Monday, September 13, 2010

(4) Lindblum

Once the ship docks, Zidane and company will be greeted by the guards.  After a conversation between Dagger and the Minister you will go inside Lindblum.  DO NOT follow the Minister yet. When you get control of Zidane, head right of the fountain.  Go inside the first room on the left and head up.  You will get a Glass Armlet. Go further up the stairs to the second level and get Ether.  Talk to the Moogle (Mogki) until you're sure there's nothing else to do.  Save your game.


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Go back to the fountain and follow the minister. After several scenes you will be introduced to Freya.  You'll then be in your room.  Go to the next room to talk to the Moogle (Moodon) there.  Head downstairs and get 163 Gil.  Go outside and keep going up for 3 screens until you get to the church.  Before you enter the church, get the Tent outside.  Enter the church.

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Move to the upper side of the church and go up the ladder.  On the far end of the ledge is a Leather Plate.  Go back one screen and enter the house in front of the lady wearing red.  Proceed upstairs.  You can get a Mimic Card and a Steepled Hat.  You can also play cards with the guy standing there.

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Before moving forward in the game, visit the shops on the street parallel to the one you took going to the church (going up). Go to the items shop of you need to buy or sell anything. On the Items Shop's right is the Weapons Shop.  Don't go there yet. The road on the left is the Synthesis Shop.  Find out what weapons you need to upgrade your characters.  Now head to the Weapons Shop and buy what you need, including those that you don't need to synthe.  Go back to the Synthesis Shop and get an Ogre.  Search the Synthesis shop for Silver Gloves.


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Go back to the Inn.  Head upstairs and save your game.  Go back out, cross the street and enter the building in front of the Inn. An ATE of Vivi will start. Ride the air cab to the Industrial District. Once you get off the cab, go up the stairs.  Pick up the Leather Wrist on that area.  Now head up the stairs that you can see on the top and go to the next screen.  The door looks familiar since this is where you met Freya.  On the right of the door is a Bronze Vest.  Go up and enter the door at the top of the screen.  Head upstairs for a Mimic Card and a Steepled Hat.

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Sunday, September 12, 2010

(3) Evil Forest, Mist Continent, Ice Cavern

Final Fantasy 9 (IX) Disk 1 Evil Forest


Wait until Zidane is approached by the Moogle.  You'll have your tutorial for ATE.  Press Select when prompted.  You'll then see a scene with Garnet and Vivi being attacked.  Go to the Moogle (Mosco) and save your game.  On the crates located on the upper side of the screen is a Phoenix Down.  Once you get that, go down and enter what looks to be a bark of a tree.

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Follow the path until you find Vivi and Steiner and fight the monster that has Garnet.  You'll be in Trance so instead of Skill you'll see Dyne.  Choose Dyne > Free Energy since it's not an AOE and would not hurt Garnet. After you defeat it, it'll go away with her and another one will take Vivi.  Fight this one as well. Don't forget to steal.  It'll free Vivi once defeated and poison Vivi and Steiner afterwards.

The next scene will be inside the ship.  There will be a scene of Vivi and Steiner. Once you get control of your character as Zidane, go to the right side of the room to get Bronze Gloves. The go down the screen and head on the stairs.  There's going to be 2 ATE's (Press Select) that you can watch.  Then another ATE will come out.  Press Select and watch it.

Go downstairs and open the chest on that room for a Wrist.  Go inside the room in the right (where Vivi is) and the chest on the upper part of the room has Ether.  Go up the bed and there's 116 gil by the pillow.  Go back down and talk to Vivi.


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Once you get out of the room, you'll be prompted if you want to go search for Garnet.  I chose to do so.  After you talk with Blank, go through the left door and get Ether on the lower part of the screen where Marcus is guarding the door.  The go downstairs.  Once there, head up to get a Rubber Helmet.  Go inside the door in the right and talk to Baku.  He'll challenge you and go out of the room.  Get the Potion found here before doing so.  The go out and defeat Baku.  Don't forget to steal the Iron Sword and a Hi Potion from him.


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Pick up Steiner from his room.  Marcus won't be barring the door anymore.  After a short scene, you go out of the room.  Go back in and get Ether. Head to the room on the right and go inside to talk to Vivi.  Once you're outside of the room, make sure to equip what you can to everyone.


