Final Fantasy VIII - Secrets And Sidequests

Category: Final Fantasy 8

UFO INCIDENT
Travelling around the world, you will have the chance to sight a UFO and meet a friendly little alien. This event can only be completed after gaining Ragnarok as one of the locations cannot be reached without it. If you want to avoid losing time with battles junction the Party Ability "Enc-None" to the character who has GF Diablos. You will be able to see the UFO but do not need to fight while wandering around the site areas. Visit the following places in any order and observe the objects the UFO carries. You might have to walk around for a while before the UFO makes its appearance:

1) Mandy Beach south of Timber.

2) Winhill Bluffs around Winhill.

3) Western part of Kashkabald Desert (on the continent south of Esthar).

4) Island east of the Trabia Heath peninsula (you will need Ragnarok for this sighting). Although the screen switches to battle mode, you can do nothing but stare in wonder as the UFO soars past. After these four sightings make your way to the plateau range in the northernmost Grandidi Forest in Esthar (north of the Chocobo Sanctuary). You will encounter the UFO and easily defeat it. The vessel will eventually spin out of control, but what has happened to the pilot?

Make sure at least one party member has the Item Command junctioned, then fly to Balamb next and walk around the crater that formerly housed the Garden. Here, on the Alcauld Plains, you will meet PuPu, the little alien. You can fell the little creature with a stroke - or choose to help it. Pupu will ask you for Elixir. Give him as many Elixirs as he asks for and he will leave his card behind in gratitude. You will not gain PuPu's card if you fight him.

DANCING SOLDIERS
During the Galbadian Missile Base segment you may have the opportunity to mess around with the missile targeting computer if you haven't already been found out as infiltrators. Once logged in, go to the Equipment menu. Hold down Square and triangle and press down. You'll see a Galbadian soldier doing a funny dance. Hold down square and traingle again, and press Up. This time you will see the Galbadian chief officer doing his own little dance.

THE ROBOT
In Mayor Dobe's house, in Fisherman's Horizon, on the second floor where he usually sits with his wife, Flo, examine the large robot on the right. Watch it go! There is also a hidden Ultima draw point right next to it which you may find useful.

THE THREE STARS QUEST
You need Ragnarok to complete this sub-quest. Visit the circular lake to the west and slightly to the north of Timber and examine the tip of the spit of land jutting into the lake. A message will appear giving you the choice between throwing a rock or humming. Hum a tune to meet an invisible lake dweller. This shadow asks you to look for Mr.Monkey, a friend of his. You will find the (equally invisible) monkey in the forest nearly surrounder by a plateau range to the north-west of Dollet. When you run into the monkey it will not let itself get caught, regardless of the option you choose. Return to Obel Lake and wake up the shadow by humming. It will be please and make some vague references to interesting places.

Press the X button repeatedly to trigger various messages (and write them down). These are rather oblique hints to things that can be found. You will need to walk around the areas indicated, frequently pressing the X button to check for anything unusual. Junction the "Enc-None" ability to make your search easier. Most of the shadow's vague comments refer to pieces of rock that have letters carved into them. You can find these stone tablets at the following locations:

1) "You'll find something on an island east of Timber, too."

(Timber-Mandy Beach) Search the eastern part of the longish island just north of the bridge leading to FH. Return to Obel Lake (you must do this after finding each stone tablet) after you have found the tablet, hum for the shadow and trigger the following message:

2) "...at the beach in Balamb, something washes ashore at times."

(Balamb-Rinauld Coast) Search the eastern tip of the beach. You will get a few messages about stones that turn out to be just that before you find the man-made one.

3) "...there's also something on top of a mountain with a lake cavern."

(Galbadia-Lallapalooza Canyon) This description fits the plateau directly above the waterfall in the Lallapalooza Canyon area. Land there and search the edge of the cliff until you trigger the message that you have found a bird's nest. Investigate and defeat the bird parents to receive the stone tablet.

