Summary: Dark Bahamut. The brutal ordeal of the Omega Ruins. Ultima Weapon goes down. Omega Weapon does not.
Zanarkand Ruins
-I’ve backtracked through almost everywhere. I could go to Omega Ruins immediately, but want to finish my run-through by backtracking first through Zanarkand Ruins.
-I love the look of the path to the ruins so much.
-The Defender Z enemies here are great to Pilfer Gil from. 1-2k.
-I WAS RIGHT! It was worth coming back here. There’s a new tetris puzzle.
-The image has 7 white squares. There are only three in this first room, so maybe it’s a two-room puzzle.
-Success. The tiles are lighting up, and playing music. Hymn of the Fayth?
-Got a Destruction Sphere. This in turn opened up the way to a treasure chest. Got Magistral Rod. Half MP cost for Yuna. Awesome! I found myself running out of mana on her, especially when she used Holy.
-The Great Hall is still a mess.
-OH FUCK FUCK IT’S DARK BAHAMUT
He makes short work of me.
-Took some time to recharge Yuna’s gauge outside and came back.
-See ya, Dark B.
-Got a rod for Yuna called Abraxas. Break Damage Limit, Double Overdrive, two empty spaces. YES PLEASE.
-Can’t seem to interact with anywhere else in this area, “the Beyond.”
-There’s a giant circle with some familiar symbols in it. It might have been there before – I can’t remember. I can’t get to the center of it as if there’s a force field. I now think that symbol in the center is the crest of Yu Yevon.
-Ok. It’s time.
---
Omega Ruins
-I have no illusions that I’ll be able to complete this dungeon. Only in one past FF game in this series have I been able to defeat Omega. (Well, once when he was an optional superboss. He was the final boss in Dirge of Cerberus, so that’s a bit different.)
-We arrive and Lulu fills in some history. 700 years ago a heretic monk was sent here. The traitor Omega. A traitor who despised Yevon and became a fiend here.
[Later edit: I love that the game adds this backstory here. And does so while giving up a close-up preview of Omega Weapon itself. Builds atmosphere and anticipation well.]
-Hey, maybe since he hates Yevon and we’re against Yevon, we can team up! I’m sort of kidding, but not really. I’ll bet if I defeat Omega (lol not happening but still), he might join Yuna as an aeon.
-These Purobolos are gonna be hard to capture. Only three hits before self-destruction.
-I can soften them up with magic without puffing them up.
Zanarkand Ruins
-I’ve backtracked through almost everywhere. I could go to Omega Ruins immediately, but want to finish my run-through by backtracking first through Zanarkand Ruins.
-I love the look of the path to the ruins so much.
-The Defender Z enemies here are great to Pilfer Gil from. 1-2k.
-I WAS RIGHT! It was worth coming back here. There’s a new tetris puzzle.
-The image has 7 white squares. There are only three in this first room, so maybe it’s a two-room puzzle.
-Success. The tiles are lighting up, and playing music. Hymn of the Fayth?
-Got a Destruction Sphere. This in turn opened up the way to a treasure chest. Got Magistral Rod. Half MP cost for Yuna. Awesome! I found myself running out of mana on her, especially when she used Holy.
-The Great Hall is still a mess.
-OH FUCK FUCK IT’S DARK BAHAMUT
He makes short work of me.
-Took some time to recharge Yuna’s gauge outside and came back.
-See ya, Dark B.
-Got a rod for Yuna called Abraxas. Break Damage Limit, Double Overdrive, two empty spaces. YES PLEASE.
-Can’t seem to interact with anywhere else in this area, “the Beyond.”
-There’s a giant circle with some familiar symbols in it. It might have been there before – I can’t remember. I can’t get to the center of it as if there’s a force field. I now think that symbol in the center is the crest of Yu Yevon.
-Ok. It’s time.
---
Omega Ruins
-I have no illusions that I’ll be able to complete this dungeon. Only in one past FF game in this series have I been able to defeat Omega. (Well, once when he was an optional superboss. He was the final boss in Dirge of Cerberus, so that’s a bit different.)
-We arrive and Lulu fills in some history. 700 years ago a heretic monk was sent here. The traitor Omega. A traitor who despised Yevon and became a fiend here.
[Later edit: I love that the game adds this backstory here. And does so while giving up a close-up preview of Omega Weapon itself. Builds atmosphere and anticipation well.]
-Hey, maybe since he hates Yevon and we’re against Yevon, we can team up! I’m sort of kidding, but not really. I’ll bet if I defeat Omega (lol not happening but still), he might join Yuna as an aeon.
