That FF8 Symbol Deserves Greater Appreciation
This Final Fantasy franchise includes numerous unforgettable places. Starting with Elfheim in the very first Final Fantasy, Midgar in Final Fantasy 7, to Limsa Lominsa in Final Fantasy 14, every one has secured a cherished place in fans' hearts, and they admire the unique details that make these areas so special. But, if one setting that deserves more recognition than the rest, it is undoubtedly Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not just because of its stunning design, but also for being a absolutely weird school.
An Pure Movie Reveal
First, let's highlight the elephant in the room. Balamb Garden turning into an airship and escaping from a rocket attack was pure cinema. This institution was not only intended to be a academy for mercenaries. It is a mobile base that allows them to develop new tactics and relocate, based on the requirements of those in command. Many readily consider it as one of the most impressive airship designs in the series, along with Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and some of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.
This change of Balamb Garden into an airship remains one of the most iconic moments in video game history.
A First Glimpse of a Brooding Home
When we start playing Final Fantasy 8 and watch Quistis escorting Squall out of the infirmary, we get our initial view of the place this sullen-looking teenager calls home. A panoramic shot starts from the ground of the school and rises to focus on the impressive size of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that appears advanced, but also somehow angelic. The flowing structures recall a distinctly late ‘90s concept of how the tomorrow would look. Meanwhile, because of the gilded details on the building and the extended trails of light emanating from the enormous glowing halo on top of the school, Balamb Garden resembles a giant angel. It was built to be a peaceful place — too peaceful for an institution that transforms teenagers into mercenaries.
The Unforgettable Theme Song
Complementing the calmness that the appearance of Balamb Garden conveys, we have the school’s soundtrack. One of the most cherished recollections I have from my youth is strolling around the central area of Balamb Garden, seeing those fish statues spurting water, and hearing to the gentle theme song. The issue is that it continues playing in your head constantly. Whenever it returns to my mind, I’m forced to look up on YouTube for a 3-hour-long “Balamb Garden” song video. The only way to end playing inside my head is to overdose of it.
- Lullaby music that remains in your mind
- Main area with water features
- Nostalgic associations for countless players
The Intriguing Academy
Balamb Garden is intriguing as a location as well as an institution. For starters, it accepts kids from 5 to 15 years old to mold them into mercenaries, but it appears like a enormous church. There are many military schools in RPGs, like in Trails of Cold Steel, but none look less militaristic than Balamb Garden.
The Contradictory Slogan
When you use the Balamb Garden Network using one of the in-game terminals, you find out that the motto of the academy is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” Apologies, but I didn't have the feeling that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — except for Zell. But, considering that the training center, where students encounter living monsters they can kill, is the sole place in the entire school accessible at all hours during the day, perhaps that’s what they intend by “playing.” While combat preparation is the most important part of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their diet is terrible, since students are devouring so many hot dogs that the faculty have no other response to say besides “No more hot dogs today.”
Strict Policies
Students are governed by a strict set of rules, which, on one hand, we should anticipate from a military school, but on the other seems oddly funny. First, there’s no dress code in the school, but they are not allowed to leave their rooms in the evenings, except it’s for training. A student can be dismissed if they lag in their curriculum, for aggressive acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It might not look like it, but Balamb Garden is really worried about its students’ sex life. The school formally advises that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the real danger of being a student of Balamb Garden is love affairs, not battling 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 refined advanced design of the building to the ironies and questionable actions of the institution, there are countless features of Balamb Garden to appreciate. Many of us like to tease Squall, but Balamb Garden serves to remind us that there’s more to Final Fantasy 8 than only surface appeal.