FINAL FANTASY II: A beginners guide II

Welcome to part two of my walkthroughs! Now it is highly reccomended that FF newcomers do not start with this one. This is one of the most insane JRPGs I have ever played. It's not too difficult once you finally grasp how to become stronger but be warned, level grinding is vital and takes quite a bit of time, so wander dungeons over and over. Also note that just like in the last game, you can save your game anywhere and not just on the world map. This is very helpful
Four young Orphans are destined to stop and evil empire from dominating the world as we know it...

You will be controlling Firion, Maria, and Gus for the first parts of this game. Guest characters will join your party often until you reunite with Leon later. I reccomend just K'Oing the characters as they join your party, why waste time leveling them? It's your call though.

Familiarity: Town building signs are all the same from the first game except magic shops are only the white staff sign now, but sell both types of magic

This time around: Your characters will not have levels, but stats this time.

How do you grow stronger? It's simple.

To increase hit points(HP), the character needs to take damage. Same with Magic points(MP)

Increase Attack and weapon levels by simply attacking.

MAGIC LEVELS: Fira, Blizzara, thundaga, ect.. do not exist this time. Magic increases in level as you use it. All spells come in a form known as a SPELL TOME. Used as an item on a character, and that person learns the spell. They Begin at Level 1 and max at Level 16. The only good thing about the magic progression is that the spell costs the same amount of mp as it's level. For Example: Cure 5 costs 5 mp and so on. So your strongest spells will only cost 16mp if you manage to get them there. Maxing your MP to 999 is easy!

***FF VETERAN NOTES AND BEGINNERS***

Sleeping at an Inn or using cottages will not remove status effects. Esuna will not remove toad or petrify, only items will. This is annoying but considering 30% of your spells, weapons and armors will be purchased during this game and the rest are found in dungeons, your Gil supply will hardly ever be low. By the final dungeon you should have 99 of every kind of item normally kept in stock and about 20 to 40 elixers.

Weapon skills are the same, Levels 1 -16

Instead of LV suggestions I will provide Stat suggestions based on how much damage enemies inflict at certain points , So... let the journey begin!

QUEST 1: Return to Fynn and investigate

After you are reunited with everyone but Leon, you will speak with Princess Hilda and a new element is added to the game: WORD MEMORY SYSTEM

This system is just an odd way to get information from people and helps the story advance. It's pointless and stupid in my opinion, but hey it was Squares second...no big deal!

WORD MEMORY (WM)

WM - WILD ROSE (a pass phrase used by rebels)

Minwu will suggest you return home to Fynn

~ALTAIR~

Magic Reccomendations:

Firion: none

Maria: Fire, Cure

Gus: none

Maria has the highest intellegence stat so I suggest making her your primary mage at this point. Feel free to purchase extra weapons and have Firion and Gus dual wield for double strikes.

LEVELING UP: You can start, (and this does sound weird) by having Maria Cast group fire on your party. Everyone takes damage. Lower your hp not too close to 0 but keep doing this and after every battle or almost every battle your characters max HP will increase. I reccomend getting everyones HP up to 100 for now.

Travel north to Fynn ***WARNING*** do not stray across the red line I provided. Tougher enemies roam there and will kill you quickly

~Gatrea~

Rest if you need to. **NOTE** the big difference this time is the INN prices go by how much hp and mp you've lost.

~Fynn~

Do not speak to any of the Knights in the town because a fight with them is suicide at this point. Make your way to the north and hug the outer perimeter of town heading east and then south to a PUB. Enter and speak to the bartender and use the WILD ROSE from the ask menu and you'll be able to enter the secret passage he was blocking. Go in and speak to Prince Scott and receive RING

Return to Hilda and show the RING and she gives you your next quest, and Minwu joins

WM - Mythril

Quest 2: The hunt for Mythril Metal

With Minwu in your party you will have access to his wide array of spells. I reccomend using SAP on your party members to lower their mp. This will increase you MAX MP. Do this and level up as you please. You will also have the canoe like in the first game. Cross the lake north of Altair and optionally hire the ship in the next town.

~Paloom~

You can hire a ship to sail you north but I reccomend walking north to the snow village. Fighting enemies helps alot

~Salamand~

Go to the north east and enter the house and speak with Josef. Ask him about Mythril and he tells you to save his people at the next area. Exit town and head west to a river south of you. Follow that to a small lake and the entrance to mines

Area 1: Semmit Falls

Enemy Notes: Nothing to special here. One chest on the lower levels is Guarded by a tough turtle. Magic will hurt him, especially Blizzard

Boss 1: Sargaent

Suggested Stats: HP-300, MP-150

Fire5, Cure5

This guy packs a punch so be ready to heal. He's got some great defense, but magic will penetrate it.

Take the MYTHRIL and return to the weapon shop in Altair, and speak to the smith and give him the Mythril. Now you can buy weapons and armors made of this strong metal, for some gil though.

