<s>
is	O
a	O
1999	O
role-playing	O
video	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Square	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
console	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
eighth	O
main	O
installment	O
in	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
on	O
an	O
unnamed	O
fantasy	B-Application
world	O
with	O
science	O
fiction	O
elements	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
follows	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
young	O
mercenaries	O
,	O
led	O
by	O
Squall	O
Leonhart	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
are	O
drawn	O
into	O
a	O
conflict	O
sparked	O
by	O
a	O
sorceress	O
named	O
Edea	O
Kramer	O
who	O
seized	O
control	O
of	O
a	O
powerful	O
military	O
state	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
began	O
in	O
1997	O
,	O
during	O
the	O
English	O
localization	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
builds	O
on	O
the	O
visual	O
changes	O
brought	O
to	O
the	O
series	O
by	O
VII	B-Application
,	O
including	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
3D	O
graphics	O
and	O
pre-rendered	O
backgrounds	O
,	O
while	O
also	O
departing	O
from	O
many	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
traditions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
to	O
use	O
realistically	O
proportioned	O
characters	O
consistently	O
,	O
feature	O
a	O
vocal	O
piece	O
as	O
its	O
theme	O
music	O
and	O
forgo	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
magic	B-Application
points	I-Application
for	O
spellcasting	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
well	O
received	O
by	O
critics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
success	O
,	O
grossing	O
in	O
its	O
first	O
day	O
of	O
release	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
and	O
more	O
than	O
during	O
its	O
first	O
13	O
weeks	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
title	O
until	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
XIII	I-Application
,	O
a	O
multi-platform	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Windows	O
port	O
followed	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
the	O
Chocobo	B-Application
World	I-Application
minigame	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
re-released	O
worldwide	O
as	O
a	O
PSOne	O
Classic	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Store	O
in	O
2009	O
,	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
Portable	I-Operating_System
,	O
with	O
support	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Vita	I-Device
in	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
re-released	O
via	O
Steam	B-Application
in	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
remastered	O
version	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
September	O
2019	O
,	O
and	O
Android	B-Application
and	O
iOS	B-Application
in	O
March	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
games	I-Application
before	O
it	O
,	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
consists	O
of	O
three	O
main	O
modes	O
of	O
play	O
:	O
the	O
world	O
map	O
,	O
the	O
field	O
map	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
battle	O
screen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
battle	O
screen	O
is	O
a	O
3D	O
model	O
of	O
a	O
location	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
street	O
or	O
room	O
,	O
where	O
turn-based	O
fights	O
between	O
playable	O
characters	O
and	O
CPU-controlled	O
enemies	O
take	O
place	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
featured	O
is	O
a	O
collectible	O
card-based	O
minigame	O
called	O
"	O
Triple	B-Application
Triad	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
,	O
Hiroyuki	O
Ito	O
designed	O
a	O
battle	O
system	O
based	O
on	O
summoned	O
monsters	O
,	O
called	O
"	O
Guardian	O
Forces	O
"	O
,	O
abbreviated	O
in-game	O
as	O
"	O
GF	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Previous	O
titles	O
provided	O
each	O
character	O
with	O
a	O
limited	O
pool	O
of	O
magic	B-Application
points	I-Application
that	O
were	O
consumed	O
by	O
each	O
spell	B-Application
;	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
,	O
spells	B-Application
are	O
acquired	O
(	O
"	O
drawn	O
"	O
)	O
either	O
from	O
enemies	O
in	O
battle	O
,	O
Draw	O
Points	O
distributed	O
throughout	O
the	O
environments	O
,	O
or	O
by	O
refining	O
items	O
and	O
cards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Spells	B-Application
are	O
then	O
stocked	O
on	O
characters	O
as	O
quantified	O
inventory	O
(	O
up	O
to	O
100	O
per	O
spell	B-Application
and	O
limited	O
to	O
32	O
distinct	O
spells	B-Application
per	O
character	O
)	O
and	O
are	O
consumed	O
one	O
by	O
one	O
when	O
used	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Characters	O
can	O
also	O
junction	O
(	O
equip	O
)	O
these	O
