At the begining of the game, the FMV shows a duel between Squall and Seifer.

Balamb Garden:

After the FMV,you will wake up in the doctor's lab. The doctor's name is Dr.Kadowaki. After the conversation,walk out of the room with your friend.Follow her through the walkway.This should bring you into the main atrium.Walk up the stairs to the elevator and go up to the second floor.Enter the classroom and attend lessons.After the lesson ends,don't leave the room right away.Instead check your seat (it's in the back of the room, opposite Seifer's seat).You will find your first two Guardian Forces.They are summon monsters SHIVA and QUEZACOTL.Take your acquired GFs and leave the classroom.On your way out, you will knock into a girl in her Balamb.After the brief conversation,you will be followed by her.Take her to the school garden.Go into the stage area stage area (north of infirmary, where you met Dr.Kadowaki).She will talk to you again.She will ask you to join the balamb band, whatever choice you make here does not impact on anything later in the game, so don't worry. Don't forget to visit the library, and search the first bookcase on the right side of it. You will find your first magazine: OCCULT FAN I.Walk to the left side of the bookcase and you should find your first draw point. Make sure you equip your GFs and abilities, then draw esuna from the draw point. Get out of Balamb Garden by exiting at the south entrance. Before exiting, draw cure from the ground near the exit.Exit the school and soon you will meet up with your instructor.She will join you officially.Now, get out to the overworld map.

****After leaving the classroom at the begining of the game, talk to the boy on the bridge leading to the elevator, he will give you your starter deck of cards and he will explain how to challenge people to a card game.

****Before going to Ifrit's cave, make sure you get into a few encounters and draw as many blizzards as you can for both characters. The enemies in Ifrit's cave are most succeptible to cold elemental's. Also if you go south, towards the beach, you will fight fish like creatures. They may be tough this early, but their worth 6 AP. Draw blizzards from an enemy called "glacial eye". They roam around the green plains. I suggest you level up a couple of levels, so your HP are higher for this first mission. Make sure you get 100 blizzards for each character and make sure your GFs have at least 500 HP.While drawing make sure you pick the option stock instead of cast, because you need to accumulate this spell. Teach Quezacotl Card and Card Mod ability. Card lets you turn weakened enemies into playing cards. After beating the boss of the fire cavern you should equip this "card" ability and turn Bombs into cards. Bombs make great cards at this point of the game!!Card mod ability is needed for later in the game. This ability enables you to turn cards into useful items.

Fire Cavern:

Walk east to ifrit's cave.Better save first before you go in.When you got in,they will ask whether you had been fully prepared.Say yes and get pass through the guards.I think you should better choose the time limit 20:00,just to play it safe.However, you can pick 10 minutes to get more points on your SeeD exam.Its an easy dungeon.There is only one route so you will not get lost.Make sure you ignore everything Quisitis says, because its not important and it only wastes time.As for encounters, simply cast blizzard and they should fall quickly. If you find yourself running out of time, just escape by holding R2 and L2. When you come close to the end of the cave you will see a pink sparkling dust floating in the air (it's another draw point) but for now you won't need it because it is for increasing blizzard magic.Knowing that you've already stocked up, ignore the draw point

Boss: Ifrit: HP1100

As in most FF games, the first boss is always easiest.Cast your Shiva GF first and have the other character cast Quezacotl. After that, keep bombarding him with blizzards and physical attacks and thisand proceed ahead.You will encounter a battle with IFRIT, your next GF. Defeat him and you will get him as a Guardian Force.Remember to equip your other GFs and magic.As a reward, you will get him as your 3rd GF and you will get his playing cards After doing all of this, head back to Balamb Garden and get info on your next mission.

Balamb Garden: SeeD Field Exam

Go to Squall's Dorm room, save your game and change into your SeeD uniform. Then go to the lobby, near the directory and meet up with the others. Drive west toward Balamb City and board the assault boat. Keep in mind that you cannot leave your vehicle on your way to Balamb City, so if you want to level up your GFs, I suggest you do this before heading to Squall's Dorm room.

