I have just begun playing the game for the first time in almost 5 years, and I am following a walkthrough this time, to make sure that I get it right. Hmm, this walkthough I am using keeps talking about the Card Game, and refining monsters into cards, so I have been doing that for the last four hours... But is this really necessary for you to "complete" and upgrade all weapons and stuff like that? I hate the fact that I've just used the last four hours on turning monsters into cards. I can master the game without being a master at the Card Game, right? Because, frankly, I suck at it. :(

I haven't played VIII in about 6-7 years, so I can't say if carding monsters is needed or not. Did you look at other FAQs/Guides before settling on that one?

But being a master at the card game is definitely not a requisite to beat the game.

Well for some weapons its much easier to get the cards. Like killing marlboros to get the tentacles is a pretty horrible task when you could just get them from cards. Its not too hard a game to get the hang of really. Its up to you though. I think you can still get everything without refining cards.

Zulu, why would you punish yourself like that? If "mastering" a game - something which, by its definition, is intended to entertain - involves boring yourself into a coma, then either it's failing to fulfill its purpose or you're taking it way too seriously.

that card game sucks. most boring shit Square-Enix ever slapped onto a game cd.

Zulu, why would you punish yourself like that? If "mastering" a game - something which, by its definition, is intended to entertain - involves boring yourself into a coma, then either it's failing to fulfill its purpose or you're taking it way too seriously.
You are right, no game should never be a task, and I am not going to make FVIII a task this time around. The first time (which was the least time I finished the game), I had to fight with tooth and nail to complete the game, and I swore that I would never play the game again. Five years later, and I am strangely allured by it once again, so I am using a walkthough this time, to make it a little easier.

I just can't seem to fathom the Card Game. I keep losing, but I haven't even reached the Fire Cavern, so I'll hopefully collect some better cards later on. I challenged some people around Balamb Garden, but they all kicked me arse. :(

How about just forgetting the card game?

that card game sucks. most boring shit Square-Enix ever slapped onto a game cd.

Ever thought maybe you just suck at it? There are a lot of people that would tell you that, it is the best FF mini game.

Fuck you Jeff! Everyone knows the BEST mini-game is Chocobo pornbreeding!

in X-2? That was sooo gay. Not even a little interesting.

No, VII.

I've never played X-2... they got Chocobo breeding in that one too?! [Thread Title]

I scarcely remember that one... didn't it consist of buying greens and running on bird tracks?

And in X-2 I believe it was considered "breeding". Clasko raises chocobos and they come back with items or they don't comeback at all. It had something to do with leveling.... it's been a while.

Yeah, you run on tracks, catch good chocobos by feeding them drugged greens. When they pass out, drag them to the barn and lock them in, Repeat the process once more and stuff them in a room together. Throw a nut(lol) in there and watch the magic unfold as a new.. adult... chocobo is born.

Sell the videos to Chocobo-fetishers and let the cash roll in!

I have just begun playing the game for the first time in almost 5 years, and I am following a walkthrough this time, to make sure that I get it right. Hmm, this walkthough I am using keeps talking about the Card Game, and refining monsters into cards, so I have been doing that for the last four hours... But is this really necessary for you to "complete" and upgrade all weapons and stuff like that? I hate the fact that I've just used the last four hours on turning monsters into cards. I can master the game without being a master at the Card Game, right? Because, frankly, I suck at it. :(


why dont you just play card games instead of wasting time turning monsters into cards and losing the much needed EXP?

why dont you just play card games instead of wasting time turning monsters into cards and losing the much needed EXP?

You don't need exp in FFVIII.

@ Zulu:

Don't worry about playing the card game till you get some good cards, which won't happen for a little (or a long) while. If you're not yet at the Fire Cavern, most of the monsters you want to Card for modding haven't even shown up yet. Also, some of the best Triple Triad players are in Balamb Garden, including the CC group.

I found X-2's Chocobo sidequest minigame to be far superior to VII's.

If you're hellbent on playing Triple Triad, then just go to the Fire Cavern. You can card Bombs, which are actually pretty decent, and you get the Ifrit card automatically after beating him.

Well, I enjoyed the Triple Triad as much as one can a mini-game. IIRC, and I most likely don't, you'll have only one rule in your region unless you head over to the train station and get the Card Queen to spread her mojo. I did it using the single card rule, so it took a while since I only wanted the rare cards you might be passing up forever at this early stage of the game.

That said, it's not fun.

Also, Googling Triple Triad gave me one hmmmm (http://www.tripletriadextreme.com/)and one immature lol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fictional_balls).

I found X-2's Chocobo sidequest minigame to be far superior to VII's.

You're a dog! You don't have a soul!

I've beaten the game without using Card Mod at all. I played the game, but for some reason, I liked keeping the cards so I never refined them.

I found refining cards to be much easier than stealing from and defeating monsters. I had a lot of wicked junctions thanks to the cards. However it can be really, really, really time consuming.

