I'll target my favorite and second favorite respectively;

FFVII: The Limit Breaks are now all interactive in some way, like FFVIII and FFX (and in places FFVI.) In addition, Tifa's Limit Break changes from being based on slots to being based on fighting game style button commands (no idea why they didn't do this...)

FFVIII: mini-games now exist - no idea where they'd go (VII did very well at making its mini-games fit in with the storyline), but they exist. A T-Board mini-game is definitely among them. Also, the main characters who aren't Squall and Rinoa have more storylines of their own, even if they're still only optional detours from the main story.