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The FF series includes numerous memorable places. 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 special place in players' hearts, and they love the distinctive idiosyncrasies that make these areas so unique. But, when it comes to one location that merits greater attention than the rest, it is undoubtedly Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not only because of its beautiful design, but additionally for being a incredibly strange school.

An Absolute Movie Moment

Before, we must address the elephant in the room. Balamb Garden transforming into an airship and fleeing from a rocket attack was absolute cinema. This location was not only intended to be a training camp for mercenaries. It is a mobile base that permits them to develop new plans and reposition, based on the requirements of those in command. I easily consider it as one of the most impressive airship creations in the franchise, along with Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and several of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.

The conversion of Balamb Garden into an airship remains one of the most unforgettable moments in gaming history.

The Initial View of a Gloomy Sanctuary

As we start playing Final Fantasy 8 and see Quistis leading Squall out of the medical wing, we get our first glimpse of the place this gloomy-looking teenager calls home. A panoramic shot begins from the floor of the school and ascends to focus on the awe-inspiring scale of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that makes it feel advanced, but also heavenly. The curvy structures bring to mind a specifically late ‘90s concept of how the future would look. Conversely, because of the gilded details on the building and the extended beams of light emanating from the massive glowing halo on top of the school, Balamb Garden resembles a giant angel. It was created to be a tranquil place — too peaceful for an establishment that transforms teenagers into mercenaries.

The Catchy Theme Song

Matching the calmness that the aesthetic of Balamb Garden portrays, we have the school’s theme song. One of the fondest memories I have from my youth is strolling around the main area of Balamb Garden, seeing those aquatic statues spraying water, and hearing to the gentle theme song. The issue is that it keeps playing in your head constantly. Whenever it comes back to my mind, I’m forced to search on YouTube for a extended “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 courtyard with water features
• Nostalgic memories for countless players

A Compelling Institution

Balamb Garden is fascinating as a setting and also an establishment. First, it enrolls kids from 5 to fifteen years old to transform them into mercenaries, but it looks like a enormous church. There are a lot of military schools in RPGs, like in Trails of Cold Steel, but none look less militaristic than Balamb Garden.

The Ironic Motto

If you access 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 never have the sense that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — only Zell. But, considering that the facility, where students encounter living monsters they can defeat, is the only place in the whole school accessible at any time during the day, perhaps that’s what they mean by “playing.” While training is the key part of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their diet is poor, since students are devouring so many hot dogs that the personnel have no other response to say besides “No more hot dogs today.”

Tight Rules

Students are controlled by a rigid set of rules, which, on one hand, we would expect from a combat school, but conversely seems oddly amusing. First, there’s not a dress code in the school, but they are not allowed to leave their rooms in the nights, except it’s for training. A student may be dismissed if they lag in their studies, for violent acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It may not seem like it, but Balamb Garden is really concerned about its students’ romantic activities. The school formally recommends that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the true danger of being a student of Balamb Garden is love affairs, not battling with weapons and slashing each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the opening cutscene.)

More Than Just Appearance

From the delicate advanced design of the building to the ironies and questionable actions of the academy, there are numerous aspects of Balamb Garden to appreciate. Many of us like to joke about Squall, but Balamb Garden reminds us that there’s more to Final Fantasy 8 than only aesthetics.