-These Purobolos are gonna be hard to capture. Only three hits before self-destruction.
-I can soften them up with magic without puffing them up.
-The mini-map is expanding in an unusual way. I wonder if the dungeon’s
layout is being randomly generated. Either that or it just gives the
sense of exploring uncharted territory.
-WHAT IS THIS, DARK SOULS? THAT’S A FRIGGING TREASURE CHEST MIMIC
-The mimic takes incredibly low damage. I don’t want to magic it because I want to capture it, so plinking away.
*long ass time later*
-Still plinking away at this mimic.
-OH RIGHT!! I should’t used Demi a while ago. That helps a ton.
-…. “Mimic cannot be captured.” Well. Shit.
-Interesting. If I don’t try to steal from the treasure chest, it doesn’t turn into a mimic.
-WAIT FUUUUCK. What if I was supposed to try stealing anyway, if it wasn’t a mimic? Yeah. I immediately regret that decision.
-Or not. The treasure chest disappeared after combat, so maybe that means it wasn’t real.
-Next fight was another treasure chest in combat, and I tried stealing. It turned into a mimic. This one is a beast with a red core and it’s starting to one shot me. Shit shit shit.
-And now a Great Malboro. This dungeon is everything I expected. Having three characters with Ribbon really helps.
-Adamantoise!
Good to see ya, buddy. It’s been too long. Sometimes this guy is a regular easy monster, like in FFIV, and sometimes it’s a brutally tough boss monster, like in FFII and FFV. I’ll guess it’s closer to the latter since it’s here.
-Immune to Demi, but not to Armor Break.
-lol, brought Tidus into combat: “This isn’t just a rock, is it?”
-Looped back around to the dungeon’s save point. Fought a lot, captured 8 fiends, got lots of AP, and didn’t want that progress lost. This place is a learning process.
-A Master Tonberry. The nightmare is real.
-Captured it with only Auron left alive and low health. Auron: “That was too close.”
-The Wraiths are the only enemies I can scan.
-I feel like I’m missing some trick to these treasure chests. Came across a room with four of them. Picked one, killed the mimic, killed the monster, and the others vanished.
-At this point, I’m just leaving the wild treasure chests alone. Would rather not fight the mimics.
-I keep returning to the save point. So much AP here.
-These fights are EXHAUSTING. Like, mentally exhausting. There aren’t really any enemies here that I can just lolautoattack. Each takes time and strategy.
-Captured what I expect to be the last element, Black Element.
-Ok. Gonna equip Lulu’s Peaceful Bangle (No Encounters) and push through. I may definitely come back here to farm gil at some point, but for now I’m ready to move on.
-Found a seal of some sort. Touched it but “nothing happens.”
-Al Bhed Primer vol. XXVI! Didn’t expect to find one of those down here. W -> Z. Tidus is an Al Bhed Medanyde.
-Four treasure chests in a circle. I smell a trap.
-One has Lv 4 Key Sphere. Next is a monster in a box, and the other chests disappear.
-Found another seal. I touched it, and a glyph appeared.
-WHAT IS THIS, DARK SOULS? THAT’S A FRIGGING TREASURE CHEST MIMIC
-The mimic takes incredibly low damage. I don’t want to magic it because I want to capture it, so plinking away.
*long ass time later*
-Still plinking away at this mimic.
-OH RIGHT!! I should’t used Demi a while ago. That helps a ton.
-…. “Mimic cannot be captured.” Well. Shit.
-Interesting. If I don’t try to steal from the treasure chest, it doesn’t turn into a mimic.
-WAIT FUUUUCK. What if I was supposed to try stealing anyway, if it wasn’t a mimic? Yeah. I immediately regret that decision.
-Or not. The treasure chest disappeared after combat, so maybe that means it wasn’t real.
-Next fight was another treasure chest in combat, and I tried stealing. It turned into a mimic. This one is a beast with a red core and it’s starting to one shot me. Shit shit shit.
-And now a Great Malboro. This dungeon is everything I expected. Having three characters with Ribbon really helps.
-Adamantoise!
Good to see ya, buddy. It’s been too long. Sometimes this guy is a regular easy monster, like in FFIV, and sometimes it’s a brutally tough boss monster, like in FFII and FFV. I’ll guess it’s closer to the latter since it’s here.
-Immune to Demi, but not to Armor Break.
-lol, brought Tidus into combat: “This isn’t just a rock, is it?”
-Looped back around to the dungeon’s save point. Fought a lot, captured 8 fiends, got lots of AP, and didn’t want that progress lost. This place is a learning process.
-A Master Tonberry. The nightmare is real.
