[Gaz]

VIII really was a great game too. However the junctioning system meant that you could quickly draw 100 spells from enemies that were never going to defeat you, so could be a pretty strong character right from the offset. I think that's why they did that whole enemies level-up as you do thing, to balance that off.

See when you're playing it though, notice how long it takes to draw a new area when you walk off screen - that really put me off!

[Kilo]

I have noticed that too. It is mildly irritating I guess.

The worst thing for me is probably the junction system and the fact that, in battles, you need to use your GFs a hell of a lot more than on FFVII (well, Summons in that case). The battles can be a bit more repetitive because of that.

I can't even remember how the battles work on FFIX but I do remember enjoying the game a lot more than FFVIII.

[Gaz]

Kilo, on Jan 26 2007, 11:25, said:

I have noticed that too. It is mildly irritating I guess.

The worst thing for me is probably the junction system and the fact that, in battles, you need to use your GFs a hell of a lot more than on FFVII (well, Summons in that case). The battles can be a bit more repetitive because of that.

I can't even remember how the battles work on FFIX but I do remember enjoying the game a lot more than FFVIII.

On FFIX the battle system's fairly similar to FFVII, I just enjoyed the plot a lot more than FFVIII, although both of them are brilliant. I tried to get through battles without using my GFs as much as possible, as the animations (especially that of the later ones, I won't spoil) took ages.

Once you get into places you can draw Ultima, Full-Life magic etc. then you can bump all your stats up to 255 easy.

[Kilo]

I will play a bit more today. At the moment I am about to fight those green lizard things that have attacked Rinoa after Edea gives her speach on disc one. I got KO'd against them last night.

This mate I mentioned who is playing through it has previously played no FF games, so I am going to let him borrow FFVII next week and then, at some stage, FFIX. He is enjoying VIII so much though that I don't think he will actually enjoy VII any more. I think the one you play first is likely to be your favourite, and VII was the first one I played.

Incidentally, I have never played any of the games after IX, though I have seen a wee bit of X at a friend's house. Are these ones any good? I have not played any of the games previous to VII either actually.

[Gaz]

Kilo, on Jan 26 2007, 11:57, said:

I will play a bit more today. At the moment I am about to fight those green lizard things that have attacked Rinoa after Edea gives her speach on disc one. I got KO'd against them last night.

This mate I mentioned who is playing through it has previously played no FF games, so I am going to let him borrow FFVII next week and then, at some stage, FFIX. He is enjoying VIII so much though that I don't think he will actually enjoy VII any more. I think the one you play first is likely to be your favourite, and VII was the first one I played.

Incidentally, I have never played any of the games after IX, though I have seen a wee bit of X at a friend's house. Are these ones any good? I have not played any of the games previous to VII either actually.

FFX is simply stunning. It's in my top 4 games of all time (with the other two being Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross). I simply can't recommend it enough, and nothing I can say will do it justice. You can pick it up on Ebay for about a tenner now. I strongly suggest you buy it!

[Kilo]

At the moment I am playing these games on my original PlayStation, having gotten rid of the PS2 ages ago. We do have an X-Box here though. I might get another PS2 soon, when they are going on the cheap, but at the moment I am playing through a few PS1 games. I've been buying them for ridiculously cheap prices on Amazon but it is the FF games that I have spent by far the most time playing.

[Gaz]

Kilo, on Jan 26 2007, 12:07, said:

At the moment I am playing these games on my original PlayStation, having gotten rid of the PS2 ages ago. We do have an X-Box here though. I might get another PS2 soon, when they are going on the cheap, but at the moment I am playing through a few PS1 games. I've been buying them for ridiculously cheap prices on Amazon but it is the FF games that I have spent by far the most time playing.

If you've just got a PS1, then try and get a hold of Chrono Cross as that's a PS1 game. But first I would highly recommend downloading a SNES Emulator and a Chrono Trigger ROM and playing through that first. Simply a beautiful game. Chrono Cross was only ever released in the USA though, so you'd need one of the wee adaptors that plug in the back or a chipped PS1 to play it.