Go back to the room where you fought Baku.  The go downwards to exit the ship.  There'll be a short scene with Blank, after that you'll be outside the ship.  Go back in and get Leather Hat on the chest on Blank's left side.  Go outside talk to Cinna and buy what you want.  Go to the Moogle Mosco and read the mail. Save your game.


Head back to where you first found Vivi, Garnet and Steiner in the forest and you'll be prompted for an ATE.  This will be the ones who remained in the ship having some fun. Follow the obvious path going north until you get to a spring with a Moogle (Monty).  There will be another ATE with Baku and Blank talking. Drink from the spring, give Monty his letter, read Stiltzkin's letter and save your game.


Go right but don't go inside the cave yet until you are level 4 or higher, or it will be expensive.  What I did was go against the flower, go back to the spring to heal.  The spring will recharge your MP and HP but won't take off the Blind status.  No need to use the Eye Drops while you are trying to level up.


Make sure that before you get inside the cave you take out the blindness form your characters with Eye Drops. Once you're level 4 or higher, whichever you're most comfortable with, head inside the cave.  After defeating the boss, you'll have to run and fight your way until you get out of the forest.














You are now in the Mist Continent
Final Fantasy 9 (IX) Disk 1 Mist Continent

Once you're in the Mist Continent follow the edge of the mountain going west.  You'll see an arc.  Go inside the arc and get your Potion and Eye Drops.  Go back outside.

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Once outside follow the other side of the mountain going east of the map (right side of the arc entrance).  You should see a forest.   Right after the forest is the entrance to the Ice Cavern.  Press (x) to enter.
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You are now in the Ice Cavern.
Final Fantasy 9 (IX) Disk 1 Ice Cavern


There are several items in the Ice Cavern where you'll need Vivi's help.  Note: DO NOT pass through the blowing mist unless if you're looking for a battle. Once you have control of your character, get the Tent by going up and the left.  Go down and you'll be back where you started.  Now head up. You'll see a chest on the left. And a not so obvious stairs on the right.  Head rightfirst and you'll see a dead end.  Click on the wall to get Vivi's help.  There's a chest with Ether.  Now go to the road beside the stairs on the right.  It'll loop you to the chest that you saw which has a Elixir.  


Go up to the next screen and keep right. Cross the log first. You can open a chest with Potion after crossing the log.  Cross the log again and click on it when you see "!".  Vivi will melt the base of the log and the top will fall down.  Cross the log again and get a Mage Masher.  Now go up to the next screen.


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On the next screen, open the chest on the right for a Phoenix Down.  Go left and you'll see a dead end.  Click on the wall so Vivi can melt it down.  Follow the path for a Leather Wrist.    Go back out and head up to the next screen.  There's going to be a fork in the road.  Left road will bring you to a frozen Moogle.  Have Vivi melt the ice and save your game.  The right road will make you proceed further into the game.


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Once you're on the next screen, you will need to leave your team mates and battle a boss.  Make sure that your HP is slightly above Potion healing, meaning current max HP - Potion.  The boss(es) could knock you out if you're not careful.


After the battle, go back to your friends and head back to where you defeated the boss.  Follow the path going up to exit the cave.


You are now in Dali
Final Fantasy 9 (IX) Disk 1 Dali



When you enter Dali, you'll stay at the inn.  It'll replenish your HP and MP.  When Zidane wakes up, there's an ATE of Vivi in the town.  Inside the room you'll be able to pick up a Potion and an Antidote.


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Once Zidane heads out of the room, an ATE on Dagger (Garnet) will show.  She's on the weapons store located in front of the inn.  Talk to the Moogle (Gumo) for the Mognet twice and then save your game.  Head outside and there'll be an ATE on the Innkeeper.  Go inside the weapons store to talk to Dagger. Buy what you need to upgrade your characters. Outside the weapons store is 120 Gil.  Head up the screen and enter the building with the windmill go to the back of the turning thing to get an Aries.  Go outside and talk to Vivi.


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After you talk to Vivi there will be another ATE of the Innkeeper.  Head back to the inn and talk to Dagger.  There's going to be an ATE on Steiner.  Dagger will then ask that the both of you look for Vivi.  Go back to the building with the Windmill and click on the metal dome where the kid was sitting on before. Go down and pick up 156 Gil.  Proceed up and there's going to be a short scene.  After that, go inside the small hut and get a Potion.  Outside the hut are Eye Drops.


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Follow the path to the next screen. Kick the wheel and a chest with a Potions drops.  Go to the back of the barrel, ignore the Moogle (Kumop) for now, and jump up a couple of crates for an Ether.  Go to the barrel, talk to Kumop for Mognet twice and save your game.