spells	B-Application
onto	O
their	O
statistics	O
—	O
such	O
as	O
Strength	O
,	O
Vitality	O
,	O
and	O
Luck	O
—	O
for	O
various	O
bonuses	O
,	O
provided	O
the	O
character	O
has	O
junctioned	O
a	O
Guardian	O
Force	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Moreover	O
,	O
where	O
earlier	O
titles	O
required	O
weapons	O
to	O
be	O
equipped	O
and	O
tailored	O
to	O
the	O
character	O
,	O
each	O
major	O
character	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
features	O
a	O
unique	O
weapon	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
upgraded	O
,	O
affecting	O
its	O
appearance	O
,	O
power	O
,	O
and	O
Limit	O
Break	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
,	O
characters	O
in	O
VIII	O
have	O
unique	O
abilities	O
called	O
"	O
Limit	O
Breaks	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
range	O
from	O
powerful	O
attacks	O
to	O
support	O
spells	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
the	O
characters	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
receive	O
Limit	O
Breaks	O
after	O
incurring	O
significant	O
damage	O
,	O
in	O
VIII	O
,	O
Limit	O
Breaks	O
become	O
available	O
only	O
at	O
low	O
health	O
(	O
hit	O
points	O
)	O
under	O
normal	O
circumstances	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
magic	O
spell	B-Application
Aura	O
increases	O
the	O
probability	O
of	O
Limit	O
Breaks	O
appearing	O
,	O
regardless	O
of	O
a	O
character	O
's	O
remaining	O
hit	O
points	O
,	O
while	O
various	O
status	O
afflictions	O
can	O
prevent	O
Limit	O
Breaks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
are	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
Desperation	O
Attacks	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VI	I-Application
,	O
albeit	O
more	O
frequent	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
also	O
introduced	O
interactive	O
elements	O
to	O
complement	O
Limit	O
Break	O
animations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
interactive	O
sequences	O
,	O
which	O
vary	O
between	O
character	O
,	O
weapon	O
,	O
and	O
Limit	O
Break	O
,	O
range	O
from	O
randomly	O
selected	O
magic	O
spells	B-Application
to	O
precisely	O
timed	O
button	O
inputs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
features	O
an	O
experience	O
point	O
(	O
EXP	O
)	O
system	O
quite	O
different	O
from	O
previous	O
titles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
)	O
,	O
characters	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
gain	O
a	O
level	O
after	O
accumulating	O
a	O
flat	O
rate	O
of	O
1000	O
points	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Higher-level	O
enemies	O
are	O
capable	O
of	O
inflicting	O
and	O
withstanding	O
significantly	O
more	O
damage	O
,	O
may	O
have	O
additional	O
special	O
attacks	O
,	O
and	O
carry	O
additional	O
magic	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
allowing	O
for	O
Junctioning	O
bonuses	O
which	O
themselves	O
far	O
exceed	O
the	O
bonuses	O
imparted	O
by	O
level-gain	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
unique	O
EXP	O
and	O
level	O
system	O
allows	O
a	O
player	O
to	O
grind	B-Application
to	O
maximum	O
Level	O
100	O
before	O
even	O
beginning	O
the	O
plot	O
,	O
though	O
this	O
will	O
result	O
in	O
far	O
more	O
powerful	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
abilities	O
allow	O
characters	O
to	O
attack	O
more	O
efficiently	O
,	O
refine	O
magic	O
spells	B-Application
from	O
items	O
,	O
receive	O
stat	O
bonuses	O
upon	O
leveling	O
up	O
,	O
access	O
shops	O
remotely	O
,	O
and	O
use	O
additional	O
battle	O
commands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Most	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
is	O
set	O
on	O
an	O
unnamed	O
fantasy	B-Application
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
six	O
main	O
protagonists	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
are	O
:	O
Squall	O
Leonhart	O
,	O
a	O
loner	O
who	O
avoids	O
vulnerability	O
by	O
focusing	O
on	O
his	O
duty	O
;	O
Rinoa	O
Heartilly	O
,	O
an	O
outspoken	O
and	O
passionate	O
young	O
woman	O
who	O
follows	O
her	O
heart	O
;	O
Quistis	O
Trepe	O
,	O
an	O
instructor	O
with	O
a	O
serious	O
,	O
patient	O
attitude	O
;	O
Zell	O
Dincht	O
,	O
an	O
energetic	O
martial	O
artist	O
with	O
a	O
fondness	O
for	O
hot	O
dogs	O
;	O
Selphie	O
Tilmitt	O
,	O
a	O
cheerful	O
girl	O
who	O
loves	O
trains	O
and	O
pilots	O
the	O
airship	O
Ragnarok	O
;	O
and	O
Irvine	O
Kinneas	O
,	O
a	O
marksman	O
and	O
consummate	O
ladies	O
 '	O
man	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
school	O
uses	O
the	O
mission	O
as	O
a	O
final	B-Application
exam	I-Application
for	O
its	O
cadets	O
;	O
with	O
the	O
help	O
of	O
his	O
instructor	O
,	O
Quistis	O
,	O
Squall	O
passes	O
the	O
mission	O
's	O
prerequisite	O
and	O
is	O
grouped	O
with	O
Seifer	O
and	O
Zell	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
began	O
in	O
