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The Final Fantasy series boasts numerous iconic settings. From Elfheim in the very first Final Fantasy, Midgar in Final Fantasy 7, to Limsa Lominsa in Final Fantasy 14, each has secured a special place in players' hearts, who love the distinctive idiosyncrasies that make these locales so remarkable. But, when it comes to one setting that merits more attention than the rest, it is definitely Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not just because of its beautiful design, but also for being a absolutely bizarre school.

The Pure Movie Moment

Before, we must address the obvious. Balamb Garden turning into an airship and escaping from a missile attack was pure cinema. This institution was not just intended to be a academy for mercenaries. It is a moving base that allows them to establish new strategies and move, depending on the requirements of those in command. Many easily view it as one of the most impressive airship concepts in the franchise, alongside Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and several of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.

This change of Balamb Garden into an airship remains one of the most memorable moments in video game history.

The First View of a Brooding Home

As we begin playing Final Fantasy 8 and see Quistis escorting Squall out of the infirmary, we get our initial look of the location this gloomy-looking teenager calls home. A panoramic shot begins from the floor of the school and ascends to zoom in on the impressive size of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that feels futuristic, but also somehow heavenly. The curvy structures evoke a distinctly late ‘90s idea of how the future would look. Meanwhile, because of the golden accents on the building and the long trails of light coming from the immense glowing ring on top of the school, Balamb Garden evokes a giant angel. It was designed to be a tranquil place — excessively peaceful for an establishment that turns teenagers into mercenaries.

The Catchy Theme Song

Complementing the calmness that the aesthetic of Balamb Garden conveys, we have the school’s theme song. One of the fondest recollections I have from being a kid is strolling around the central area of Balamb Garden, seeing those fish statues spurting water, and hearing to the lullaby-ish theme song. The issue is that it keeps playing in your head forever. Whenever it returns to my mind, I’m compelled to look up on YouTube for a extended “Balamb Garden” song video. The only way to end playing inside my head is to listen to it repeatedly of it.

• Gentle tune that remains in your mind
• Central hub with water features
• Sentimental memories for many players

The Intriguing Academy

Balamb Garden is fascinating as a location as well as an institution. First, it accepts kids from five to 15 years old to turn 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 none look less militaristic than Balamb Garden.

The Ironic Philosophy

When you access the Balamb Garden Network via one of the in-game terminals, you find out that the credo of the academy is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” Apologies, but I didn't have the sense that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — except for Zell. But, considering that the facility, where students find living monsters they can battle, is the only place in the whole school available at any time during the day, maybe that’s what they mean by “playing.” While combat preparation is the primary aspect of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their diet is poor, since students are eating so many frankfurters that the staff have nothing else to say besides “No more hot dogs today.”

Tight Regulations

Students are governed by a tight set of rules, which, on one hand, we would expect from a combat school, but conversely seems strangely funny. 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 fall behind in their curriculum, for aggressive acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It may not look like it, but Balamb Garden is genuinely worried about its students’ relationships. The school formally recommends that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the true risk 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 intro cutscene.)

Greater Than Just Good Looks

Starting with the refined advanced design of the building to the ironies and dubious decisions of the school, there are many features of Balamb Garden to admire. Many of us like to make fun of Squall, but Balamb Garden serves to remind us that there’s more to Final Fantasy 8 than only good looks.