Gil versus Exp

[Big D]

It's a shame it doesn't work on other difficulty levels, 'cause I can't see playing this game without the auto target.

Auto target works on Ex Hard, if I remember right. It's always an option, unless I'm forgetting things... Besides, not using auto target can be kind of fun, too. Not so much if you're using rifles in a non-sniping mode, but for the other guns it's neat. Especially the Ultima Weapon (shameless plug, again) with it's feather-light weight and sublime accuracy - even with the EXP-doubling Lucky S-barrel.
Hmm, I really ought to play this game some more. Seems there's still more stuff to get, and I'm intent on doing a complete play-through in first-person view.

Is there a handy list of how to get the 'ultimate' weapon of each type?

[Skyblade]

Depends on what you mean by "Ultimate". Both the Hydra and the Cerberus follow the same upgrade path:

Weapon -> Weapon II - > Weapon III

Then you get a choice:

Weapon III -> P Weapon
Weapon III -> M Weapon
Weapon III -> S Weapon

P/M/S Weapon -> P/M/S Weapon γ -> Ultimate Form

The Griffon makes you choose the path split after the Griffon II:

Griffon -> Griffon II

Griffon II -> P/M/S Griffon
P/M/S Griffon -> P/M/S Griffon β -> P/M/S Griffon γ -> Ultimate Form

P stands for Power. Generally low magazine, high strength, heavy weapons.
M is Medium. Well rounded, generally high magazine.
S is Speed. Fast weapons, medium magazine, lightest weight.

The Ultimate Form is named depending on which weapon type and path you choose.

P Cerberus -> Powered Cerberus
M Cerberus -> Quantum Cerberus
S Cerberus -> Zero Cerberus

P Griffon -> Dueling Griffon
M Griffon -> Starry Griffon
S Griffon -> Sonic Griffon

P Hydra -> Gigant Hydra
M Hydra -> Velvet Hydra
S Hydra -> Feather Hydra

The Velvet Hydra is one of my favorite weapons in the game. While it cuts short power from the Gigant, it is far more well rounded in firing rate and weight (you can equip it with the Power Booster and the Nova L Barrel with very little speed reduction). It also carries a 42 round magazine (which fires 1 shot at a time), so forced reloads are few and far between.

Cost for upgrading any weapon from basic to ultimate: 60,000 gil.
Barrels only have one path and cost 48,000 gil to upgrade to final form.
Ultimate Weapon = Cost of 3 weapons and 2 barrels to ultimate form.

As for why Vincent's weapons have this whole "PMS" thing going on, don't ask me.



There are three auto targeting options: Auto Target and Lock, Auto Target, and No Auto Target. I heard that you only have all three options in Normal, Hard only gives you the last two, and you have no auto targeting at all in Extra Hard. If I can get auto targeting, I'll play Extra Hard, but even with max accuracy, I don't like the controls enough to play without it.