10 INFURIATING Ways Video Games Stopped You Getting 100%
2. Summons And Cards - Final Fantasy VIII
Whilst Final Fantasy VIII has its fair share of criticisms about its gameplay and story it still remains a bit of a beloved underdog in some circles. It gave us incredible character designs, the best mini-game in the series and a battle system that is hilariously good fun to abuse.
Final Fantasy VIII is entirely dependent on its summons, known in the game as Guardian Forces, and the abilities that they give players by being “junctioned” to them. Magic is done through “drawing” from enemies, and certain additional Guardian Forces can be drawn from boss fights.
If you forget to check every boss fight to see if they have a drawable summon or if you accidentally kill them off before it happens then you’re out of luck until the final dungeon of the game. And even then the game never signposts this.
Additionally, other Guardian Forces can be obtained from certain locations… until they get locked off completely and can’t be returned to in the final act of the game.
Oh and that incredible mini-game? Triple Triad, as amazing as it is, requires a guide if you want to collect the full set as it hinges on challenging certain NPCs at certain times. Even more confusingly, it also includes losing certain cards to win them back later in order to get even rarer cards... How were you ever supposed to figure that out?