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This FF series includes numerous iconic settings. 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 found a special place in fans' hearts, who love the distinctive idiosyncrasies that make these areas so remarkable. However, when it comes to one place that warrants more praise than the rest, it is certainly Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not just because of its beautiful design, but additionally for being a truly weird school.

The Absolute Cinematic Reveal

First, we must address the obvious. Balamb Garden turning into an flying vessel and fleeing from a missile attack was pure cinema. This location was not just intended to be a training camp for mercenaries. It is a mobile base that permits them to develop new plans and reposition, depending on the demands of those in charge. I easily consider it as one of the coolest airship concepts in the series, along 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 most memorable moments in gaming history.

The Initial Glimpse of a Gloomy Sanctuary

As we start playing Final Fantasy 8 and see Quistis escorting Squall out of the medical wing, we get our first glimpse of the location this sullen-looking teenager calls home. A panoramic shot begins from the floor of the school and ascends to zoom in on the awe-inspiring size of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that makes it feel futuristic, but also heavenly. The flowing structures evoke a specifically late ‘90s vision of how the future would look. On the other hand, because of the golden details on the building and the long trails of light coming from the massive glowing halo on top of the school, Balamb Garden looks like a massive angel. It was built to be a tranquil place — excessively peaceful for an academy that transforms teenagers into mercenaries.

An Memorable Theme Song

Matching the serenity that the appearance of Balamb Garden portrays, we have the school’s soundtrack. One of the most cherished recollections I have from my youth is walking around the main area of Balamb Garden, seeing those fish statues spurting water, and listening to the soothing theme song. The catch is that it keeps playing in your head constantly. Whenever it comes back to my mind, I’m compelled to search on YouTube for a extended “Balamb Garden” song video. The only way to get it out of playing inside my head is to listen to it repeatedly of it.

• Lullaby music that sticks in your mind
• Central courtyard with fountain features
• Nostalgic memories for many players

The Compelling Institution

Balamb Garden is intriguing as a setting as well as an establishment. For starters, it enrolls kids from 5 to 15 years old to transform them into mercenaries, but it appears like a massive church. There are numerous military schools in RPGs, like in Trails of Cold Steel, but none look less militaristic than Balamb Garden.

The Contradictory Motto

When you access the Balamb Garden Network via one of the game terminals, you learn that the slogan of the academy is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” I’m sorry, but I never have the impression that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — except for Zell. But, given that the training area, where students find living monsters they can defeat, is the sole place in the whole school accessible at any time during the day, perhaps that’s what they mean by “playing.” While combat preparation is the key aspect of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their nutrition is terrible, since students are eating so many frankfurters that the personnel have nothing else to say besides “No more hot dogs today.”

Rigid Regulations

Students are governed by a strict set of rules, which, for one, we would anticipate from a combat school, but conversely seems weirdly funny. First, there’s not a dress code in the school, but they can’t leave their rooms in the evenings, except it’s for training. A student may be expelled if they lag in their curriculum, for aggressive acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It may not look like it, but Balamb Garden is really concerned about its students’ relationships. The school officially recommends that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the real risk of being a student of Balamb Garden is love affairs, not fighting with gunblades and cutting each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the opening cutscene.)

More Than Just Appearance

From the delicate futuristic design of the building to the ironies and dubious practices of the institution, there are many features of Balamb Garden to celebrate. We all like to joke about Squall, but Balamb Garden reminds us that there’s greater depth to Final Fantasy 8 than only surface appeal.