The following are merely hints at how to get the most out of the game, loosely divided by mission. Not all are mandatory, not all are obvious. And remember -- save!

• Check defeated enemies for items and weapons.
• Talk to everyone you can.
• This game is virtually littered with useful stuff. Always be on the lookout.
• When fighting the boss, be careful of weird behaviors.
• Be kind to your fellow freedom fighters. In this game, karma is just as important as strength and skill.

• Don't be cheap.
• Make decisions quickly.
• Get some victories under your belt.
• Lend an ear.

• Be a gentleman.
• Visit the Beginners' Hall even if you're not.
• Do some Materia and Potion shopping. Try a sampler -- mix it up.

• Be social.
• Beware pointless fights.
• All roads lead to the same place.
• Deja vu?
• Cooperation with your team members is crucial.
• In a boss fight, there's no such thing as fair play.

• Don't rush to fight, take your time. Use all you can in your surroundings.
• Remember what we said about karma.
• It's okay to hang out for a bit while waiting for a clue on which way to go.

• Try to make your disguise as convincing as possible.
• Choice of costume is very important: Think babe.
• Practice your squats.
• Be social. Cut deals.
• When wearing a dress, you've got to be truthful and tough.

• Equip your team as soon as possible with any new stuff you've bought.
• Both you and the boss need to watch out for the tsunami.
• Stealing can be a good idea under certain circumstances.
• When searching for items, don't be afraid to get your hands dirty.
• To exit the yard, don't lose your train of thought.

• Reno likes to keep things at room temperature.
• Protect yourself first. Your teammates will have to come later.

• Materia: If at first you don't succeed....
• Just like most games, batteries are not included. You must purchase them yourself.

• Batteries won't power you all the way -- you've got to use them in conjunction with other methods.
• Don't give up -- try again.

• The scenic route or the fast lane, it's your choice. You'll essentially wind up in the same place.
• Explore every step of the way.
• In the world of corporate Shinra, the keycard is king.
• A figure doesn't have to be living to help you out.
• 62nd floor: You can either pay for an answer or puzzle it out yourself. Wander odd parts of the libraries -- some pieces in it just don't belong there.
• 63rd floor: Using the door is one way to get into a room.
• Coupons aren't worth much, unless you redeem them.
• 65th floor: One piece leads to another.
• 66th floor: Shut-up, listen and stay close.
• 67th floor: Take stock of the Jenova project.
• 68th floor: Accept offers of help.
• This boss fight requires strength, size and long-range attacks.
• Follow the blood.
• Next boss fight: Pick up where the last one left off and take it to the limit.
• You'll have a chance before the next fight to restore Cloud all the way. Take it.

• Play hard to get: Let others come to you.
• Kill two birds with one stone: Shinra 'cycles can get a little too close to each other.

• Look out for lots of freebies. And don't be shy: Search everywhere.
• Stealing can be acceptable; it just depends who you steal from.

• Make like Doctor Doolittle.
• Catching your own chocobo is easy once you've got the right tools.
• To find a chocobo, get on the right trail.
• If you haven't figure it out by now, chocobos are our friends.

• Mini-games are part of the scenic route. Got some extra time? Indulge yourself.
• In order enjoy all that the fort has to offer, you must make certain promises.
• Before moving on, you'll want to add a member to your party. Do this by wandering around forest areas, but even once you find that person you may not know it. And remember, trust is earned.

• Before you explore, equip.
• Performing CPR requires breathing deeply.
• To ascend the tower, call for a little help.
• Once you've made it to the airport, play it cool and follow suit. How well you do, depends on how many items you get.
• With whatever you learn, timing is critical.
• Pay your respects at the inn.
• Are you still talking to everyone you come across? Good.
• Be a good soldier, for now.

• Stealing won't affect your karma, if it's from the right people.
• In this boss fight, don't hold back in any way. When it's over, you may want to take a careful look around.

• A tropical resort -- have a ball, then head to the beach!
• You've got a "hard" road ahead. Pick up some things to combat this.

• The path to the mountain is no easy trip: Be on your guard.
• Notice everything -- you never know when that knowledge will come in handy.
• Stay with the group, until you hit the fork in the road.

• Don't spend more than you can afford; you can always come back later.
• Try to find the owner of the Gold Saucer: He may have info for you to get you up to speed.
• We predict you'll pick up an addition to your party.

• The inmates are tough and not too friendly, but you don't have to tolerate their behavior.
• Try to finish off this boss with some of your strongest attacks.
• Get control of your chocobo as soon as you can.
• In this race, endurance outweighs speed in importance. When you get to a certain "space," pick up the pace.

• Get prepared for a boss fight that doesn't rely as much on brute strength. Staff your team accordingly.
• Meet with a few of the locals, who will add a few wrinkles to the story.

• Because of transportation problems, you'll have no trouble finding the canyon.
• Watch out for anything in the cave that you could slip on. This is no place to stumble.
• There's no need to explore all the tunnels, just every other.
• Try to protect yourself from fire.

• Continue talking to everyone you can.
• When you enter the mansion, you'll find some clues to help you on your tasks.
• Explore the mansion freely to find more information from the clues, which all refer to objects or parts of the house.
• Be careful to treat both sides of this boss differently.
• The safe is easy pickings after the battle. You'll need what's there for the basement.
• Once there, search everywhere and you'll meet someone important. He's a remote sort of person, but don't give up -- keep trying to draw him out.

• Before you ride a chute, make sure you've given yourself a way to get back up.
• Explore the cave below and you'll find a few things worth your while.
• The boss you'll encounter around here is called the "Materia Keeper" so equip your team wisely.

• Since your last boss fight was pretty intense, you'll probably need to stock up on some Materia.
• Someone lives here that you'll want to meet. Follow the clues the locals give.
• There's more than one way to travel by airship.
• If you skip Wutai, go to the weapon seller east of Gongaga.

• This part of the game is optional. Head for the hills, see the sights and prepare for some tough battles.
• When you're on the scent, try to pick up pointers wherever you can.
• Hint: Jars don't move by themselves.
• You'll find something open now that was closed before.
• In this boss fight, you can't use magic, so focus on the next best things.
• To restore Yuffie to the fold, she must prove herself. Remember to equip and re-equip her.
• After all this, head back to Gongaga.

• The weapon seller gives you good reason to return to the Gold Saucer.
• You'll probably want to come back here often. Prepare for this.
• You can get what you want if you're willing to fight for it.
• After business comes pleasure. Enjoy it.
• When you plan to leave for the Temple of the Ancients, you'll see one of your party insists on going. Let him -- he can help.

• Explore the outside of the template completely before entering.
• You'll find a guide once you're inside the inner sanctum.
• There's a lot to see here -- be thorough.
• Though you've been to the pool, you may want to return with someone in tow.
• The clock room enables you to use the minute and hour hands to explore 12 new areas.
• Room VI is crucial. To catch the old man, your knowledge of the tunnel paths is important.
• After the boss fight, look for a certain sought-after Materia.
• Exit the temple through one of the clock rooms.
• The next boss works rather quickly. Plan ahead.
• Things move quickly next. Don't be surprised to find yourself someplace different. You'll want to go north next.

• You need the info from the workers here to move along.
• You'll have to hire some workers in order to get to the next stage. Don't let them congregate.
• Once you've got what you need, you can advance to the sleeping forest.
• There's a few things to find here. Why not take advantage of them?

• Explore the center last.
• Prepare for a huge event and the biggest fight so far.