FINAL FANTASY VIII
Official Title  Final Fantasy VIII
Common Title  Final Fantasy VIII / FF8 / FFVIII
Serial Number(s)  SLUS-00892, SLUS-00908-00910
Region  NTSC-U
Genre / Style  RPG 

Developer  Squaresoft
Publisher  Squaresoft
Date Released  7 September 1999
Disc Number &
Printed Serial Number
DISC 1

SLUS-00892
DISC 2

SLUS-00908
DISC 3

SLUS-00909
DISC 4

SLUS-00910
Serial Number In Disc SLUS-00892 SLUS-00908 SLUS-00909 SLUS-00910
Media Disc ID N / A N / A N / A N / A
Number Of Tracks 1
( 1 Data Track )
1
( 1 Data Track )
1
( 1 Data Track )
1
( 1 Data Track )
Approx. Image Size
( Image Format Used )
MB
( .bin / .cue )
MB
( .bin / .cue )
MB
( .bin / .cue )
MB
( .bin / .cue )
Approx.Size On Disc MB MB MB MB
Approx. Archive Size
( Archive Type Used )
MB
( 1 RAR File with
2% Recovery )
MB
( 1 RAR File with
2% Recovery )
MB
( 1 RAR File with
2% Recovery )
MB
( 1 RAR File with
2% Recovery )
Barcode Number(s)
( UPC / EAN )

From the back cover
  •  662248999043  - 
     

  •  


English
Menus and gameplay are in English.

Quite possibly the most anticipated game of 1999, Final Fantasy VIII continues Square Soft's best selling RPG series. The story follows Squall Leonhart, a serious and reserved gunblade-toting soldier in the special combat unit known as SeeD, and his role in the war against the hostile Galbadians. (Or so it would appear.) Never much for working with others, Squall's journey will introduce him to a variety of new people, some he'll call friends -- others he won't.

Of the characters he'll meet, no one will affect Squall's outlook on life more than Rinoa Heartilly, a beautiful young woman who teaches him the meaning of love. Also of note, Laguna Loire represents the game's most mysterious character, an ex-soldier turned journalist who appears to Squall in his dreams. Meanwhile, SeeD candidate Seifer Almasy admires Squall's abilities but sees him as an arch-rival.

Though it bears the Final Fantasy moniker, several differences from previous installments can be found in Final Fantasy VIII, most obviously the overall look. The outlandishly deformed designs composing the likes of Cloud Strife and Barret Wallace (from Final Fantasy VII) have been replaced with a more realistic-looking band of heroes and villains.

Also new to Final Fantasy VIII is the Junction System for magical use. Guardian Forces (GF)s such as Ifrit and Shiva, gods and goddesses who allowed previous Final Fantasy characters to use their powers through Materia, are still available and must be obtained in order to utilize certain features of the Junction System. In order to earn possession of a GF, the force itself must be defeated or "drawn" from a boss monster. Other less predictable methods can be used as well. Once a character has obtained a GF, he or she can summon it during a battle, unleashing its power and then proceeding to draw magical abilities from enemies. GFs grow stronger with each battle and will eventually bestow special abilities to the character who junctions it.

Unlike other Final Fantasy games (and most role-playing games for that matter), magic points are not the limiting factor for casting spells in Final Fantasy VIII. Rather, drawn spells are quantitative; each opponent you face has a type of magic that can be drawn, or taken. For instance, if a character has eight spells of one type and then casts one, he or she is left with seven of that type until more are drawn. Spells can also be junctioned to improve a character's vital statistics such as hit points, offense and defense. For example, junctioning a spell like Full-Life to hit points will make them increase dramatically, especially if you have a lot of them stocked. Similarly, Fire junctioned to attack means bad news to ice monsters just as junctioning Thunder to defense won't make your typical Blitz (a type of thunder monster) very effective. (In such cases, their attacks might even heal you instead!)

Some RPG fans might be alarmed to learn that characters stick with their weapons throughout the course of the entire game. However, by reading the Weapons Monthly magazine and visiting a junk shop, weapons can be upgraded -- but not how you might suspect. Though a fee is involved, it is minimal. The challenge comes in attaining the rare items necessary for the upgrades, which can usually be gained by defeating or stealing from powerful monsters. Incidentally, money is not earned after defeating a monster but rather through Squall's SeeD salary, determined by his performance in field and written tests.

