An aspect of the Final Fantasy series that has endowed it with lasting reverance is the unique and memorable characters that the player interacts with, adds to the party, and learns progressively more about as the plot of the game unfolds. Almost always Final Fantasy characters and party members are a motley crew of individuals with different backgrounds, abilities, strengths weaknesses, personalities, etc. Some characters are close friends while others have dubious motivations. Some characters betray while others sacrifice themselves. Indeed, thoughout the history of Final Fantasy games there have been memorable characters; Cecil, Rosa, Celes, Kefka, Sephiroth, Cloud, Aeris, Cid (his many incarnations), Terra, and Rydia, to name a few. In Final Fantasy VIII the shaping of a character has been fine tuned and much more of the game is spent learning about and interacting the characters as well as developing a keen understanding of their personalities. One thing Final Fantasy has always excelled at is the way it uses the characters to create a compelling story that can often transcend the plot of the game to become a comment on social and cultural events that transpire in the real world.

Squall is a very self contemplative and complex individual that upon outward appearance would seem gloomy and apathetic. His name itself is derived from a term used to describe a torrential rainstorm usually associated with weather at sea, especially Hurricanes. He is not prone to openly express his feelings or emotions with the rest of his comrades and friends but rather glaze these over with an outward appearance of stoic professionalism and duty. Often times he's unsure of himself, yet he knows that he will do the best he can do. As the game progresses, and Squall realizes that people do care about him, he begins to open up to the group. Squall is a capable leader, and many people see this trait manifest itself. When Rinoa starts making advances toward him he keeps her at a distance fearing what a relationship may cause - another potential abandonment. He remenisces back to his childhood, when the one who he confided in, Sis (Ellone), was taken away and this event has embedded itself into his psychology. His fear is overcome with a desperate search for a cure when Rinoa falls into a coma under Sorceress Ultimecia's control. Squall risks his life in space to save Rinoa's and he proves that he loves her. Squall is linked telepathically by Ellone through time to Laguna Loire in the past, and often times relives Laguna's experiences. Of any character in Final Fantasy VIII, I can relate most to Squall. To know Squall is to know me, and to know me is to know Squall. Like Squall, I'm always thinking and turning over a decision in my mind before I make it. At times people who didn't know me perceived me to be mysterious, introspective, and gloomy. My intelligence sometimes intimidated people and I was sometimes isolated by certain groups of my peers. But those who have taken the time to listen to the things I say found me to be very interesting and became my friends. Sometimes while playing Final Fantasy VIII, I almost feel as if Squall's personality is an extention of myself.

The lovely Rinoa is a very caring and emotional young lady. She just wants everyone to accept her. She has the tendancy to let her emotions run away with her sensibility and gets herself into trouble at times. When Squall first meets Rinoa she is the head of a resistance group called the Forest Owls in a railroad city called Timber. She devises a plan to capture the Galbadian President, but her plan is foiled. At first she is attracted to Seifer and his seemingly brave motivations as well as his overall charisma, but after discovering his true intent, and to what extent Squall's bravery transcends himself she falls in love with Squall. She tries to grow closer to him, but Squall remains defensive. After Sorceress Ultimecia is purged from Edea, Rinoa, along with Seifer become posessed by the essense of her, and she becomes an unwilling puppet until Adel is released. Squall becomes deeply in love with Rinoa when he examines all the things that she did to get closer to him and discovers she really cared about him. Rinoa has a Dog named Angelo.

Zell lavishes to looking cool. He's brash and sometimes silly, yet is often misunderstood because he is quite intelligent and knows a lot about things helpful to the others although he doesn't always show it. He develops respect for Squall and remains at his side throughout the game. Zell has a bitter hatred for Seifer. He always loses out on those Garden hot dogs though and this may affect him psychologically. (That was supposed to be funny if you didn't get it)

We first meet Quistis at Balamb Garden. Although she is an instructor and must always display an air of authority, she remains internally unsure of herself and her capabilities. She has a mysterious affinity for her most complex student, Squall, and tries to grow closer to him, yet he resists her advances. When she sees a relationship begin to develop between Squall and Rinoa she encourages their romance.

Selphie is spontaneous and boisterous. She is just exploding with enthusiasm and encouragement. Superficially Selphie looks naive, but she does have a good idea of common sense regarding various issues and she's a great pilot.

Irvine plays the role of the mysterious loner assasin, yet in actuality he has trouble dealing with his duty and needs the support of his friends to get him through tough times. He would much rather be spending time with the ladies that shooting people, although he will do what has to be done to uphold what is just.

Seifer only cares about one concept, that being himself and the inflation of his ego. He will stop at nothing to show off his prowess and twisted ideals to compensate for his own unspoken sense of inadequacy. He maintains a bitter rivalry with Squall, starting from a very early age. He eventually becomes a willing pawn in Sorceress Ultimecia's plan to compress time, fulfilling his dream of become someone influencial and to be feared. Seifer's haughty pride becomes his undoing.

These two lackies feed off and wallow in Seifer's pride since they were on the diciplinary committee on Balamb Garden at the beginning of the game. Where Seifer goes, they go. Fuijin always uses single word phrases, while Raijin is a coward at heart. Towards the end of the game they realize what fools they have been for following Seifer because he is merely just a hapless pawn in Sorceress Ultimecia's control.

Edea became linked with the sorceress from the future, Ultimecia, at an early age, but her persona repressed itself inside Edea until it was manifested later. Edea was the matron of an orphanage at the southernmost point of the Centra Continent. She raised Squall, Selphie, Irvine, Zell, Seifer, Quistis, and Ellone, when they were young until they entered Garden and eventually became seeds. She is married to Cid Kramer, the Headmaster of Balamb Garden. Edea bears the burden of Sorceress Ultimecia's soul and provides her link to the present. As Sorceress Edea she involves herself with Galbadian Govenmenal Affairs and ends up killing the president and taking control of Galbadia, until the SeeDs purge her from Edea at Galbadia Garden.