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This FF8 Landmark Merits More Love
The FF series includes many iconic locations. Starting with Elfheim in the very first Final Fantasy, Midgar in Final Fantasy 7, all the way to Limsa Lominsa in Final Fantasy 14, each has secured a cherished place in fans' hearts, who celebrate the unique details that make these areas so special. However, when it comes to one location that deserves more recognition than the rest, it is definitely Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not just because of its beautiful design, but additionally for being a incredibly weird school.
The Pure Movie Moment
First, we must highlight the elephant in the room. Balamb Garden transforming into an airship and escaping from a missile attack was pure cinema. This location was not just designed to be a academy for mercenaries. It is a mobile base that permits them to establish new tactics and relocate, based on the requirements of those in command. Many easily regard it as one of the best airship concepts in the franchise, together with Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and some of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.
The transformation of Balamb Garden into an airship remains one of the most unforgettable moments in video game history.
The Initial View of a Gloomy Home
When we begin playing Final Fantasy 8 and watch Quistis escorting Squall out of the medical wing, we get our first view of the place this sullen-looking teenager calls home. A panoramic shot begins from the ground of the school and ascends to zoom in on the awe-inspiring magnitude of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that feels futuristic, but also divine. The rounded structures bring to mind a specifically late ‘90s concept of how the tomorrow would look. On the other hand, because of the gilded details on the building and the extended trails of light emanating from the immense glowing halo on top of the school, Balamb Garden resembles a giant angel. It was designed to be a peaceful place — excessively peaceful for an institution that transforms teenagers into mercenaries.
The Catchy Theme Song
Complementing the tranquility that the design of Balamb Garden suggests, we have the school’s soundtrack. One of the dearest memories I have from childhood is walking around the main area of Balamb Garden, watching those aquatic statues spraying water, and hearing to the soothing theme song. The problem is that it continues playing in your head indefinitely. Whenever it comes back to my mind, I’m compelled to look up on YouTube for a 3-hour-long “Balamb Garden” song video. The sole way to end playing inside my head is to overdose of it.
- Gentle music that sticks in your mind
- Central hub with water features
- Sentimental memories for countless players
A Intriguing Institution
Balamb Garden is fascinating as a location and also an establishment. First, it enrolls kids from five to fifteen years old to transform them into mercenaries, but it appears like a massive church. There are numerous military schools in RPGs, like in Trails of Cold Steel, but none look less like a militaristic than Balamb Garden.
The Contradictory Philosophy
If you use the Balamb Garden Network via one of the in-game terminals, you find out that the slogan of the school is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” I’m sorry, but I never have the impression that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — only Zell. However, considering that the training center, where students find real monsters they can battle, is the sole place in the whole school accessible at any time during the day, maybe that’s what they intend by “playing.” While combat preparation is the primary aspect of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their food is terrible, since students are consuming so many frankfurters that the staff have nothing else to say except “No more hot dogs today.”
Rigid Policies
Students are controlled by a rigid set of rules, which, on one hand, we would anticipate from a military school, but on the other seems weirdly amusing. For example, there’s no dress code in the school, but they can’t leave their dorms in the evenings, unless it’s for training. A student may be expelled if they fall behind in their curriculum, for aggressive acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It may not seem like it, but Balamb Garden is truly worried about its students’ sex life. The school officially recommends that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the true risk of being a student of Balamb Garden is romantic relationships, not fighting with gunblades and slashing each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the intro cutscene.)
More Than Just Aesthetics
Starting with the elegant futuristic design of the building to the paradoxes and dubious actions of the school, there are countless aspects of Balamb Garden to celebrate. Many of us like to tease Squall, but Balamb Garden reminds us that there’s greater depth to Final Fantasy 8 than simply surface appeal.
Margaret Houston
A dedicated writer and theologian passionate about sharing faith-based insights and fostering community connections.
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