Speak with Hilda before you leave

WM - Dreadnought

Quest 3: Hunting the Dreadnought

***by now you should have some spare gil so I'd advise splurging a little and increase your spell lists

MAGIC REC: Fire, Thunder, Blizzard, Cure (3), Sap, Life, Esuna, Teleport

***It doesn't hurt to have everyone handy with a cure spell so purchase two more for your companions

WHITE MAGIC LEVELING HINT***

 - Using spells from the menu instead of in battle will increase their level alot faster, but you don't receive the stat boosts as you do using magic in a fight. So for instance, if you have a character fall. Don't be stingy on MP and run to a temple, use life outside of the battle and level the spells faster!

~Poft~ (optional)

Enter the PUB right at the entrance and speak with CID, you can pay gil to fly on his airship for quicker trips. I'd save the gil and walk so you can battle and boost your stats

~Bafsk~

Talk to the Knight in the southwest corner who appears to be blocking a path. Use wild rose and he'll let you by. Enter the next area

Area 2: Bafsk Sewer / cavern (no boss)

Enemies are about the same here

To the right of the Black Knight Encounter is a door leading to an item you need

QUEST ITEM: PASS. Step on the warp to exit and return to Cid in Poft

WM - Airship, Sunfire

Return to Altair and speak with the king about Sunfire

WM - Goddess Bell

Speak with Princess Hilda about the bell to begin the next quest



Quest 4: Retrieve the Godess Bell

 - Return to Salamand and speak with Josef about the bell

 - Return to Semitt Falls for the snowcraft

 - Cross the snowplains to the north to the next area

Area 3: Snow Cavern

Enemy Notes: Lots of undead enemies so make use of your fire spell. *Grenade* normally these creatures are made of fire but in this exception, they are weak to it! These cause self destruct after sometime and can hurt so be quick

Boss 2: Adamantoise

Suggested Stats: HP-500, MP-200, Blizzard5

 - He's weak to ice, and with a level 5 or higher blizzard spell, he'll fall in one hit!

Boss 3: Borghen

 - He's a pushover, any magic or attacks will work

***FF VETERAN NOTE***

Josef, a group of warriors being saved by them, and the daughter back at home. Any FF9 fans may notice this. When you are solving Ramah's puzzle in FF9, the snow cavern trip you just completed was the story he told!

Now if you paid attention to the King's words in Altair, he mentioned the Goddess Bell will grant passage into Kashuan. Thats our next destination!

Quest 5: Retrieve Sunfire

 - Quest Item: Egil's Torch

Area 4: Kashuan Castle

Enemy Notes: Lots of undead enemies, (Grenades weak to lightning)

Watch out for the Wraiths and Ogres, they can pack a punch. Adamtoises make an appearance here as well so remember blizzard

Boss 4: Red Soul (absorbs magic)

Suggested Stats: HP-750, MP-200

Use attacks and whittle away his health until he falls, remember to heal. If this takes more than four rounds, he runs out of MP, now hes a sitting duck!

Quest 6: Rescue Hilda and destroy the Dreadnought

If you speak with the old man near the center isle in the rebels hideout entrance at Altair, he will mention a refueling station north of Fynn where the Dreadnought may have stopped.

Area 5: Dreadnought

Enemy Notes: Undead enemies(Fire), Amphibians(Ice)

***NOTE*** Gaining entrance requires talking to a captain knight and using the PASS. If you ask him wild rose, he will fight you, and Captains are deadly. Their Attacks land 300-700 damage so be warned

Boss 5: Hill Gigas

Suggested Stats: HP-1000, MP-300, Level 6 spells

 - he's not weak to anything so fire, ice, or lightning will help. he hits hard so be ready to heal.

**NOTE** This is the only tough fight in here so it's considered the boss encounter but just to give you a heads up, the next area will have these guys it two's sometimes so if this guy is whooping you, take the time to raise your hp

Find your way to the dungeon area first, and speak with Hilda and then Cid. They leave the area and now you are clear to find the engine and drop the sunfire into it and blow this ship to dust

Return to Altair and  speak with the King, then go to the throne room and speak to Gordon

WM - Dragoons, Wyverns

Now set out to Paloom and when you enter there is a new girl near the person you can hire a ship from. She offers to let you use her ship... for free.. odd right? Well as you sail its a trap, and her crew attack. Just like in the first Game these pirates are pushovers. Take them out and now you have a ship and yet, another party member.

Quest 7: Find the Dragoons and Wyverns

~Deist Castle~ no enemies
Speak to the woman and child to learn that you need a pendant to be able to understand the Wyvern in the room behind them. To find the pendant you need to enter the next area and take a room at the top right in the very first room and you'll see a helmet on the ground. examine it
QUEST ITEM: PENDANT. Return to the castle and speak with the Wyvern
QUEST ITEM: WYVERN EGG

Area 6: Deist Cavern
Enemy Notes: Nothing special, but some undead enemies pack quite a punch and show up in numbers alot so don't hold back your fire spell

Boss 6: Chimera
Suggested Stats: HP-1500, MP-400, Thunder7
- all magic does damage but thunder seems the best
you can back track or use the teleport spell to leave the area faster

Now would be a good time to use sap to raise the other characters MP at or above 200 and also purchase a Life / Esuna spells for each of the others. Better Safe than sorry unless you bought plenty of pheonix downs.

