Foreword: Introduction

Begin your journey in Final Fantasy VIII Remastered! Learn about Squall's story, the game's unique systems like Junctioning and Triple Triad, and what this guide offers.

Hey there! Welcome to Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. You're about to dive into the story of Squall Leonhart, a young guy training to be a SeeD – basically, a mercenary – at Balamb Garden. Things kick off when he gets pulled into a conflict with the Galbadian Empire. As you play, Squall will uncover some pretty big secrets about who's really pulling the strings, what SeeDs are truly for, and even face a threat that messes with time itself. Get ready for a wild ride involving Guardian Forces (powerful allies that can take a toll on you), a forgotten past, a potential love interest with a secret, and a rival who just won't quit.

Final Fantasy VIII originally came out twenty years ago, following up on the massive success of Final Fantasy VII. It definitely tried to do its own thing. You'll still recognize the Active Time Battle system, but they've tweaked the Limit Breaks, made enemies scale with your party's level (so no out-leveling everything too easily!), ditched traditional Magic Points for a cool draw-and-stock system, and introduced Guardian Forces. These GFs are your summons, but they also let you 'junction' them to your characters for stat boosts and new abilities. And who could forget Triple Triad? It's easily one of the best mini-games ever in a Final Fantasy title.

This guide is designed to help you through the whole game. We've packed it with enough info to satisfy players who love to min-max their stats and strategies, but we won't force you into grinding if that's not your style. You'll find all the enemy details, boss strategies, and clear directions you need to finish the game.

Here's a taste of what else we've got for you:

• Tips on how to win every single Triple Triad card.
• How to mess with the Triple Triad rules and use the Card Mod ability to get awesome items.
• Guides to getting all the ultimate weapons and limit breaks.
• Strategies for taking down the game's toughest superbosses.
• Locations for every Guardian Force and advice on which abilities to learn first.
• How to keep your character's level low if you want to gain an advantage over enemies.
• Deep dives into min-maxing your character stats.