-Captured it with only Auron left alive and low health. Auron: “That was too close.”
-The Wraiths are the only enemies I can scan.
-I feel like I’m missing some trick to these treasure chests. Came across a room with four of them. Picked one, killed the mimic, killed the monster, and the others vanished.
-At this point, I’m just leaving the wild treasure chests alone. Would rather not fight the mimics.
-I keep returning to the save point. So much AP here.
-These fights are EXHAUSTING. Like, mentally exhausting. There aren’t really any enemies here that I can just lolautoattack. Each takes time and strategy.
-Captured what I expect to be the last element, Black Element.
-Ok. Gonna equip Lulu’s Peaceful Bangle (No Encounters) and push through. I may definitely come back here to farm gil at some point, but for now I’m ready to move on.
-Found a seal of some sort. Touched it but “nothing happens.”
-Al Bhed Primer vol. XXVI! Didn’t expect to find one of those down here. W -> Z. Tidus is an Al Bhed Medanyde.
-Four treasure chests in a circle. I smell a trap.
-One has Lv 4 Key Sphere. Next is a monster in a box, and the other chests disappear.
-Found another seal. I touched it, and a glyph appeared.
-Elevator going up.
-Ruh oh. Something’s happening. Quake?
Ultima Weapon.
-I try out some Yojimbo. He gets off a series of helpful Wakizashis and tanks a fair bit of damage before he dies. Not going all in on Zanmato. I don’t think I need to.
-Ultima Weapon deals damage, but it’s manageable.
-YUNAAAA!! Her Damage Break Holy finishes him off. Victory!!
-Got a Nimbus Rod for Yuna, with Double Overdrive an empty space.
-Ultima Weapon was a “shadow born from Omega’s wrath.”
-Afterwards is an elevator taking me into a new area. Screw that. Going back to save first and then explore the main level.
-Solved the glyph mystery! Touched the farther glyph first, then the glyph that did nothing previously, and a bridge appeared. All that led to a treasure chest with a Teleport Sphere.
-Best item ever: Peaceful Bangle. If I had to deal with encoutners throughout this place, I would’ve stopped a while ago I think. No save points beyond the entrance. Grr.
-Unlocked Ultima, yay!
-The next Sphere Grid ability I’ll work towards is Full Break. I have just enough Lv 4 Key Spheres to open it, and Tidus is right there.
-Back up on the higher level. The music is different up here. More ominous, more tense.
-I see a cloud of purple smoke in the distance. Reminds me of when I found Omega in FFIX. That’s probably where he is.
-Two bosses here. Gemini. They scared the shit out of me – wasn’t expecting them. [Later edit: I do like that the game takes No Encounters into account and addresses it.]
-The left one absorbs water. The right one is weak to it.
-Captured one! That’s unexpected. I thought they were bosses since they attacked even with No Encounters up.
-Next platform has an Adamantoise. Ultima looks awesome!
-Master Tonberry next. Haaaate this guy, but I survive.
-CRAP CRAP CRAP. I wasn’t ready.
I had all my non-Ribbon characters on the frontline and came against Great Malboro. I don’t even get a chance to swing. Just die.
-Ruh oh. Something’s happening. Quake?
Ultima Weapon.
-I try out some Yojimbo. He gets off a series of helpful Wakizashis and tanks a fair bit of damage before he dies. Not going all in on Zanmato. I don’t think I need to.
-Ultima Weapon deals damage, but it’s manageable.
-YUNAAAA!! Her Damage Break Holy finishes him off. Victory!!
-Got a Nimbus Rod for Yuna, with Double Overdrive an empty space.
-Ultima Weapon was a “shadow born from Omega’s wrath.”
-Afterwards is an elevator taking me into a new area. Screw that. Going back to save first and then explore the main level.
-Solved the glyph mystery! Touched the farther glyph first, then the glyph that did nothing previously, and a bridge appeared. All that led to a treasure chest with a Teleport Sphere.
-Best item ever: Peaceful Bangle. If I had to deal with encoutners throughout this place, I would’ve stopped a while ago I think. No save points beyond the entrance. Grr.
-Unlocked Ultima, yay!
-The next Sphere Grid ability I’ll work towards is Full Break. I have just enough Lv 4 Key Spheres to open it, and Tidus is right there.
-Back up on the higher level. The music is different up here. More ominous, more tense.
-I see a cloud of purple smoke in the distance. Reminds me of when I found Omega in FFIX. That’s probably where he is.
-Two bosses here. Gemini. They scared the shit out of me – wasn’t expecting them. [Later edit: I do like that the game takes No Encounters into account and addresses it.]
