Final Fantasy VIII has proven to be one of the most controversial games in the main series. Arriving hot on the heels of the much-beloved Final Fantasy VII, it’s a title that made some very divisive decisions. Waiting around to draw 100 copies of a spell? Breaking the game super early by taking advantage of the Junction system? These mechanics still don’t sit well with some franchise fans.
Regardless, though, it’s still a Final Fantasy game, and it still boasts a vibrant, varied, unforgettable world to explore. To celebrate that, let’s take a look at some of the greatest areas players will explore on their journey. Watch out if you're playing for the first time: there are spoilers throughout!
10 Fire Cavern
Even if you only gave Final Fantasy VIII a brief shot before quickly deciding it wasn’t for you, you probably made it to the Fire Cavern at the very least. The first time you leave Balamb Garden, this is your destination: a quick mini-dungeon very close to where the Garden stands.
The cave is conveniently located to serve as the prerequisite for the SeeD exam. It gives us a handy introduction to element Junctioning and boasts the game’s first boss: Ifrit himself. The battle is easy enough, but it all contributes to an iconic opening (they have Shiva?!).
9 Chocobo's Forest
Every instalment in the series handles chocobos a little differently. The famous fowl do feature in Final Fantasy VIII, but unless you journey right off the beaten track, you may barely even catch a glimpse of one for the whole game.
There are seven Chocobo’s Forest areas spread across the world map. On entering, you’ll meet Chocoboy, who arms you with a pair of curious items: the ChocoZiner and ChocoSonar. Each forest offers a unique puzzle, which tasks you with using said items to summon and banish chicobos to cause their mother to appear, a grown chocobo you can use to dig up hidden items (or ride around the overworld). It’s a fun little distraction and a unique way to implement these iconic creatures.
8 Obel Lake
Being among the most prominent RPG franchises in the world (if not the most), it’s no surprise that each mainline Final Fantasy title is rife with sidequests, optional superbosses and other difficult distractions. In this particular case, one of the most obscure is located at Obel Lake.
This little area is found near Timber, to the north. It doesn’t look like much, but there’s a convoluted questline to initiate here involving solving riddles for a benevolent NPC. Unusually for the earlier entries in the series, this mysterious voice speaks to you right there on the world map (dialogue boxes and all), sending you to other obscure spots on the world map to complete various objectives. It’s an area you could miss entirely if you didn’t know it was there.
7 The Lunar Base
The previous entry in the series saw our heroes briefly take flight into space. The journey didn’t exactly go to plan, but when Cid Highwind proudly took off in his beloved rocket (for real this time), it was one of the game’s most poignant and awe-inspiring moments.
Final Fantasy VIII also send the player into space briefly, and it’s every bit as memorable. From the drama on the Lunar Base, to Squall’s last-ditch effort to rescue Rinoa, to the battle with the Propagators (which must be defeated in pairs of matching colors or they’ll keep respawning), this whole segment is excellent.
6 Galbadia Garden
Balamb Garden and Galbadia Garden are two of the game’s most significant and memorable areas. Squall and his party visit the latter twice throughout the game, firstly as an ally (they were to collaborate on the doomed operation to assassinate Sorceress Edea) and secondly as an enemy.
The second time the player visits the instillation, it’s in the throes of a huge battle. The halls inside are largely deserted, giving the area a foreboding atmosphere that few other locations in Final Fantasy VIII can match. The unexpected appearance of Cerberus (an optional boss battle that allows the player to recruit the beast as a Guardian Force when defeated) was an interesting touch too.
5 Lunatic Pandora
As players will know, the game’s story becomes increasingly odd as events progress. Later in the game, somewhere around the space travel, Lunar Cry and other bizarre things, the player is charged with hitching a ride on the Lunatic Pandora (more than once, in fact).
This futuristic vessel for the Crystal Pillar serves as a dungeon Squall and his party must navigate. It’s cleverly linked to an earlier dream sequence with Laguna; actions the player took when controlling Laguna, Ward and Kiros will subtly change Squall’s experience. For Final Fantasy veterans, though, one of the most notable aspects of the Lunatic Pandora is the battle with Seifer. More specifically, the shocking curveball players are hit with if they’d already recruited Odin to their cause by this point.
4 Centra Ruins
Speaking of Odin, the proud warrior who has been Zantetsuken-ing the players foes into two sad, squishy, defeated halves for many games now is found in the Centra Ruins.
This optional dungeon is home to two Guardian Forces (although Odin appears in battle randomly and cannot be directly summoned or Junctioned). The dungeon serves as one big puzzle, with the goal of reaching Odin’s chamber and recruiting him to your cause. Secondly, Tonberries are found here. Defeating enough of them will see the Tonberry King himself arise and challenge you. Best him and you’ll earn the Tonberry Guardian Force.
3 Deep Sea Research Center
The Deep Sea Research Center is cunningly hidden on the world map, way out in the ocean. Couple that with the fact that it isn’t accessible until you have the Ragnarok late in the game, and you’d probably assume that there’s something super special to be found here. You'd be right.
On your first visit to this island, you’ll have to solve a little puzzle to reach the center of the room, which instigates a battle with Bahamut. Once you’ve bested him (which is not easy) and added him to your roster, you can then re-enter the building to find that the inner reaches of the facility are now accessible. Carefully manage your steam units to reach the bottom floor and open the final door. Here you’ll encounter Ultima Weapon, one of the game’s two optional superbosses. Remember to draw Eden (the strongest Guardian Force) from this deadly foe.
2 Ultimecia’s Castle
There’s no doubt that Final Fantasy VIII shook up the formula in curious ways, remaining controversial as a result. At the same time, though, it’s still considered one of the greatest series entries of all time by some critics. We have to give the game its due for its final dungeon, Ultimecia’s Castle.
So, players have been taking advantage of overpowered Junctions, Magic and abilities to steamroll every enemy encounter up to this point? They’re stripped of everything but the Attack command on entering the castle, and must earn each ability back (in an order of their choosing) by defeating each miniboss. The aesthetic and atmosphere of the castle was impeccable.
1 Balamb Garden
When it comes to iconic locations in Final Fantasy VIII, Balamb Garden would have to be the ultimate. It’s the place we first meet Squall, the very first place we get to explore, and its merry theme tune is probably permanently lodged in the heads of everyone who spent significant time with the game back in the day.
The thing that truly makes Balamb Garden an essential area is the sheer number of times we return there. Unlike many RPGs, in which the opening area is a one-and-done sort of place, the Garden is the party’s home base for essentially the entire game. So many priceless moments happened here, from Squall’s reluctant speech during the battle of the Gardens to Zell’s hilarious battle to get some hot dogs before the cafeteria sold out (every time).