Some people consider Final Fantasy 8 to be the black sheep of the series, and while the combat tweaks in this title might not resonate with some, people who manage to grasp this system will be able to enjoy one of the greatest JRPGs of all time.
The story of Final Fantasy 8 is especially riveting, with some of the most hard-hitting moments in the series.
13 Laguna’s Desire To Protect His Family
“Oh, please let it be this room when I wake up! Please let me be in this puny bed when I wake up!” - Laguna
Laguna seems like a goofball when you meet him for the first time in the party’s flashbacks, but that’s only on the surface. Laguna’s path through the story is not without pain and loss, which he carries with him to bring about positive change in the world.
We learn through flashbacks that Laguna must leave Timber, leaving his wife Raine and adopted daughter Ellone behind. Raine died soon thereafter, and it’s strongly implied that Squall was the child she gave birth to before passing away. In turn, Raine’s death and Laguna’s absence are what sets up Ellone and Squall going to the orphanage.
12 The Man With The Machine Gun
“To be friends, to like one another, and to love one another… You can’t do these things alone. You need somebody.” - Laguna
The toll that Raine’s death took on Laguna was quite severe, although he keeps his cheery demeanor on the surface level. His regrets pour out when talking about memories and the time compression plan, with this dialogue indirectly - or directly - aimed at Squall.
During the game’s ending, Laguna visits Raine’s gravesite and reminisces about the time he proposed to her. He turns to find Ellone, Kiros, and Ward ready to greet him.
11 A Lonely Ladies’ Man
“Sharpshooters are loners by nature. We hone our instincts, pour our whole being into a single bullet. The pressure of the moment… An instant of tension… That’s what I have to face alone. It’s not easy.” - Irvine
Irvine might seem like your run-of-the-mill skirt chaser, but like many of Final Fantasy 8’s characters, first impressions are deceiving. He flirts with and acts familiar with the ladies of the party, and that’s partially because he’s the only one who remembers that they were from the same orphanage!
This, coupled with the fact that sharpshooting, in general, is a stressful undertaking, leads Irvine to emphasize how alone he feels.
10 Time Bows To No One
“Reflect on your childhood… Your sensations… Your words… Your emotions… Time… It will not wait… No matter… …how hard you hold on. It escapes you… And…” - Ultimecia
Ultimecia is the enigmatic villain of Final Fantasy 8, and we only see her true physical form at the very end of the game. From some distant future, she possesses the sorceresses of the current time to do her bidding. Her ultimate goal is to compress all of time and space to become an immortal god. However, her motive is not clear, although (as Edea) she notes persecution in her time for being a sorceress.
Her best quote comes right after you defeat her. Talking about time as a finite construct is nothing now, but the manner in which this dialogue is delivered makes it all the more impactful. The manner in which she speaks are totally different from before, too. What she was to say, we may never know. Perhaps something lost to time…childhood.
9 Squall Can be Cold
“Then Go Talk To A Wall.” - Squall
Squall’s aloofness is what most people point to when they talk about him in a negative sense, with most people branding him as an “emo” Cloud. However, Squall’s depth as a character is immense, with his character undergoing strong development over the course of the series.
His initial cold demeanor comes out in spades when Quistis asks him to just listen instead of retorting, prompting Squall to tell Quistis off and declare that she should speak to a wall. Ouch.
8 The Truth Hurts
“(Reality isn’t so kind. Everything doesn’t work out the way you want it to. That’s why…) As long as you don’t get your hopes up, you can take anything. You feel less pain.” —Squall
Squall’s initially cold demeanor is put on display when the party, especially Rinoa, express concern about what will happen to Seifer after Edea’s parade. His pragmatic nature contrasts with Rinoa’s optimistic outlook, with Squall matter-of-factly stating that Seifer is likely dead.
Rinoa proceeds to name-call, causing Squall to likely reflect on his choice to be so callous. Seifer is Rinoa’s ex, after all.