[Kilo]

I will look into getting them at some point.

Just reading through the thread in full, I see you are playing through the game at the moment. How far have you progressed now?

Have to agree with Fabregas about Demon's Gate. It took me absolutely ages to beat Demon's Gate the first time I played it - we're talking two or three weeks at least I reckon. I was playing through the game at the same time as a mate from school at the time and we were both stuck on demon's gate at the same time. Each day, we'd get into school and immediately find out how the other fared against him the night before. I was first to beat him, though he eventually raced ahead and got to Sephiroth when I was still stuck on Hojo. I completed it first though.

When I played through the game in the Summer, I was KO'd in battle three times altogether. All three were in the Temple of the Ancients. Two were against these two things who drain about 1400HP from you. I think they are through the "3" on the clock. The other KO was at the hands of Demon's gate. Unless you have levelled up a lot, you really have to get your set-up just right to beat this guy. (I went for two guys in the back row, with Aeries "defending" with every move, working up her limit break and curing or using Healing Wind when necessary. You have barrier at this stage too so you need to get this on your front row guy at all times and, ideally, on everyone.) That move where he cracks that stone on your head.. argh!

[Gaz]

Kilo, on Jan 26 2007, 12:31, said:

I will look into getting them at some point.

Just reading through the thread in full, I see you are playing through the game at the moment. How far have you progressed now?

Have to agree with Fabregas about Demon's Gate. It took me absolutely ages to beat Demon's Gate the first time I played it - we're talking two or three weeks at least I reckon. I was playing through the game at the same time as a mate from school at the time and we were both stuck on demon's gate at the same time. Each day, we'd get into school and immediately find out how the other fared against him the night before. I was first to beat him, though he eventually raced ahead and got to Sephiroth when I was still stuck on Hojo. I completed it first though.

When I played through the game in the Summer, I was KO'd in battle three times altogether. All three were in the Temple of the Ancients. Two were against these two things who drain about 1400HP from you. I think they are through the "3" on the clock. The other KO was at the hands of Demon's gate. Unless you have levelled up a lot, you really have to get your set-up just right to beat this guy. (I went for two guys in the back row, with Aeries "defending" with every move, working up her limit break and curing or using Healing Wind when necessary. You have barrier at this stage too so you need to get this on your front row guy at all times and, ideally, on everyone.) That move where he cracks that stone on your head.. argh!

I haven't played it for a couple of days, but I'm currently in Cosmo Canyon and I'm just about to go through the GI Cave and find out that Nanaki's father wasn't the coward Nanaki thinks he is.

Agree about Demon's Gate, an absolute b*tch of a boss. Ideally I try to have my guys at about 2,000HP before fighting him (takes a lot of levelling up though). Also in the Temple of the Ancients, in the sort of "main" room it took me AGES to find my way out of there, as there is a door you need to go through that you can't see because it's on the "back" of a wall!

There's another rock hard boss later on in the game as well. IIRC it's on your return to Midgar / Junon (can't remember which) and it's this kind of robot thing that has 2 arms that can pick up your guys, rendering them useless for the battle and leaving it effectively a one-on-one fight. That's a c*nt too!

[Kilo]

I think that boss is called Dock Loader or something like that. I beat him quite easily last time - I think the trick is to take out one or both of his arms first then he is easy. He certainly isn't in Midgar. I think it is when you return to Junon at some point and ar elooking for an underwater reactor... Can't remember too well, might be mixing bits of the game up there!

The next most difficult boss for me last time was Sephiroth. I really struggled to beat him, needing to use about 10 Megalixers! I try to not use items like that until the very end of the game. Hojo is also quite difficult I guess but, like I said, only Demon's Gate managed to beat me last time round.

2000 HP for Demon's Gate -- cheat!! I think I had about 1400HP and it was definitely a struggle but that included doing a wee bit of levelling up too.

[Kilo]

Forgot to add - are you aware of the secret way of defeating the boss in Cosmo Canyon?

