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The Final Fantasy series features numerous iconic locations. 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 found a cherished place in players' hearts, and they celebrate the distinctive quirks that make these areas so remarkable. But, when it comes to one location that deserves more praise 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 strange school.

An Absolute Cinematic Reveal

First, we must mention the obvious. Balamb Garden turning into an flying vessel and escaping from a rocket attack was absolute cinema. This location was not just intended to be a training camp for mercenaries. It is a traveling base that enables them to establish new strategies and reposition, based on the demands of those in command. Many readily regard it as one of the coolest airship creations in the franchise, together with Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and several of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.

This transformation of Balamb Garden into an airship remains one of the more memorable moments in gaming history.

The Initial Glimpse of a Gloomy Home

When we begin playing Final Fantasy 8 and watch Quistis escorting Squall out of the infirmary, we get our initial glimpse of the location this gloomy-looking teenager calls home. A sweeping 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 advanced, but also somehow angelic. The curvy structures evoke a distinctly late ‘90s concept of how the future would look. Conversely, because of the gilded accents on the building and the long trails of light emanating from the massive glowing ring on top of the school, Balamb Garden looks like a giant angel. It was created to be a peaceful place — too peaceful for an institution that transforms teenagers into mercenaries.

An Unforgettable Theme Song

Matching the serenity that the appearance of Balamb Garden suggests, we have the school’s background music. One of the most cherished memories I have from childhood is strolling around the central area of Balamb Garden, seeing those aquatic statues spraying water, and listening to the soothing theme song. The issue is that it keeps playing in your head constantly. Whenever it returns to my mind, I’m compelled to look up on YouTube for a extended “Balamb Garden” song video. The sole way to get it out of playing inside my head is to overdose of it.

• Soothing tune that lingers in your mind
• Central area with fountain features
• Nostalgic associations for countless players

The Intriguing School

Balamb Garden is compelling as a location and also an establishment. For starters, it accepts kids from five to fifteen years old to transform them into mercenaries, but it appears like a giant church. There are many military schools in RPGs, like in Trails of Cold Steel, but none look less like a militaristic than Balamb Garden.

A Contradictory Motto

If you use the Balamb Garden Network via one of the game terminals, you find out that the motto of the school is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” I’m sorry, but I didn't have the feeling that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — only Zell. However, considering that the training center, where students encounter real monsters they can kill, is the only place in the entire school accessible at all hours during the day, perhaps that’s what they mean by “playing.” While training is the most important part of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their nutrition is terrible, since students are devouring so many frankfurters that the personnel have nothing else to say except “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 military school, but on the other seems weirdly humorous. First, there’s not a dress code in the school, but they are not allowed to leave their rooms in the evenings, except it’s for training. A student may be dismissed if they fall behind in their studies, for aggressive acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It might not seem like it, but Balamb Garden is genuinely worried about its students’ relationships. The school officially advises that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the true threat of being a student of Balamb Garden is love affairs, not fighting with weapons and cutting each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the opening cutscene.)

Greater Than Only Appearance

From the delicate futuristic design of the building to the paradoxes and questionable practices of the academy, there are numerous elements of Balamb Garden to appreciate. We all like to tease Squall, but Balamb Garden serves to remind us that there’s greater depth to Final Fantasy 8 than only surface appeal.