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The FF franchise includes numerous iconic locations. From 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 fans' hearts, who admire the distinctive quirks that make these locales so remarkable. But, when it comes to one setting that warrants more praise than the rest, it is undoubtedly Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not just because of its elegant design, but additionally for being a incredibly weird school.

The Pure Cinematic Moment

Before, let's mention the obvious. Balamb Garden turning into an airship and escaping from a rocket attack was absolute cinema. This location was not only intended to be a academy for mercenaries. It is a traveling base that permits them to establish new plans and reposition, based on the requirements of those in charge. Many easily view it as one of the most impressive airship designs in the series, alongside Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and some of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.

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

A Initial Look of a Gloomy Sanctuary

When we begin playing Final Fantasy 8 and see Quistis escorting Squall out of the infirmary, we get our initial glimpse of the location this brooding-looking teenager calls home. A sweeping shot starts from the floor of the school and ascends to focus on the awe-inspiring magnitude of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that appears futuristic, but also heavenly. The rounded structures recall a distinctly late ‘90s concept of how the tomorrow would look. Conversely, because of the golden details on the building and the extended beams of light emanating from the immense glowing halo on top of the school, Balamb Garden resembles a massive angel. It was built to be a serene place — too peaceful for an academy that transforms teenagers into mercenaries.

An Memorable Melody

Matching the calmness that the appearance of Balamb Garden conveys, we have the school’s soundtrack. One of the dearest recollections I have from my youth is strolling 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 forced to search on YouTube for a extended “Balamb Garden” song video. The only way to make it stop playing inside my head is to have enough of it.

• Lullaby melody that sticks in your mind
• Main courtyard with water features
• Sentimental associations for many players

The Intriguing Institution

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

The Paradoxical Philosophy

When you use the Balamb Garden Network via one of the in-game terminals, you learn that the slogan of the institution is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” I’m sorry, but I didn't have the impression that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — only Zell. But, considering that the training center, where students find real monsters they can kill, is the only place in the entire school accessible at any time during the day, perhaps that’s what they mean by “playing.” While training is the primary aspect of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their food is awful, since students are consuming so many frankfurters that the personnel have nothing else to say except “No more hot dogs today.”

Strict Policies

Students are governed by a rigid set of rules, which, for one, we would anticipate from a military school, but conversely seems strangely amusing. First, there’s not a dress code in the school, but they can’t leave their rooms in the nights, unless it’s for training. A student can be expelled if they fall behind in their studies, for aggressive acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It may not look like it, but Balamb Garden is truly worried about its students’ romantic activities. The school officially advises 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 cutting each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the opening cutscene.)

More Than Just Aesthetics

Starting with the elegant advanced design of the building to the ironies and dubious actions of the institution, there are numerous features of Balamb Garden to celebrate. We all like to tease Squall, but Balamb Garden reminds us that there’s greater depth to Final Fantasy 8 than only good looks.