Has anyone here played a game where you don't activate a single node on the Sphere Grid, often referred to as an NSG or No Sphere Grid game? I've been playing through one recently, and I have to say its a fun challenge. I find myself using abilities I'd never even consider before, like SOS Haste.
The basic idea is this: try and complete the game using everything available to you, except by using the Sphere Grid to raise your stats. You can use Aeons, although Zanmato is banned for obvious reasons, and in fact if you wish to go further and fight the Arena Monsters or Dark Aeons, building up an Aeon using the Aeon's Soul is the only way to beat them.
Obviously, some abilities become useless (Break HP Limit, Break Damage Limit) become useless, while others (First Strike, Auto-Haste) become essential. You'll find yourself using the system like you'd never thought before? Thought Kimahri was useless? Not when he can eliminate a lot of your problems in one shot with Stone Breath. Rikku? Her Mix combinations and Use items become an essential backbone of your game.
Some people like to put further restrictions on their games, such as No Summons, No Mix, No Blitzball, No Customising and so on. I personally think that's silly, but each to their own. I just prefer a basic NSG with No Zanmato to remove frustration but to give myself enough of a challenge.
If you don't have a lot of free time however, this isn't for you. Since, especially later in the game, only one or two characters will be capable of dealing enough damage (Rikku), you'll find boss battles taking a lot longer. Don't be afraid to Customise some powerful armour or weapon abilities. A Stonestrike and Deathstrike weapon makes it easier, since very few normal enemies are immune to both, and it helps to customise those to Capture weapons if you wish to do the Arena. Which, by the way, you may need to do anyway just to beat certain enemies (I ended up using Shining Gems to beat Seymour Flux, and customised - a now useless - Auto-Haste armour for Rikku to beat Yunalesca)
If you want to take on the Arena Monsters, most of them can be beaten using a combination of Trio of 9999 Mix, and Tidus and Wakka's overdrives. A few you HAVE to use a powered up Aeon, and powering up one is an exercise in patience. I find it helps to increase Anima's Strength to at least the point where she can OHKO Kottos, throw a Distiller then Grand Summon -> Oblivion. Saves you some items for Trio Mixing later (it takes 3 Mixes of Trio of 9999 to beat Kottos normally for example, and those items aren't always easy to get back).
If you're crazy enough to power up an Aeon all the way, you can even take on the Dark Aeons. Note that certains DAs require you to still use characters, Dark Ifrit and Ixion's (first fight) attack (Meteor Strike and Thundaja) all have a Delay effect so aeons wont get a normal turn.
There are a few monsters that cannot be beaten in an NSG. Shinryuu is one, since he is fast, you are underwater so cannot use an Aeon, and has that rather cheap Eraser attack. Nemesis IS possible, however getting through him to Shinryuu isnt happening. Dark Anima has not been beaten without Zanmato yet, however I know of at least one person who is working on trying to beat her (DarkKefka of YouTube fame). And of course Penance, which is also impossible.
So, rethink your game and try an NSG today. You'll appreciate the challenge, I know I did
The basic idea is this: try and complete the game using everything available to you, except by using the Sphere Grid to raise your stats. You can use Aeons, although Zanmato is banned for obvious reasons, and in fact if you wish to go further and fight the Arena Monsters or Dark Aeons, building up an Aeon using the Aeon's Soul is the only way to beat them.
Obviously, some abilities become useless (Break HP Limit, Break Damage Limit) become useless, while others (First Strike, Auto-Haste) become essential. You'll find yourself using the system like you'd never thought before? Thought Kimahri was useless? Not when he can eliminate a lot of your problems in one shot with Stone Breath. Rikku? Her Mix combinations and Use items become an essential backbone of your game.
Some people like to put further restrictions on their games, such as No Summons, No Mix, No Blitzball, No Customising and so on. I personally think that's silly, but each to their own. I just prefer a basic NSG with No Zanmato to remove frustration but to give myself enough of a challenge.
If you don't have a lot of free time however, this isn't for you. Since, especially later in the game, only one or two characters will be capable of dealing enough damage (Rikku), you'll find boss battles taking a lot longer. Don't be afraid to Customise some powerful armour or weapon abilities. A Stonestrike and Deathstrike weapon makes it easier, since very few normal enemies are immune to both, and it helps to customise those to Capture weapons if you wish to do the Arena. Which, by the way, you may need to do anyway just to beat certain enemies (I ended up using Shining Gems to beat Seymour Flux, and customised - a now useless - Auto-Haste armour for Rikku to beat Yunalesca)
If you want to take on the Arena Monsters, most of them can be beaten using a combination of Trio of 9999 Mix, and Tidus and Wakka's overdrives. A few you HAVE to use a powered up Aeon, and powering up one is an exercise in patience. I find it helps to increase Anima's Strength to at least the point where she can OHKO Kottos, throw a Distiller then Grand Summon -> Oblivion. Saves you some items for Trio Mixing later (it takes 3 Mixes of Trio of 9999 to beat Kottos normally for example, and those items aren't always easy to get back).
If you're crazy enough to power up an Aeon all the way, you can even take on the Dark Aeons. Note that certains DAs require you to still use characters, Dark Ifrit and Ixion's (first fight) attack (Meteor Strike and Thundaja) all have a Delay effect so aeons wont get a normal turn.
There are a few monsters that cannot be beaten in an NSG. Shinryuu is one, since he is fast, you are underwater so cannot use an Aeon, and has that rather cheap Eraser attack. Nemesis IS possible, however getting through him to Shinryuu isnt happening. Dark Anima has not been beaten without Zanmato yet, however I know of at least one person who is working on trying to beat her (DarkKefka of YouTube fame). And of course Penance, which is also impossible.
So, rethink your game and try an NSG today. You'll appreciate the challenge, I know I did
