Just wanted to offer some constructive feedback on the hardcore mod installed through bootleg. In the Shinra building, first act, just escaped from the detention cells with the mako monsters on the loose and a trail of blood to follow.
There's a random encounter with a worm and a bug thing - the worm 'needles' 2 party members off the screen, and the bug casts 'roulette' instantly KO'ing the third before my character round even begins. This is with ATB set to wait, and my cursor hovering over the enemy - meaning they get those actions before any in my party could ever respond.
So this encounter is essentially harder than Ruby weapon within the first act of the game.
The above happened 3 times in a row, on the 4th the bug made a different attack and party survived. Don't want to sound negative - but I don't see meta gaming through multiple trial and error as 'hard' as it's either meta-gaming or luck, not strategy and skill.
I would have uninstalled the mod if I hadn't seen that 4th scenario. It's like the GM of a tabletop RPG just randomly rolling a 3-sided die and saying "If I roll 1 the whole party just dies".
Different gaming tastes I suppose.