Final Fantasy VIII: US/Japanese Differences Ver. 1.0 Written by: Yuzu-chan and Musashi e-mail: YuzurihaX@aol.com kirei_musashi@team-rocket.net This FAQ was created out of complete boredom. Yuzu got the Japanese version of FF8 in Japan a few weeks before it was released here in the states. So, while sitting in math together, we came up with a list of the differences in the two version. If anyone has any more info, then feel free to e-mail either of us and you'll be given credit. History of this FAQ: Version 1.0 (12/7/99) - Initial release Table of Contents ----------------- I. Name Changes a. Monster/Boss names b. GF/ Magic names c. Limit Break names II. Other changes a. Hot Dogs? b. Fire Cave c. Odekake Chocobo RPG d. Tutorial III. Credits/Disclaimer %%%%%%%%%%%%%%% I. Name Changes %%%%%%%%%%%%%%% As with all the other FF games, the names of things have been changed to make it more familiar sounding to American gamers. This is a list of the name changes that we found by using the FF8 Strategy Guide published by Brady Games and also FF8: Ultimania published by DigiCube. All names marked with * indicate the romanization of the word. If anyone has any info about it, or possible explanations on what it could be, please tell either one of us. ********************** a. Monster/ Boss names ********************** This list is pretty long...sorry. We were really bored ^_^;; English Japanese English Japanese ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Glacial Eye Gaze Eye Caterchipiller Kedachiku* Fastitocalon F Fokaroru* (Small) T-Rexaur Alkeodinos Red Bat Red Mouse Ifrit Efreet Geezard Hau Lizard Anacondaur Hedge Viper Elvoret Elviole Funguar Fungo Ongo Gerogero Namutaru-Utoku* Righty Gomani* Lefty Doromani* Adamantoise Adamantaimai Esthar Soldier (Cyborg) Esthar Soldier (Terminator) Elastoid Invincible Belhelmel Belhelmelhel Fastitocalon Fokaroru* Armadodo Esansuushi* Blobra Purinura Forbidden Life Forbidden Grand Mantis Gran Dearo* Iguion Shumeruke* Oilboyle Oil Shipper NORG POD Seruto-Hisaari* NORG-Left POD Saguto-Hisaari* NORG-Right POD Soruto-Hisaari* Snow Lion Goujushiiru* Blue Dragon Dragon Izolde Jelleye Double Hugger Death Claw Wild Hook Ruby Dragon Rubrum Dragon Malboro Marlboro (yes, like the cigarette; they use smelly breath on you ^_~) Turtapod Granatum Torama Cuar Imp Garukimasera* Sorceress Witch Chimera Chimera Plain Hexadragon Melt Dragon Cactrot Sabotender Jumbo Cactrot Jumbotender UFO UFO? Pupu Koyo Koyo Shinxaur/Shinxara Sphinx/Andol Tri-Point Tri-Edge Krysta Kokyuutosu* Trauma Dorumen* Droma Arinyumen* Red Giant Urufuramaitaa* ***************** b. GF/Magic names ***************** Not too many things here...at least, not as much as the monster section ^_^;; English Japanese ---------------------------------- Ifrit Efreet Doom Train Gurasharaborasu* Cactrot Sabotender Cure Care Cura Carera Curaga Carega Life Raise Full-Life Araise Fira Firera Firaga Firega Demi Gravity Sleep Sleepel Meltdown Merton Float Levitate Scan Libra ******************** c. Limit Break names ******************** There are even less here, actually...oh well... English Japanese ------------------------------------------------------------------ Lion Heart (Squall's final finishing move) End of Heart Angel Wing (Rinoa's second Limit Break) Valley Invincible Moon (One of Rinoa's Angelo Limit Breaks) Invisible Moon Wishing Star (One of Rinoa's Angelo Limit Breaks) Wish Star Punch Rush (One of Zell's Duels) Rush Punch Booya (One of Zell's Duels) Head Shock Bad Breath (One of Quistis' Blue Magics) Smelly Breath Full-Cure (One of Selphie's Slot magics) Full Care Rapture (One of Selphie's Slot magics) Levitaga Scatter Shot (One of Irvine's Shots) Grape Shot %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% II. Other Changes %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% This is the only part that I (Yuzu) wrote alone. So if you see things that are wrong, or you just want to give me comments, then e-mail me, not Musashi. Also, this isn't complete, because I haven't finished playing through the English version yet. Once I do, I'll (hopefully) update this section. ************ a. Hot Dogs? ************ At Balamb Garden, there is a really popular food that always sells really fast at the cafeteria. In English, it's hot dogs, but in Japanese, it's bread...I can understand the bread thing (bread is _really_ expensive in Japan and they make all different kinds, like Curry Bread or Apple Bread, etc.) but hot dogs? The only place I know where hot dogs are popular are at baseball games and at my cousin's house (he lives off hot dogs -_-). OK, enough of my rambling. ************ b. Fire Cave ************ This is probably one of the biggest differences that I've found so far...In the English version, at the Fire Cave (waaaaay at the beginning), you have to choose the time it'll take you to go in , find and kill Ifrit. In the Japanese version, however, you choose the time it'll take you to go in, find the GF, kill it, then get back out. Why they changed it, I don't know. There was nothing wrong with it that they needed to change it in the first place. ********************** c. Odekake Chocobo RPG ********************** Odekake Chocobo was an extra RPG built in with FF8 that can only be played by using the Pocket Station. Unfortunately, you can't get the Pocket Station here in the states, so you can't play it. However, I heard from my cousin (who works for Electronic Arts, the people who are making FF8 for the PC) that the PC version will include Odekake Chocobo. *********** d. Tutorial *********** This is the most annoying difference, I think. In the English version, there's all these stupid pop-up Tutorial things that explain everything, and you have no choice but to watch them! In the Japanese version, you always have a choice before seeing any of them, if they even show them at all. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% III. Credits/Disclaimer %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% This FAQ is copyright 1999 by Yuzu-chan and Musashi. Final Fantasy VIII is copyright Square 1999. This FAQ is for noncommercial purposes. You are free to use it for this purpose if it is not altered in any way and if we are credited. Thanks to: ---------- Yuzu's brother (JRMayoMan@aol.com)-for allowing us to use his FF8 game and strategy guide. Square-for making such a beautiful game (with cool bishounen, too ^_^) Brady Games-for publishing their FF8 Strategy Guide DigiCube-for publishing their FF8 Ultimania Strategy Guide