Final Fantasy VIII/Characters: Difference between revisions

=== Squall Leonhart ===

[[File:Squall_Leonhart.jpg|frame]]

A skilled soldier who acts as the main character. Though he is one of SeeD's most accomplished students, his cold and professional demeanor ostracizes him from everyone else. He has a friendly rivalry with Seifer, and specialises in the notoriously awkward gunblade.

=== Rinoa Heartilly ===

[[File:Rinoa_Heartilly.jpg|frame]]

A member of the Timber resistance group "Forest Owls". Her outgoing and happy-go-lucky attitude contrasts sharply with Squall, as does her lack of actual battlefield experience. She strikes up a relationship with Squall and becomes determined to crack his shell. She wields a boomerang-esque weapon called a Blaster Edge.

=== Zell Dincht ===

[[File:Zell_Dincht.jpg|frame]]

A fellow SeeD who works alongside Squall and Selphie. Though he appears to be a comic-relief goof at first, he is actually a highly competent soldier with a deep knowledge of world history and a lot of integrity. He uses no weapon in battle, preferring instead to use martial arts.

=== Selphie Tilmitt ===

[[File:Selphie_Tilmitt.jpg|frame]]

A [[New Transfer Student|transfer student]] to Balamb Garden who ends up working alongside Squall and Zell. She is surprisingly perky and upbeat for a soldier, but behind her smiling face lies a psychotic, destructive streak that surfaces during times of stress. She is one of the more observant and practical members of the party. Also, she likes trains.

=== Quistis Trepe ===

[[File:Quistis_Trepe.jpg|frame]]

Squall's instructor at Balamb Garden. Beautiful and intelligent, she is adored by the student base to the point where she has a fan club. However, behind her perfect appearance lies an insecure human who struggles to control her own emotions, and who has unrequited feelings for Squall.

=== Irvine Kinneas ===

[[File:Irvine_Kinneas.jpg|frame]]

An expert SeeD sniper who joins the Balamb Garden party on an assignment. He likes to style himself as a cool, unflappable gunman and complete ladies' man. However, this is just a façade so he can cope with the suffocating pressures of his job. His true personality is much more shy and dorky.

=== Seifer Almasy ===

[[File:Seifer_Almasy.jpg|frame]]

One of Balamb Garden's top students, and Squall's rival. Though he is just as competent as Squall, he lacks the detachment necessary for a soldier and frequently disobeys orders when his temperament flares up. Though he is outgoing and honest, his single-minded pursuit of his dreams leads to him failing the SeeD examination, and further disaster.

* [[Evil Counterpart]]: To Squall. Their designs also make this very obvious--Squall is brunette, Seifer is blond; Squall wears black, Seifer wears white; Squall has more feminine features, Seifer has a very strong jaw; and they have opposite scars.

* [[Face Heel Turn]]: {{spoiler|Until the ending.}}

** Of course, in that context, Seifer is referring to the concept of [[Romanticism]] rather than [[I Thought It Meant|actual romance]].

** Notice how in the second fight with Seifer, when he's about to whip out [[Limit Break|Demon Slice]], he quips, "Ready to die, '''Squall'''?". He's only targeting Squall.

=== Laguna Loire ===

[[File:Laguna_Loire.jpg|frame]]

A Galbadian soldier who dreams of becoming a world-renowned journalist. His dorky and excitable demeanour obscures his extensive combat experience and natural courage. He uses a machine gun in battle and is the main character in the flashback sequences that Squall's party experiences throughout the game.

=== Kiros Seagill ===

[[File:Kiros_Seagill.jpg|frame]]

One of Laguna's best friends and fellow Galbadian soldier. He has a sharp wit and often pokes fun at Laguna, but also trusts him with his life.

=== Ward Zabac ===

[[File:Ward_Zabac.jpg|frame]]

A Galbadian soldier and the third member of Laguna's unit. His intimidating appearance on the battlefield contrasts sharply with his caring demeanour outside of it. He is rendered mute after suffering a serious injury to his throat during battle.

=== Edea {{spoiler|Kramer}} ===

[[File:Edea.jpg|frame]]

A vain and power-hungry Sorceress who uses her brainwashing magic to seize control of Galbadia. SeeD is assigned the task of assassinating her. {{spoiler|She is the wife of Cid Kramer, and has become possessed by the malevolent Sorceress Ultimecia}}.

=== Cid Kramer ===

[[File:250px-Cid_Final_Fantasy_VIII_9278.jpg|frame]]

The headmaster of Balamb Garden, and one of the original founders of SeeD.

=== Ellone ===

[[File:Ellone.jpg|frame]]

A mysterious girl who shares a connection with Squall, Laguna and SeeD. She is hunted by various factions during the game, most notably by Sorceress Edea. {{spoiler|She possesses a supernatural ability that allows her to send a person's consciousness into the past, and is the source of the mysterious flashbacks that Squall's party has been experiencing}}.

=== Raijin & Fujin ===

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Seifer's [[Those Two Guys|partners-in-crime]]. Raijin often slurs his speech and ends his sentences with "y'know", while Fujin speaks in monotone. Along with Seifer, they make up the self-proclaimed Balamb Garden Disciplinary Committee.

=== Biggs & Wedge ===

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Two Galbadian soldiers who encounter Squall again and again, each time leaving with both their pride and career prospects severely damaged.

=== Ultimecia ===

[[File:Ultimecia_ff8_1281.jpg|frame]]

Ultimecia is an evil, all-powerful Sorceress from the future. She seeks to cast the almighty Time Compression magic, which would combine the worlds of the past, present and future into a single point and enable her to rule over all of time itself.