The following is a list of version differences from the original Japanese version to the Westernized English versions of Dissidia Final Fantasy and the Universal TuningInternational Version. The English release had a number of storyline additions from the Japanese version, in addition to other gameplay changes to rebalance the game, as well as some censorship.
In the original Japanese release, the EX Gauge turns bright purple when full. In the English release, the gauge turns orange when full and remains orange when EX Mode is active, returning to the purple color when EX Mode has ended.
Characters learn moves at different levels than the Japanese release.
In the Japanese release, characters with real names (as opposed to occupationary titles) were often referred to on-screen by their full names, but in the English version, characters are referred to only by their first names. For instance, while the Cloud of Darkness is still referred to by her full title, Cloud Strife is referred to simply as "Cloud."
Cutscenes involving Shantotto and Gabranth are included for the "Distant Glory" storylines, whereas previously the dialogue delivered in the scenes was given in text boxes. New cut scenes in the prologue are also present, as well as a cutscene when the player receives the Moogle summon.
The English version contains a shortened tutorial that is separate from the prologue, which covers only the action-fighting aspects of the gameplay.
In the Japanese release, the player must complete all ten Destiny Odysseys to access Shade Impulse. In the English release, Shade Impulse can be accessed once any of the ten Destiny Odysseys is cleared.
The English version contains an Arcade Mode, a new gameplay mode that removes all RPG elements. All characters in the game except Shantotto and Gabranth are available at the start in Arcade Mode; the villains must still be unlocked for access in all other gameplay modes.
If the PSP was put into sleep mode or ran out of power during a battle and had to be restarted later in the Japanese version, the BGM would often be missing. In the English version, the BGM will always restart after a few seconds of gameplay, though finishing the battle before the music returns may freeze the game.
A new item in the PP Catalog is able to unlock all cutscenes in the game. This was not available in the original Japanese version.
At the end of a battle, when one character is defeated, the on-screen message was changed from "Finish!" to "The Final Blow!" Also, "Win" was changed to "Victory!", "Lose" was changed to "Defeated...", and subtitles were added for the introduction, victory, and defeat quotes.
"Battle Rise" in the Japanese version, is now called "Battlegen" in the English version.
In the original Japanese release all of the characters in Inward Chaos were equipped with their unique ultimate weapon. In the English release the characters no longer are equipped with these weapons.
Additionally, the effects coupled with each character's respective ultimate weapon have all been altered for Western releases.
In the original Japanese version, you had to fight a single enemy 300 times to obtain a Player Icon; this was greatly reduced in the other versions in that it now requires you to defeat a single enemy only 30 times.
All characters now start with "Free Air Dash" and "EX Core Lock On" rather than leveling up to acquire them.
In the Japanese version, the default air dash skill is "Air Dash" where you must be quickmoving in order to do. In the English release, the default is "Free Air Dash"
Throughout all western releases, no matter what language the game text may be in, all audio is always in English, with subtitles in the player's native language (German, Dutch, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, etc.).
The Universal Tuning release contains only English voices for cutscenes, but both English and Japanese voices are available in actual gameplay battles, and gives the player a choice on which of the two spoken languages the characters will use in battle.
"Float System" and "Gravity System" now have the magic part of their attacks closer, so if the opponent blocks Golbez's physical part of the attack, they will still be hit by the lasers.
"Night Glow" has a larger range.
While performing "Black Fang" he can now move faster. The move is also now performed by holding and instead of simply pressing the two buttons. This enables him to cancel out of the move.
"Gravity Force" has a significantly greater range.
"Paladin Force" has had its range shortened. This is contrary to Cecil's version, which remains the same, this may be due to it being able to cause an infinite loop as long as Bartz is still near the enemy after the attack.
Kefka's two "Firaga" attacks have different graphics.
"Waggle-Wobbly Firaga" has gained different forms: a small form, which can be blocked, and a large form, which causes opponent to stagger when blocked. The smaller form is the first form that is used, then it alternates between the larger form and smaller form.
Kefka fires only two fireballs when using "Waggle-Wobbly Firaga" in EX Mode.
"Extra-Crispy Firaga" has better tracking and speed.
"Lickity-Split Thundaga" deals more hits.
"Meteor" has greater vertical distance.
"Ultima" cannot be dashed through nor simply guarded.
"Trine" moves faster and lasts longer.
"Hyperdrive" can move upwards if the enemy's in the air, but only if the move is fully charged.
"Slashing Blow" knocks opponents further away. This is due to an infinite combo Cloud had using "Slashing Blow", which is now near impossible to execute unless near a wall. Also has slightly better tracking.
"Meteorain" executes faster.
"Blade Beam" has had it's range nerfed, but the move's startup speed has been increased.
"Fire" has had its movement speed slowed down, but it's tracking improved.
The player may cancel "Hell's Gate" in midair to simply send a shockwave around Sephiroth.
Two new HP attacks, an aerial attack called "Heaven's Light" and an aerial version of "Scintilla".
"Octaslash" tracks opponents better and Guard Crush blocks.
"Shadow Flare" has different graphics. Japanese version of the move is heavily based on the graphics seen on Kingdom Hearts II.
In general, many of Sephiroth's attacks execute faster than before.
While performing "Heartless Angel", he can now move much faster. The move is also now performed by holding and instead of simply pressing the two buttons. This enables Sephiroth to cancel out of the move.
Black Materia charges quicker.
Ending lag time of "Oblivion" has been significantly decreased.
"Charge and Assault" is now a normal HP attack and cannot be chained from a Brave attack.
In the North American release, this attack is called "Charge and Assault" in the abilities menu and "Slice & Dice" in battle. This is corrected in the European release by naming the attack "Slice & Dice" in both the menu and in battle.
"Hop Step's" range has been reduced and now has more lag time.
"Wither Shot's" range and homing capability has been improved.
"Sphere Shot" has reduced lag.
"Energy Rain's" horizontal range has been reduced.
After clearing the Moogle piece in Inward Chaos, with Tidus, the moves "Sphere Shot", "Wither Shot", and "Jecht Shot" will randomly throw or kick a Moogle ball instead of a blitzball.
When battling Chaos in Quick Battle, the music changes for each phase as though the player were fighting him in the storyline. In the Japanese version, the music for the second and third phase is "Chaos Battle:1".
The CERO content rating of C is intended for players aged 15 and up, and is equivalent to the ESRB rating of Teen (higher end), the PEGI rating of 16+, and the ACB rating of M. However, due to cultural differences in the Western world, the PEGI gave the game a lower rating of 12+, and the ACB gave the game a PG rating instead of an M rating; the ESRB still gave the game a Teen rating, but on the lower end. It should be noted that a wallpaper depicting an advertisement for the European versions of the game displayed a "16" rating, indicating that the PEGI originally intended to give the game a 16 rating, but later downgraded to a final rating of 12, as seen on the actual game box cover. Aside of somewhat possibly offensive language, nothing apparent seems to have been censored, however.
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