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The FF series includes numerous unforgettable settings. From Elfheim in the original Final Fantasy, Midgar in Final Fantasy 7, all the way to Limsa Lominsa in Final Fantasy 14, every one has earned a special place in players' hearts, who love the unique quirks that make these worlds so remarkable. However, when it comes to one location that merits more attention than the others, it is definitely Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not only because of its stunning design, but additionally for being a absolutely weird school.

An Absolute Blockbuster Moment

Before, let's highlight the obvious. Balamb Garden transforming into an flying vessel and fleeing from a missile attack was pure cinema. This institution was not just intended to be a academy for mercenaries. It is a traveling base that enables them to establish new plans and reposition, depending on the demands of those in charge. Many readily consider it as one of the coolest airship creations in the series, along with Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and several of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.

The transformation of Balamb Garden into an airship remains one of the more iconic moments in video game history.

The Initial Glimpse of a Brooding Sanctuary

As we start playing Final Fantasy 8 and see Quistis escorting Squall out of the medical wing, we get our first view of the place this brooding-looking teenager calls home. A sweeping shot starts from the floor of the school and rises to focus on the awe-inspiring magnitude of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that makes it feel futuristic, but also somehow divine. The flowing structures bring to mind a specifically late ‘90s vision of how the tomorrow would look. Conversely, because of the golden accents on the building and the long beams of light emanating from the massive glowing ring on top of the school, Balamb Garden evokes a massive angel. It was built to be a serene place — too peaceful for an institution that turns teenagers into mercenaries.

The Unforgettable Theme Song

Matching the calmness that the appearance of Balamb Garden suggests, we have the school’s background music. One of the most cherished recollections I have from being a kid is walking around the central area of Balamb Garden, seeing those fish statues spraying water, and listening to the gentle theme song. The problem is that it keeps playing in your head forever. Once it returns to my mind, I’m compelled to search on YouTube for a extended “Balamb Garden” song video. The only way to make it stop playing inside my head is to overdose of it.

• Gentle music that remains in your mind
• Central courtyard with fountain features
• Nostalgic feelings for countless players

A Fascinating Academy

Balamb Garden is intriguing as a setting and also an establishment. For starters, it accepts kids from five to fifteen years old to mold them into mercenaries, but it appears like a massive church. There are a lot of military schools in RPGs, like in Trails of Cold Steel, but not one look less like a militaristic than Balamb Garden.

A Contradictory Motto

When you use the Balamb Garden Network using one of the game terminals, you discover that the slogan of the school is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” Apologies, but I didn't have the impression that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — only Zell. But, given that the facility, where students find living monsters they can battle, is the sole place in the whole school available at all hours during the day, maybe that’s what they mean by “playing.” While combat preparation is the most important part of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their food is terrible, since students are consuming so many hot dogs that the staff have no other response to say besides “No more hot dogs today.”

Tight Policies

Students are governed by a tight set of rules, which, on one hand, we should expect from a combat school, but on the other seems strangely humorous. First, there’s no dress code in the school, but they are not allowed to leave their dorms 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 might not seem like it, but Balamb Garden is really concerned 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 romantic relationships, not fighting with gunblades and slashing each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the opening cutscene.)

Greater Than Only Good Looks

Starting with the refined futuristic design of the building to the ironies and dubious practices of the institution, there are numerous aspects 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 just aesthetics.