[Gaz]

Kilo, on Jan 26 2007, 15:47, said:

Forgot to add - are you aware of the secret way of defeating the boss in Cosmo Canyon?

Nah, didn't know that. How do I do it? It's never bothered me before as he's easy, if you have a Fire Ring that nulifies Fire attacks (which I do) and everyone with Ice2. One of my strategies is to have everyone with a Fire, Ice and Lightning materia and a Restore / All combination materia.

[Kilo]

If you give him a Pheonix Down, he dies. It is something to do with being "undead". I guess the same probably goes for all the ememies in the build-up, but I am not sure.

[Gaz]

Do you know, I've never twigged that! I know that a staple of FF games is that undead enemies are damaged or killed by curative items, but I've never thought to do it on the Undead GI! And there are other bosses I've done it on in the series as well!

[Francesc Fabregas]

Kilo, on Jan 26 2007, 12:31, said:

I will look into getting them at some point.

Just reading through the thread in full, I see you are playing through the game at the moment. How far have you progressed now?

Have to agree with Fabregas about Demon's Gate. It took me absolutely ages to beat Demon's Gate the first time I played it - we're talking two or three weeks at least I reckon. I was playing through the game at the same time as a mate from school at the time and we were both stuck on demon's gate at the same time. Each day, we'd get into school and immediately find out how the other fared against him the night before. I was first to beat him, though he eventually raced ahead and got to Sephiroth when I was still stuck on Hojo. I completed it first though.

When I played through the game in the Summer, I was KO'd in battle three times altogether. All three were in the Temple of the Ancients. Two were against these two things who drain about 1400HP from you. I think they are through the "3" on the clock. The other KO was at the hands of Demon's gate. Unless you have levelled up a lot, you really have to get your set-up just right to beat this guy. (I went for two guys in the back row, with Aeries "defending" with every move, working up her limit break and curing or using Healing Wind when necessary. You have barrier at this stage too so you need to get this on your front row guy at all times and, ideally, on everyone.) That move where he cracks that stone on your head.. argh!

Haha, yeah man, me and my mate were stuck at exactly the same bit with the Demon's Gate. I beat him first, and then he gave me his memory card so i could beat him for him. Easy!

Another tricky, but not impossible, boss was the crab-like creature blocking your way out of the Nibelheim reactor. Took a fair few times to beat him, especially because I had Vincent in my team, and he kept on reaching his limit break and using fire-based attacks.

Sephiroth was a piece of piss to beat - I had the Kinghts of the Round by that point, so thrashing him was pretty straightforward. I never attempted to beat by normal "fighting".

[Gaz]

I've just passed through Nibelheim (currently at Rocket Town) and that giant spider-crab thing took me a fair few times to beat. I then moved everyone to the back row and it was pretty straightforward as his Hell Combo couldn't kill me.

I had Aeris, Cloud and Barret in my party and got everyone's limit breaks up before the start of the fight. I began by using Cloud's Cross-Slash limit break as that paralyses him and he can't move for a couple of turns. Had everyone just keep firing Ice2 at him, Barret's limit break and when he started moving again, have Aeris cast her Seal Evil limit break and that paralyses him again.

Just about to nick the Tiny Bronco from ShinRa, I'm about 10 hours into it. Gonna spend some serious time levelling up before I tackle the Temple of the Ancients.

[Kilo]

The boss the two of you mentioned is called Materia keeper I think. I seem to remember using an enemy skill, Trine, repeatedly when defeating him.

Sephiroth is damn difficult without KOTR as he keeps fu*king up your status. I didn't find any Ribbons last time either, or maybe just the one - can't remember.

This post has been edited by Kilo: 29 January 2007 - 15:06

[Kilo]

Gaz, on Jan 29 2007, 14:50, said:

I had Aeris, Cloud and Barret in my party and got everyone's limit breaks up before the start of the fight.