Return to Altair and Speak with Gordon in the throne room. He's worried about Hilda so go check on here in the southeast bedroom

Boss 7: Lamia Queen
Suggested Stats: HP-2000, MP-400
Use your strongest magic and attacks but she will eventually use Blink16 which will make the fighters miss and watch out for Confuse9, that can end the battle quickly, but she'll randomly use it on a single or whole party so if you all get confused once try again. A high level Basuna spell will help but if you are as strong as the stats I suggested then it should wear off quickly

Quest 8: Rescue Princess Hilda

Area 7: Coliseum

Boss 8: Behemoth

Suggested Stats: HP-2500, MP-450

Use your strongest attacks, and heal from his hard hits

Make your way out of the Coliseum and back to your ship to Altair

The Guard at the entrance of town tells you of a rebel camp north of you

Quest 9: Liberate Fynn

Enter the Rebel Camp across the river from Gatrea and speak with Gordon. You are the front line force in this battle. Head to Fynn Castle.

Area 8: Fynn Castle

No new enemies notes

Boss 9: Gottos

Suggested Stats: HP-3000, MP-500

Use your strongest attacks and magic on him

Speak with Hilda and Gordon now in the throne room to learn that your next item needed lies beneath the castle and Paul knows how to get there.

WM- Ultima Tome, Ekmet Teloess, Mask, Mysidia

 Go back to Fynn and enter the house in the southwest and speak to Paul about Ekmet Teloess

Back in the throne room inspect the Northeast Corner and use Ekmet Teloess word there to be able to walk through the wall to the next area

Area 9: Fynn Castle Basement (no boss)

QUEST ITEM: White Mask

Quest 10: Retrieve the Ultima Tome

~Mysidia~

**NOTE** Lots of spells sold here. One to definitely grab and start leveling: HOLY

 - Enter the stairway in the southern part of town and put the WHITE MASK on the statue. Leave town and Sail to the small island (1) on the map above

Area 10: Tropical Island Cavern

Enemy Notes: Nothing special but use the Holy spell and level it up

Boss 11: Big Horn (4)

Suggested Stats: Hp-4000, MP-550, Holy8

QUEST ITEM: BLACK MASK

Sail back and return to Mysidia to recover and then head northeast around the mountains to the cave (2) on the map above

Area 11: Mysidia Cavern (no boss)

Enemy Notes: none

**put the black mask on the doppleganger to get by**

sail back to Altair to recover and then sail through the small canal south of you to the next area (3) on the map above, but a whirlpool pulls you under

Area 12: Leviathan stomach

Enemy Notes: Some water creatures here absorb lightning so be careful. Level up Holy

**Show Ricard the crystal rod and he'll join you**

***Note*** The dark watery areas are enemy free but you take 1hp damage per step

Boss 12: Roundworm

Suggested Stats: HP-5000, MP-550, Holy10

Holy magic and attacks will bring him down

Continue or rest at Altair before, the tower

Area 13: Mysidia Tower

Enemy Notes: Lots of undead enemies here, keep leveling holy

 - IMPS - They can cast Confuse16 and end a fight quickly if your magic defense is low, so take them out asap

- Vampire Girls - They pack a punch that can easily take 1500 hp even on the strongest armored allies. They absord the damage as well

Boss 13: Fire, Ice, Thunder Gigas's

Suggested Stats: HP-5000, MP-600, Holy10, Fire8, Blizzard8

You encounter them all seperately at the ends of the three types of areas. Exploit the first twos obvious weaknesses and use holy on the Thunder Gigas.

Boss 14: White Dragon  (guards chest)

Suggested Stats: same as above - Use attacks and holy magic

You end up in a room with 5 round crystals. (yes FF vets, the crystals are more like orbs in this game, and this is the only appearance they make)

***NOTE*** Check the four silver crystals first before you approach the center gold one to receive a state boost of 10 points, randomly assigned to one of your characters

Return to find Altair, Gatrea destroyed. Enter Fynn castle and learn about the Cyclone behind the castle. Go to the mirror room (southwest stair case in the castle entry hall, then left of the stairs and head north)

Use the pendant and the Wyvern comes and can fly you into the storm but first ask Paul about the cyclone to hoard some treasures hidden in his bedroom

Area 14: Cyclone Palace

Enemy Notes: Wood Golems have good defense

Boss 15: Emporer

Suggested Stats: HP-6000, MP-650, Ultima10, Holy10

Take out the enemies that stand in front of him with attacks and magic

Quest 11: Confront Leon and save the world

Talk to Paul to find Cid resting. Cid lends you his Airship!

