I never used items as well.  The odd time I needed to use a holy war or an aura stone was about it. Though lookin back, it would have been better to swap out magic with item and use stones instead.  Maybe I'll try that instead next playthrough.

Every single game in the series. Every spin-off, sequel, prequel, side game. I've gone through most of them twice actually. You?

No, just the Sphere Grid.

I never use items in battle, from near the start I just set my main battle menu as Magic, Draw and GF. I then just use other items for changing items into magic.

Junction system is great and I love FF8 overall like all FF games. I would like to join in the replaying of this but currently into too many other things. I will however give my feedback on things overall though, how I play the game and little kinks and stuff...

Example, Meltdown is on of the best magic's as automatically causes 'burn' to enemies, this includes even the biggest of villains (final boss and ultimate weapon), making any attack take of alot more. So combined with Aura and you can take down any bosses very quickly. Although you lot already know that, don't you?

Yeah. These days though I play the game pretty strict. I already did the no level thing, which required alot of AP farming and card moding. This time around im gonna do no level, no card moding, no items, no GF, and hopefully only cast spells I can draw from the encounter. I may still require some AP farming so I can get enc-none early.

I must agree the sphere grid is awesome. Probably the first thing I agree with G-Value. I am really tired of JRPG's with level ups.

When have we ever disagreed?

Most of them. I, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, X-2, XII, Dirge of Cerberus... some of them only once, some of them 4 times...

Point is VIII is hardly a highlight in story... (thank god you didn't say characters).

@g-value: The fact that you're inept in it, doesn't mean that it's bad. Combined with Card Refining and that goddamn Triple crack it's nearly a cheat.

Dont know about others but I really enjoyed playing the card game in FFVIII.
Became even better once I figured out how to manipulate the rules in all regions.

Story wise its a bit more unique than the others in the series. It's the only one that has you playing as a special forces team. Even in FFVII you are just a lone hired gun who's back story is you dropped out of the special forces.  In what other game in the series do you get assigned to snipe assassinate someone?