Aeris stays in my team for every possible battle up to and including Demon's Gate. You need her in that fight and you might as well level her up. Back row every time, taking the hits and working up her limit break is the way to use her.

[Francesc Fabregas]

Gaz, on Jan 29 2007, 14:50, said:

I've just passed through Nibelheim (currently at Rocket Town) and that giant spider-crab thing took me a fair few times to beat. I then moved everyone to the back row and it was pretty straightforward as his Hell Combo couldn't kill me.

I had Aeris, Cloud and Barret in my party and got everyone's limit breaks up before the start of the fight. I began by using Cloud's Cross-Slash limit break as that paralyses him and he can't move for a couple of turns. Had everyone just keep firing Ice2 at him, Barret's limit break and when he started moving again, have Aeris cast her Seal Evil limit break and that paralyses him again.

Just about to nick the Tiny Bronco from ShinRa, I'm about 10 hours into it. Gonna spend some serious time levelling up before I tackle the Temple of the Ancients.

Here's a tip - when you're in the Tiny Bronco near the penninsula near Rocket Town and the weapon maker's house, get out and wander up and down the beaches - there's these lobster/insect looking baddies. They have an enemy skill called "Big Guard" - it gives you shell, protect and haste - essential for the fight with the Demon's Gate. Get this from them, it'll help you no end, in any fight.

[Gaz]

Francesc Fabregas, on Jan 29 2007, 15:22, said:

Here's a tip - when you're in the Tiny Bronco near the penninsula near Rocket Town and the weapon maker's house, get out and wander up and down the beaches - there's these lobster/insect looking baddies. They have an enemy skill called "Big Guard" - it gives you shell, protect and haste - essential for the fight with the Demon's Gate. Get this from them, it'll help you no end, in any fight.

Yeah I've got that one before. Because it's a skill that the enemies use on themselves though (so Enemy Skill materia can't pick it up) I give someone a Manipulate materia so that I control them, then use it on my party. Probably the most useful Enemy Skill there is.

[Francesc Fabregas]

Gaz, on Jan 29 2007, 15:56, said:

Yeah I've got that one before. Because it's a skill that the enemies use on themselves though (so Enemy Skill materia can't pick it up) I give someone a Manipulate materia so that I control them, then use it on my party. Probably the most useful Enemy Skill there is.

Ah, of course, I forgot that you had to take control of them! If you can do that, then you're sorted.

[Gaz]

Just remembered, I forgot to get Odin and Vincent! Back to Nibelheim once I've got the Tiny Bronco. Lost Number, your ass is mine!

[Francesc Fabregas]

Gaz, on Jan 29 2007, 16:06, said:

Just remembered, I forgot to get Odin and Vincent! Back to Nibelheim once I've got the Tiny Bronco. Lost Number, your ass is mine!

You can also pick up Aeris ultimate limit break (Great Gospel) at this point - whether or not you can train her up to be able to use it is another story.

I had an awesome technique for getting the ultimate limit breaks, when you want it, let me know (it takes aaaaaaaaaages, by the way). Tifa's was the coolest B)

[Gaz]

Francesc Fabregas, on Jan 29 2007, 16:25, said:

You can also pick up Aeris ultimate limit break (Great Gospel) at this point - whether or not you can train her up to be able to use it is another story.

I had an awesome technique for getting the ultimate limit breaks, when you want it, let me know (it takes aaaaaaaaaages, by the way). Tifa's was the coolest B)

Hmm, might take you up on that!

Well I'm now past Rocket Town and went back to Nibelheim for the Odin materia and Vincent. Now it's just a case of levelling up characters to tackle Demon's Gate...

[Francesc Fabregas]

Gaz, on Jan 30 2007, 14:07, said:

Hmm, might take you up on that!

Well I'm now past Rocket Town and went back to Nibelheim for the Odin materia and Vincent. Now it's just a case of levelling up characters to tackle Demon's Gate...

If I remember rightly, your characters can get a good few experience points outside the Temple - there's these grassy-looking baddies that come in sixes, and they give you a fair few experience points.