Travel to Poft and you can now take the airship as your own!

Fly to the Coliseum but you can land on the palace in the mountains

Area 15: Palamecia Castle (no boss)

Enemy Notes: A stronger stone golem makes an appearance here

Back in Fynn, you finally get your final party member, the one you should now build up! yes he's well trained in the weapon areas but if you followed my stat reccomendations then you will have 3 characters with 6000 hp while Leon has 1098. Time to build him up!

***Leveling Tip***

K'O the two characters who aren't your primary magic users. In my case, Maria was kept. If you have the knives known as rippers, (I had 2, one dropped by an enemy one found in a chest). Equip these on Leon. Fly the airship and land just above Bafsk next to the sewers cave. Inside here are still the low level enemies, good place to level Leon.

LEON HP - have Leon attack himself to lower his HP into the red or close to the red. Start having the other character attack him as well when his HP gets too high.

LEON MP- SAP or OSMOSE will drain his MP fast if leveled to 4 or higher. Raise his stats to 6000, and 600. Remember to give him magic as well: Cure, Life, Esuna reccomended

One last side trip, return to Diest Castle and speak with the woman again about Dragoons. She gives you Excalibur!

Now we are ready to continue. Return to Fynn and Speak with Hilda

WM - Jade Passage

Fly to the eastern most area of the Mysida continent and land near a small circular lake. Step into the lake to enter the next area

Area 16: Jade Passage (no boss) Suggested Stats: HP-7500, MP-850, Ultima11, Holy11

Enemy Notes: Not much, just use strong magic and attacks. Great weapons are found in here as well.

Area 17: Pandaemonium (final)

Enemy Notes: There is one deadly foe in here called the Death Knight. He hits as hard as bosses, between 4000-6000 damage. This is also a drain attack which means it heals him! Save in each new area to be safe

***MAGIC FRUSTRATIONS***

Ok I am assuming not too many people are big on level grinding and may have gave up on leveling magic past level 9. It does take forever to raise it at these stages. I have Ultima12 and it barely does 600 damage to one foe at a time, and drops to about 100-300 damage on a group. Sad. FF Vets know Ultima spell normally kills anything in the other games dealing 7000-9999 damage. I find it useless. If you paid attention to the story, then you will know where you are. In hell! Use your Holy spell to deal more damage, even on the Final boss!

FINAL BOSS: Emperor

Suggested Stats: HP-9000, MP-900, Holy11

I honestly do not know of a pattern to this guy. I didn't loot the treasure from pauls room but from what I have read online the Blood Sword is there. This will help you with this boss. He hits just like the Death Knights. I reccomend not attacking. heal with your attackers, put Blink, wall, barrier, and protect spells up while your mage uses holy. He will attack to heal himself less often, and eventually leave a long enough gap for you to kill him. I am not sure but he is one annoying fight because of the drain hits he can do

Well you've completed one of the craziest JRPGs ever. No other FF games are like this. I enjoy the level grinding but it does get boring because it takes so long!

Final Fantasy: Obsession

I warned you there would be plenty of FF stuff in here. Well we only have a week left until XIII-2 releases and I am super excited, as always, for another addition to the series. Now I would like to share with the world, how obsessed I am by simply counting off every one of the games that I own that makes up my collection!

Final Fantasy: PSP, NES(VC-Wii), NES ROM

Final Fantasy II: PSP, NES ROM

Final Fantasy III: NDS, NES ROM

Final Fantasy IV: NDS, PSP, SNES(VC-Wii)

Final Fantasy V: GBA, PSC(PSN)

Final Fantasy VI: GBA, SNES(VC-Wii), PSC(PSN)

Final Fantasy VII: PS1, PSC(PSN)

Final Fantasy VIII: PS1, PSC(PSN)

Final Fantasy IX: PS1, PSC(PSN)

Final Fantasy X: PS2

Final Fantasy X-2: PS2

Final Fantasy XI: PS2

Final Fantasy XII: PS2

Final Fantasy XIII: PS3

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest: SNES(VC-Wii)

What I am hoping for:

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Collection: with the Gamecube and Ds games all in one, not the wii release, that game sucked big time

NDS: Final Fantasy the 4 heroes of light

 - I don't know what they were going for with this one, but I hated it. A simple turn based rpg but you do not choose the enemy or enemies to attack, its random. Thats annoying. Square Enix likes to innovate battle systems, but that one was a failure in my opinion!

Final Fantasy: A beginner's guide

When a world is covered in darkness and the very planet is dying, a prophecy tells of four warriors bearing four light crystals arriving to save it from destruction...

