Card game am I to late?

[MaGicBush]

So I played this like 15 years ago as a kid, and can't remember much. I have played through to the point of getting Rinoa on the resistance train, and have yet to play anyone at cards. I just realized I was supposed to be hitting the back button when I talk to people to play. Did I miss anything, or will I be able to go back and play at the garden at some point?

Also can I beat the game just fine if I don't play cards or miss some magazines? I don't like using guides unless I have to, and am not a completionist really. I also am not much of a fan of mini games inside of rpgs. I am really not wanting to go back 6 hours and replay this at the moment lol.

[Leonaura]

You can finish the game without playing Triple Triad, of course, and eventually you can play in Balamb again. If you play Triple Triad before meet Rinoa, the game turns easiest, that's the advantage.

[Xengre]

You don't get the Rinoa card there. You get Angelo I believe it was from Watts (the dog).

Rinoa is from PURPOSELY losing Ifrit to Rinoa's father at some point in the game (anytime you can find him there). Then he will start using Rinoa's card after he won Ifrit. You win Rinoa from him at that point. You can recover Ifrit later at Fisherman Horizon from a guy sitting at one of the docks or whatever (forget who) and win it from him when he decides to play it (might take a few games to appear in his hand).

Btw, you can also win EVERY level 8-10 card an infinite number of times I believe it was if you BEAT the entire CC Group (look at a walkthrough if you need) before end of disc 3 or whatever. Some of the rare cards later on, past the point you are at get ridiculous rewards from modding them (Like 100x item makes you invincincible for X time, or 10x for entire party, 100x megaelixers, etc.). Also if you didn't get Zell's from his mother get it when you can visit her again. It gives +60% str or w/e I believe it was so very powerful.

[MaGicBush]

Alright good to hear. So it's not mandatory to beat the game it sounds like, but it makes the game much easier. I don't want to steam roll everything so it's probably better I don't get some of those rare cards(make my party invincible what lol). I do remember playing the card game as a kid, but I don't think I did much. I only made it to disc 3 and my memory card corrupted on PS1(was so mad I sold the game lol). I figured it would be good to get back into it now for a second try since they remastered it. I will go back and play it some since I can get back, and may grab a few cards to help if I need it. I already have Rinoa(just got her), but oh well. Thanks for the tips .

[Xengre]

Originally posted by MaGicBush:

Alright good to hear. So it's not mandatory to beat the game it sounds like, but it makes the game much easier. I don't want to steam roll everything so it's probably better I don't get some of those rare cards(make my party invincible what lol). I do remember playing the card game as a kid, but I don't think I did much. I only made it to disc 3 and my memory card corrupted on PS1(was so mad I sold the game lol). I figured it would be good to get back into it now for a second try since they remastered it. I will go back and play it some since I can get back, and may grab a few cards to help if I need it. I already have Rinoa(just got her), but oh well. Thanks for the tips .

No, definitely not mandatory unlike FF9 which requires at least one game during a story tournament for a rebirth ring (but isn't necessary to succeed, but no ring then).

Unlike FF9, cards are extremely useful though and can completely break the game. Even a mere two hours in with a combination of cards from the mini-game, card mod ability (converts cards into items), and item refine abilities (status, time, etc.) you can get end game stats and wreck even the boss of the game easily enough immediately were you able to fight her then and there. We are talking instant death status on attacks, spamming limit breaks forever because even critical HP is still 2-3k hp (as you can get 6k-9999 HP super early rather than ur meager 500 or so), attacks doing 4k-9999 damage per hit, etc. Some of the items you get from the cards are also 100x and 10x sets of super powerful items granting invulnerability, aura status, a nigh endless supply of megaelixers, etc.

I'd save this until you beat the game and want to replay it and really go ham.