Story

Background

The premise of Final Fantasy has been and will always be an RPG style game with different characters in the same fictitious world. When I say "world," I don't mean that it's always on the same map. It's the world created by Square filled with fast and large chicken-like birds called Chocobos, a good mix of technology and magic, and a storyline that you become attached to more so than you'd like to admit. In screenshots, we can see the magic, machinery and Chocobos, but does Final Fantasy 8 have the storyline?

City Scene

Can you say anime?

You start out as this young, laid back man named Squall that is hospitalized because Seifer, your arch-nemesis student, slashed you on the face while practicing for your graduation exam from an elite fighting school called Garden. You are somewhat uneasy about Seifer, but you fully understand his perspective. He is the top student and you are right behind him. He feels threatened and feels compelled to show his dominance. Why you're so laid back and anti-social might be a direct cause of this rivalry's oppression. Quistis, your instructor, asks why you two aren't careful with your practices. You answer that it's all Seifer's attitude.

Squall and Rinoa at the elevator

At the graduation mission, you witness Seifer becoming increasingly impatient, irascible and patronizing. Since you two are the best of the best, you pass the test with flying colors, but you can't seem to shake the feeling that something is wrong. The whole party returns to the campus to celebrate for passing the test.