I am currently Playing the playstation portable (PSP) version but other than spell names, town names and other locations and items, nothing is different. You can play this game's original version on WII through the shop virtual console NES section. Also Dawn of Souls can be played on a Gameboy Advance or Nintendo DS. Final Fantasy Origins on the Playstation 1 and also this version is on the Playstation Network so you can play it on Playstion 3 or PSP. The Anniversary edition PSP release is a very beautiful remastered version and I highly reccomend it!
A beginner to this series has alot to learn to be able to journey through this wonderful story. As an obsessed fan of this series, I can gladly break everything down into a simple cut and dry guide. I do not provide dungeon details because rushing through them isn't reccomended. Scavange them, search every corner and get lost a few times. After all the battles you face, you'll be strong enough and have plenty of money to keep pushing on through these adventures. Final Fantasy Veterans will notice some significant differences in this one compared to the later ones so even they will have some new things to learn. Now lets get started.
Choose your four warriors:

Warrior: A strong fighter with great defense.
Monk: A strong fighter with his barehands
Thief: An agile fighter, but not as strong, with better chance to evade and escape
White Mage: A wizard of healing power
Black Mage: A wizard of destructive power
Red Mage: A wizard that has great fighting power, and can use both types of magic

Beginners: I reccomend, Warrior, Red Mage, White Mage, Black Mage
Veterans: Go nuts! I actually made it all the way to the final boss with four Warriors one time!

The Journey begins...

WORLD MAP: Cornelia Area
Enemy Notes: Nothing has any real weakness. Use attacks and magic at will

Leveling up: Stick near the Castle forests to gain a few levels.

TOWN: You will want to stop in any towns you see for supplies and new equipment and to buy magic
FF Veterans Note: magic has to be purchased in this game, and only three spells per character level can be learned

Building signs:
Sword - weapons
Shield - Armors
 - Note: when selecting a weapon or armor, your characters will appear at the bottom of the screen. They will indicate if they can use what you have selected. A green armor means its better than what they currently have and a red arrow means its not. Always look for the items that are better (green arrow)
White staff - White magic
Black staff - Black magic
 - Note: You will see in these shops the magic levels. Right now all the spells are level 1. If you went with the recommended beginners party then you will notice that your white, black, and red mages can hold a total of 3 level one spells each, which means you have to choose out of the available spells to purchase
Pot: Items (potions restore HP (health points), Antidotes cure poison, Tents are used to heal on the world map only
INN: an inn, sleep here to recover completely
TEMPLE: these are unmarked, but inside its a sanctuary area. Approach these altars if a characters hp is 0 to bring them back
FF Veteran Note: Phoenix downs are expensive, and at this stage of the game are rare, and the life spell is way off, so if a character falls in  battle, back to the town you go. Annoying huh?

Cornelia Town: Level 1 Magic Reccomendations:
 Black: Fire, Thunder , focus
 White: Cure, Protect , blink
Now when you attempt to leave town you will be summoned by the king. He asks you to rescue his daughter from Garland. Travel North west like the red dot trail I provided on the map above

Area 1: Chaos Castle
Enemy Notes: undead enemies weak to fire spells

Boss 1: Garland - Suggested level 5
His hits can be devistating to the mages so have the white mage healing with cure and even throwing a protect spell in case. Attacks and Spells will bring him down

Now the bridge has been built north of the castle, onward!

Travel Destination: Pravoca

PRAVOCA: Level 2 magic reccomendations
White: Blindna, Invis, Nulshock
Black: Blizzard, Temper, slow

Boss 2: Pirate Crew suggested lv 5
Their numbers are intimidating but thats all they are. You will be surprised how easy and quick they fall one by one and now you've got a new ship to sail with! We're done here, time to sail!

Set sail south to the "1" on the map I provided and dock at the gray docks. These are the only way to exit the ship. Now this next quest has a few objectives and the game doesn't really provide much hint on where to go when. They just expected you to explore everywhere and eventually you'd figure out what needs to go where.

QUEST OBJECTIVE: To heal the Elven Prince

Elfheim town: Level 3 and 4 magic reccomendations
Note: Spells are now getting pricy. The enemies around the town due provide some decent money (Gil) so I suggest leveling up and purchasing at the very least, Fira, for the black mage because the next area will be much easier with this.
White: Cura, Heal, Nulblaze
Black: Fira, Thundara, focara

level 4 (this can wait til after the next areas if you are low on gil)
White: Poisona, Nulfrost, Vox
Black: Blizzara, Haste, sleepra

Area 2: Marsh Cave (suggested lv 15 to enter)
Enemy Notes: Now that the enemies are getting more diverse, here are some general guidelines of elemental weaknesses in the FF universe. Occasionally a creature may not follow this just so you know but generally they will

Weak to fire: anything undead, skeletons, reapers, worms (sometimes), anything ice based
Weak to ice: most reptile and amphibian creatures, and fire based enemies
Weak to lightning: Aquatic creatures mostly, and the ogres don't care too much for this either

Boss 3: Piscodemons (random number of them) suggested lv 15
Fira will put them in their place, but their attacks hurt mages badly so keep your white mage busy healing

Collect the CROWN and then travel back north of here to an old castle

Area 3: Astos Castle
Now if you wandered into this place earlier a prince missing his crown asked you to find it. Return it to him and he deceived you, hes a dark elf!
FF Veteran note: Don't worry, though hes an exact copy from FF4, hes not as hard or tough

Boss 4: Dark Elf suggested lv 16
magic and attacks of your choice. Make sure to heal often
your victory gives you an eye! Wanderers may have stumbled into Matoyas cave far west of Pravoca and heard her plea to find her eye. Now we've got it! Return to your ship and sail back towards Pravoca but as you pass Cornelia you can sail under that newly build bridge to find a closer dock to the cave, just north.