1997	O
,	O
during	O
the	O
English-language	O
translation	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
much	O
of	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
VII	B-Application
,	O
series	O
creator	O
and	O
veteran	O
Hironobu	O
Sakaguchi	O
served	O
as	O
the	O
executive	O
producer	O
,	O
working	O
primarily	O
on	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
:	O
The	O
Spirits	O
Within	O
and	O
leaving	O
direction	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
to	O
Yoshinori	O
Kitase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
card	O
game	O
"	O
Triple	B-Application
Triad	I-Application
"	O
was	O
conceived	O
and	O
implemented	O
by	O
programmer	O
Kentarow	O
Yasui	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
Triple	B-Application
Triad	I-Application
"	O
was	O
meant	O
to	O
keep	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
interest	O
during	O
long	O
stretches	O
without	O
cutscenes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
turbulent	O
development	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
,	O
there	O
was	O
a	O
shake-up	O
of	O
Square	O
's	O
localization	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
the	O
first	O
title	O
to	O
have	O
extensive	O
communication	O
between	O
the	O
Japanese	O
and	O
North	O
American	O
teams	O
during	O
the	O
process	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lead	O
translator	O
Richard	O
Honeywood	O
wrote	O
a	O
text	O
parser	O
that	O
would	O
automatically	O
convert	O
text	O
from	O
English	O
ASCII	B-Protocol
to	O
Shift	O
JIS	O
format	O
required	O
by	O
the	O
game	O
engine	O
's	O
compiler	O
,	O
streamlining	O
the	O
translation	O
process	O
dramatically	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
the	O
first	O
major	O
project	O
of	O
Alexander	O
O	O
.	O
Smith	O
,	O
who	O
would	O
later	O
earn	O
acclaim	O
for	O
his	O
work	O
on	O
Vagrant	B-Application
Story	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Smith	O
said	O
that	O
due	O
to	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
communication	O
with	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
surprised	O
that	O
an	O
IT	O
employee	O
used	O
GameShark	B-Device
to	O
access	O
text	O
files	O
for	O
localizing	O
to	O
Western	O
audiences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
the	O
beginning	O
,	O
Kitase	O
knew	O
he	O
wanted	O
a	O
thematic	O
combination	O
of	O
fantasy	B-Application
and	O
realism	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
measures	O
taken	O
included	O
implementing	O
rental	O
cars	O
for	O
travel	O
in-game	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
technology	O
to	O
give	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
characters	O
lifelike	O
movements	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
full	B-Application
motion	I-Application
video	I-Application
sequences	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
FMV	O
sequences	O
were	O
created	O
by	O
a	O
team	O
of	O
roughly	O
35	O
people	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
total	O
cinematic	O
run-time	O
being	O
estimated	O
at	O
over	O
an	O
hour	O
,	O
approximately	O
20	O
minutes	O
longer	O
than	O
the	O
FMV	O
sequences	O
in	O
VII	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
was	O
used	O
to	O
give	O
a	O
general	O
realism	O
to	O
character	O
movement	O
,	O
but	O
the	O
team	O
favored	O
manual	O
animation	O
over	O
relying	O
on	O
motion	B-Application
capture	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
major	O
challenge	O
was	O
the	O
technical	O
advances	O
made	O
since	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
VII	B-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
aim	O
for	O
more	O
realistic	O
characters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Famitsu	O
,	O
Naora	O
described	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
generally	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
a	O
"	O
bright	O
,	O
fresh	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
reason	O
was	O
that	O
the	O
team	O
had	O
dealt	O
extensively	O
with	O
dark	O
and	O
"	O
weird	O
"	O
imagery	O
with	O
VII	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
decision	O
was	O
easy	O
for	O
the	O
developers	O
to	O
make	O
,	O
because	O
most	O
of	O
them	O
had	O
worked	O
on	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
and	O
felt	O
that	O
a	O
new	O
direction	O
was	O
acceptable	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
world	O
designs	O
were	O
also	O
developed	O
with	O
the	O
knowledge	O
that	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
staff	O
were	O
now	O
used	O
to	O
computer	O
graphics	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
not	O
the	O
case	O
with	O
VII	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
developers	O
also	O
noted	O
that	O
with	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
