The music in this game was originally composed and recorded as Dolby Digital 5.1, then "dumbed down" to normal stereo for the actual release. The original DD 5.1 score was rumored to be the one to be used in a PlayStation 2 re-release (see: Alternate Versions).
The name of the type of weapon used by Selphie was changed to 'shinobou' in the European version.
Parasite Eve (VG) was the 'testing ground' for the cinematic graphics used in FFVIII.
You can spot UFOs during battles in 4 areas of the world. The sightings are used in the 'Pupu card' sidequest, and can only be seen from the second disk onwards.
On the Islands Closest to Hell and Heaven you can find over 40 hidden draw points, including Ultima.
Galbadian Soldiers Biggs and Wedge are references to two characters from Star Wars, Biggs Darklighter and Wedge Antilles. They have appeared in some form in nearly every Squaresoft game since Final Fantasy VI.
In Esthar there is a shop called Cloud's Shop, a reference to Final Fantasy 7.
During production of the game, there were plans to originally call the Rinoa character "Lenore"
A real-time rendition of Final Fantasy VIII's signature "ballroom scene" using the Playstation 2 graphic engine was created to show off the new console's power.
All the GFs that have to be drawn from bosses in the game can also be drawn from the monsters in Ultemica's Castle.
The only playable character not to have a costume change is Irvine.
Apart from the shots of Rinoa in the field and Squall dueling with Seifer, all the shots shown in the opening sequence are clips from FMV sequences to appear later in the game.
The GF Eden is the only GF whose damage can exceed 9999. This is probably because he is able to be boosted up to 250.
All playable characters have Limit Breaks although the extra ones (Laguna, Edea, Kiros, Ward and Seifer) have only one set attack.
Dr. Odine:
You vant to go outside? You vant to fisticuffs?
Rinoa:
Gosh, you're such a pessimist. There are no guarantees in the future. That's why TODAY, the time we have now, is important. Squall, we wanna help you, as much as we can, for as long as we can. We all love you. There, I said it. Please don't freak out. We just wanna live, y'know, live through this time with you, together.
Squall:
...Together...?
Rinoa:
Keep it in the back of your mind. Call on us whenever you need to. We'll be waiting.
Sorceress Edea:
Poor, poor boy...
Seifer:
Stay away from me!
Sorceress Edea:
Such a confused little boy. Are you going to step forward? Retreat? You have to decide.
Seifer:
Stay back!
Sorceress Edea:
The boy in you is telling you to come. The adult in you is telling you to back off. You can't make up your mind. You don't know the right answer. You want help, don't you? You want to be saved from this predicament.
Seifer:
Shut up!
Sorceress Edea:
Don't be ashamed to ask for help. Besides, you're only a little boy.
Seifer:
I'm not... stop calling me a boy.
Sorceress Edea:
You don't want to be a boy anymore?
Seifer:
I am not a BOY!
Sorceress Edea:
Come with me to a place of no return. Bid farewell to your childhood.
[Squall's standard response to any statement/question]
Squall:
Whatever.
Quistis Trepe:
You're the squad leader. Good luck to you.
Seifer:
...Instructor. I hate it when people wish me luck. Save those words for a bad student that needs them, eh?
Quistis Trepe:
Okay, then. Good luck, Seifer.
Squall:
[after a Laguna dream sequence] I dreamt I was a moron.
Squall:
Just another stupid story by a boring adult.
Rinoa:
Oh, what an easy life it must be, just to follow orders...
Squall:
As long as you don't get your hopes up, you can take anything... You feel less pain.
Laguna:
It's gonna blow! Run for it!
Squall:
I liked him... wasn't really a bad guy... He was one of us... Seifer... You've become just a memory. Will they... Will they talk about me this way if I die, too? Squall was this and that. Using past tense, saying whatever they want? So this is what death is all about... Not for me. I won't have it!
Quistis Trepe:
What's wrong, Squall?
Squall:
I won't have it!
Zell:
W-what?
Selphie Tilmitt:
Are you MAD?
Squall:
I'm not having anyone talk about me in past tense!
Martine:
Failure is not an option.
Selphie:
Irvy Kinnepooo! I'll make you happy!
Squall's thoughts:
Women... I don't understand them.
Edea:
Enough play! SeeDs must die!
Zell:
Fricken hell?
Seifer:
Show me what you got, Squall! Let me add another scar for ya!
Quistis Trepe:
They told me that I failed as an instructor. Basically, that I lacked leadership qualities. I was a SeeD by the age of 15, got my instructor licence at 17... It's only been a year since I got it... I wonder where I went wrong... I did my best... Are you listening?
Squall:
Are you done yet...? I don't want to talk about it. What am I supposed to say about other people's problems?
Quistis Trepe:
I'm not asking you to say anything. I just want you to listen.
Squall:
Then go talk to a wall.
Selphie Tilmitt:
Hey Everybody! Peace! And! Love!
True Ultimecia:
I am Ultimecia... Time shall compress... all existence denied...
Zell:
We're SeeDs! We're trained to kick the sorceress' ass!
Laguna:
Ultimecia's inside Adel. Exactly as she wanted. Ok, this is the showdown folks! Time compression is about to begin. 'Love, friendship, and courage'! Show'em what you got!
Seifer Alamasy:
Shut your damn mouth Chicken-Wuss!
Seifer Alamasy:
I have a chicken wuss and a guy who's just reached puberty in my squad!
Zell:
Dont these Galbadians know a GF when they see one? Argh... lets just take it!
Cerberus:
...PRETTY CONFIDENT!
Zell:
[after the Ragnarok starts to fly] I can imagine Selphie now saying, "Woohoo, we're Flying!" with Irving sitting right next to her.
Selphie Tilmitt:
[they go to the bridge] Woohoo, we're flying!
[last lines]
Squall:
I'll be all right, Matron. 'Cause I'm not alone.
[first lines]
Unknown:
I'll be here... I'll be 'waiting' here... I'll be waiting for you, so... If you come here... You'll find me... I promise...
Follows
Fainaru fantajî (1987) (VG)
Fainaru fantazî II (1988) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî III (1989) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî IV (1991) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî V (1993) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî VI (1994) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî VII (1997) (VG)
Followed by
Fainaru fantajî IX (2000) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî X (2001) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî XI (2002) (VG)
Final Fantasy X-2 (2003) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî XII (2006) (VG)
References
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
The Omen (1976)
Star Wars (1977)
Akira (1988)
My Blue Heaven (1990/I)
- There's a sign that says "My Blue Heaven" outside of the dungeon where Odin joins the main characters.
"The Real World" (1992)
Referenced in
Parasite Eve II (1999) (VG)
Fainaru fantajî IX (2000) (VG)
Gongyuan 2000 nian (2000)
- Character says he knows FF8 like the back of his hand
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
Kingdom Hearts (2002) (VG)
Final Fantasy X-2 (2003) (VG)
- title of song from soundtrack
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (2004) (VG)
- Features Squall and Selphie
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005)
- gunblade weapons used
Kingdom Hearts II (2005) (VG)
- Features Squall Leonhart.
Featured in
Charlie's Angels (2000)