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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →In Final Fantasy VIII Remastered, the key idea to learn first is Junctioning: Guardian Forces (GFs) let characters equip certain commands and abilities, and stocked magic can be assigned to compatible attributes to strengthen them. You do not need to master every system at once. Start with the Junction menu, then decide whether the remaster’s optional speed and combat assists suit the way you want to play.
How to think about Junctioning
Square Enix describes the central relationship plainly: magic drawn from enemies can be attached to attributes to strengthen characters. In practical terms, the Junction menu is where you connect a character’s available GF abilities and magic stocks to character stats. A GF is therefore more than a companion in battle: it enables commands and Junction abilities, while magic you have stocked can be assigned where the character has a compatible Junction option.
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| 1 |
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Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (PS4) | $20.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (PS4) | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age - PlayStation 4 | $23.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition (PS4) UK IMPORT VERSION | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Core Crisis - Final Fantasy VII – Reunion | $20.13 | Buy on Amazon |
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For a first session, open the Junction menu and inspect what each character can currently equip. Treat the displayed choices as the boundaries of what that character can set up at that point; do not assume every spell or attribute can be Junctioned immediately. The official overview confirms the broad magic-to-attribute system, but it does not establish exact stock targets, spell rankings, or a universal early-game build.
What Draw, GFs, magic, and Triple Triad mean at the start
Draw and magic stocks
Drawing is part of the magic system and is how the game’s premise connects enemies with magic stocks that can be Junctioned. Use the in-game menus and prompts to learn what is available to your party. Detailed Draw limits, optimal stock amounts, and which spells to prioritize are not established by the official materials cited here, so avoid treating any single stock number as a required beginner target.
#1 Best Overall
- Game boosts
- - Battle assist - HP and ATB will always be maxed out, and limit breaks are available to trigger at any time.
- - no encounters - Turn on/off battle encounters.
- - speed boost (X3) - Play all scenes at 3X speed.
- the game is now Compatible with full HD (1920 x 1080) display and has implemented all new character models!
Guardian Forces
GFs enable commands and Junction abilities. When a new GF or ability becomes available, review the Junction and ability menus so you can see what it unlocks for the character. The source material available here does not verify a complete GF acquisition route or ability-learning order, so this guide does not prescribe one.
Triple Triad
Triple Triad is the in-game card game. It can be explored as an optional activity, but detailed rules and card strategies are outside the mechanics established by the official materials cited here. You do not need to solve it before learning how Junctioning works.
Rank #2
- Game Boosts - Speed Boost (X3) - Play all scenes at 3x speed.
- Battle Assist - HP and ATB will always be maxed out, and limit breaks are available to trigger at any time.
- No Encounters - Turn on/off battle encounters.
- The game is now Compatible with full HD (1920 x 1080) display and has implemented all new character models!
Choose the remaster options that fit your play style
The remaster’s assists are optional controls over pace and difficulty, not substitutes for learning the Junction menus. Square Enix lists these options for the remastered release:
| Option | What it changes | When it may help |
|---|---|---|
| 3x Speed Boost | Accelerates most gameplay; some scenes are excluded. | Useful for moving through familiar or slow sections more quickly. |
| No Encounters | Turns off random encounters. Event battles still occur. | Useful when you want to travel without random combat, while accepting that story or event battles remain. |
| Battle Assist | Keeps HP and ATB at maximum and allows Limit Breaks to be activated at any time. | Useful if combat pressure is getting in the way of exploring the story or systems. |
| Extra Steam boosts | Steam also lists boosts for all items except some, all abilities, maximum GF level, gil and magic, all Limit Breaks, and most Triple Triad cards. | These can bypass parts of normal progression; use them only if that is the experience you want. |
You can make these choices selectively rather than treating them as an all-or-nothing mode. For example, faster movement need not mean removing random battles, and turning off random encounters does not remove event battles. Steam’s additional boosts are version-specific and go beyond the three assists listed in Square Enix’s general remaster information.
Rank #3
- Enhanced game play features: Zodiac Job System : Improved leveling system that caters to the player's preference; Trial Mode : Take on monsters and enemies in up to 100 consecutive battles; Speed Mode
- Latest generation HD graphical capabilities, including characters and movie scenes fully remastered in high definition
- True 7.1 surround sound, including high definition voicing and newly recorded background music utilizing the current generation of sound production
- Modern advancements including PlayStation4 trophy support and share functionalities, auto save and shortened loading times
- An endless amount of game play and adventure including Hunts, Battles, and mini games
Which version and controls should you check?
Square Enix identifies the remastered game as a digital-download release for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam, iOS, and Android. That is platform information, not confirmation of current regional store availability, price, or compatibility with a particular device. Launch dates are historical: Square Enix lists September 2, 2019 for console and Steam release (Steam’s date differed by time zone, appearing as September 3) and March 24, 2021 for iOS and Android.
Controls vary by platform. If you play on PC, consult Square Enix’s official PC manual for the keyboard defaults, controller mapping, and display options. Its keyboard table includes arrow keys for movement and menu navigation, X to confirm, C to cancel, and V to open the menu in the field or world map. Do not assume those keyboard defaults apply to console or mobile; check the control settings and instructions for your version.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed from the original release?
Square Enix calls this “a remastered version of the PC version of FINAL FANTASY VIII.” One feature to know about is Chocobo World: Square Enix’s FAQ says, “Chocobo World is not playable in this edition.” The remaster is digital-download only, according to Square Enix’s product information.
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Best Value
- Remaster of the original CRISIS CORE - FINAL FANTASY VII-, featuring a complete HD graphics overhaul, a remastered soundtrack, a reimagined UI, and an updated combat system.
- The story begins seven years before the events of FINAL FANTASY VII (1997) and follows Zack Fair, a young and ambitious Shinra SOLDIER operative. Zack is tasked with tracking down a missing SOLDIER 1st Class operative named Genesis Rhapsodos.
- But as his adventure unfolds, he discovers the dark secrets of Shinra's experiments and the monsters they create. The game features a number of characters from the FINAL FANTASY VII franchise such as Cloud, Sephiroth, Aerith and others.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
