I've done extensive research on the PC version of Breath of Fire IV and how it stacks up to the PS1 and other regional versions of the game. Here are my findings, and I hope GOG is able to address and patch some of these.

[SOLVED] 1. Bilinear Filtering https://www.dragnier.net/breath-of-fire-iv/breath-of-fire-iv-version-differences/#bilinear-filtering

The PC CD-ROM version of Breath of Fire IV employs a forced bilinear filter on the game’s 2D sprites and 3D environments that is not present in the PlayStation version. This results in blurred, smoothed-out 2D sprites and smoothed-out 3D textures.

Solution: The bilinear filter in the PC version can be overridden by using an external program such as dgVoodoo2 to enforce point-filtering, achieving a more pixel art-look akin to the PlayStation version.

Request: GOG should update the DirectX wrapper to allow you to force point sampling for a pixel look.

(SOLVED: Point sampled is now an option in the DirectX wrapper thanks to 1.0 hotfix2.)

2. 3D Environments and Models https://www.dragnier.net/breath-of-fire-iv/breath-of-fire-iv-version-differences/#3D-Environments-Models

3D environments and 3D models are rendered at a higher resolution in the PC version of Breath of Fire IV, resulting in a smoother look with less jagged edges. Nevertheless, clipping issues occur between the models and the geometry. i.e. Aura Dragon's right claw clips through the crater in an early cutscene, and Khafu's wing clips through the cliffside during the boss fight as Fou-Lu.

Also, seams in the subdivided 3D polygonal terrain are much more visible in the PC version.

Request: Update collision of 3D models to avoid clipping and be closer to the PS1 version. Mask the seams in the 3D blocked terrain.

3. Text/Font https://www.dragnier.net/breath-of-fire-iv/breath-of-fire-iv-version-differences/#Text-Font

The PS1 version's pixel font was replaced with a chunkier font reminiscent of Denver Serial.

Request: It'd be great to be able to switch between the classic font and the 2003 PC font.

4. Music Comparison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IafYF2gbw8A&ab_channel=BreathofFireFans

The PlayStation version of the BGM (background music) employs a reverb effect to make it sound fuller. The PC version of the music has the reverb effect removed, resulting in a flatter sound, especially with brass instruments.

Request: Update the BGM with the PS1 version's.

5. Incorrect Looping of BGM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFvAuM_aeUM&ab_channel=BreathofFireFans

In the PlayStation version of the game, BGM loops properly. In the PC version, when a track reaches its end, the music abruptly restarts from the beginning without a proper, seamless loop.

Request: Fix the music looping bug so that music seamlessly loops.

6. Missing Boss Victory Themes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_93BTq-F6po&ab_channel=BreathofFireFans

Breath of Fire IV has two victory theme melodies that play depending on which continent you’re battling in:

Eastern Continent Victory Theme: “To the Victor Go the Spoils (2000 Edition)”

Western Continent Victory Theme: “Take The Money & Run”

In the PlayStation version, upon defeating a boss, there are alternative, more triumphant-sounding versions of these two victory themes playing. These versions are absent in the PC release, with the normal victory themes playing instead.

Request: Bring back the PS1 version's unique boss victory theme variations.

7. Removed & Edited Cutscenes https://www.dragnier.net/breath-of-fire-iv/breath-of-fire-iv-version-differences/#Deleted-Scenes

The deleted scenes in Checkpoint, Shikk, Saldine, and the Castle from the North American and European PlayStation version remain removed in the English PC release.

Request: Restore these cutscenes in the English release since they still exist in the Japanese version.

8. Dengeki Shop https://www.dragnier.net/breath-of-fire-iv/breath-of-fire-iv-version-differences/#Dengeki-Shop

The Dengeki Shop south of Mt. Glom was removed from the Japanese PC release of Breath of Fire IV: Utsurowazaru Mono and is not present in any other PC version.

Request: Restore the Dengeki Shop in all versions.

9. Change Rank (Tab key) only works forwards on R2 but PS1 has both forwards (R2) and backwards (L2) rank changing.

In the PS1 version, by default, L2 changes rank in reverse, so characters 1-2-3 would become 3-1-2. Meanwhile, R2 would change rank forwards, so characters 1-2-3 would becomes 2-3-1. In the PC version, you can only bind the forwards rank change button (default Tab, mapped to R1 by default) and interestingly clicking in L3 on a controller does the reverse rank change.

Request: Option to rebind reverse rank change (L3) to L2.

10. On-screen command prompts show keyboard keys even when using a controller.

Request: Replace on-screen keyboard key prompts with appropriate buttons depending on the controller connected (PS/Xbox/NSW).

11. Scias's "Identify" Skill https://www.dragnier.net/breath-of-fire-iv/breath-of-fire-iv-version-differences/#Dengeki-Shop

Like the North American and European PS1 versions, Scias’s しきべつ / Shikibetsu (“Identify”) skill is not available in the English PC version of Breath of Fire IV. Fun fact: If you load a Traditional Chinese BoFIV save with the English GOG version of the game, Scias will have the cut Identify Skill! However, character names will be bugged and may cause crashes.

Request: Restore Scias's Identify skill since it's still in the code, and fix up the formatting of elemental weaknesses when using the skill.

