Final Fantasy VIII Official Strategy Guide

by Brady Games

BradyGAMES-Final Fantasy VIII Official Strategy Guide The ONLY Official Guide! PlayStation RPG

Genres: Video Games, Reference, Gaming, Games, Own, Fantasy

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1999

About the author

BradyGames is a publishing company in the United States operating as a DK imprint, which specializes in video game strategy guides, covering multiple video game platforms. It published their first strategy guide in November 1993 as a division of MacMillan Computer Publishing. In 1998, Simon & Schuster (which acquired Macmillan in 1994) divested BradyGames as part of its educational division to Pearson PLC. BradyGames has grown to publish roughly 90-100 guides per year. On 1 June 2015, BradyGames merged with Prima Games, and future strategy guides made by the publishing company will be published under the Prima Games label.

Reviews

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bahahahahahaha Never thought to count this but yep, read it cover to cover many times!

[Adrian Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The guide is so lacking it is not even funny. Most of the "tips" and tricks would be apparent to anyone who isn't brain dead. Also, as per usual Bradygames style, there is poor organization and erroneous content! And I agree - why is there no strategy for Ultimecia? Ugh. 1 star!

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was doing yoga/meditations when I heard Liberi Fatali. My brother just bought Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. Not sure how well the meditation served as a spiritual purpose, it did sure as hell take me on a ride through the opening cinematic though. During the same session I realized the tremendous impact this game has had on my life. Which is weird to say for video games and the stories they tell. And it’s not weird to say. Most of the games I played, the shows I watched, the music I listened to and the books I read wiggled their way into my unconscious (and conscious) in some form or another. Right?

Not sure if I can track it back to this or if I have my own proclivities to thank for having an affinity for black/dark clothing, a fond love of knights/chivalry, a conflicted sense of identity, and forever being a romantic. For better or worse most Final Fantasy games have left their mark on me.

So, why the guidebook? More often than not it’s for nostalgic trips that don’t require me replaying the game, yet the urge to revisit the world overtakes me. Never quite the same without the music. All Final Fantasy games have beautiful, varied music that adds a depth beyond words. The games carry a spirit that goes beyond what words can convey. My review for the guidebook is way too close to my feelings for the game. The immutable feelings that shape my own little world.

The game’s too precious. I love it all. Clearly that means the guidebook as well.

Again, these strategy guides are of a bygone era. Any online aid is superior, in fact, I think I still consulted online walkthroughs and resources even with the strategy guide on hand. The internet was still fresh for my family and sites like Gamespot, IGN and GameFAQs hosted multiple walkthroughs, bestiaries, etc. Some more in-depth, others more specialized, and some more entertaining. They all have ups and downs. And while online walkthroughs are still quite prominent, I have not seen nearly as many physical copies of strategy guides (like this one) as there once were. Lots of easy money for art books, chronicles and whatever the hell people can sell. Enough of that ranting young one.

I’m the youngest in my family. Pretty sure I spent a good amount of time watching my brothers play. Little did I realize the mentoring process underway as I studied the best methods playing vicariously through them. And not much else can compare sharing some screen time with your best friends. Yeah, that about does it for this review.

[Tyler Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s just a delight to read this again and relive my childhood. This guide was the Bible to me, and I obsessively read it in Yosemite while I was on a camping trip where I couldn’t play the game. It’s a special memory locked in my mind that I’ll never forget.

[Yvonnelim99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been long time I read this book in childhood game omg!

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful guide to my favorite game... So many guides overstep their bounds by including spoilers (I once had a guide with a screenshot of a character on the page, looking very dead. Yes. They printed a screenshot of a character's death in their guide. Brilliant.), and holding your hand through every. little. obstacle.

This guide offers advice and good strategies, should you need them, gives short summaries for what to do next if you're unsure, without telling you what is coming in the story; and it does things like putting the solution to a puzzle on the next page so it's not already in your face before you've had a chance to try it on your own.

All in all, I feel like this is the perfect example of what a game guide SHOULD be. It's not about cheating, and nobody wants spoilers in their guide, either... It's about getting the most out of the game.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really useful strategy guide. It has a step-by-step walkthrough for each part of the game, quick summaries, enemy descriptions/evaluations, monster guide, and all those pesky side quests.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cheater's Guide.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never have time to play this right now, so am taking this off of my "Currently reading" shelf for now.

[Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best game guide I've ever found. This FF was my all time favorite, and the guide only made the game so much more fun.

[Sarah Morgan Sandquist · Rating 1 out of 5]

Literally no information on most things one would consult a guide for.

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good guide to one of my favorite games.

[Rino Ferdian · Rating 5 out of 5]

hihi...buku favorit waktu SMP...

[EC Auch]

I Love this game