But no, using the card game is not necessary to complete and upgrade your weapons.

You're a dog! You don't have a soul!

Didn't you just say you've never played X-2?

AHH! I just defeated Elvoret, and that giant Machine was chasing me... I accidentally ran into a bar, and I missed the beach scene with Quistis gunning the bastard. Is this some horrible glitch? I was really looking forward to that scene. ;;

Look on YouTube, then. =/

You didn't know you could run into the bar? Either way, you've missed the scene and it wasn't a glitch.

It's been five years since I played it, and I most likely forgot about it. OO I guess I could look it up on YouTube, but it just isn't the same. I was in the moment, but now the moment have passed. :(

I miss the Quistis scene quite often by pounding the shit out of the X-ATM such that there's nothing left for Quistis to shoot at. 100 point bonus, whee!


Oh, and what's this about turning monsters into cards. If you want to gain a good card collection, carding monsters is not the way. Acquire some of the more powerful cards as quickly as possible and then start winning games like crazy. Carding for fun and profit is quite useful if you like the idea of your characters being really strong right off the bat.

It's been five years since I played it, and I most likely forgot about it. OO I guess I could look it up on YouTube, but it just isn't the same. I was in the moment, but now the moment have passed. :(
I know that feeling. It's like watching a movie when you suddenly have to pause it for something. Kind of takes away the edge of it until you get back in the groove of things :(.

BTW, running inside the bar, whether accidentally or intentionally, counts as a deduction on the SeeD exam results. It's the single biggest thing you can do to have points deducted from the "Attitude" score. Per the SeeD Rank guide at GameFAQs: "• Hiding in the cafe when the X-ATM092 passes [20 deductions]"

I have actually gotten quite good at the card game, and I actually have some pretty good cards at the moment. I just arrived back to Balamb Garden from Dollet, and I have awesome cards like Krystas, Quistis, Ifrit, Biggs and Wedge, Elastoids, Elnoyle, Tonberry King, Malboro and a bunch of other cards. I have actually been owning everyone at Balamb Garden, and it is actually not that hard if you have acceptable cards to play with. I was just frustrated at the beginning because I kept losing, due to having crappy cards.

Card game not required, BUT some cards refine into the items necessary to completly upgrade weapons or teach Quistis all her limit break techniques

If you want to start really raking in the cards, go to the Card Queen and play her until she plays with the trade rule [ALL]. Then play with someone at Garden and refuse to play (after the music starts) until the trade rule says "ALL." Then you can unofficially spread the "ALL" rule all around B-Garden.

Update: I'm at a standstill. I have just finished the Missile Base task, and I just haven't been playing for almost a week now. The game is really mediocre... I really, REALLY, wanted to like it again, but it's been a disappoinment so far. It just doesn't go anywhere, and the only reason why I intend on going forward, is because I want to know what happens to Laguna's story. It's just such a task to continously have to stock up on magic, and really honestly say that I hate Rinoa like I have never hated a character in a game before. :(

"OMG Squall u such a big meanie".

Someone, please boil her.

I find "stocking up" on magic less boring if you just take it a bit at a time. I always thought the Missile Base mission was one of the more amusing / fun parts myself.

Glad you're enjoying Laguna's story -- a lot of people don't.

Oh Zulu, you slay me!

But if you wish to hate a video game character more, pop in MGS2 and introduce yourself to Rose.

Update: I'm at a standstill. I have just finished the Missile Base task, and I just haven't been playing for almost a week now. The game is really mediocre... I really, REALLY, wanted to like it again, but it's been a disappoinment so far. It just doesn't go anywhere, and the only reason why I intend on going forward, is because I want to know what happens to Laguna's story. It's just such a task to continously have to stock up on magic, and really honestly say that I hate Rinoa like I have never hated a character in a game before. :(

"OMG Squall u such a big meanie".

Someone, please boil her.

I think this is the point where I'm allowed--nay, entitled--to say "I told you so." So, yeah. Told ya, pal.


Oh Zulu, you slay me!

But if you wish to hate a video game character more, pop in MGS2 and introduce yourself to Rose.

I loathed Rose. Despised her. Abhored her. Reviled her. Hate doesn't even begin to cover it. God, was she awful, and I hear she's even worse in MGS4.

Well I disagree with the comments saying that FFVIII's Triple Triad mini-game was not worthwhile.

The concept and how it was integrated into the game was extremely well done. Not to mention that it was very fun to play and addictive. To be honest, it's my favorite mini-game in the whole franchise along with FFXII's hunt quest. I got about 95% of the cards and the rest I'm sure I can get back from the card queen in my disc 4 file.

Going down the list, there's not much to say about the other mini-games in the other ff games.

FFX and FFX-2: Blitzball was bad enough in FFX (the controls were horrible and the whole thing is more calculation than action) and it got worse in FFX-2. Plus, all of FFX-2's mini-games pretty much suck.

