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The Final Fantasy series features countless unforgettable locations. From Elfheim in the original Final Fantasy, Midgar in Final Fantasy 7, to Limsa Lominsa in Final Fantasy 14, every one has found a special place in fans' hearts, who admire the unique idiosyncrasies that make these worlds so unique. But, when it comes to one place that deserves more recognition than the others, it is undoubtedly Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not just because of its beautiful design, but additionally for being a absolutely strange school.

An Absolute Cinematic Reveal

First, we must address the obvious. Balamb Garden morphing into an airship and fleeing from a rocket attack was absolute cinema. This institution was not only designed to be a training camp for mercenaries. It is a traveling base that enables them to establish new plans and move, depending on the needs of those in charge. I readily regard it as one of the most impressive airship concepts in the series, along with Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and some of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.

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

The Initial Look of a Gloomy Home

As we begin playing Final Fantasy 8 and see Quistis leading Squall out of the infirmary, we get our initial view of the location this brooding-looking teenager calls home. A panoramic shot begins from the ground of the school and rises to focus on the impressive size of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that makes it feel futuristic, but also somehow heavenly. The curvy structures recall a specifically late ‘90s idea of how the tomorrow would look. Meanwhile, because of the golden accents on the building and the extended trails of light coming from the enormous glowing halo on top of the school, Balamb Garden looks like a massive angel. It was designed to be a peaceful place — too peaceful for an academy that turns teenagers into mercenaries.

An Catchy Soundtrack

Matching the tranquility that the appearance of Balamb Garden conveys, we have the school’s background music. One of the most cherished memories I have from being a kid is strolling around the central area of Balamb Garden, watching those aquatic statues spurting water, and hearing to the soothing theme song. The catch is that it continues playing in your head indefinitely. Whenever it returns to my mind, I’m compelled to look up on YouTube for a 3-hour-long “Balamb Garden” song video. The only way to end playing inside my head is to overdose of it.

• Gentle music that sticks in your mind
• Main courtyard with fountain features
• Nostalgic feelings for countless players

A Compelling Academy

Balamb Garden is intriguing as a location as well as an establishment. For starters, it enrolls kids from five to fifteen years old to turn them into mercenaries, but it looks like a enormous 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 Philosophy

When you access the Balamb Garden Network via one of the game terminals, you learn that the motto of the academy is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” I’m sorry, but I didn't have the impression that those teenagers training to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — only Zell. But, considering that the training center, where students find living monsters they can battle, is the sole place in the whole school accessible at all hours during the day, maybe that’s what they mean by “playing.” While combat preparation is the most important aspect of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their food is poor, since students are devouring so many hot dogs that the faculty have nothing else to say except “No more hot dogs today.”

Tight Regulations

Students are governed by a strict set of rules, which, on one hand, we should expect from a combat school, but on the other seems strangely humorous. First, there’s not a dress code in the school, but they can’t leave their rooms in the evenings, unless it’s for training. A student can be dismissed if they fall behind in their studies, for aggressive acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It might not look like it, but Balamb Garden is really concerned about its students’ relationships. The school formally recommends that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the real threat of being a student of Balamb Garden is romantic relationships, not battling with weapons and cutting each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the opening cutscene.)

Greater Than Just Appearance

From the refined futuristic design of the building to the ironies and debatable practices of the school, there are numerous features of Balamb Garden to celebrate. Many of us like to make fun of Squall, but Balamb Garden serves to remind us that there’s greater depth to Final Fantasy 8 than only good looks.