Originally released in 1987 by Square, Final Fantasy has left an indelible mark on gaming history. Final Fantasy is known for its detailed, cinematic stories, and players the world over eagerly anticipate the next release in the franchise. Sidequests, Easter eggs, and minigames are some of Final Fantasy's oldest traditions, but some of them are so hidden that they're frequently skipped by mistake— especially for older games in the series before game guides and internet guides were ubiquitous.
These days, most people can Google information for detailed guides that explain where to find (and how to complete) some of the series' most secretive challenges. But for those playing the games for the first time after release, it's likely that most secret quests remained unchallenged.
10 Excalibur II Is Locked By A Secret Challenge (Final Fantasy IX)
Excalibur II is Steiner's strongest weapon for Final Fantasy IX, but it's locked behind a secret challenge. Only players who managed to make it to the final dungeon under 12 hours of playtime could obtain this item, but it's not an openly stated challenge so most players didn't even know it existed.
More importantly, getting to the final dungeon under 12 hours is insanely difficult on the original PlayStation version of the game. The Steam version of Final Fantasy IX makes this challenge easier, but only those in the know could have completed it on their first playthrough.
9 Completing The Triple Triad Card List Is Convoluted & Time-Consuming (Final Fantasy VIII)
For Squall Leonhart to complete his Triple Triad card collection, players need to have detailed knowledge of the process and unending patience to play Triple Triad during the game. To obtain the Rinoa card, for example, players need to intentionally lose the Ifrit card to her father, General Caraway.
When challenged again, he'd have the Rinoa card in his hand for players to snatch as a prize. Barriers like this made collecting all the cards difficult. The Triple Triad side quest is long and involved, making it a low priority for most people on their first run.
8 Breeding A Golden Chocobo Was Too Frustrating For Many (Final Fantasy VII)
While players can also obtain a golden chocobo by defeating Ruby Weapon, breeding one is a different kind of challenge altogether. Chocobo breeding in Final Fantasy VII is a long, tedious, somewhat complicated process that requires steadfast dedication to complete. Breeding chocobos also takes a fair number of resources, including gil, materia, and greens to feed them.
Moreover, Final Fantasy VII came out when game guides were still a rarity on the market, so only those with an impressive information network would have known exactly how to pull it off.
7 Defeating Penance Is The Ultimate Challenge (Final Fantasy X)
Penance is Final Fantasy X's most powerful superboss and poses a grueling challenge. Players need to defeat all eight Dark Aeons before unlocking Penance, which is already an impressive feat alone. Penance has 12 million HP, high stats, and absorbs elemental damage, making it an extremely tough boss to beat.
Furthermore, its ultimate attack, Judgment Day, deals a massive 99,999 HP damage and drains 999 MP to all party members. Even if a first-time player ran into Penance, it's dubious as to whether they actually completed the fight, since they'd need a solid strategy to win.
6 The Jump Rope Minigame Was Hard Even For Developers (Final Fantasy IX)
Players can attempt this minigame in Alexandria twice: once at the beginning of the game as Vivi, and again after Alexandria is attacked, where Eiko can participate as well. The minigame gives several rewards, including gil, rare Tetra Master cards, and the King of Jump Rope key item if players manage to jump 1,000 times in a row.
To make things difficult, the rhythm of the rope swings varies as players' jump count increases. Event Designer Kazuhiko Aoki, who debugged the minigame, is on the record stating he was not very good at it.
5 The Turtle's Paradise Sidequest Is Easily Missed (Final Fantasy VII)
To complete this sidequest, players need to keep an eye out for flyers advertising the Turtle's Paradise bar in Wutai. After they've read all the flyers and the notice outside of the bar itself, they can speak to the bar's owner for a reward. There are six flyers in all, spread out throughout the game in specific locations.
To make matters more complicated, some of the flyers can be accessed a finite number of times. The flyer in the Shinra Building lobby, for example, can be viewed on only two occasions. This sidequest is something only the most observant gamers would have noticed.
4 Obtaining Doomtrain Requires Players To Locate Hidden Items (Final Fantasy VIII)
The Occult Fan magazines hidden throughout Final Fantasy VIII contain clues to summon the secret Guardian Force (GF) Doomtrain. Unlike other optional GFs that can be stumbled across with thorough exploration, Doomtrain requires players to create the Solomon Ring, which is a hidden item in Tears' Point.
But having the Soloman Ring isn't enough; players also need to have six steel pipes, six remedy+, and six malboro tentacles before the Solomon Ring will call forth Doomtrain. Finding all the Occult Fan magazines and successfully deciphering the clues was likely the last thing on most players' minds the first time they played.
3 Defeating The Adamantoise Is Too Time-Consuming On A First Playthrough (Final Fantasy XV)
After completing the Let Sleeping Mountains Lie quest, players will have the opportunity to accept the Lonely Rumblings in Longwhythe hunt in Hammerhead. Unlocking the adamantoise hunt is the easy part. Battling it is a different challenge entirely. The adamantoise has over 5 million HP, meaning taking it down can take over an hour.
Luckily, it doesn't deal much damage. Only hardcore players attempted this hunt the first time playing Final Fantasy XV. Beating it on the second playthrough with the Ring of Lucii makes the encounter exponentially easier.
2 Locating PuPu Involves Players Completing A Hidden Sidequest (Final Fantasy VIII)
Finding PuPu is another hidden sidequest that relies on collecting the Occult Fan magazines. Once players read about UFO sightings in Occult Fan IV, the UFO? sidequest will activate. Players must visit four different locations on the map to find the mysterious UFO, and then travel to Grandidi Forest in northern Esthar to complete the final encounter.
PuPu appears on the world map in the crater where Balamb Garden used to be. Players receive different rewards depending on how they interact during the PuPu battle but obtaining the PuPu Triple Triad card should be their priority.
1 Chocobo Hot & Cold Leads To Several Worthwhile Rewards (Final Fantasy IX)
The Chocobo Hot & Cold sidequest is considered Final Fantasy IX's biggest sidequest and allows players to complete several other sidequests that offer fantastic rewards. After players unlock the ability to ride Choco the chocobo, they can participate in Mene the moogle's patented minigame, Chocobo Hot & Cold.
The goal is to collect Chocographs and Chocograph Pieces, which will allow Choco to improve his treasure-hunting abilities. This also gives him access to new areas to hunt treasure. Being the longest sidequest in the game, Chocobo Hot & Cold is tedious and was likely left uncompleted by most players the first time around.
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