Matoya gives you a JOLT TONIC. Just what you need to heal the elven prince! Return to Elfheim.

MYSTIC KEY TREASURES
Marsh Cave level 3
Astos Castle
Chaos Castle
Cornelia Castle ***In here lies the NITRO POWDER, the next quest item you need to advance***
Note: Raid these treasures as there are plenty of good weapons there and the traveling will earn you extra exp and gil.

Mount Duergar: Head to the south of this small enemy free zone for a good looting of treasure, and then speak to a nearby dwarve who needs the nitro powder. Now the canal is blown open for your ship!

QUEST OBJECTIVE: Restore light to the earth crystal

Town: Melmond - Level 5 Magic reccomendations
White: Curaga, Life, Healra
Black: Firaga, Scourge, Teleport
 ***NOTE: There are some spells like warp that not even your black or white mages can use. Soon you will get a class upgrade to Black and white Wizards
Area 4: Earth Cavern
Enemy Notes: Fira and blizzara are enough of a tool to get you through, the slime creatures are hard to damage with anything but magic,  Firaga takes a big chunk of MP (magic points) so best to save that for the boss, who is weak to fire

Boss 5: Vampire suggested lv 20
He's weak against fire so firaga will deal heavy damage
NOTE: if you are low on mp use items known as "ethers" if you have any. Firaga helps but if you are low on magic use temper on your main fighters and watch their damage increase enough. Heal often as always

After the battle the chest holds the STAR RUBY
Exit this long cave and travel back north but head west instead of towards town

Area 5: Giants Cave
Enemy Notes: same as the outside enemies mostly

Sages Cave: No enemies, talk to the sage who reveals the vampire is not the threat to the earth crystal and hands you a special staff to open the rest of the earth cavern. Yes, time to work your way back down there to the vampires lair

Boss 6: Lich, the earth fiend suggested lv 25
***NOTE*** up until this point, all of the bosses except astos and chaos are actually just regular enemies you encounter later on in your adventure. This is the first of the Four Fiends who corrupt the crystals. They are significantly tougher and you should expect a longer battle with them. Your endurance will be tested with this battles more than others. Consider this the first real boss fight.

Firaga helps but make sure you cast temper on all fighters so they are hacking a decent amount of damage out of this guy as well. Healra will be your saving grace because he can use blizzara to your party.

Behind the newly restored crystal is a teleporter which will send you back to the surface!



QUEST OBJECTIVE: Restore light to the Fire Crystal

Town: Crescent Lake: Level 6 magic reccomendations

White: Stona, Protera, Invisira

Black: Thundaga, Quake, Stun

Follow a path around the east side of the town to find a circle of guys. The south east one next to Lukhan will provide you with the canoe! Now you can cross the rivers you had to walk around this place

**LEVEL UP POINT**

You are probably low on Gil from the hefty magic prices. Invest in Thundaga so that your mage can make the river battles much easier. Canoe around the rivers battling for great exp and gil. When ready follow the canoe path from the town to the next area

Area 6: Mount Gulg

Enemy Notes: Lots of fire based enemies, Blizzara will cut them down

Boss 7: Marilith the fiend of fire  Suggested lv 31

Black mages should cast temper on the fighters and then unleash blizzara. Heal often

Take the short sail path just north and sail into the river, you will automatically take the river on canoe. Follow this canoe path to the next area

Area 7: Ice Cavern

Enemy Notes: As the name tells you, fire spells will be your best bet in here

Boss 8: Evil Eye Suggested lv 31

This barely counts as a boss. He will die quickly

Quest item: LEVISTONE

Return to your ship and sail to the southern most river below Crescent lake next to a small patch of desert. Enter the river and cross to the small desert and the levistone will reveal my favorite mode of travel in these games, the Airship!

As much as you want to fly around in your new toy, land next to the river and canoe back to your ship.

It's time for a small break from the main story. Sail your ship along the sail path into a river in the north central continent and quickly cross west and follow the land around and south to the next area

Area 8: Citadel of trials

Enemy notes: Nothing special here

Take the RAT TAIL in the last chest before approaching the throne back to the entrance

Boss 9: Dragon Zombie (random number) Suggested lv 36

Zombie should stand out, fire spells!

Now return to your airship and now fly just west of the citadel to a chain of large islands. I marked Bahamut's lair on the map. The other caverns house treasures.

Bahamuts Lair: No enemies

Make your way to the King and the rat tail will prove your worth. It's time for Class Upgrades!