As with most RPGs, experience points (for both the characters and Guardian Forces) are gained after defeating monsters, resulting in higher levels of experience as more are attained. However, as the characters gain experience, so do the monsters. In other words, the level seven Bite Bugs you fight at the beginning of the game will still be just as challenging 93 levels later.

Unlike Final Fantasy VII, which featured many mini-games, few are found in Final Fantasy VIII. However, "Triple Triad" (a card game played with a similar mindset as dominos) can play a major role in your inventory later in the adventure. Each game, available to play as long as there are people around to converse with, pits a party member and non-player character (NPC) against one another with the cards they have in their possession. Strategic placement of cards will earn a player victory and the right to choose one or more of the loser's cards for his or her own collection. "Local rules" may apply, so don't expect the same game every time. Besides through beating a NPC, cards can be obtained by defeating enemies or by utilizing the "card" command during battle, in which a GF must be junctioned to use. Ultimately, the cards can be refined into rare items and spells that help out tremendously in your quest.

Though there may be a few differences, many of the popular features of the franchise return in Final Fantasy VIII. First, Limit Breaks can be enabled at critical moments unleashing a unique and powerful attack from a character. There are also various battle abnormalities inflicted by opponents (i.e., sleep, curse, berserk, confuse and slow), item shops and a variety of vehicles to operate for faster movement on the world map.

And what would a Final Fantasy game be without a few Chocobos? In addition to utilizing their services in the game, fans of the burden-bearing birds who also happen to own a PocketStation (as of the game's release, only available in Japan) have the opportunity to play "Chocobo World." This simple-looking yet epic journey involves a Chocobo named Boco and Final Fantasy favorite Mog.

  Manufacturer's description:

A member of an elite military team, Squall is forced into a conflict beyond imagination. To survive, he must contend with a desperate rival, a powerful sorceress, and his own mysterious dreams.

Realistic, detailed characters and background graphics enhanced by a breathtaking musical score
An epic story based on the theme of love, set in a massive new world
New Junction System allows characters to be customized with powerful magic spells drawn from enemies
Nearly an hour of stunning motion-captured CG cinemas seamlessly integrated into gameplay

  Features:
  • Third person perspective
  • 2D graphics
  • SCI-FI, Futuristic & Fantasy themes.
Number Of Players  1 Player
Number Of Memory Card Blocks  1 Block
Compatible Controllers Tested
( Official Gamepads Only )
 Standard Controller / Analog Controller ( Dual Shock Controller compatible )
Compatible Light Guns
( Official Light Guns Only )
 None
Other Compatible Controllers
( Official Controllers Only )
 None
Special Controllers Included Or
Supported ( Official Only )
 None
Vibration Function Compatible  Yes
Multi-Tap Function Compatible  No
Link Cable Function Compatibile  No
Emulator  ePSXe v1.9.0
Video Plugin  Pete's OpenGL Driver v2.9 ( internal X & Internal Y= Very High, Stretching mode: Stretch to full window size, render Mode: 2 (Use framebuffer object) text filt = 2 FPS limit= 63, Compatibility=1,3,2; Shader effects= 1 (Fullscreen smoothin))
Audio Plugin  ePSXe SPU Core v.1.9.0
CD-ROM Plugin  ePSXe Cdrom plugin
Game Pad Plugin  N / A
Vibration Compatible  Yes.
Console Bios Used  SCPH7502

  NOTE:   This is not the only possible combination of plugins. There are others that will work (better or worse) for your particular hardware. We provide you with one working set-up so that you may get the game up and running, hassle-free. Testing other emulators/plugins is up to you.
 

