I’ve played several Final Fantasy games like FF1, FF4, FF7 (original and remake), FFXII, and FFXV, but I’m new to Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. The game looks great, but I’m really struggling to understand the G-Force and Junction systems and it’s becoming frustrating. Should I keep going with the game or just skip it? I’m hoping for some advice on whether it’s worth pushing through these mechanics or if it’s better to move on.
4 Answers
The key is to focus on letting your GFs learn stat junction abilities first. Once they’ve got those, you can assign magic spells you’ve collected to specific stats like HP, Strength, or Magic. The better the magic, the bigger the boost to your character’s stats. So refining magic and drawing a lot to stock up on powerful spells is essential. While it sounds complex, it’s just a neat way to customize your characters far more than other Final Fantasy games. That said, if it’s really stressing you out, it might not be the game for you right now.
Honestly, FFVIII is totally worth continuing if you can get the hang of the Junction system. It seems complicated at first, but it’s mostly about equipping your G-Forces (GF) to characters and then linking magic spells to boost your stats. For example, if your GF knows a stat junction ability like Boost Spirit (Spr-J), you can link magic like Cure or Firaga to that stat to increase it. The more and stronger spells you assign, the higher your stats go. It definitely takes some experimentation and looking at which GF skills affect which stats, but once you grasp it, it feels pretty intuitive.
The junction system can feel overwhelming, but it’s actually the highlight of the game for a lot of fans once they understand it. When you’re ready, I definitely suggest grabbing a low-level or no-leveling guide that specifically explains how to optimize the junction system. It can make the gameplay much more balanced and enjoyable. 20 years ago I might have told you to skip it, but nowadays I’d say if you get some guidance, the system opens up a unique and rewarding experience you don’t find in many RPGs.
If you’re just interested in the story but don’t want to deal with the mechanics, there are some really detailed long videos online that explain the entire story of FFVIII. That way you can skip the confusing parts but still get the narrative without having to fight with the game’s systems. It’s not the same as playing, but it’s a good middle ground if you find the junction/GF stuff too much.
Oh nice, I actually played it as a kid but want a refresher now. I’d love a link to a good story breakdown if you remember one!