Walkthrough

Learn how to start Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, including difficulty settings, Tiamat boss fight, and early mechanics.

Walkthrough:

1. Upon starting Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, select your preferred language, adjust brightness, and choose between resolution or performance mode. Older PS4 models are advised to use performance mode.
2. These settings can be changed later in the settings menu. Review the controls.
3. Choose one of three starting difficulties: Story (for an easier experience, with Casual mode available), Action (for action-heavy gameplay), or Hard (for a significant challenge).
4. An additional difficulty is unlocked for New Game Plus (NG+), and this NG+ difficulty is the only one tied to trophies/achievements.
5. Higher difficulties offer better enemy rewards and tougher enemies. Casual mode provides gameplay adjustments for an easier experience. Difficulty can be changed at any time.
6. After initial cutscenes and a loading screen, you will immediately face Tiamat, a mini-boss, without a tutorial.
7. Controls (PS4/5): R1 to attack, R2 for a spinning attack, L1 to guard, D-pad for ally support, down on the D-pad to heal (5 uses), X to evade. Other controls are displayed on-screen.
8. Your health and allies' health are on the left HUD (Heads-Up Display), and your stamina is at the bottom.
9. Avoid Tiamat's tail whips and laser fire. Get close to attack or use the spinning attack. The goal is to deplete Tiamat's Stamina (yellow gauge) rather than its HP (blue gauge). Once Stamina is depleted, Tiamat will be downed, allowing you to press Circle for an instant kill.
10. After the Tiamat fight and subsequent cutscenes, you will enter the main tutorial.
11. Note that the game does not pause when accessing the main menu or during enemy encounters unless you open system settings or another menu. You must pause using the touchpad.
12. Approach the Red orb to learn the basics of combat.
13. After completing the tutorial lessons, access the blue portal to replay any of them before exiting.
14. Following more cutscenes, you will regain control in a castle area. Check your inventory, stats, and read any new tips.
15. Speak to NPCs in the castle and exit through the back door.
16. After additional scenes, the game begins in earnest, and you will be placed on the map. This is the hub menu where non-mission and non-combat gameplay occurs.
17. Gameplay involves selecting missions from the hub, traveling to areas, completing objectives, and returning to the hub for the next mission.
18. Before starting the main story, familiarize yourself with job trees and battle settings.
19. You can talk to NPCs in the Talking menu to learn about the setting.
20. The Smithy is available but has limited functionality early on.
21. On the map, check the mission near the bottom and press R1 to view