Dollet: SeeD Exam

Now is when your first tough mission begins. Follow Seifer to the central square, avoid any distractions, because you are being graded. Scout the area and wait for Galbadian Troops to arrive at the central square. Next save a Dollet soldier from an anacondaur monster. Meet SeeD mesenger from the "A" squad. Keep in mind that if you follow her by jumping off the cliff, you will be penalized a few points off your SeeD exam. Once again, its your decision and it doesnt make much of an impact later in the game. Enter the communications Tower/Building and battle the 2 guards (Biggs and Wedge).

Boss: Biggs and Wedge: HP400-800

At the start of the battle you will only be fighting Biggs, he is weak, so make sure you draw as much Esuna magic from him as possible (it's very useful later in the game). If your HP gets low, then cast cure on everyone, and pummel him with physical and magical attacks. Wedge will show up after a few minutes, or when Biggs' hp are getting low. Wedge is stronger than biggs, but he has less HP, make sure you have as much HP as you can by the end of this battle, because the next battles are pretty tough at low HP.

SeeD Exam (continued)

After fighting Biggs and Wedge, a large beast will emerge from the communications tower/building. This is your next boss elvoret. Elvoret contains your next Guardian Force: SIREN. Draw Siren from elvoret and she will join your team as a GF.At the end of the elvoret battle, equip Siren right away. After defeating Elvoret, you will have to fight an even tougher boss.

Boss: Elvoret: HP 1600-3800

First start off the battle by drawing siren. Then draw double from elvoret, stock up on this spell and cast it on each character. Double is very useful, it lets you cast 1 spell twice. This is very effective if you are low on HP. You can cast cure twice!!However, this does not work with GFs. Double also junctions well with stats if you have enough of it. Keep using GFs, dont use magic too much, this boss is immune to almost every kind of magic. In this battle you should designate one character as a healer and GF caster, another character as a physical attacker and GF caster, and another character for drawinging magic from elvoret and casting GF. Keep the cycle going and Elvoret should fall quickly.

Boss: X-ATM092: HP 5200-5850

In this battle you are racing the clock!! Make sure you keep casting Quezacotl during this battle. This boss has a weakness against thunder magic. After causing about 1300 damage, you are given the option to escape, make sure you escape as soon as the option is given. Escape by holding L2 and R2. After escaping keep running back toward where you came from. Keep back tracking until the boss catches you again and repeat the tactic of using Thunder magic. Remember to escape after causing 1300 damage and continue to backtrack. Don't run too fast when you get to the bridge, because the boss will jump right over the party. When you get to the end you will see a beutiful FMV. The battle is finally over!

Balamb City

Exit the boat and talk to Quisitis. Explore the town, use the draw points, and don't forget to play cards in Zell's house. If you play against Zell's mom, you have a chance at getting Zell's card. Keep in mind that she is a very tough card player, so you may want to get this card later in the game when you have a better deck. After you rest and save at the hotel, leave town and head north to balamb garden to get your SeeD ranking.

Balamb Garden (Ranking Results)

Go to the lobby and meet with Xu, Headmaster Cid and Quisitis. Then meet Seifer near the library. Next go up to the second floor and wait to be called for your grades. Then speak with Headmaster Cid . After graduation , continue to speak with Cid and he will give you a battle meter. This coun6ts your number of battles, times you've escaped and how far you've walked. Now go back down to the second floor to see your exact scores. Don't worry, mine weren't very high either. I was only a rank 6 for the exam. Now go to Squall's dorm room, save your game, change into your clothes, and go to a party. You will now seethe next FMV. Now return to Squall's room and change clothes once again. Go near the training center to meeet with Quisitis. Explore and then go battle Granaldo and Raldos bosses, they are easy. A regular enemy in the training center is harder, T-REXUAR. If you get into a fight with a T-Rexuar, its better to run. After battling Granaldo and Raldos return toward Squall's dorm room and speak with Zell. Meet with Cid at the front gate and get your first SeeD assignment. Keep talking to cid and he will give you a magical lamp. Leave Balamb Garden and save your game. Now go to the items screen and touch the magical lamp, you will be prompted into a tough battle. Keep in mind that you should train before fighting, this boss (your next GF) is very tough. You can always get this GF later if you keep the lamp in your inventory. DIABLOS is one of the best GFs in the game. After getting Diablos, go to balamb city and go to the train station. Pay 3,000 gil for the ticket.