7 Quistis’s Feelings For Squall
“Even After Becoming an Instructor, I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About Squall. I Thought It Was…Love. I Had to Hide My Feelings Because I Was an Instructor, but I’ve Come to Realize It Wasn’t. It Was My Childhood Feelings as a Big Sister That Lingered…” - Quistis
Quistis goes through a ton of strife, especially when it comes to disassociating any personal feelings she might have for her students.
However, she feels a personal attachment to Squall which she mistakes to be love — a notion that she dispels once she realizes the history they shared back at the orphanage.
6 Squall’s Insecurities
“To Tell You the Truth… I Worry Too Much About What Others Think of Me. I Hate That Side of Me… That’s Why I Didn’t Want Anyone to Get to Know Me. I Wanted to Hide That Side of Myself. I Hate It.” - Squall
Squall’s vulnerabilities are put under a microscope after Rinoa challenges his perceptions and ideals time and time again. While initially distant, Squall finally starts voicing out his thoughts to the surprise of everyone around him.
This culminates in a beautiful moment when Squall is talking to an unconscious Rinoa and speaks about his social anxiety. It’s a poignant moment that foes to show just how deep Squall actually is as a character.
5 Ellone Dreams Of Bringing Her Family Back Together
“You can’t change the past, you can only change yourself." —Ellone
The mysterious Ellone shows up several times during Squall’s journey. It’s revealed that she possesses the power of sending a person’s consciousness back and forward through time. For example, Squall’s dreams of Laguna’s past are Ellone’s doing.
Like others who try to control time throughout the course of Final Fantasy 8, she resolves that despite her unusual power, time is immutable. Fortunately, her family comes together in the game’s resolution.
4 Heroes Of Our Own Journey
“(Right and wrong are not what separate us and our enemies. It’s different standpoints, our perspectives that separate us. Both sides blame one another. There’s no good or bad side. Just two sides holding different views.)” —Squall
During the mission in Deling City, Irvine remarks that their work would be much easier knowing the enemy is pure evil. While Squall doesn’t say this aloud, his inner dialogue reveals that there is a leader within him, one with nuanced thoughts and feelings.
Witnessing Squall’s transformation from an introvert who rarely voices his truth, to a bonafide leader is one of the rewarding moments of the game, allowing us to witness the true potential of Squall’s character.
3 A Knight In Fur-trimmed Armor
“(Rinoa… Even if you end up as the world’s enemy, I’ll…I’ll be your knight.)” - Squall
After Squall rescues Rinoa from certain space doom, she comes to grips with her still-dark destiny as a sorceress. Squall calms her down as she expresses her worries and states that even if the entire world decides to stand against Rinoa, he’ll do anything to protect her. It’s a touching moment that cements their relationship for good.
Unfortunately, the exact line was another one of Squall’s inner dialogues; even still, he tells her to stay close, making a promise that they’ll meet “here,” portending one of the ending scenes.
2 Darling, So There You Are
“I don’t want the future. I want the present to stand still. I just want to stay here with you…” - Rinoa
The relationship that Rinoa and Squall share is one of the highlights of the story, and perhaps one of the most beautiful romances in video game history. Rinoa constantly challenges Squall’s perceptions and ideals. While initially distant, Squall starts vocalizing his thoughts through her influence to the surprise of everyone.
After confessing their feelings to each other aboard the Ragnarok, Rinoa describes her fears before stating that she never wants the beautiful moment between her and Squall to end.
1 Secure the Hot Dogs…By Any Means Necessary
“Cafeteria team, collect all the hot dogs and store everything in the secret shelter. Don’t leave anything for the enemy.” —Squall
According to Squall, the hot dogs at Balamb Garden are really good. So good, that he mentions to a fellow classmate that there’s always a big rush for them.
The wait-worthy hot dogs are referenced again during Galbadia Garden’s attack on Balamb. Squall is tasked with giving orders to the students. Besides typical commands like preparing for attack or defense, there is an option to confirm “what to do with the hot dogs,” with the aforementioned quote being his detailed order. With the impending battle, it’s good to know Squall didn’t forget about the most vulnerable of his charge. While Final Fantasy 8 is mostly serious, lines like this break up the gravitas with aplomb.
NEXT: Ranking Every Final Fantasy VIII Playable Character From Weakest To Most Powerful
