Necronopticous and I have been doing this challenge again recently, and we're very frustrated by mistakes and misinformation in the guides we've been following. Because of this, we decided to document the challenge ourselves, hopefully more accurately and detailed -- as well as experiment a little on our own in a twin playthrough we're doing simultaneously, hoping to optimize parts of this challenge.
Disclaimer: This is a work in progress.
Note that we'll be omitting most of the obvious details, like how to progress the story. Mostly, we'll be providing checklists (items, battle preparation and progression, steals, etc.) that are relevant to the challenge.
Prima Vista zidane.gif
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Prima Vista/Cargo Room
This is where Zidane starts the game.
Collect all of the items in this room before lighting the candle.
Items:
- 47 Gil
- Potion
Battle prep isn't necessary at this point.
BATTLE - Baku:
- Steal Wrist, Mage Masher, and Potion.
- Attack until the battle ends.
Alexandria 85.gif
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This segment with Vivi is purely item collection and story progression.
Alexandria/Main Street (1)
This is the screen with the statue, south of where Vivi starts the game.
Items:
- Sahagin Card
- Lizard Man Card
- Zombie Card
- Potion
Alexandria/Main Street (2)
This is the screen in which Vivi starts the game.
Items:
- Potion
- Potion
Alexandria/Grandma's House
Enter from Main Street (2).
Items:
- 9 Gil
- Potion
- Fang Card
Alexandria/Main Street (3)
Outside the tavern.
Items:
- 33 Gil
- Goblin Card
Alexandria/Tavern
Enter from Main Street (3).
Items:
- Potion
- Flan Card
- 27 Gil
Alexandria/Item Shop
Enter from the last screen of Main Street.
Items:
- 38 Gil
Alexandria/Square
Items:
- Phoenix Pinions
- Goblin Card (ticket booth)
- Fang Card (ticket booth)
- Skeleton Card (ticket booth)
You can also earn some cards by doing well in the jump-rope mini game, although it isn't necessary.
Alexandria/Synthesis Shop
Enter from the square.
Items:
- Ether
Alexandria/Weapon Shop
Enter from the square.
Items:
- Remedy
Alexandria/Ilia's House
Enter from outside the steeple. Run past her house and wait for her to leave before entering.
Items:
- 3 Gil
- Eye Drops
Alexandria/Outside Steeple
Talk to the boy on the dock and agree to find his missing cat. Return to the first screen of Alexandria and talk to his cat. He'll run up and take his cat. Talk to him again at the dock to receive Bomb Card.
Alexandria/Steeple
Items:
- Tent
- Potion
If you come here prior to meeting Puck, you'll also find Hippaul's stash of cards.
Mognet:
- Receive a letter from Kupo to Monty.
Be sure to save your game, then follow Puck up the ladder.
Alexandria/Rooftops
Items:
- 29 Gil
- 63 Gil
- 92 Gil
Alexandria Castle 86.gif
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You have the opportunity right away to earn 10,000 Gil by impressing 100 nobles. While it's not necessary, it's recommended. Impressing 100 nobles will also earn you an early Moonstone when you talk to Brahne as Steiner.
Impressing 100 nobles is hard -- maybe impossible -- if you're emulating the game or playing it on a modern television (due to the lag they cause). If you're playing on an older television, it's actually kind of easy. I can't comment on the PC versions.
Alexandria Castle/Guardhouse
Items:
- Phoenix Down
Alexandria Castle/Throne
Items:
- Moonstone (100 nobles impressed) or Silk Shirt (<100 nobles impressed) when you talk to Brahne.
Prima Vista/Engine Room
Turn the wheel left and then right to reveal two treasure chests.
Items:
- Phoenix Down
- Phoenix Pinion
Battle prep is unnecessary at this point.
BATTLE - Steiner:
- Steal Leather Hat and Silk Shirt.
- Attack until the battle ends.
BATTLE - Steiner, Weimar, and Haagen:
- Kill off everyone except Garnet to end the battle quickly.
BATTLE - Steiner & Bomb:
- Kill off everyone except Garnet or just keep stalling.
Crash Site zidane.gif
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After collecting the one item here, you'll want to prep for a couple battles.
Items:
- Phoenix Down
Zidane Mage Masher Leather Hat Wrist Leather Shirt Moonstone (if you have it)
Make sure Zidane is in the back row. Save, then exit to the southeast and proceed through the next scene to encounter some story battles.
BATTLE - Prison Cage:
- Zidane trances immediately. Have him use Free Energy.
- Attack with Steiner.
Shouldn't need to heal Garnet.
BATTLE - Prison Cage:
- Attack with Zidane and Steiner until the battle is over.
Vivi automatically casts Fire in this fight.
Prima Vista/Bridge
Items:
- Bronze Gloves
Prima Vista/Hallway (1)
This is the hallway just outside Vivi's room.
Items:
- Wrist
Prima Vista/Cabin
Items:
- 116 Gil
- Ether
Prima Vista/Hallway (2)
This is the hallway just outside the room where Steiner is being held. Marcus is guarding the door.
Items:
- Ether
Prima Vista/Cargo Room
Items:
- Rubber Helm
Find Baku and talk to him, then go outside the wrecked Prima Vista and save.
Prima Vista/Meeting Room
Items:
- Potion
Prima Vista/Hallway (3)
This is the hallway you use to exit the Prima Vista.
Items:
- Leather Hat
Make sure Zidane is in the back row, and equip Silk Shirt for an extra point of defense.
Save, then return to Baku to initiate a battle.
BATTLE - Baku:
*Heal Zidane with a Potion if his HP drops below 20!*
- Steal Hi-Potion and Iron Sword.
- Attack until the battle is over.
Talk to Steiner after the battle is over.
Prima Vista/Storage Room
This is the room Steiner was in.
Items:
- Ether
Talk to Vivi to recruit him, then exit the ship.
Before saving, set up everyone for the next segment:
Equipment:
Zidane Vivi Steiner Mage Masher Mage Staff Iron Sword Leather Hat Leather Hat Bronze Helm Wrist Wrist Bronze Gloves Leather Shirt Silk Shirt Bronze Armor Moonstone (if you have it)
Order:
Front Row Back Row Zidane Vivi Steiner
No specific abilities are required to be equipped.
Save.
Evil Forest zidane.gif 85.gif 86.gif
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Use Flee to escape from battles quickly.