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Proceed to the next screen and get a Leather Helm,  then hop on several crates for the Iron Helm.  Go back down and head on to the next screen to free Vivi.  Get the 95 Gil, Equip what you can, heal whoever needs healing and open the door where a mist is coming out.  After you've defeated the mist monsters, loot Potion, Phoenix Down and Phoenix Pinion and exit this room.  Go through the bridge on the right for some scenes.


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You'll now have control of Steiner.  Talk to Morrid, then follow him downstairs.  Pick up 135 Gil and H-Potion, go inside the Hut and talk to Morrid again and go out to see the cargo ship.  There'll be a scene and you'll fight Black Waltz 2.  You can steal Steeple Hat and Leather Plate.


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After defeating Black Waltz 2 you can opt to leave immediately or go back to the inn.  I chose to go back to replenish my MP and HP.  You can come back to the cargo ship by going to the garden patch on the road right of the windmill.  After boarding the ship, there will be several scenes.  Go up the ladder, and you'll talk to Steiner.  Head inside the navigation room and Steiner will talk to himself.  After that, you'll be fighting Black Waltz 3.  When you defeat Black Waltz 3.  You'll be in Lindblum.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

(2) Alexandria Castle, Alexandria Part 2

After the mini-game, you'll end up in a room where you'll beat up and steal some armor from the guards.  After the short scene, you'll be outside the room.  Equip the Mage Masher which much better than the currently equipped Dagger. Go forward and on the next screen is a stairs.  Head up the stairs and you'll meet a hooded figure.  Regardless on what you choose, the hooded figure (Princess Garnet) will run away.

A short scene will follow.  After that you'll take control of Steiner.  Once Steiner has been given orders to look for Princess Garnet, there will be a short scene. I suggest that you look for ALL of your men first before continuing the search.  First stop is the starting point in Alexandria Castle.  There are 2 guards there.  You can also find a Phoenix Down in the room.

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Go back to the bottom of the stairs and talk to the Queen Brahne.  She'll give you something.  I got a Silk Shirt this time around.

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Now to find your other guards.  It was mentioned somewhere that there are an additional 6 guards of Pluto, so you're looking for 8 guards.  You've already found the first two.  The third guard is running around on the room north of the bottom of the staircase where the huge painting is, and it looks like he's trying to avoid you.  To get to talk to him, stand beside the right guard when he enters the room, run to the left guard so he enters the room on the right.  Now go back to the right guard and when he passes the painting run and meet him. 
Talk to the fourth guard found at the right room. 

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Then head downstairs and go to the left room.  The fifth guard is at the lower left side.  Go ahead and head out of the castle.  Keep moving down until you see the sixth guard.

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The 7th guard is talking to a female soldier on the left from where you found the sixtth guard.  You can tell by their shoes.  Go through the door and keep going up until you get to the stairway.  Keep going up until you meet the 8th guard.  He'll list down all guards you've found and will give you an Elixir if you the other 7.  

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Continue to the top of the stairs and you'll see a short scene.  Once you are in control of Zidane, follow the Princess Garnet and after a very short scene, talk to Ruby. The Princess will then ask you to kidnap her.  After several scenes you'll be in the engine room.  You have the option to either turn the lever left or right.  I did both and got scolded.  Go below where you'll see a box, and you'll get a Phoenix Down.  Go to the back of the engine and you'll get a Phoenix Pinion.  There will be several scenes after you go through the door.

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You'll be fighting Steiner.  Make sure that you steal whatever he has (I got the Silk Shirt and a Leather Hat), before defeating him.  After Steiner's defeat, there'll be a scene then you'll have to fight him again.  And again for a third time but there'll be a bomb behind him.  Ignore the bomb, just hit on Steiner until the bomb grows to its maximum.

After the movie, you'll now be inside the Evil Forest.
Final Fantasy 9 (IX) Disk 1 Alexandria Castle

(1) Alexandria, Part 1

Before you light the candle in the middle of the room, go to the upper right, past the candle, to get 47 gil.  Head left to get a potion.  Only then should you light the candle.  Ignore the flashing instructions until then.

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You'll get to be asked your name, I prefer to use the default.  In this case, that'll be Zidane.  You'll be in a fight.  Don't defeat the enemy until you get the prompt that there's nothing to steal.  You'll find out that it's your boss.  After the breifing, make sure you pay attention and answer "That's when I kidnap Princess Garnet, right?" or you'll get mocked, there'll be some CG.