FFIX: I actually think FFIX had the best chocobo mini-game in the series, but its tetra master card game follow up to FFVIII's was just an epic fail.

FFVII: Every golden saucer game (for the most part) is pretty much fun to play, but all in all...none of them are developed enough. (Though raising/breeding chocobos was pretty fun :D)

itt: zulu bawwws

I think this is the point where I'm allowed--nay, entitled--to say "I told you so." So, yeah. Told ya, pal.



I loathed Rose. Despised her. Abhored her. Reviled her. Hate doesn't even begin to cover it. God, was she awful, and I hear she's even worse in MGS4.

Har har har, nicely said about Rose, though to hardly ever hear her, never save.

Ok back to what I was originally going to say, you don't have to play the card game ever to beat the game, though when using card mod on the cards make getting specific items easier, and you really don't have to card the monsters to get them, at times you get most of the important ones you need to play with when you beat a GF.

The character cards Mod into some really good things, iirc. I do believe you need to beat certain people for certain cards (Cid has a Squall card, iirc). It's not like you can't get things if you don't play, but it makes life a bit easier. Just don't muck about outside of Balamb or I think Galbadia too much, lest you wind up with shitty rules like Random.

Actually, it really doesn't matter too much whether or not you muck about in those areas or not, so long as you're careful not to spread the rules. To not spread rules, all you have to do is reject any offer to combine rules and keep rejecting until the player stops asking to combine. It's even possible to abolish rules if you really want.

I recently had some time between school and finally finished the game. It was pretty easy thanks to Laguna's card, which you can make into a bunch of hero potions. If you don't like to play the card game, just mod your cards into some pretty tight stuff. The hero potions, which stop you from taking damage, are especially useful against omega weapon.

The ending sucked though, there wasn't the same poignancy as cloud laying a beatdown on sephiroth...yeah you beat some random witch, yeah everyone is happy and makes a video....w/e...

This is one of the best titles for a thread I have ever seen. I laugh heartily everytime it gets bumped. The irony of the actual topic only makes it that much funnier/sweeter.

I just had to share that. Thanks, Zulu <333

Whilst the card game isn't mandatory to pass the game, it is a nice rewarding little sidequest.

Obviously the most effective way to ease the endgame content is good old fashioned grinding :D

Update: I'm at a standstill. I have just finished the Missile Base task, and I just haven't been playing for almost a week now. The game is really mediocre... I really, REALLY, wanted to like it again, but it's been a disappoinment so far. It just doesn't go anywhere, and the only reason why I intend on going forward, is because I want to know what happens to Laguna's story. It's just such a task to continously have to stock up on magic, and really honestly say that I hate Rinoa like I have never hated a character in a game before. :(

"OMG Squall u such a big meanie".

Someone, please boil her.

Stocking up on magic in battles is usually totally unnecessary. Casting magic is pretty much a waste of time in most cases; the best thing to do is get really powerful magic to junction and beat the shit out of your enemies with physical attacks.

''Hello Swift it appears that you have not posted on our forums in several weeks, why not take a few moments to ask a question, help provide a solution or just engage in a conversation with another member in any one of our forums?''

k, done.

I have just begun playing the game for the first time in almost 5 years, and I am following a walkthrough this time, to make sure that I get it right. Hmm, this walkthough I am using keeps talking about the Card Game, and refining monsters into cards, so I have been doing that for the last four hours... But is this really necessary for you to "complete" and upgrade all weapons and stuff like that? I hate the fact that I've just used the last four hours on turning monsters into cards. I can master the game without being a master at the Card Game, right? Because, frankly, I suck at it. :(


I know how you feel, sucks doesn't it?

You didn't know you could run into the bar? Either way, you've missed the scene and it wasn't a glitch.

I did that once, I was like "arsed!" Because I wanted to see the epic scene for one of the last possible times I would.

But back to the card game.
I did find it fun, and I did manage after about 2 1/2 years of playing it when I was younger to figure out how the hell it worked.
But even then, it wasn't everything.
I can still recall when I was always like "wtf did they just do?"
And then I would just forget the rules and go old school and just place the high level cards in the corners and somehow managed to win like that often.
but I lost when I needed to win the most, especially against the CCgroup lol.

That card game...

Just take all the sides. That way you can rape whatever card is in the middle. Or refine all your shitty cards that way when the random rule is in effect you get the good cards in your hand.

D:

It took me 2 hours for the "trepie" to bring up a Quistis card. Just plow your way through the game.

That card game...

Just take all the sides. That way you can rape whatever card is in the middle. Or refine all your shitty cards that way when the random rule is in effect you get the good cards in your hand.

Or alternatively just go and talk to the man on the dock in Balamb and have him remove all the rules.

This is one of the best titles for a thread I have ever seen. I laugh heartily everytime it gets bumped. The irony of the actual topic only makes it that much funnier/sweeter.

I just had to share that. Thanks, Zulu <333