The upcoming Final Fantasy 8 Remastered will make sweeping changes to the game's graphics presentation across the board, but the PC version will have a bit more added spice when it releases. Final Fantasy 8 is the latest in a long-line of remasters for the franchise, which has been making repeat visits to some of its greatest hits now that a portable console like the Nintendo Switch has given fans a way to own the games and play them on the big screen or on the go.
Final Fantasy re-releases have been making the rounds on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam for a few years now, but fans had been clamoring for Square Enix to revisit Final Fantasy 8 - often considered the most underappreciated game in the series - throughout each announcement of a different title. Finally, after years of fan support that never seemed to end, Square finally announced its intent to release Final Fantasy 8 Remastered, which will finally improve the graphics and performance of a game that has somehow managed to garner way more interest years after its release.
Not all iterations of Final Fantasy 8 Remastered will be created equal, however. Although, like most Final Fantasy re-releases, the game will come with some built-in bonus cheats across all platforms, the PC version of the remaster will contain a significant number of extra cheats that won't be available on other versions. While it's possible a more uniform spread of cheats will be patched in on other platforms later, at launch, Final Fantasy 8 Remastered PC will have these extra cheats, as listed by Japanese publication Famitsu during an interview with producer Yoshinori Kitase:
- Obtain all items
- Obtain all abilities
- Maxed Guardian Force levels
- Maxed Gil
- Maxed magic
- Obtain all special moves
- Obtain all cards
- Other detailed customization options in the system settings
That's a hefty list of some truly powerful cheat codes. Naturally, many fans looking to dive back into Final Fantasy 8 Remastered on PC will likely give them a pass as they try to experience the game as it was originally released in 1999. Two decades later, though, not everyone is going to have the time to grind through some of the later stages of the game, which makes the Final Fantasy 8 Remastered PC version stand out from the crowd of platform options as the one that will probably enable the most time-saving functionalities.
It's unclear why the Final Fantasy 8 Remastered PC version even has extra cheats built-in in the first place, but it's a nice little bonus for fans who were planning on picking it up on that platform. With that said, there will be the usual assortment of time-saving measures in Final Fantasy remasters spread across all platforms - like Triple Speed and No Encounter - that will offer some relief to fans in a hurry no matter where they choose to play. It's kind of a cool nod to an age where cheats could actually differ based on platform, though, and another dose of nostalgia on top of Final Fantasy 8 Remastered's already potent offering could have fans partying (with fantasy heroes) like it's 1999 again soon.