Betrayal?

Shinra Building and Sector 8

When the chapter starts you will immediately have access to several new missions. NEW MISSIONS!: 4.1.1, 5.1.1, 6.1.1, and 8.1.1. It's a good idea to complete several of these missions before progressing the story.

After receiving your instructions from Lazard you'll have a bit of free time to explore. Before talking to Kunsel make sure to grab the Thunder materia from your supply pod. When you're ready to go out on the town exit via the brown "Briefing Room" door. Kunsel will drop you off at the Fountain Square in Sector 8.

While here you'll want to talk to everybody you can. Of particular interest in the square are a trio of women to the right of the fountain. They are representatives of the three SOLDIER fan clubs for Sephiroth, Genesis, and Angeal. Speak to all of them and agree to join Red Leather and the Keepers to receive their newsletters. Up the stairs from the save point you'll find the entrance to Station 1. Aside from a few people to talk to, there's nothing much here.

Now head to LOVELESS Avenue. Immediately to the right you'll encounter a Shinra Captain. Talk to him twice to activate a NEW MISSION - 1.2.1. Then head straight down the main thoroughfare into the alley to the right of the theatre. Here you'll find another Genesis fangirl. Agree to join the Study Group for more info on Genesis and LOVELESS. There are a few more people to chat with (and some familiar surroundings) and then it's time to head to the Shinra Building.

In the lobby the woman to your immediate right provides a free and useful service. She gives out potions to members of SOLDIER. These potions grant the "Raise" status so you don't have to use a Phoenix Down. They also restore your HP, MP, and AP to their regular max. Beware - if you are in Break Status this may lower your totals. This makes the lobby save point a great place for starting missions.

The other person of interest here is the woman to the right at the information desk. She can tell you general info about the building as well as remind you of your current objectives. The doors to either side of the info desk lead into the Exhibit Room where you'll find models of some familiar vehicles. You can take the elevators here or up the stairs in the lobby to the SOLDIER floor.

Upstairs Kunsel will remind you to go to the Briefing Room. Before you do that, though, there are two other rooms to explore. The Training Room offers nothing but some conversation but make sure to enter the Materia Room. Talking to the researcher directly in front of you when you enter will unlock a NEW MISSION - 8.2.1. Finish up any more missions you want to complete, save your game at the Briefing Room save point, and go speak with Tseng.

Banora

Once you get to the orchard make your way up the path, fighting Hounds and Assassins along the way. Eventually you'll come upon a clearing with a large house. Avoid the boss for the moment and save your game. When you're ready approach the Guard Spider.

There are several different options for tackling this mechanical beast. The creature fires missiles at a good range, has an electromagnetic field attack, and also employs a jump-spin attack. If you choose distance fighting you'll want to stay well out of its way. If you're within a few steps of it you'll get hit frequently by the EM Field. You can pound it with Thunder but you'll also have to beware the missiles. The other option involves sticking to the boss like glue. In close range combat the missiles shouldn't get you and it doesn't use the EM Field if you're really close. Just watch out for the spin attack (which can be dodged) and try to focus on its flank for heavy critical damage.

After the boss make your way over to the large gate to the left to find a chest with an X-Potion. Then save your game if you choose to and then speak with Tseng. In this next area, after the cut-scene, go around to the small clearing to the left of the grave to find a nook with a Hi-Potion. Now it's time to explore the village.

In the village you'll primarily be fighting Heli-Gunners, Assassins and Guard Hounds. The biggest challenge of these are the Heli-Gunners but they still should go down fairly easily.

Down the hill inspect the glowing spot by the lone house on the left. There are several of these glowing spots and will give you items after a challenge later in the chapter. You'll want to inspect the various houses here to find Angeal's. The house to the left provides a fight with some Blood Tastes. There's also a Remedy around the far side of this house.

The houses on the other side provide plenty of doors to check. Door 1 produces two more Blood Tastes. The second and third doors are locked. Door number 4 is Angeal's house. Before entering to just past that door to find two more glowing spots opposite each other. In Angeal's house you'll meet his mother and get a cut-scene. After the discussion examine Angeal's sword. Also, if you're in the mood to pilfer his mom's meager savings there is a chest with 5 gil. Now it's time to exit the house.

Outside you'll duke it out with a group of Assassins and then head towards the cliff. Don't miss the glowing spot at the fork; then go right. The chest in the path contains a Hi-Potion. At the top of the hill you'll find the last glowing spot near a rock. There's also a chest to the left containing the MP Up materia. Now go meet up with Tseng.

Factory

After the brief cut-scene turn around and follow the path to the narrow ledge on the far wall. At the end of the walkway you'll find 500 gil. Now follow Tseng downstairs. On the factory main level you'll need to fight off a Heli-Gunner and a couple waves of Assassins. The chest under the stairs here contains an Elixir. Then follow Tseng into the office. Don't miss the Remedy right outside the office.

Following the cut-scene save your game and go upstairs. You'll be rewarded with a lengthy cut-scene. After that you're back downstairs. Save your game again and go outside. After Tsent clears your path outside the factory turn your camera around to spot a chest with a Bronze Armlet. Then run around behind the factory to find a chest with an X-Potion.

Evacuation