Final Fantasy VIII Walkthrough – Balamb Garden
Before the game begins you'll see a great FMV showing Squall fighting with Seifer mixed in with images of Sorceress Edea and another Girl mixed in. Squall will get slashed across his face and once this impressive video has finished you will awaken in the Infirmary. The nurse will ask you how you are, when faced with the choice of answers here it doesn't really matter which you choose.
She'll ask you to tell her your name to make sure you're alright, either stick with Squall or choose a new one (for the purpose of this walkthrough I'll use default names for characters, GF's and such). Now the doctor will call over your Instructor, Quistis. During this process you'll see a girl outside your room window, she'll walk away and Quistis will enter in FMV form, she'll tell you about the field exam for SeeD that will be taking place later on in the day and you will walk along the hall's together to the class.
Once in the classroom Quistis will tell SeeD exam takers that they need to meet in the hall at 1600. Leave your desk and talk to her, when she has told you about the fire cavern go back to your seat and check the computer for tutorials, I suggest reading everything to get yourself acquainted with the game controls etc, there are also useful tips about GF's and such along with a little humour on the student section (amusing in a childish way... but what the heck). You'll see from the tutorial that you have begun this game with GF's Quezacotl and Shiva. GF's are essential for battle as they allow you to use commands such as Draw and Magic. So Junction yourself and leave the classroom, head down the corridor and you'll run into a girl (later you'll know her as Selphie), she will ask you for a tour, opt to give it to her as you'll be essentially touring yourself as well.
Head to the lift and talk to the man on the right to receive seven cards, now get in the lift. When in the lobby you'll view a directory and see a tutorial of the Garden areas and such. The tour will end and you'll leave the girl on good terms.
Now head to the gates the normal way and you'll come across a draw point, I suggest you use it as the cure spells will come in handy and this can be re-used after you return from Balamb Village later on. When you reach the gates you'll meet with your instructor, there'll be another tutorial very similar to the one on the computer back in the classroom but with a little extra information and she'll tell you that the Fire Cavern is to the east of the garden. Re-junction the two of you as Quistis will be joining you into the fire cavern, also if you're interested in card playing here I suggest that you go to GF's in the menu and choose Quezacotl, then confirm Learn and change the ability to Card. This will enable you to pick cards up from enemies once learned.
Once on the world map you will freely encounter monsters, these are weak but Cure and Blizzard spells can be drawn from them, which will be useful in the upcoming area. Drawing lightening will make sense to the forward thinker here as well (you'll fight a mechanical beast which is weak to it later on, but I'll say no more, I wouldn't want to spoil it after all).
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