12. No true "Pause" screen in the PC version, despite there being one in the PS1 version.

In the PS1 version of the game, you can pause by pressing Start while on the field, during battle, or on the world map. Pressing Start while in a command window, such as a battle menu or subscreen, would pull up a tutorial. In the PC version, the Start button equivalent is F1 key, but this can only bring up the tutorial and does not implement a hard pause screen like the PS1 version.

Request: Restore the pause screen from the PS1 version.

13. Fou-Lu's sword attack animation show a black-colored swiping animation, whereas the effect is white in the PS1 version.

Request: Restore the correct PS1 color in Fou-Lu's attack animation.

Adding my support to this thread and can confirm windowed mode is also not working for me.

TYVM for your work. Now please put this in a support ticket directed to gog :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzANZvfmhfI

They talk about some of the fixes they made to the game in this video.

They also have a change log on the store page:

---------------------

What improvements we made to this game:
1.0 hotfix changelog
Improved support for controller hotplugging.
Added full support for Sony DualSense Edge, Amazon Luna, Google Stadia, and NVIDIA Shield controllers.

1.0 changelog:
Full compatibility with Windows 10 and Windows 11.
2 localizations of the game included (English and Japanese).
Improved DirectX game renderer.
New rendering options (Windowed Mode, Vertical Synchronization Control, Gamma Correction, Integer Scaling, Anti-Aliasing, and more).
Improved audio engine (restored missing environmental sounds and audio configuration).
Improved keyboard and mouse support.
Improved Warehouse and Crane minigames.
Improved F9 exit screen.
Issue-free battle and combo system (all crashes have been fixed).
Issue-free cutscene scripting.
Issue-free task switching.
Full support for modern controllers (Sony DualSense, Sony DualShock4, Microsoft Xbox Series, Microsoft Xbox One, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, Logitech F series and many more) with optimal button binding, vibration, hotplugging and wireless mode.

GOG or modders, I have a short list of suggestions:

- An option for the game to display the Xbox and Playstation controller icons
- Restoration of censored scenes
- Widescreen( By increasing the field of view in battles and areas to 16:9, menus and cutscenes can be kept in 4:3)

My 8bitdo Ultimate 2C isn't being detected at all, I think the whole "controller support" is a lie and this game is keyboard only.

Try Windows 7 compatibility, it worked for me.

I dunno what they did exactly but it is surely not failure proof.

+1; I'd love to see these improvements made as well. This has what it takes to be the best version of the game. And as V2C said, 16:9 field of view would be very cool too.

Agreed on all fronts, and yes, while I am glad to see an official PC port for one (that's not locked to the Europe region as was with the 2003 port), the lack of reverb is quite jarring. And while this is only 10 dollars, I really hope they or someone can fix these issues with audio and filtering

For those wondering, OP (Odjn Ryu) has also created a guide on workarounds and recommended settings to get this as close as possible to its best experience. Thought it could be useful mentioning it on this forum post. It looks like I'm not allowed to post links, but searching for "Dragnier Breath of Fire IV PC GOG Setup Guide" should lead you there.

Thank you! It seems we can post links in this thread, now. I've updated the OP to include Scias's Identify skill and added links.

Ability to post links is tied to forum rep score (which is no longer readily visible to users since a few years ago, but which still lurks behind the scenes). The threshold, however, is very low (I want to say 7 rep...but high single digits or very low double digits).

Edited to remove irrelevant advice given due to my misreading the post. XD

One thing I'll note is that Capcom and GOG would need to renegotiate the usage of the Dengeki shop present in the original Japanese release of Breath of Fire 4 on PS1. This was a license deal with the company/publisher Dengeki. This would likely result in licensing and/or royalty fees associated with it's usage present in the game and likely because of this, they've opted not to even have it in the original PC port of the release of the game, nor restore it for this version. I think everything else is 100% fair, but I just do not expect them to resolve the licensing situation with the Dengeki shop.

Just wanted to say that I read the guide after coming to my own conclusions. It's an excellent guide. However, there is a bit of incorrect info.

The in-game resolution settings are not for internal resolution at all and seemingly never were. They are for aspect ratio. Internal resolution without the wrapper is exclusively controlled by windows desktop display settings. The DXwrapper that GOG provides handles internal rendering resolution, but not aspect ratio.

Thus, if you choose 1920x1440 as the in-game res...or any in-game 4:3 res, but select 4k resolution via the wrapper the game will run 4:3 with a 4k res....as you have noted.

If you select 4k res in-game, the internal rendering will only match WDD settings (let's say you have it at 1440p instead because you use something like DSR/DLDSR factors for gaming), and slightly stretch the picture...aka handling only aspect ratio.

I prefer, with my 1440p monitor, to set in-game res via DLDSR to 4k, then match that via the wrapper. I get a crisp 16:9 image that barely looks stretched even if at all using integer scaling and aspect ratio correction. I don't know why your website/guide says don't do it because of the stretching. There barely is any with the settings I have mentioned. I find it far preferable to playing out of a box centered on my 16:9 display.

In practice, you won't be gaining any field of vision by doing that. I'm not sure how the final result with your settings look like (feel free to share screenshots), but if you're not getting the main advantages from playing on widescreen, I believe it's not really worth it going for 16:9 and higher aspect ratios unless you're really, really bothered by pillarboxes.