,	O
they	O
attempted	O
to	O
"	O
mix	O
future	O
,	O
real	O
life	O
and	O
fantasy	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
theme	O
desired	O
by	O
Kitase	O
to	O
give	O
the	O
game	O
a	O
foreign	O
atmosphere	O
,	O
various	O
designs	O
were	O
given	O
to	O
its	O
locations	O
using	O
the	O
style	O
of	O
internationally	O
familiar	O
places	O
,	O
while	O
also	O
maintaining	O
a	O
fantasy	B-Application
atmosphere	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
character	O
created	O
was	O
Squall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
character	O
design	O
was	O
complemented	O
by	O
a	O
fur	O
lining	O
along	O
the	O
collar	O
of	O
his	O
jacket	O
,	O
incorporated	O
by	O
Nomura	O
as	O
a	O
challenge	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
full	B-Application
motion	I-Application
video	I-Application
designers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
some	O
designs	O
Nomura	O
had	O
previously	O
drawn	O
,	O
but	O
had	O
not	O
yet	O
used	O
in	O
a	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
were	O
incorporated	O
into	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
latter	O
two	O
had	O
originally	O
been	O
designed	O
for	O
use	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
,	O
but	O
with	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
the	O
Turks	O
characters	O
in	O
that	O
game	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
felt	O
that	O
Fujin	O
and	O
Raijin	O
were	O
unnecessary	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nomura	O
had	O
designed	O
Edea	O
before	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
VII	B-Application
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
style	O
of	O
Yoshitaka	O
Amano	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
plot	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
conceived	O
by	O
Kitase	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
story	O
and	O
the	O
characters	O
provided	O
by	O
Nomura	O
and	O
the	O
actual	O
scenario	O
written	O
by	O
Nojima	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
and	O
VIII	O
feature	O
reserved	O
,	O
quiet	O
protagonists	O
in	O
the	O
form	O
of	O
Cloud	O
Strife	O
and	O
Squall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
VIII	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
Nojima	O
worked	O
to	O
give	O
players	O
actual	O
insight	O
into	O
what	O
the	O
character	O
was	O
thinking	O
,	O
a	O
direct	O
contrast	O
with	O
his	O
handling	O
of	O
VII	B-Application
,	O
which	O
encouraged	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
speculate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
1999	O
,	O
one	O
month	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
Ultimania	O
was	O
published	O
,	O
a	O
book	O
that	O
features	O
an	O
in-depth	O
guide	O
to	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
and	O
interviews	O
with	O
the	O
developers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
on	O
September	O
22	O
,	O
a	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
titled	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
Desktop	O
Accessories	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
contains	O
desktop	O
icons	O
,	O
computer	O
wallpapers	O
,	O
screensavers	B-General_Concept
,	O
and	O
an	O
e-mail	O
application	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
additionally	O
features	O
a	O
stand-alone	O
edition	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Triple	B-Application
Triad	I-Application
"	O
minigame	O
,	O
which	O
allowed	O
players	O
to	O
compete	O
against	O
one	O
another	O
via	O
a	O
local	B-General_Concept
area	I-General_Concept
network	I-General_Concept
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
the	O
ballroom	O
dance	O
scene	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
featured	O
as	O
a	O
technical	O
demo	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
2	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2000	O
,	O
a	O
PC	B-Device
version	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
Windows	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
port	O
featured	O
smoother	O
graphics	O
,	O
enhanced	O
audio	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
Chocobo	B-Application
World	I-Application
,	O
a	O
minigame	O
starring	O
Boko	O
,	O
a	O
Chocobo	O
featured	O
in	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
side-quests	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
most	O
North	O
American	O
and	O
European	O
players	O
,	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
the	O
only	O
means	O
of	O
playing	O
Chocobo	B-Application
World	I-Application
,	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
originally	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
via	O
the	O
PocketStation	B-Application
,	O
a	O
handheld	O
