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The FF series boasts numerous memorable places. 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 earned a cherished place in players' hearts, and they admire the distinctive quirks that make these locales so unique. However, if one location that warrants more praise than the others, it is certainly Balamb Garden from Final Fantasy 8, not only because of its beautiful design, but also for being a truly bizarre school.

The Pure Movie Moment

Before, let's address the obvious. Balamb Garden turning into an flying vessel and fleeing from a missile attack was pure cinema. This institution was not just designed to be a academy for mercenaries. It is a traveling base that permits them to create new plans and relocate, depending on the demands of those in charge. Many easily view it as one of the most impressive airship concepts in the series, alongside Final Fantasy 10's Fahrenheit and some of the Final Fantasy 12 military airships.

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

A Initial Look of a Brooding Sanctuary

When we begin playing Final Fantasy 8 and see Quistis leading Squall out of the infirmary, we get our initial glimpse of the environment this brooding-looking teenager calls home. A sweeping shot starts from the ground of the school and ascends to focus on the staggering scale of the building. Balamb Garden has a design that feels advanced, but also somehow angelic. The curvy structures bring to mind a distinctly late ‘90s concept of how the tomorrow would look. On the other hand, because of the gilded accents on the building and the extended trails of light coming from the massive glowing halo on top of the school, Balamb Garden evokes a giant angel. It was built to be a serene place — too peaceful for an academy that transforms teenagers into mercenaries.

The Catchy Melody

Complementing the tranquility that the appearance of Balamb Garden portrays, we have the school’s background music. One of the dearest recollections I have from childhood is walking around the central area of Balamb Garden, seeing those fish statues spraying water, and listening to the soothing theme song. The catch is that it keeps playing in your head indefinitely. Once it returns to my mind, I’m compelled to search on YouTube for a 3-hour-long “Balamb Garden” song video. The sole way to end playing inside my head is to have enough of it.

• Lullaby tune that remains in your mind
• Central courtyard with water features
• Sentimental memories for many players

The Compelling Institution

Balamb Garden is fascinating as a setting as well as an establishment. First, it enrolls kids from five to 15 years old to turn them into mercenaries, but it looks like a massive church. There are a lot of military schools in RPGs, like in Trails of Cold Steel, but not one look less militaristic than Balamb Garden.

The Paradoxical Motto

When you use the Balamb Garden Network via one of the in-game terminals, you find out that the slogan of the institution is “Work hard, study hard, and play hard.” I’m sorry, but I didn't have the sense that those teenagers preparing to be mercenaries are “playing hard” — only Zell. However, given that the facility, where students encounter living monsters they can defeat, is the only place in the whole school available at all hours during the day, maybe that’s what they intend by “playing.” While training is the most important aspect of a student’s life in Balamb Garden, their diet is poor, since students are consuming so many hot dogs that the faculty have nothing else to say besides “No more hot dogs today.”

Tight Policies

Students are controlled by a strict set of rules, which, on one hand, we should anticipate from a military school, but on the other seems oddly funny. 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 lag in their studies, for violent acts, and for… “sexual promiscuity.” It may not look like it, but Balamb Garden is really concerned about its students’ romantic activities. The school officially recommends that students “take time to think things through before starting a relationship.” (After all, the true danger of being a student of Balamb Garden is love affairs, not fighting with weapons and slashing each other's faces like Squall and Seifer were doing in the opening cutscene.)

Greater Than Just Aesthetics

Starting with the delicate advanced design of the building to the ironies and questionable practices of the academy, there are countless aspects of Balamb Garden to celebrate. We all like to make fun of Squall, but Balamb Garden serves to remind us that there’s more to Final Fantasy 8 than simply good looks.