Final Fantasy VIII version differences

Template:Sideicon Template:Versions The following is a list of version differences between releases of Final Fantasy VIII.

PlayStation

Final Fantasy VIII was released in Japan in 1998. This was the original version of the game.

By default, the English version of the game uses to confirm, to cancel, to enter the menu. The Japanese version uses to confirm, to cancel, and to enter the menu.
At the Fire Cavern in the Japanese version, the player has to defeat Ifrit and return to the entrance before time runs out. In the English versions, the player just needs to defeat Ifrit to stop the timer.
Zell's favorite food has been changed from bread to hot dogs.
Some Guardian Forces can be re-obtained in Ultimecia Castle if the player missed them. This is not possible in the Japanese version.
Tutorials show up automatically in the game's storyline.
Torama, Iron Giant, Elnoyle and Behemoth have different HP formulas.
The weapon Selphie wields is called nunchaku in the NTSC versions and "shinobou" in the PAL version.
In the original Japanese version, the boss Gerogero's organs were red. The change to blue for the localized versions was probably made because the red makes the organs protruding from the creature look far more real.
The Ultimecia Castle's armory has red blood on the wall in the Japanese version, but in the localized versions it has turned green.

Chocobo World bonus game can be played on Windows instead of PocketStation.
Siren's Tool-RF can refine 1 Dark Matter from 100 Curse Spikes at any time instead of having to get Siren to level 100.
Omega Weapon scales around the party levels instead of always being level 100.
The music was mixed down to MIDI quality to compensate for the sound hardware available at the time.

Windows XP/Vista/7/8 and newer are now supported.
Screen resolutions are supported up to 1920x1080.
Window mode is available.
Background music has been optimized into OGG format, although it's still the MIDI tracks of the original Windows release.
45 Achievements are added to the game.
A Cloud saving feature allows files to be saved to the internet and synced to the web. This does not replace local saves.
A launcher is implemented that serves as a main menu before accessing the game. Here settings can be changed and data not stored in save files viewed (such as achievements).
Controls can be set from the launcher as well as in-game. The ability to change controls from the launcher means minigames and menus that use different control setups will still function with the user's chosen controls.
A Magic Booster feature is added.

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