console	O
never	O
released	O
outside	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
released	O
on	O
the	O
Sony	O
's	O
Greatest	O
Hits	O
on	O
August	O
28	O
,	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
the	O
title	O
was	O
added	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Store	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Network	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
re-released	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
25th	O
Anniversary	O
Ultimate	O
Box	O
Japanese	O
package	O
in	O
December	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
upscaled	O
PC	B-Device
version	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
on	O
December	O
5	O
,	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Regular	O
series	O
composer	O
Nobuo	O
Uematsu	O
wrote	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
for	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
IGN	O
Music	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
music	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
very	O
dark	O
and	O
perhaps	O
influenced	O
by	O
the	O
plot	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Uematsu	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
atmosphere	O
of	O
music	O
varies	O
depending	O
on	O
story	O
line	O
,	O
of	O
course	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
's	O
also	O
my	O
intention	O
to	O
put	O
various	O
types	O
of	O
music	O
into	O
one	O
game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
absence	O
of	O
character	O
themes	O
found	O
in	O
the	O
previous	O
two	O
games	O
was	O
due	O
to	O
Uematsu	O
finding	O
those	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VI	I-Application
and	O
VII	B-Application
ineffective	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Uematsu	O
considers	O
it	O
reasonable	O
to	O
have	O
character	O
themes	O
if	O
each	O
character	O
has	O
a	O
"	O
highlight	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
but	O
he	O
found	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
only	O
focused	O
on	O
Squall	O
Leonhart	O
and	O
Rinoa	O
Heartilly	O
as	O
a	O
couple	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Eyes	O
on	O
Me	O
"	O
theme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
soundtrack	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
four	O
compact	O
discs	O
by	O
DigiCube	O
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
March	O
10	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
and	O
by	O
Square	O
EA	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
as	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
Music	O
Collection	O
in	O
January	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
album	O
of	O
orchestral	O
arrangements	O
of	O
selected	O
tracks	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
under	O
the	O
title	O
Fithos	O
Lusec	O
Wecos	O
Vinosec	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
on	O
November	O
19	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
by	O
DigiCube	O
,	O
and	O
subsequently	O
published	O
on	O
July	O
22	O
,	O
2004	O
,	O
by	O
Square	O
Enix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
collection	O
of	O
piano	O
arrangements	O
performed	O
by	O
Shinko	O
Ogata	O
was	O
released	O
under	O
the	O
title	O
Piano	O
Collections	O
:	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
by	O
DigiCube	O
on	O
January	O
21	O
,	O
2000	O
,	O
and	O
subsequently	O
re-published	O
by	O
Square	O
Enix	O
on	O
July	O
22	O
,	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Near	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
,	O
the	O
developers	O
suggested	O
to	O
use	O
a	O
singer	O
,	O
but	O
abandoned	O
the	O
idea	O
due	O
to	O
a	O
lack	O
of	O
reasoning	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
theme	O
and	O
storyline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Nobuo	O
Uematsu	O
thought	O
a	O
ballad	O
would	O
closely	O
relate	O
to	O
the	O
theme	O
and	O
characters	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Uematsu	O
claims	O
"	O
her	O
voice	O
and	O
mood	O
seem	O
to	O
match	O
my	O
image	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
exactly	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
her	O
ethnicity	O
"	O
fits	O
the	O
international	O
image	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
music	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
has	O
appeared	O
in	O
various	O
official	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
concerts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
include	O
2002	O
's	O
20020220	O
Music	O
from	O
FINAL	B-Application
FANTASY	I-Application
,	O
in	O
which	O
the	O
Tokyo	O
Philharmonic	O
Orchestra	O
played	O
"	O
Liberi	O
Fatali	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Do	O
n't	O
Be	O
Afraid	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Love	O
