first timer

[Tarshish]

I'm playing this game for the first time and using the pc version. what are the differences between the pc and playstation versions? also could someone explain junction simply the best way to use it in the beginning of the game?

[IceAngel]

Well I can tell you the difference easy enough: Different game controls, music quality is slightly different and the screen appears blurryer to me on playstation. I prefer the pc version.
I'm not to good at explain the junction system. I basically draw magic and then see what ones turn the numbers yellow or red. My peeps are always very strong by the end of the game . sorry i couldnt explain better.

[DfKimera]

Well, even though i only finished the game in PC due the fact that i sold my PSX, i say that the PC version sucks compared to the PSX, for a few reasons

- The MIDI Synthetizer of the PC is different, therefore making awesome soundtrack look dummier.
- The CGs hasn't been re-rendered by Square, and they are all in 800x600 (Default TV resolution), making people who use high-definition monitors to suffer due the large uglyness of the backdrops.
- Atleast on my case, once I open the game, I can't alt-tab. I also can't use Xfire In-Game Chatting system, for some odd reason
- Even though it was quite ok, they didn't used all the possibilities of the PC, such as typing names and numbers instead of seeking for them in a on-screen panel, or using the mouse to use the junction menu.
- The FMVs are a little overscaled

Even so, the game is still greatly awesome. If you can, get both and compare them yourself. But I'd rather go with the PSX. Though im a PC gamer, so all my favorite games are in the PC.

[ffxatticus]

ok...here goes my eplaination of the junction system.

Your gfs can learn abilities, some of them are junctions (hit-j), some of them command abilities(mug), some of them help the gf (gfsummon +10%), and your status helpers (i dunno what to call them really...eva +30%). When you junction a gf with junction abilities you can then junction magic to that character. Learn more abilities with your gf to get more junctions.

Your initial magic-junction page lets you junction magic to your stats. The more of the magic you have the more it will help (ex. 100 ultima help more than 1). Junctioning the right kind of magic to the right skill also will help. (ex. full-life is the best for hp and ultima is the best for strength). The junction screen to the left is your elemental junctions. You can junction elements to your weapon to do that element in damage (ex. junctioning fire will hit monsters with fire). You will want to change this a lot to fight different monsters. Your elem-def is what you want to protect against. It is the same as the attack except when monster hits you with that element it will lessen the damage or cure you. The next screen to the left is the status junction screen. You can junction magic to cast spells or protect from spells (ex. put blind on your st-attack to cause blind to a monster, put blind on your st-def to protect from blind).

With all the junctions you can see how much they help in the stats to the left. My greatest advice is to get 100 of each magic you need. because leveling your characters levels the monsters too, you will want to get 100 magic to make your character superior.

If there is anything I missed...well just point it out.

[rubah]

Actually, the PSX FMVs are in 300x240. and back in 1999, 800x600 *was* high resolution for a computer monitor xD

[DfKimera]

The CG Backdrops are in 640x480 and were made to be at a 800x600

(Btw, in 1999 my PC ran 1240x1024.)

[Tarshish]

thanks guys. The junction system just seemed a whole lot more complicated at first.

[DfKimera]

Thats what most people think. And instead of trying to comprehend it, they just say Final Fantasy VIII sucks alot, which is completely the inverse, since Final Fantasy VIII is the best Final Fantasy ever!