4) (Dollet-Hasberry Plains) This fourth stone tablet is not very obvious to find. Return to Obel Lake and keep throwing rocks until you receive the message "The rock skipped many, many times." Now fly back to the monkey's forest, move around until you happen upon Mr. Monkey and throw a rock at him twice. He will fling the last stone tablet at you.

After collecting the four tablets, return to Obel Lake and call the shadow by humming. During the conversation he will rearrange the tablets so that the message runs:

S T S L R M
U R H A E O
R E A I D R
E A S N P D

Read this from top to bottom and from left to right to receive the hint:

MORDRED PLAINS HAS TREASURE
Fly to the strip of land to the north of Esthar City and begin your search in the middle of the northern part of Mordred Plains. press the X button repeatedly until you get told that "there are many multi-coloured rocks with faces all over the place." Now walk along, pressing the X button at every step.

Ignore all comments except for those of the red-faced rock. Whenever it comes up with a message turn on the spot (with the L1 or R1 buttons) and walk in the opposite direction of the one it tells you. If it says "The treasure's to the north!", walk south, etc. Keep following the rocks inverted statements until it advises you that "The treasure is not here". Examine this spot again to receive a Three Star.

EXTRA TREASURE
The Shadow of Obel Lake also points towards a treasure that is considerably simpler to find. Remember the remark "Take some time off at Eldbeak Peninsula". This is to be taken literally. Fly to the peninsula north of Balamb Island and search the southern tip. You will discover a stone pillar with the inscription:

TRETIMEASUREAT

MINOFFDEISLE

If you delete the words "time off" the message reads:

TREASURE AT MINDE ISLE
Fly to the island located to the south-west of Esthar and search the middle of the south-eastern tip of Minde Island. You will be rewarded with a Luck-J scroll.

THE VASE FRAGMENTS
Visit Winhill when you are free to move around, taking Zell and Quistis along. You can now enter the large manor on the village square. Talk to the owner and listen to his complaint about a missing vase. In fact, the vase has been broken and scattered all over Winhill by cheeky chicobos (baby chocobos). If you collect its fragments and take them to the owner of the manor he will reward you with a Holy Stone. Here is where to look for the fragments:

1) Look at the armour in the hall of the mansion (press the X button) when Quistis is in your party. You will be surprised to see the armour move! A chicobo will scuttle away, leaving behind a vase fragment. Look at the broken heaps of armour (by pressing the X button) to find it.

2) Enter Raine's house on the village square and walk upstairs. Talk to the owner and go back downstairs. Examine the flowers at the bottom right of the screen. A vision of Raine will appear and turn into a cat. Examine the spot next to the cat on the counter to receive a vase fragment.

3) As you draw close to the lone, flower-laden house the old lady will hurry inside. Follow her and examine the white flowers at the front of the scene (near the bottom of the screen).

4) The path through the fields is no longer empty. Near the "Caution" sign a little chicobo keeps scurrying across the path. Stand facing either the front or the back of the screen and press the bottom directional button when the last chicobo crosses in front of you. If your timing is correct you will give the bird a light kick and it will drop the last vase fragment before running off.

EXTRA ITEMS FROM CHICOBO
If you give the little chicobo another kick after collecting the vase fragment the bird should drop a Phoenix Pinion or Gysahl Greens. You can harass it a little more after that, but don't go over the top!

SHUMI VILLAGE
The village of NORG's tribe is located on large, snowy Winter Island in northern Trabia. You can land close to it. Enter the precinct and walk up to the three inhabitants guarding a Draw Point. Talk to the Shumi in the middle and pay 5000 Gil. You will be rewarded with Ultima spells. You can draw this magic repeatedly during later visits. However, the Draw Point is not replenished every time you enter the village.

COLLECTING STONES
After drawing Ultima proceed to the inner entrance and step into the elevator. It will take you down to the actual settlement. After exploring the village, walk all the way to the left (past the frog on its perch) and enter the last house. Walk to the back of the sculptor's workshop and talk to the artist. He is busy shaping a statue of Laguna. Don't miss the Draw Point behind the statue. Next, visit the Elder's house., which was guarded by a furry orange Moomba earlier.