****Before leaving make sure you challenge Cid to a card game. He has the Seifer card. You don't get many chances to play cards with Cid and now is one of those chances.

Boss: Granaldo and Raldos: HP 2,000-10,000

Draw protect and shell from these enemies and keep using your GFs. This battle is very easy because they are slow and weak against any GF.

Boss: GF Diablos: HP 2,000-90,000(at level 100)

Save your game and touch the magic lamp. You are then prompted into a boss battle with diablos. Start off the battle by drawing and casting demi on him, if the draw fails, keep trying , its bound to work eventually. It also helps to cast double on one of your characters and designate, him/her as a healer. Beat Diablos into submission and he will join your party. You will also recieve Diablos's card at the end of the battle.

Train Ride to Timber

Buy a ticket for 3,000 gil and enter the SeeD train. Then enter the cabin. Then while being Laguna, Kiros, and Ward navigate the entire forest and locate the vehicle. Next watch the woman's show in the bar at the Galbadian Hotel. Speak with one of the staff members and enter Julia's hotel room.

Forest Owls

Get off the train and give the password phrase. Wake up the forest Owl's leader located in the back of the train. Go back toward the strtegy room and hear your mission plans. Speak with watts when you are ready and when you know what to do. Then complete the kidnapping of the president's train car. After kidnapping the car speak with Rinoa after saving your game and equiping the item command ability on one of your characters. Next, go confront the "fake" president with Rinoa and battle Greogero.

*****Battle Watts in a card game to get the Angelo Card a level 9 GF card.

*****Note: While kidnapping make sure you look to your right or left very often. Because The Soldiers can get you and there would be game over if you don't choose to try again. If you see a guard while entering a password, press any button and race up to the top as quickly as possible.

Boss: Fake President: HP 100-800

Very weak and easy Boss, keep physically attacking and he will fall, but the battle's not done!

Boss: Gerogero HP 500-3700

This boss is undead, which means, this fight is very easy!! All you have to do is use a phoenix down from the character with the item ability. The boss will die just from that, if the phoenix down doesn't miss.

Timber City

Go to the strategy room and talk to Watts, then exit to Timber. Explore the Timber Maniacs building when you get the chance and get the "Girl Next Door Magazine."You can get the Girl Next Door magazine in the pile of magazines and there's a hidden draw point you can find in the left room behind the cabinent. This magizineis very important because you can get useful items later in the game. NEVER sell this magazine. and read the timber maniacs magazine in the building. Make sure you learn Mid Mag RF ability and Refine all your Level 1 magic to level 2 magic. Now speak with local people at the pub. Fight and kill the galbadian troops outside of the pub. Move the drifter out of the way by giving him Reagan greens drink. Then walk to the back of the alley to the TV station tower. Meet Rinoa and then follow her to the house of the pub owner. Talk to Zone and get train tickets to the next destination.Board the train and get off, then enter a small forest towards the northeast.

Forest Dream-Laguna, Kiros, Ward!

Enter the forest and you'll be prompted to the dream world once again. Battle the esthar troops as Laguna, Kiros, and Ward. Then find your way through the maze and fight through every encounter. Make sure you draw magic when you can because it will be yours when your out of the dream world. While running through the maze, you'll get into an encounter with an enemy called Gesper. Make sure you get into enough battles with this enemy so he will drop a black whole item. Black holes refine into Quisitis's blue magic skill degenerator.. At the end of the maze battle the rest of the soldiers and jump off the edge of the cliff. Then the dream world is over once again.