Grows	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
The	O
Man	O
with	O
the	O
Machine	O
Gun	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
2004	O
Tour	O
de	O
Japon	O
series	O
,	O
which	O
featured	O
"	O
The	O
Oath	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
Dear	O
Friends	O
series	O
that	O
began	O
that	O
same	O
year	O
and	O
included	O
"	O
Liberi	O
Fatali	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Love	O
Grows	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
2005	O
More	O
Friends	O
concert	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
"	O
Maybe	O
I	O
'm	O
a	O
Lion	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
More	O
recent	O
concerts	O
include	O
the	O
Voices	O
–	O
Music	O
from	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
2006	O
concert	O
showcasing	O
"	O
Liberi	O
Fatali	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Fisherman	O
's	O
Horizon	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Eyes	O
on	O
Me	O
"	O
and	O
the	O
international	O
Distant	O
Worlds	O
concert	O
tour	O
that	O
continues	O
to	O
date	O
,	O
which	O
includes	O
"	O
Liberi	O
Fatali	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Fisherman	O
's	O
Horizon	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Man	O
with	O
the	O
Machine	O
Gun	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
Love	O
Grows	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
remastered	O
version	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
September	O
2019	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
remaster	O
,	O
which	O
features	O
high	O
definition	O
graphics	O
and	O
improved	O
character	O
models	O
,	O
was	O
produced	O
in	O
collaboration	O
with	O
Dotemu	O
and	O
Access	O
Games	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
Windows	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
later	O
ported	O
to	O
Android	B-Application
and	O
iOS	B-Application
,	O
and	O
released	O
on	O
March	O
24	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
their	O
part	O
,	O
Edge	O
labeled	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
"	O
a	O
far	O
more	O
accomplished	O
game	O
than	O
FFVII	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Overall	O
,	O
Edge	O
considered	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
to	O
be	O
"	O
yet	O
another	O
outstanding	O
edition	O
of	O
SquareSoft	O
's	O
far-from-final	O
fantasies	O
"	O
,	O
summarizing	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
aesthetically	O
astonishing	O
,	O
rarely	O
less	O
than	O
compelling	O
,	O
and	O
near	O
peerless	O
in	O
scope	O
and	O
execution	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
offered	O
similar	O
comments	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
character	O
development	O
"	O
is	O
the	O
best	O
of	O
any	O
RPGs	O
"	O
and	O
that	O
"	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
is	O
the	O
pinnacle	O
of	O
its	O
genre	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jeff	O
Lundrigan	O
reviewed	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
version	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
Next	O
Generation	O
,	O
rating	O
it	O
four	O
stars	O
out	O
of	O
five	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Francis	O
Hwang	O
of	O
Spin	O
magazine	O
praised	O
the	O
"	O
brilliant-looking	O
"	O
cinematic	O
visuals	O
,	O
stating	O
the	O
cutscenes	O
rival	O
"	O
even	O
the	O
most	O
major	O
of	O
major	O
animated	O
pictures	O
"	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
"	O
combat	O
scenes	O
are	O
filled	O
with	O
the	O
same	O
dramatic	O
poses	O
and	O
dazzling	O
,	O
70	O
mm	O
explosions	O
seen	O
in	O
such	O
classics	O
as	O
Akira	O
and	O
Dragonball	B-Application
Z	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Official	O
U.S.	O
PlayStation	B-Device
Magazine	O
claims	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
Junction	O
system	O
is	O
a	O
major	O
flaw	O
due	O
to	O
repetitive	O
stocking	O
of	O
spells	B-Application
,	O
while	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
magazine	O
Edge	O
commented	O
that	O
the	O
battle	O
system	O
consists	O
of	O
a	O
"	O
bewildering	O
"	O
number	O
of	O
intricate	O
options	O
and	O
techniques	O
that	O
"	O
most	O
gamers	O
will	O
 [ ... ] 	O
relish	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PC	B-Device
port	O
received	O
mixed	O
reception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Maximum	O
PC	B-Device
praised	O
the	O
full	B-Application
motion	I-Application
video	I-Application
sequences	O
as	O
"	O
phenomenal	O
"	O
,	O
adding	O
that	O
while	O
the	O
gameplay	O
took	O
getting	O
used	O
to	O
,	O
they	O
enjoyed	O
the	O
teamwork	O
emphasized	O
by	O
it	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
visual	O
presentation	O
added	O
to	O
its	O
appeal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