You can now use the Draw Point next to the house and enter. Address the Village elder then visit the sculptor again. He will ask you to find five stones for him. After bringing the sculptor each stone he will tell you which one he needs next. The minerals specialist seated near the village entrance can provide you with hints. This is where the stones are located:

1) BLUE STONE > Walk back to the sculptor's workshop and examine the big bluish rock next to the left of the statue. You have discovered the first stone.

2) WIND STONE > This stone is standing next to the path between the two houses closest to the village entrance.

3) LIFE STONE > A well-hidden stone. Examine the roots growing on the cliff between the Elder's house and the second house from the village entrance. If you find the correct spot Squall will climb up and retrieve the Life Stone.

4) SHADOW STONE > Probably the least obvious to find, this stone is neatly hidden in the screen with the three Shumis guarding the Draw Point on ground level. The stone stands where the shadow cast by the pillar to the right meets the foot of the stairs. It is directly underneath the intersecting shadows of the roof structure.

5) WATER STONE > Wouldn't it be obvious to take the frog's perch? Don't - it's not the right stone. Instead, visit the artisan in his house next to the sculptor's studio. Walk up to the kitchen niche and search the sink to the left of the artisan.

After handing over the last stone to the sculptor you will be sent back to the Elder. He now presents you with a Phoenix Pinion as a reward. However, the statue is not yet finished ...

LAGUNA'S STATUE
Exit the village and return. Visit the sculptor's workshop and talk to the Elder's attendant, then visit the Elder. Talk to him and then address the Moomba outside his house. The little fellow will come along to the sculptor's workshop but obviously won't be of great use. Talk to the Elder's attendant, then return to the Elder and speak with him again.

Walk back to the workshop and speak with the Elder's attendant once more. You will be pointed towards the artisan, who lives next door. Address him repeatedly after he has shown you his model car collection. He is reluctant to take up sculpting, however. Visit the Elder one more time.

Do you remember seeing a Moomba doll at the artisan's house
in Fisherman's Horizon? Travel there and visit the artisan, Greaser Monkey. His house is up the railroad tracks near the station. You will be greeted by the animated Moomba doll. Grease Monkey then gives it to you. Fly back to Shumi Village and hand over the doll to the artisan there. He will now consent to help the sculptor. Watch the work in progress and pay the Elder another visit to receive a Status Guard as reward.

THE JOURNALIST
On Disc 1, after you have boarded the last train for Far East Galbadia Station, get off at that station and return to Timber on foot. The man outside Timber Maniacs building (wearing an anorak) is about to give up his dream of becoming a journalist. If you encourage him to pursue his goal he will indeed become a journalist and reward you with a Pet Nametag on Disc 2. If you don't encourage him he will not become a writer and complain later on.

PEACEKEEPING IN FH
After defeating BGH251F2 for the second time and having talked to Rinoa, walk back towards Balamb Garden.On your way there Irvine will address you. Have Squall and Irvine visit Grease Monkey (the house is up the railroad tracks tot he right of the town square). You will find the artisan in a heated argument with a soldier. Leave the house and enter a second time in order to break up the argument (the soldier will be gone). Grease Monkey will reward you with a Mega Phoenix.

FINDING THE ESCAPE POD
After the Lunar Cry has occurred and you are safely back on Earth you can find the escape pod from Lunar Base. You will discover the emergency landing zone on the southernmost tip of Esthar on the Abandan Plains peninsula. There you will find Piet and a medic. You can play cards with them. On Disc 4 the Card Queen is in Esthar too, giving you a chance to complete your rare card collection.

HIDDEN DRAW POINTS
There are a number of hidden Draw Points on the world map. The greatest concentration of powerful magic is on the islands "Closest to Hell" and "Closest to Heaven". Since nasty monsters are abundant here you should junction the ability "Enc-None" before setting out to draw valuable magic such as Ultima, Aura or Full-Life.

Thanks goes to Official Strategy Guide For all The Info.