Galbadia Garden

Walk beyond the forest and find Galbadia Garden. Go to the reception room on the second floor of the garden. Speak with everyone in the reception room and leave the room. Enter the center hall and talk to Fujin and Raijin. Then meet back at the front gate to find Quisitis. Then go back to the entrance to see the rest of the party. Speak with the headmaster of Galbadia garden and a sharp shooter, Irvine, will join your party. Run toward Galbadia Station and get on the train to Deling city. If you want to level up, you can by roaming around the forest that you were in during the dream world. The enemies are kind of tough but are worth the experience. Plus there is an enemy in that forest that you can draw double from.

Deling City

Leave the train and walk to the streets of Deling city. Walk up the escalators to reach the streets. You can ride toward the arcade shopping center if you want to buy items. After your done with that, take a train to Caraway's mansion. Speak with the guard outside the mansion and he will give you an assignment. You may also want to buy a few items from the guard.

Tomb of the Unknown King

Rent a car if you want to and find the Tomb of the unknown king towards the northeast on the edge of a penninsula. Enter the Tomb and find the student's ID number on the ground. Find the GF Sacred and battle him into submission. Find and Lower the floodgate. Find and lower the draw bridge. Go to the center structure to fight your next GF, BROTHERS. Getting this GF is optional.You don't have to have it, if you decide to skip it, you can get it later in the game by going back to this tomb.After getting the GF, return to Deling City and give the ID nuber to the guard outside of Caraway's mansion.

*****You can easily navigate this tomb by turning right at every intersection. This will save a lot of time if you decide to get this GF.

*****Before entering the Tomb make sure you fight the flying anemies and draw Float, and Aero from the flying enemies. These bosses are weak against wind magic. Make sure you save before fighting them.

Boss: Sacred HP 1000-38,000

Start off the battle by casting float on him and protect on every character. By casting fload on Sacred he won't regenerate HP after every attack. Draw the Life spell from sacred too, because it junctions well. After the battle you have to find him again.

Boss: Brothers HP 855-40,000

Start out the battle by casting fload and protect on all your characters, including the enemies. Use your best GFs, make sure you cast aero on them too. If your float runs out keep casting it. By having yourself on float, it makes their special attacks useless. Beat them both into submission and they will join your team.

Deling City after the Tomb Quest

Return to Caraway's Mansion and give him the ID number. Enter the mansion and talk to Caraway. Tour the rest of the city and get all the information for your next mission. Go back to the mansion and organize your groups. Then move both teams to their areas. Go to the gateway and talk to the Gateway team. Make sure you save the game whenever you get the chance. As Rinoa, climb the stacked boxes and into the Presidential building. Escape the Gateway team from the masion take a glass from the shelf near the door. Then place the glass in a statue's hands and a Trap door will open. It leads to the sewers. You'll spend a long time in the sewers, I can't help you there because I don't have a map. Try the best you can to find your way around the sewers and eventually you'll be able to get out. Take Squall and Irvine to the crowd thats surrounding the Presidential building. Then get Squall and Irvine up the boxes and save Rinoa from the Iguions. Locate the trap door in the hallway right next to the long red rug and prepare yourself. Get the Gateway team through the rest of the sewrs. This will take a long time. Make sure you have stocked magic. Next approach the sorceress's parade float and fight her. You do not have to win the battle with the sorceress to progress, but i suggest you win the battle.

Boss: Iguions: HP 200-2,000
At the start of the battle, draw CARBUNCLE GF from one of the Iguions, and then keep hitting them with GFs and they will die quickly.

****After the Iguions, make sure you equip Carbuncle, this GF is useful for the next battle.

Boss: Seifer: HP 300-1,250

This fight is very easy if you use Carbuncle at the start. When you cast Carbuncle, make sure you dont cast cure on yourself, because you will end up curing Seifer. Keep hiting him with physical attacks and GFs and he quickly dies.

At the start of this battle cast Carbuncle again, this will make most of her magic useless. Keep having the character cast Carbuncle so Edea will spend the whole battle casting dispell. Also draw double and Cura spells from her. Now use your best GFs and keep curing your party and you will win the battle. You don't have to win the battle to progress further in the game. However, if you lose you won't get 20 AP.

You Did It!!! That's All for the First Disc!