stage, you'll need to rescue Rinoa and prevent her from being possessed by a sorceress.
Lunatic Pandora (second visit): The final stage of the game takes place at the Lunatic Pandora again, where you'll face off against powerful enemies in a climactic battle. You'll need to use all of your skills to defeat the enemies and overcome various obstacles.
Disc 4
The Future: The first stage of the game takes place in a futuristic world, where you'll need to explore and complete various objectives to progress through the story. You'll need to use your skills and strategic thinking to overcome obstacles and defeat enemies.
Endgame: The final stage of the game takes place in a climactic battle, where you'll face off against the ultimate enemy. You'll need to use all of your skills and abilities to defeat the enemy and emerge victorious. The Endgame stage will test your knowledge of the game's mechanics and your mastery of the combat system.
Final Fantasy 8 Characters
The characters in "FINAL FANTASY VIII" are depicted with great care, showcasing rich emotional depth and complex human nature that leads to intense relationships and conflicts. Each character is introduced with a short profile, followed by information on their weapon, which includes a complete list of available weapon models, from the initial to the strongest, along with details on the necessary items for remodeling and standard prices. Additionally, each character's Limit Break(s) are also discussed.
Squall Leonhart
Squall Leonhart is the protagonist of Final Fantasy VIII and is the leader of the mercenary group SeeD. He is initially aloof and distant, but as the game progresses, he develops strong relationships with his comrades and takes on the role of a responsible leader.
Zell Dincht
Zell Dincht is a member of SeeD and is known for his energetic and impulsive personality. He specializes in hand-to-hand combat and uses gloves as his weapon.
Selphie Tilmitt
Selphie Tilmitt is a cheerful and optimistic member of SeeD who uses nunchaku as her weapon. She is also the owner of the airship, the Ragnarok.
Quistis Trepe
Quistis Trepe is a member of SeeD who serves as a teacher at Balamb Garden. She is calm and collected, specializing in the use of a whip as her weapon.
Rinoa Heartilly
Rinoa Heartilly is a member of the resistance group, the Forest Owls, and later joins SeeD. She is optimistic and caring, using a weapon called the Blaster Edge, which can be thrown and retrieved.
Irvine Kinneas
Irvine Kinneas is a sharpshooter who is initially a member of Galbadia Garden but later joins SeeD. He is laid-back and flirtatious, using a sniper rifle as his weapon.
Other playable characters
There are also other playable characters in the game, including Laguna Loire, Kiros Seagill, and Ward Zabac, who are introduced through flashbacks and dream sequences.
Final Fantasy 8 Gameplay
Final Fantasy VIII features three modes of play: the world map, field map, and battle screen. The world map is a 3D display that allows players to navigate the game world on foot, by car, Chocobo, train, or airship. The field map comprises controllable 3D characters overlaid on 2D pre-rendered backgrounds, representing various locations.
The battle screen is a 3D model where turn-based fights occur between playable characters and CPU-controlled enemies. The game's menu-driven interface allows players to assign "Guardian Forces" (GFs) to characters to enable battle commands beyond basic attacks. Spells are acquired by drawing them from enemies, Draw Points, or refining items and cards, and are then stocked as inventory on characters.
Spells can be junctioned to character statistics for various bonuses provided that a Guardian Force is junctioned. The GF system substitutes armor and accessories used in previous games for modifying character statistics. Each major character has a unique weapon that can be upgraded, affecting its appearance, power, and Limit Break. Limit Breaks are unique abilities that range from powerful attacks to support spells, and are available only at low health.
Aura increases the probability of Limit Breaks appearing, and various status afflictions can prevent them. Interactive sequences complement Limit Break animations, which range from randomly selected magic spells to precisely timed button inputs. The game features an EXP system where characters gain a level after accumulating a flat rate of 1000 points, and enemy levels scale based on the party's average level.
Bosses have level caps to prevent the main quest from becoming too difficult, and higher-level enemies are capable of inflicting and withstanding significantly more damage. Guardian Forces earn Ability Points (AP) after battles, which are allocated to special abilities that they can learn. These abilities allow characters to attack more efficiently, refine magic spells, receive stat bonuses, access shops remotely, and use additional battle commands.
Final Fantasy 8 Walkthrough - FAQs
The three main modes of play are the world map, the field map, and the battle screen.
The junction system allows players to equip spells onto their character's statistics for various bonuses. Spells can be acquired through drawing, Draw Points, or refining items and cards.
Guardian Forces are summoned monsters that can be junctioned to a character, allowing the player to use battle commands beyond Attack, such as Magic, GF, and Item. They also earn Ability Points after battles that can be allocated to special abilities.
Characters gain a level after accumulating a flat rate of 1000 points, rather than an increasing amount with each level. Enemy levels scale based on the party's average level. Higher-level enemies can inflict and withstand more damage and carry additional magic spells, allowing for Junctioning bonuses.
Triple Triad is a collectible card-based minigame in which players can challenge others to matches and win rare cards that can be turned into items and magic spells.