-The left one absorbs water. The right one is weak to it.
-Captured one! That’s unexpected. I thought they were bosses since they attacked even with No Encounters up.
-Next platform has an Adamantoise. Ultima looks awesome!
-Master Tonberry next. Haaaate this guy, but I survive.
-CRAP CRAP CRAP. I wasn’t ready.
I had all my non-Ribbon characters on the frontline and came against Great Malboro. I don’t even get a chance to swing. Just die.
-I’ll try once more.
-Ooh, I see a chest in the other direction! I’ll try there first.
-New monsters: Demonolith. Yuna’s Holy does MASSSIVE damage.
-Don’t have much to say about this gauntlet. It’s tiring. Not tiresome – not boring, not exactly – but it takes energy.
-I think part of what makes it so draining is the thought in the back of my mind that all this will probably be for nothing. I don’t trust that I’ll get a save point before Omega.
-Reached Omega. Here we go.
TIDUS: “This is definitely bad.” Right there with ya buddy.
Omega Weapon.
-Gonna start the fight with some aeons. Bahamut’s Megaflare.
-Omega seems to use souped-up versions of Ultima’s abilities.
-Omega absorbs lightning. And fire. Well… shit. Ifrit’s and Ixion’s overdrives negated about half of Bahamut’s. Gotta stick with physical and non-elemental.
-He unleashed Ultima on me (the spell, not the Weapon) and that was that.
Omega victorious.
-Whelp! I’m out. That was fun to see, and awesome design! If I could save before the boss, I might try out some strategies, but I reeeeeally dislike having to run gauntlets like that multiple times, so going to tip my cap to Omega and leave him in peace.
[Later edit: I also don’t believe I was remotely close to winning. The no-savegauntlet is brutal, and not a game design choice I particularly like (though thank god it’s not mandatory. STARES HARD AT FFIII) but even if I could save before Omega, nothing but Yojimbo shenanigans would likely allow me to win with where I’m currently at in terms of stats and weapons and skills.]
OMEGA RUINS FIENDS CAPTURED [10]
-ADAMANTOISE
-BLACK ELEMENT
-FLOATING DEATH
-GREAT MALBORO
-HALMA
-MACHEA
-PUROBOROS
-SPIRIT
-VARUNA
-WRAITH
-ZAURUS
---
Next time: Calm Lands Arena to ensure I finished the zone captures for Omega Ruins, Dark Ixion, Dark Valefor, and then ready to move on to Highbridge in Bevelle at last. Ooh, and I still need to take stock of my items and available armor/weapon upgrades!
-Ooh, I see a chest in the other direction! I’ll try there first.
-New monsters: Demonolith. Yuna’s Holy does MASSSIVE damage.
-Don’t have much to say about this gauntlet. It’s tiring. Not tiresome – not boring, not exactly – but it takes energy.
-I think part of what makes it so draining is the thought in the back of my mind that all this will probably be for nothing. I don’t trust that I’ll get a save point before Omega.
-Reached Omega. Here we go.
TIDUS: “This is definitely bad.” Right there with ya buddy.
Omega Weapon.
-Gonna start the fight with some aeons. Bahamut’s Megaflare.
-Omega seems to use souped-up versions of Ultima’s abilities.
-Omega absorbs lightning. And fire. Well… shit. Ifrit’s and Ixion’s overdrives negated about half of Bahamut’s. Gotta stick with physical and non-elemental.
-He unleashed Ultima on me (the spell, not the Weapon) and that was that.
Omega victorious.
-Whelp! I’m out. That was fun to see, and awesome design! If I could save before the boss, I might try out some strategies, but I reeeeeally dislike having to run gauntlets like that multiple times, so going to tip my cap to Omega and leave him in peace.
[Later edit: I also don’t believe I was remotely close to winning. The no-savegauntlet is brutal, and not a game design choice I particularly like (though thank god it’s not mandatory. STARES HARD AT FFIII) but even if I could save before Omega, nothing but Yojimbo shenanigans would likely allow me to win with where I’m currently at in terms of stats and weapons and skills.]
OMEGA RUINS FIENDS CAPTURED [10]
-ADAMANTOISE
-BLACK ELEMENT
-FLOATING DEATH
-GREAT MALBORO
-HALMA
-MACHEA
-PUROBOROS
-SPIRIT
-VARUNA
-WRAITH
-ZAURUS
---
Next time: Calm Lands Arena to ensure I finished the zone captures for Omega Ruins, Dark Ixion, Dark Valefor, and then ready to move on to Highbridge in Bevelle at last. Ooh, and I still need to take stock of my items and available armor/weapon upgrades!