criticized	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
not	O
taking	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
capabilities	O
afforded	O
to	O
computers	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
describing	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
version	O
as	O
both	O
looking	O
and	O
sounding	O
superior	O
,	O
and	O
recommending	O
that	O
the	O
title	O
was	O
"	O
not	O
worth	O
buying	O
period	O
"	O
for	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
Gaming	O
World	O
praised	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
changes	O
made	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
light	O
of	O
previous	O
titles	O
and	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
the	O
Triple	B-Application
Triad	I-Application
sub-game	O
,	O
though	O
heavily	O
criticized	O
the	O
port	O
as	O
"	O
lazy	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
disappointing	O
"	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
it	O
only	O
served	O
to	O
emphasize	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
's	O
flaws	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Within	O
two	O
days	O
of	O
its	O
North	O
American	O
release	O
on	O
September	O
7	O
,	O
1999	O
,	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
became	O
the	O
top-selling	O
video	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
a	O
position	O
it	O
held	O
for	O
more	O
than	O
three	O
weeks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
sold	O
more	O
than	O
units	O
and	O
grossed	O
more	O
than	O
$50million	O
(	O
equivalent	O
to	O
$million	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
during	O
the	O
13	O
weeks	O
that	O
followed	O
,	O
making	O
it	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
title	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
2009	O
,	O
it	O
had	O
sold	O
over	O
8.6	O
million	O
copies	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Steam	B-Application
Spy	O
,	O
an	O
estimated	O
703,000	O
digital	O
copies	O
of	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
version	O
were	O
sold	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
by	O
April	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
opening	O
cut	O
scene	O
in	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
ranked	O
second	O
on	O
Game	O
Informers	O
list	O
of	O
"	O
Top	O
10	O
Video	O
Game	O
Openings	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
first	O
by	O
IGN	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
named	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
ending	O
the	O
third	O
best	O
of	O
any	O
game	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
while	O
UGO.com	O
named	O
it	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
best	O
and	O
most	O
memorable	O
moments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
was	O
voted	O
by	O
readers	O
of	O
Japanese	O
magazine	O
Famitsu	O
as	O
the	O
22nd-best	O
game	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
in	O
2006	O
,	O
and	O
named	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
20	O
essential	O
Japanese	O
role-playing	O
games	O
by	O
Gamasutra	O
,	O
stating	O
"[t]here's	O
a	O
lot	O
that	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
does	O
wrong	O
,	O
but	O
there	O
's	O
even	O
more	O
that	O
it	O
does	O
right	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
UGO.com	O
said	O
that	O
while	O
no	O
other	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
had	O
stirred	O
the	O
controversy	O
that	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
had	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
flawed	O
,	O
the	O
title	O
was	O
a	O
"	O
daring	O
,	O
groundbreaking	O
game	O
 [ ... ] 	O
decidedly	O
the	O
most	O
original	O
console-style	O
RPG	O
ever	O
created	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2002	O
,	O
IGN	O
named	O
it	O
the	O
seventh-best	O
title	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
placing	O
higher	O
on	O
the	O
list	O
than	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
;	O
the	O
publication	O
felt	O
that	O
VIII	O
improved	O
on	O
the	O
strengths	O
of	O
its	O
predecessor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kat	O
Bailey	O
,	O
writing	O
for	O
1Up.com,	O
noted	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VIII	I-Application
as	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
series	O
which	O
features	O
a	O
love	O
story	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
overarching	O
theme	O
,	O
calling	O
a	O
daring	O
choice	O
and	O
symbol	O
of	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
medium	O
's	O
continued	O
evolution	O
as	O
a	O
form	O
of	O
storytelling	O
,	O
with	O
numerous	O
subsequent	O
video	O
games	O
adopting	O
romantic	O
subplots	O
to	O
varying	O
degrees	O
of	O
success	O
.	O
</s>
