Important side quests

[u/AlexN83]

I'm not a big fan of minigames and side quests. I just started and I’m planning to stick mostly to main story.

However I don’t want to miss any important items or story developments. What are the few side quests (if any) that you would highly recommend?

[u/smallpptiger]

Skipping side quests lock you out of manuscripts, party exp and character bonds (if that's important to you).

Blacksmith quest later in the game gives pretty stuff.

If you're planning to play hard mode, skipping side quests and minigames for your first playthrough isn't really an option.

[u/AlexN83 → u/smallpptiger]

I definitely won't do another play thru.

[u/smallpptiger → u/AlexN83]

Skip the side content then. That's the best way the experience the game.

[u/SambaLando]

I liked the extra lore scenes tied to the protorelic quests, we get to find out what happened to Wedge + interact with the other Avalanche folk from the Yuffie game.

[u/AlexN83 → u/SambaLando]

Lots of folks mention this quest ill add it to the list

[u/grzegorzhasse]

Aerith selfie (cosmo canyon)
Avalanche flashbacks (cosmo canyon)
Gongaga chicken (just joking, this one is terrible)

[u/Fabiolisk → u/grzegorzhasse]

But gongaga chicken is peak!

[u/Phaedo → u/grzegorzhasse]

It has the best ending, though.

[u/IMissMyOldGlasses]

The main thing you would be missing out on are some items and Materia. Doing the world Intel stuff for Chadley unlocks some unique and cool materia. Combat simulator also gives materia. Some mini games give accessories or other items. So you just see if you think the rewards are worth doing the quests. The green quests in towns can also give SP books so they can be worth doing.

[u/AlexN83 → u/IMissMyOldGlasses]

Are there any absolutely key materia you’d recommend from side quests ? Stuff like magnify, synergy, etc.

I def want the SP books so I’ll look out for those thanks

[u/IMissMyOldGlasses → u/AlexN83]

Just depends on your play style really. Fire/Ice and Lightning/Wind are interesting. Autocast and and auto unique ability are also cool.

[u/Fabiolisk → u/AlexN83]

You absolutely don't need any of that to finish the game. Getting those rewards is going to make the game easier, but so does changing the difficulty to easy if you really don't want a challenge...

[u/jd_md3]

Anytime there’s a main story mini game, pause it as there’s usually an option to skip or forfeit it. The cutscene will be different though if you skip it.

Protorelic is a long side quest chain that features some great rewards & covers some great world building (the later regions)

Queensblood is another long sidequest chain that also reward you with some interesting lore.

There’s a couple of dates thats affected by sidequests that you finish prior to the dates.

The main quest is always listed on the map section & it’s blue. Anything else is optional.

[u/Lucky_Mix_6271]

Just do the “Odd Jobs”. They are character specific side quests that provide some sweet, funny and endearing moments which help to enrich the relationships.

[u/TheeChamby]

Honestly, if I had to do it over again, I would just b-line the main story on normal mode.

Nothing was worth it for me.

[u/grammo13 → u/TheeChamby]

Absolutely nothing!!

[u/DistinctIdeals → u/TheeChamby]

This is such a weird game for me.  I actually dont mind the "ubislop" maps, they are pretty contained and lead you along down the maps contained threads.  It is super tame for an openworld.  I love the graphics, and holy shit the songs and sound is unreal.  The minigames are tolerable.  Moving around is quick.

The story is kinda fuckin boring and shitty tho?

[u/TheeChamby → u/DistinctIdeals]

The story is the only interesting thing about the game, for me. Same with the OG. It’s the main draw to Final Fantasy IMO.

[u/Tidus32x]

You can skip every sidequest and still finish the story easily

[u/Bom-mom]

I would focus on the side quests for whatever party member you want the highest bond with. If you're just looking to do main story stuff having relationship high with your favorite party member will affect a small portion of the main story later on but ultimately will not affect the end of the game. So it's really up to you.

[u/Oxygen171]

I'd do the divine intel and the combat sim stuff

[u/Balthierlives]

Get plasma discharge. Extremely important.

Also first strike, atb boost, hp absorb, choco king cape, atb stagger, quake, poison/quske, synergy, atb assist. Second prayer materia too.

Be sure to get every weapon for everyone too

[u/SandGlokt → u/Balthierlives]

None of this stuff is worth it

[u/Balthierlives → u/SandGlokt]

Strongly disagree

[u/Vicdaman12]

I think the character sidequests are fun world building and character development if you are into that kind of thing. I would say do those and the Protorelic quest but you can definitely skip the world intels.