You'll be someone else.  There are several items that you want to dig up while you are here.  First set is found south of where you started. You'll find four (4) items. The Zombie Card can be found southwest of the screen.  A Potion is on the side of the statue.  The Sahagin Card is on the footsteps of the corner house.  And the Lizard Man Card on the house at the back of the statue.  It's at the house you can't see because the statue is blocking it.

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Go back to your starting point.  On your left is a Potion.  Go inside the house.  Right side has 9 gil, left side has a Potion and when you go up the ladder, on the closet is a Fang Card.

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Go back outside on your starting point and head up.  You can get a  Potion. Keep going up until you get on the next screen.  On the lower right side, on the grass, is 33 Gil and on left, on the grass as well is a Goblin Card.

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Go inside the pub.  On the left side you can find a Flan Card on the floor and 27 Gil on the far left.

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Go out of the pub and talk to Hippaul who should now be right beside where you got your Goblin Card on this screen.  Head left to go to the next screen and enter Doug's Item shop on the right.  You there's 38 Gil on the floor south side.

Head outside the Shop (buy if you want), and go up to the next screen.  DO NOT go to the Ticket Tent (yet).  Head right and go inside the store on the right side, either door would do since it's connected.

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You can find Ether and Remedy in the stores.  Once you're out of the store, go talk to Hippaul and you'll be told he has 3 hidden cards.   You can also find a Phoenix Pinion on the wheel nearly in front of Hippaul.  You can also play jumping rope if you have the hand eye coordination for it.  Talk to the girl in the middle to try. Couldn't get past 10 though.  Press X to jump.

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Go to the left side past the girls playing jumping rope and you'll be in an alley.  Go past the alley and you'll see a little girl going out of her house on the right side of the screen.  If you're not sure if she went out or not, go inside her house.  If she's there go back to the alley to refresh the screen and go back to her house.  You should have seen her run out of the house by then.  You can get Eye Drops on the first floor and 3 Gil on the second floor.

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Right beside the house is a church.  Go inside the church.  On the first floor is a Potion.  Go up the ladder, pull the rope and you'll get the 3 cards Hippaul mentioned.  These are Goblin Card, Fang Card and Ironite Card.

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Beside the church is a walkway.  Talk to the kid (Tom) and he'll tell you his cat's missing.  Go back to the starting point and go south to the statue.  The cat should be there.  Talk to the cat and Tom will than you.  Go back to where you met Tom beside the chapel and he'll give you a Bomb Card.

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Now go to the ticket booth and exchange you're ticket.  You'll be given 3 cards: a goblin card, a fang card and a skeleton card. After you leave the booth, go to the alley way.  The sign master will leave and a boy will ask you several questions and after answering truthfully, ask you to be his slave.  When he asks tell him "It's all clear".  READ:  Immediately run with him on the next screen or you'll bet mugged by that 4-armed guy coming your way.  Once you're on the other screen you can either (1) follow the kid to the church, or (2) go back to the alleyway and learn how to play cards.

If you decide to learn to play cards, then go back to the alley.  DO NOT bump the 4-armed guy headway.  Instead, go to his side and when he passes you by, talk to him.  He'll teach you on how the card game works. 

After going through the tutorial, go to inside church.  The kid will then ask you to go up the stairs,  when you do so, a Moogle (Kopu) falls down.  He'll give you a slight tutorial on saving your game.  Another Moogle (Stiltzkin) will appear after that.  When he leaves, right behind where the kid with the ladder was standing, is a Tent.  Pick this up then head up the stairs and navigate on the roof.

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You can get several Gil while navigating through these roofs.  You get 29 Gil after crossing the second wooden bridge (which falls down).  Instead of crossing to the next bridge, go down the stairs of the house with no roof (where you'll find out that the kid's name is Puck and you get to choose your name for Vivi) and cross the bridge on the right and then the bridge going down.  Go back to the house, go up the stairs, cross the bridge, head up and get the 92 Gil.  You'll notice that Puck is on the other roof.  Unequip everything and then go to him.

The CG will start and you'll have to fight "King Leo" and his guards. After this is a mini-game where you'll have to follow Blank's lead. Try to not go ahead of yourself to get a high score.  I got a 91/100 impressed and left with 855 Gil.  

You are now inside Alexandria Castle.
Final Fantasy 9 (IX) Disk 1 Alexandria