There is a strange-shaped building that serves as a school for soldiers. It's called Garden. Squall is one of the trainees of the school. It is a private school for kids from six to 19 years of age. If a kid doesn't pass the graduation exam during the ages of 15 to 19, the kid will be expelled from Garden.
Basically, normal people cannot use magic, but Garden graduates are exceptional and can.
A much harder goal than passing the graduation exam is to become a member of SeeD. SeeD is a special force like the Navy SEALS. Highly capable trainees have a chance to try out for SeeD. Squall is hoping to become a member of the squad.
At a glance, this world is peaceful. But in the closet it hides many small problems, carrying a situation where war can break through at any time. The Garden was created in such a world. A private school of soldiers created to quiet down the disputes. Located all around the world, but not working under any country. By sending the soldiers of the Garden around the world, the seeds of world war were being destroyed and the military powers, balanced. At first glance, this world was peaceful. Until the legendary witch awoke from the long silence
When Squall is inducted into SeeD, the elite mercenary force of Garden, he attends a dinner party for the new recruits, during which he meets Rinoa. Although they do not reveal their identies at the party, Squall encounters Rinoa later, and discovers she is the leader of the Forest Owls, a rebel organization fighting against the nation of Galbaldia.
The Forest Owls are not very effective in their battles against Galbaldia, despite being assissted by SeeD. All the members of Forest Owls appear to have little concern about the consequences of their actions.
After meeting Rinoa, Squall has a very strange dream, in which he is Laguna Loire, a Galbaldia soldier who would rather be a journalist. In the dream, Laguna is on a mission with Ward and Kiros.
Meanwhile, the nation of Galbaldia has annexed neighboring Dole, and has declared war on the rest of the world. The president of Galbaldia was assisted by the witch Edea. Because it is suspected that Edea is behind the recent Galbaldian actions, Squall is sent on a mission to assassinate her.
Complicating matters is the appearance of Seifer, Squall's long time rival, at Edea's side. Seifer has two loyal bodyguards, Raijin and Fuujin who will also make Squall's mission harder.
Edea has an image of a witch in the occidental culture. She is an enemy for Squall and his fellows. But what does her existence in the world, where Squall and his friends live, mean? Fundementally witches have been the only women that have powerful magics. Though they have existed since ancient time, the reason why they exist is unknown. They are not immortal but have the fatal thread like humans. A witch can pass her power as a witch on to the person she chooses. It is said that witch's power does not run in the blood, so a person chosen by a witch suddenly gets a tremendous magical power, and sometimes such a person's life would be changed dramatically.
So some witches made best use of their magical power and conquered people, and some hated their own power and lived a solitary lives. Some evil witches were beside themselves with the tremendous magical power and even controlled a government at that time. People feared all the witches as evil ones, and they have been trying to get rid of them from their society. And now, the existence of witches have become unknown to ordinary people. For young people, including Squall, witches are just what exist only in legends. Adding to this, many of them have forgotten that some witches are evil. There Edea appeared in public. Looking at these pictures, people seem to adore her as if she were a god. has she appeared as an enemy for Squall, does he have to antagonize these people who adore Edea?
Age - 17
Height - 177 cm
Weapon - Gunblade
Bday - August 23
Blood - AB (rare ;)
Special Attack - successive attack
Squall is a poker-faced, short-spoken man who carries a unique sword known as the "Gunblade." That is, unless the subject at hand is one he's interestesd in, at which point he's known to become quite lively and outspoken. He's a bit of a loner, and he wears a necklace that bares a strange griffon-like symbol (the same one that can be seen near the barrel on the Gunblade). Squall can almost be described as emotionally dead. He gives many the cold shoulder, 'til Rinoa comes along.
Age - 27
Height - 181 cm
Weapon - Machine Gun
Bday - ?
Blood - ?
Special Attack - Machine Gun Attack
Unlike Squall, Laguna is a man of heart. He knows love and respects his duties. He's an optimistic and vigorous person who enjoys the confidence bestowed in him. How Squall and Laguna's paths will cross you will have to play the game to see, but the idea of possibly playing with two entirely different characters from the outset is quite fun. Be prepared for some interesting personality switches between Squall and Laguna.
