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The FF series includes countless memorable locations. From Elfheim in the very first Final Fantasy, Midgar in Final Fantasy 7, all the way to Limsa Lominsa in Final Fantasy 14, every one has secured a cherished place in fans' hearts, who admire the unique quirks that make these areas so special. However, if one location that merits greater attention than the rest, it is undoubtedly Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not just because of its beautiful design, but also for being a absolutely bizarre school.

The Absolute Movie Reveal

First, we must highlight the obvious. Balamb Garden morphing into an flying vessel and fleeing from a rocket attack was absolute cinema. This institution was not only designed to be a academy for mercenaries. It is a moving base that allows them to create new plans and reposition, depending on the requirements of those in control. Many readily regard it as one of the best airship creations 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 more memorable moments in video game history.

The First Glimpse of a Brooding Sanctuary

As we start 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 sweeping shot begins from the ground of the school and ascends to focus on the staggering size of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that makes it feel futuristic, but also somehow heavenly. The flowing structures recall a distinctly late ‘90s concept of how the tomorrow would look. Meanwhile, because of the gilded accents on the building and the long beams of light coming from the enormous glowing halo on top of the school, Balamb Garden resembles a massive angel. It was built to be a tranquil place — excessively peaceful for an establishment that transforms teenagers into mercenaries.

The Memorable Soundtrack

Matching the tranquility that the aesthetic of Balamb Garden portrays, we have the school’s theme song. One of the dearest memories I have from being a kid is strolling around the main area of Balamb Garden, watching those aquatic statues spouting water, and listening to the soothing theme song. The issue is that it keeps playing in your head indefinitely. Whenever it returns to my mind, I’m forced 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 have enough of it.

• Soothing music that remains in your mind
• Main area with fountain features
• Sentimental memories for many players

A Fascinating Institution

Balamb Garden is fascinating as a setting as well as an establishment. For starters, it accepts kids from five to 15 years old to transform them into mercenaries, but it looks like a massive church. There are numerous military schools in RPGs, like in Trails of Cold Steel, but not one look less like a militaristic than Balamb Garden.

The Contradictory Slogan

When you use the Balamb Garden Network via one of the in-game terminals, you find out that the motto of the school is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” Apologies, but I never have the sense that those teenagers training to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — only Zell. But, given that the training area, where students find real monsters they can battle, is the sole place in the entire school available at any time during the day, perhaps that’s what they intend by “playing.” While combat preparation is the most important aspect of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their nutrition is poor, since students are devouring so many hot dogs that the personnel have no other response to say except “No more hot dogs today.”

Tight Regulations

Students are governed by a tight set of rules, which, for one, we should expect from a combat school, but conversely seems strangely amusing. For example, there’s not a dress code in the school, but they can’t leave their rooms in the nights, unless it’s for training. A student may be dismissed if they lag in their studies, for violent acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It might not seem like it, but Balamb Garden is really worried about its students’ sex life. The school officially suggests that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the true threat of being a student of Balamb Garden is love affairs, not fighting with weapons and cutting each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the opening cutscene.)

More Than Only Aesthetics

From the elegant futuristic design of the building to the ironies and debatable actions of the school, there are many elements of Balamb Garden to celebrate. We all like to make fun of Squall, but Balamb Garden reminds us that there’s greater depth to Final Fantasy 8 than simply aesthetics.