LogFAQs > #938562231

So okay, I'm like 1:40 in but I've accomplished significantly less than what that time might imply. We wake up in the infirmary (my forehead hurts) and find out... it was all training. Seifer needs to take a chill pill. We're in a SeeD academy (known as a Garden) in Balamb to train mercenaries. We're greeted and escorted to class by Instructor Quistis, who plays so hard into the hot-for-teacher trope it's embarrassing. (She later points out that she suspects her presence causes male students to choke on their practical exams.)

I spend the next 40 minutes or so logged onto Squall's school terminal, going through every tedious and confusing explanation. The instructions will be reiterated several times by Quistis in the next hour but it's hard to internalize everything. On the other hand, the world-building around the school is interesting. Particularly like the complaints about people using magic and weapons in the rush for cafeteria hot dogs, and the bulletin board being hijacked by people just messing around.

When I finally get out, I'm beset by a new student, who transferred into this Garden from one of the others, presumably. I escort her to the atrium and then set off exploring all the regions Squall explains. The school is really busy with foot traffic! Almost everyone is going somewhere, which gives a great visual effect, though the vast majority of the trafficking folk is incredibly forgettable (lots of "I'd better work hard!" types). On the other hand, the fixed-location NPCs are great. The cafeteria is the most enjoyable place; evidently Seifer is part of a disciplinary committee, and Raijin (who wrote on the bulletin board, and looks far older than the age limit of nineteen) is kinda fun and bumbling as Seifer's lackey. We've got people who talk about how they are loser and therefore "SaaD" (love it!) and self-avowed Quistis Fanboy #1... yeah.

Quistis awaits outside the gate (which takes an absurd number of contentless screens to get to), and then we're suddenly off to the world map. One thing I immediately hate is that there's no way to center the camera; I'm told to go East to the Fire Tavern, but I spend 20-30 minutes getting into battles not realizing that 1. you can walk into those textured forests, which are not walls, and that 2. the minus button (and not the plus button) toggles the on-screen map. The forests contain significantly more damaging enemies.

The encounter rate seems absurd on the world map at times, But the cave is actually super-close to the Garden, so in we go. I request 40 minutes so I can take notes, but we waste Ifrit in about 10-15 minutes total. (Quistis tells me to use Ice magic a lot during this time, but... er, I have none except Shiva.) I obviously do use Shiva a few times in the dungeon, and three times against Ifrit, which wastes him. (He also comments on how tough Shiva is.)

With the Fire Tavern checked off, we're able to go for the SeeD exam, but first it's time to ditch Quistis and change into our school uniform (which the rules otherwise do not require us to wear.) There's a save point outside Squall's dorm, so we'll grab that one and rest for now.

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* lots of talk about GF but what about that feel when no GF

* With Quistis departing, Squall is sporting all three of the GFs I have (Quetzlcoatl, Shiva, Ifrit). He's got Draw and Magic and... either Item or... something else? I'm very open to hearing about how I should junction things.

* One nice thing about the excessive tutorial is that I finally learned what all the stats mean. Who knew that Spirit referred to magic defense?

* Squall looks more emo than I thought he would - he looks like he's wearing eyeliner. Otherwise he looks cool, though his teeth looked rough in the intro video. Possible that's introduced by the HD remaster.

* Fun watching Squall and Seifer sprawl out in the back of the classroom.

* Why do you run when you don't hold B, but walk when you do? I mean I guess it's not a bad feature, but it's weird.

* Why are all the instructor NPCs faceless?

* Shiva's near-nakedness always makes me feel weird playing the game.

* Fun school detail #1: Raijin loves the saga of Pupurin - he has "Goodbye, Pupurin" overdue at the library and has on hold "Welcome Back, Pupurin."

* Fun school detail #2: the random sprinting hot dog guy who attracts Seifer's attention.

* Fun school detail #3: that guy talking with the girl about how he wasn't a big fan of her fave murder mystery book... but who will obviously be reading the next one.

* Timing the Gunblade right is unintuitive and doesn't feel very good. The animation is just somehow a second too early or too late for me to time right. I hit on it only 40%-60% of the time. I've also yet to let Squall reach Limit Break territory and wouldn't want to waste that.

* The four FF games I've played in any singificant capacity before this are 4 (DS), 6, 7, and 10 (about a third to a half of the game). FFVIII immediately differs by having a really slow intro. It hasn't paid off yet, but I'm not too concerned about that. I'm hoping that there's something cool that happens in most of the school grounds areas, because it's massive.

* On the other hand, FFVII showed me that battles were going to get longer to the point where ATB felt like a bit of a chore with long summon animations and changing camera angles, and FFVIII isn't changing that. Part of why I'm playing older RPGs instead of newer ones is for their relative quickness, but this hasn't been super-encouraging! We're starting the game with the best method of attack being Summons.

* I've heard FFVIII's soundtrack is supposed to be great, but I don't think there's been a single notable track yet (other than possibly the boss theme, which I'm looking forward to experiencing in a more involved battle).
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yet all sailors of all sorts are more or less capricious and unreliable - they live in the varying outer weather, and they inhale its fickleness