Warrior - KNIGHT: Knights can use levels 1, 2, and 3 white magic

Thief - NINJA: Ninjas can use levels 1,2,3, and 4 black magic

Monk - MASTER: Nothing special just a new look

Red Mage - RED WIZARD: Can now use up to level 7 spells

White Mage - WHITE WIZARD: Can now use level 7 and 8 spells

Black Mage - BLACK WIZARD: Can now use level 7 and 8 spells

QUEST OBJECTIVE: Restore light to the Water Crystal

Fly to the north western continent and land southeast of the desert at the land point on the map. Head through the desert to the small patch of desert not connected to the larger, this is the Caravan

buy BOTTLED FAERIE (40,000gil)

Return to your airship and fly to the north east and land next to a small town in a small patch of land surrounded by mountains.

Town: Gaia: Level 7 and 8 Magic reccomendations

LV 7 - White: Curaga

            Black: Blizzaga, Break

LV 8 - White: Holy, NulAll, Dispell

            Black: Stop, Warp, Kill

The Faerie flies away to the north east of town when you enter. Go find her and she'll give you OXYALE

Fly the airship back to the desert on the NW continent and land where you did before. This time head south east, canoe up river and cross east to land and head north to another town

Town: Onrac: Level 7 Magic Reccomendations

White: NulMagic, Healaga

Black: Saber

head to the eastern dock like area to find a mermaid. With OXYALE you can take the barrel to the next area

Area 9: Sunken Shrine

Enemy Notes: Water based enemies, thundaga time!

QUEST ITEM: ROSETTA STONE (in the upper floors with the mermaids and treasure)

Boss 10: Kraken, the water fiend Suggested lv 40

Again cast temper on the fighters, protera on the party, and unleash thundaga and heal often

Leave Onrac and instead of returning to your airship, canoe up river to a waterfall and enter

Area 10: Waterfall Cavern (no boss)

There are no items, just keep heading to the left until you find a room with a robot and treasure. Talk to the robot to receive the WARP CUBE. Then teleport out and return to your airship!

Fly to Melmond, and look for a odd looking guy with an old fashioned hair style on the north eastern edge of town. This is Une, and he will take the rosetta stone and teach you the language of Lufenians.

QUEST OBJECTIVE: Restore light to the wind crystal

Town: Lufenia

Nothing special about this town, just work your way to the south east and speak to the person at the bottom left corner to receive the CHIME which grants entrance into the next area

Area 11: Mirage Tower

Enemy Notes: Use strong spells and attacks

Boss 11: Blue Dragon suggested lv 42

Blizzaga and attacks will bring him down

the red stone will warp you with the warp cube up to the next area

Area 12: Floating Fortress

Enemy Notes: none

**NOTE** You can find a weird looking crystal in this area. Grab it, and discover that its adamantaim. If you wandered back in Mt Dueger and met the weapon smith, he was looking for this

Boss 12: Tiamat suggested lv 45

Have your black and or red mages cast temper on attackers and heal often

Return to the weapon smith and he will make the Excalibur sword for your Knight!

FINAL QUEST: To save the world

With all four crystals now shedding light it's time to save the world. But where do you go? It seems we've been to every single place on the world map! Well this is one of my favorite types of story. It ends where it all began! Return to Garland's castle northwest of Cornelia and ignore the person walking away. Return to Garland's room and the four crystals will now send you back into the past!

FINAL AREA: CHAOS TOWER

Enemy Notes: Lots of different enemies make appearances here. Watch out for the Green and White Dragons. They have deadly party attacks and can show up in groups of four

**NOTE** For beginners you will need to be stronger so if you get lost in this long dungeon don't worry. Fight battles, and level up. There isn't much treasure but one weapon which is near Tiamat's rematch point is the MUSAMUNE. I gave this to my red mage and he was now dealing as much pain as my Knight with the excalibur! Optionally you can give this weapon to your knight because it is stronger than the excalibur

FIEND REMATCH BOSSES: LICH, MARILITH, KRAKEN, TIAMAT
These are basically the same but beefed up. Healaga and protera from the white mage, while using temper on your fighters and they'll drop in no time
***NOTE*** I labeled these guys as bosses this time but they are ENCOUNTER POINTS on the floors. This means if you step forward and then step back on the same spot, you fight them again every time, so beware!

Doors can be tricky to see, and paths look identical so bring lots of ethers and potions to sustain your magic points and use EXIT spell if you want to leave quickly and use a cottage. Eventually you will encounter Garland again, but he's way more powerful now and becomes...

FINAL BOSS: CHAOS suggested lv 55

High level magic can do some decent damage, but I find that casting temper on your attackers enough times will allow them to inflict 1000-2000hp per hit.

