[Solved] Problem with PS1 FF8 Disc 2 (No Spoilers)

[joe MOSQUITO]

I know this isn't about the steam remake, but I might as well check if anyone here had an issue similar to mine. Also please don't spoil anything since this is my first playthrough.

So I just got into Disc 2 and did the beginning part with Laguna and Kiros all normally. Afterwards I get the dialogue between Zell, Rinoa, Quistis, and Selphie in the prison, but once that's over, it fades the screen to black as if it is triggering a cutscene, but nothing happens, it remains black, and no matter what button I press, it won't trigger the next cutscene, and therefore can't progress in the game.

I kept resetting the PS1, but no luck. I assume its a laser issue, even though I would say my disc is 98% clean, which is usually acceptable for disc games. But if anyone had an issue with the game like this, please tell me and remember, no spoilers.

Thanks

[Neo King Arthur]

I think what surprises me the most is that you're still playing on a PS1 console with physical disc.
I would've assumed you would use PS1 emulator with an FF8 ISO disc image.

I never had any issue if I use PS1 emulator on my PC, or even play the 2013 Steam Release. So I don't know what's causing your issue with your game, but my recommendation is to play legacy games on your PC using emulators. It's more powerful, more stable, and you won't run into risks like what you're experiencing. Or just play the 2013 Steam release with an Xbox controller connected.

[ColdNhungry]

Man, I'm trying to remember that moment in the game.. I believe the cutscene that plays is the camera zooming out dramatically showing the area around the prison outside (and therefore your location which I won't spoil).

If it is a cutscene and it is not loading, might be what's happening. The cutscenes probably occupied a large portion of the image on the discs. I have the same problem with my copy of FF7 where there's like a 10% chance that I make it through the opening cutscene on disc 1 because of scratches, otherwise it then works fine including all other cutscenes, but I guess that particular part of the disc has significant enough damage.

The only thing to do is keep trying, if you are lucky it will eventually read it properly and make it through. Hopefully it's not too far from a save point? Otherwise your only other option is to emulate it or buy it here

[joe MOSQUITO]

Thank you guys for your suggestions! I really appreciate it.

To be specific with where I'm at in the game, it's where the SeeD members are first found in the prison when they tried to assassinate the sorceress. Zell had told the others that he recognized the place since he is Ward in the dream sequence, so he saw him work at the prison.

Now I briefly looked up the next scene that isn't loading on my PS1 via youtube, and while it isn't a highly rendered cutscene, it's more dialouge to go through, that's the scene that isn't loading, only leaving me to a black screen.

I'll try your suggestion ColdNhungry and continue retrying until it properly loads in, I love playing games on their original console, but if push comes to shove, I might have to abandon my playthrough in order to progress the story. Not ideal, but is certainly an alternative.

Thanks again fellas!

[ColdNhungry]

Yeah now that I think about it, the cutscene I described happens near the end of the prison segment I believe hehe. Been a while, I'm bound for another playthrough some time soon, maybe I'll dust off the ol' ps1. I kind of miss the loading noise and whatnot not to mention booting it up, nostalgia lol. Good luck!

[Neo King Arthur]

Originally posted by febreeze in my eye:

Thank you guys for your suggestions! I really appreciate it.

To be specific with where I'm at in the game, it's where the SeeD members are first found in the prison when they tried to assassinate the sorceress. Zell had told the others that he recognized the place since he is Ward in the dream sequence, so he saw him work at the prison.

Now I briefly looked up the next scene that isn't loading on my PS1 via youtube, and while it isn't a highly rendered cutscene, it's more dialouge to go through, that's the scene that isn't loading, only leaving me to a black screen.

I'll try your suggestion ColdNhungry and continue retrying until it properly loads in, I love playing games on their original console, but if push comes to shove, I might have to abandon my playthrough in order to progress the story. Not ideal, but is certainly an alternative.

Thanks again fellas!

You don't have to abandon your story, if I'm not mistaken you can open the save file from the PS1 using Hyne save editor, and convert it to the PC version. They have exactly the same save format. Just a different encoding.

The trick is to actually get those save files out of your physical memory card.. Which I don't know how to do it.

To be honest, I think it's not practical to keep old console and games around. With powerful PCs nowadays, it's actually a good idea to digitalise all your collection and store them in the cloud. If I have enough credibility to the gaming industry, I would suggest them to virtualise all their console systems that are no longer supported officially, and sell them as a virtual machines using PC, and create the entire digital library. Then people could still be enjoying old games for the nostalgia without the risk of things breaking in that nobody can fix.

[joe MOSQUITO]

@Neo

At this point, I'm now starting to consider getting FF8 on the PC instead. It's on sale for cheap so I might as well go for it. I'll definitely look into what you said about converting my save onto the computer which sounds interesting enough, but I'm only like 7 or 8 hours into possibly a 30 hour game, so it's not that huge of a loss if I can't convert the save.

[RudeJuggler]

Originally posted by .:: Neo ::.:

You don't have to abandon your story, if I'm not mistaken you can open the save file from the PS1 using Hyne save editor, and convert it to the PC version. They have exactly the same save format. Just a different encoding.

The trick is to actually get those save files out of your physical memory card.. Which I don't know how to do it.

This. Hyne its also in français.

Have you tried putting your memory card in a PS2? Then you can use a launcher to move it to a USB drive. Finally Hyne, emulator, back up, editor, etc.

Hmmm.... It's not the SCPH-102 model right? If this is the case put your console upside down (after CD in; before push Reset button).

[joe MOSQUITO]

@RudeJuggler

I've heard about that method before, but I don't have a PS2 right now. However, I got FF8 on steam and played all the way to the point I was at. It was still worth my time doing so since I learned about more gameplay stuff, found a GF I missed out on, and picked up on a couple bits of foreshadowing. It obviously sucks that I had that problem to begin with, but at least the game was on sale for 6 bucks, so it wasn't too big of a hit.