Age - 17
Height - 163 cm
Weapon - Blaster Edge
Bday - March 3
Blood - ?
Special Attack - Angelo
Rinoa is a cheerful girl with an overwhelming amount of tenderness and unyielding spirt. She too is very honest and has no problems speaking her mind and being very straightforward with others. On the other hand though, she's a bit shy, so sometimes she has mixed or confused feelings. You'll encounter her when she hires Squall from Garden to do some dirty business.
Age - 17
Height - 168 cm
Weapon - Glove
Bday - March 17
Blood - B
Special Attack - Duel
Zell joined Garden when he was 13 in order to train himself to be a great soldier like his grandfather, who he admires very much. He's an honest fighter, and he's very straightforward; he fits into the military stereotype perfectly. He often loses his temper due to the Seifer, but that doesn't seem to concern him very much. An all-around honest man, Zell grew up in a wealthy family. Because of this, he lacks seriousness. He's a quick and lethal fighter, and martial arts master. His nick-name is "The Machine." If you intend to explore the entire FFVIII world you'll find out why this is his nick-name.
Age - 17
Height - 185 cm
Weapon - Shotgun
Bday - November 24
Blood - O
Special Attack - shoot
It is said that Irvian is not a student of the Garden, but evidently, he has something to do with the Garden. He dresses like a cowboy and uses a shotgun as his weapon. He tries to convince people around him that he's a misunderstood loner, but when placed in pressure his exterior bravado crumbles and he breaks down (you'll see this soon into the game).
Age - 17
Height - 157 cm
Weapon - nunchaku
Bday - July 16
Blood - B
Special Attack - slot
Selphie was recommended for SeeD. She is a good fighter with a child-like heart. Selphie meets up with Squall and his friends while they are on the dollet mission and is in your party from that point on.
Age - 18
Height - 172 cm
Weapon - Chain Whip
Bday - October 4
Blood - A
Special Attack - blue magic
At 18 years of age, she is already a teacher at Balamb Garden - Called "Trepe Teacher" by her pupils. With here amazing fighting skills, she enroled in garden at age of 10, and entered SeeD at the age of 15.
Age - 18
Height - 188 cm
Weapon - Gunblade (?)
Bday - December 22
Blood - O
Special Attack - Sword Attack
Seifer is the mysterious man who is apparently the leader of Squad B (the SeeD candidate squad in which Squall belongs). Though he's talented, he's regarded as problematic because of his short-tempered attitude and inability to properly follow orders. Still, there's something dignified in his bearing that nobody else has. Because he realizes Squall is gifted, he considers him to be his rival, but could the two be linked in more ways than we know?
Age - Unknown
Height - Unknown
Weapon - Magic
Bday - Unknown
Blood - Unknown
Special Attack - Unknown
Edea has an image of a witch in the occidental culture. She is an enemy for Squall and his fellows. But what does her existence in the world, where Squall and his friends live, mean? Fundementally witches have been the only women that have powerful magics. Though they have existed since ancient time, the reason why they exist is unknown. They are not immortal and have the fatal thread like humans. A witch can pass her power as a witch on to the person she chooses. It is said that witch's power does not run in the blood, so a person chosen by a witch suddenly gets a tremendous magical power, and sometimes such a person's life would be changed dramatically. Later on in the game you'll find she has strange connection with Rinoa and the entire story.
You are Squall Lionheart, a student at Garden who is serious to a fault, and are hired by Rinoa Heartilly to help in her attempts to over throw a government seeking to control it's people. You later find out that your are in a totally different situation than what you are hired for. As you progress through the story you find that the witch Edea is behind all of your troubles. Later in the game, however, you find out that you have a very unique connection with Edea, your team mates, and various strangers.
By far the best RPG ever made. It lives up to the proud Final fantasy series. The graphics are superb, a story line that keeps you guessing, and side quest that'll keep you busy for months.
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