Thriller Corner II: The Vanishing

This is an old one that I somehow missed out on, but hey, I was only 9 at the time! What a cast. Sutherland does a great job as always but Jeff Bridges, just wow. This is the only time I have seen him play a psychotic role and he really brings his game. Nancy Travis was also a great addition and even Sandra Bullock is part of the show. I just can't describe how amazing Bridges plays this part. I only wish that he would play some of the serial killers in Dean Koontz novel based films, he'd be so perfect. If you somehow missed this one like me you should definitely check it out.

Thriller Corner: The Reef

This is why you should not swear off all low budget films. Now this is one creepy film and very well done. I have not been impressed by a film like this since "monsters." The writing and directing was great. This wasnt a film where people are just mauled by aquatic monsters, or a bloody version of Jaws. This film keeps the suspense rolling and doesn't stop. An austrailian film but this is in english. Just goes to show that not only music is horrible in this country, horror films are really heading downhill as well, but at least other nations have the talent and these guys prove it!

Positive Thoughts

I want to talk about positive thoughts. I was thinking about this alot last night and I keep seeing so much negative stuff out there, it's quite depressing. First of all, I want to say that no one gets frustrated with the dumbest stuff more than me. The top five things that frustrate me more than anything are merely superficial and pointless to even get bothered by, but I am not above such things sadly.

1. Bad Drivers
Oh yes, I have terrible road rage. The thing that really irritates me are when these california people fly on by going way over the speed limit with not a care in the world. They never get pulled over, but yet I seem to attract the attention of police like flies on dog crap.

2. Non functioning electronics
When my dvds do not work, or my computer does something I have no idea why and I just bought them. I get so upset. I usually end up smashing them to bits and going and buying a new one.

3. Bad video games
oh yes, I spend lots of money on a game and then it freezes up or glitches. Also when they are super challenging even on the easiest difficulty, when they have that option anyway. Oh so mad I get.

These things are so irrelevant its hilarious. I have never been mad at a person like these things. Oh if I felt the kind of rage I get from those things when someone wanted to fight, I might actually stand a fighting chance, or hell even win. People never bug me like that, no even some of the idiots I have worked for or with in the past. I wish I had more patience then I could deal with alot of the stupid stuff that bothers me, but I don't.

Anyway I just wanted to get that out there. Life has been rough at some points for me but I have got this far. Alot further than alot of other people my age. I do feel like a failure sometimes. I didn't finish college, I haven't gone back, I bounce from dead end job to dead end job no idea where I will end up and how long until I feel the need to start over again. But lately I have been feeling more positive about things. I have a great job, sure it doesn't pay much, I am not going anywhere with it, but I get paid to sit and entertain myself for 8 hours with any means nescessary.

I look at some other people and see their complaints. Some even say they want to kill themselves sometimes. I have never ever considered suicide ever. I was close to giving up all together when I lived in Arizona before coming here, but I believe a higher power intervened and has shown me things can get better with positive thinking. I curse california everyday, usually more than once. But coming here has shown me what positive thinking can do. I up and moved to a whole new area without any family coming with me, not knowing if I'd have a job. It all worked out because I kept knowing in my heart that things would work out. I am not saying you have to believe in God like I do. It would certainly help you alot but no one can force you to do that.

I have actually deleted people off of my facebook for their negativity. I mean every day there would be so much complaining about how hard things are, how shes giving up. First of all, I know how her life is, and its way better than mine. She works for a great company with tons of advancement, has weekends and holidays off. Let me say first of all, if you work monday through friday daylight hours, your job is good. Even if you work for an unbelievable asshole and your pay isn't much, the hours make it better than mine. Most jobs with these hours pay more than what I make anyway. Second of all, if you live all by yourself and can afford food, rent, and cell phone, plus always going out to bars every weekend, then you are doing just fine. My gf and I went out to eat last weekend to an actual restaraunt for the first time in months. We can't afford that. Of course we could if we watched our other expenses but we choose to give that up over new toys for home. I, however, do not think my life is anywhere near bad.

Now if you hate your job that much that it depresses you, then you should quit and find something else. Especially if you are in retail or fast food. Those are the worst to work in. But thinking positive will help. Never let the bad days bring you down! I am not saying this is easy. I get frustrated all the time and it leads me to having a bad day. In the end I still try to remember things will always work out. Thinking positive does help, try it and see!

John Landis: Family Review

MASTERS OF HORROR

This new series of horror tales reminds me of tales from the crypt, but with Masters of Horror we have the brilliant minds behind some of the best horror films ever made collaborating on these episodes.

Meet John Landis. He seems like your friendly suburban neighbor but John has skeletons in his closet, litterally. He's a serial killer targeting people to become members of his new "family" and when he sets his sights on his new neighbors, he gets in over his head because maybe this time, the catch was too easy...maybe this time, the hunter becomes the hunted.

I loved this episode. George Wendt was great in his chilling performance. There is something almost poetic seeing a man call the skeletons he's talking to "crazy". Suspense and thrills will keep you sucked into this creepy story. They just don't write horror this good these days. Yes this story is anything but original, but I enjoyed every second of it.