 MENU SCREEN CONTROLS:
  Move cursor / switch screens between "Status Attack & Defense" and "Elemental Attack & Defense" while in the Magic Junction menu -  D-Pad or Left Analog Stick up
  Execute / Open status windows in the status menu-  X Button
  Open limit break screen (status screen) / open learned abilities screen (Junction - GF screen) -  Square Button
  Cancel -  Triangle Button
  Switch between corresponding character/GF -  L1 Button

 FIELD SCREEN CONTROLS:
  Move character -  D-Pad or Left Analog Stick up
  Talk / Execute commands -  X Button
  Talk / Challenge to card game -  Square Button
  Cancel / Walk -  Triangle Button
  Open menu screen -  Circle Button
  Turn vibration on / off -  Start Button

 BATTLE SCREEN CONTROLS:
  Move cursor / Select commands -  D-Pad or Left Analog Stick up
  Execute commands -  X Button
  Scroll status window when affected by status abnormalities; increase GF's attack power while the Select button is held down -  Square Button
  Cancel -  Triangle Button
  Change to another active character -  Circle Button
  Turn on / off target window -  L1 Button
  Trigger Squall's gunblade -  R1 Button
  Hold down to hide battle info-  Select Button
  Escape -  L2 + R2 Button
  Display help / pause / Turn vibration on / off -  Start Button

 WORLD MAP SCREEN CONTROLS:
  Move character -  D-Pad or Left Analog Stick up
  Move vehicles forward / backward -  Right Analog Stick
  Get on / off vehicles -  X Button
  Move vehicle forward -  Square Button
  Move vehicle backwards -  Triangle Button
  Open menu screen -  Circle Button
  Turn camera angle counterclockwise -  L1 Button
  Turn camera angle clockwise -  R1 Button
  Change POV -  R2 Button
  Toggle world map display -  Select Button
  Turn vibration on / off -  Start Button

 

MISC CODES:
 Defeating Abadon easily:   If you want to kill Abadon (Disk 3) with minimal fuss, use a phoenix down or elixer on it and it will die instantly. This works with other undead enemies and bosses as well. 
  Fast AP gain -   When you first leave the garden, head northeast from the exit until you reach a beach. Run along the sand and you'll fight some monsters in the sand. Each time you win the battle you recieve 6 ap. Have your GFs learn boost, sum mag + 10, and 20%. After you beat Biggs and Wedge for the first time, you will face a robot. Use your GFs to deplete all of it's HP to recieve 50 AP. 
  Get Unlimited Free Potions -   You can get free Potions in Timber. Get Rinoa or Quistis in the party, then go to the bridge where you saw the guards. Keep returning until a man appears. Talk to him, then talk to him a second time to receive a Potion. Leave the screen and return until he appears again and repeat. This is good for getting gil, or just to store up for a battle. 
  Infinite Gil -   To do this you must have the Recovery-Med RF ability and 100,000 Gil to start with. First you buy 100 tents. You then RF it into 25 Mega-Potions and sell them. You will gain your 100,000 Gil investment and an extra 25,000 Gil. This can be enhaced using Tonberry's Haggle abillity. 

GAMESHARK IN BATTLE CODES:
  In-Battle Joker Command (In-Battle Codes):  
D0082DEE 0000
 
  1st Position Infinite Health:  
80078892 270F
 
  2nd Position Infinite Health:  
80078A62 270F
 
  3rd Position Infinite Health:  
80078C32 270F
 

 
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 NTSC-J:
  • Final Fantasy VIII [SCPS-45375~8]   
     
  • Final Fantasy VIII [SLPS-01880~3]   
     
  • Final Fantasy VIII [Ultimate Hits] [SLPM-87384~7]   
     
 PAL:
  • Final Fantasy VIII [SLES-02080, SLES-12080, SLES-22080 & SLES-32080]   
     
  • Final Fantasy VIII [SLES-02081, SLES-12081, SLES-22081 & SLES-32081]   
     
  • Final Fantasy VIII [SLES-02082, SLES-12082, SLES-22082 & SLES-32082]   
     
  • Final Fantasy VIII [SLES-02083, SLES-12083, SLES-22083 & SLES-32083]   
     
  • Final Fantasy VIII [SLES-02084, SLES-12084, SLES-22084 & SLES-32084]  - 
     

Thanks to SPECIALT1212 for providing the game CD hires covers.
Thanks to FRED VT for providing the game Greatest Hits hires covers.
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