Final Fantasy 8 Ending in HD

[@TruthHurts225]

Remember when there was no you tube and you had to beat the final boss over and over again just to see the ending as many times as you wanted

[@Hinarukun]

Fuck yeah, im with ya on this brotha

[@Xapheus]

I used a VCR.

[@okori_makuri]

I was lucky that I got a databank to transfere savefiles. That device also featured a file browser to play mediafiles :)

[@PascalPimpare]

I member

[@mindyourmum1987]

Truth Hurts think I did that over 10 times. Oh man. memories

[@Leonhart]

been watching this video for years. My best friend committed suicide around when we graduated high school in 2005...ff8 was our favorite game...always come back to this to remind me of the good times

[@Dannymiles1987]

+Leonhart Hey man, i understand. The memories right? :(

[@kingroberto2347]

Good thing is that you celebrated the good times together.

[@RosieSquall]

Sorry for your loss. It's a nice thing that you keep the memory alive.

[@Leonhart]

Thanks everyone!

[@morganlemons1694]

This comment was posted a year ago and I just clicked on your channel and see a video where you talk about it wow :(

[@lowhp_comic]

Zell - Can punch a Sorceress to death with his bare fists - Nearly dies during a hotdog eating contest

[@cardinaleze3939]

Hahaha, nice joke dude 👍

[@neurion242]

im fucking cry laughing at this comment lol

[@Ra-zb7jp]

And anyone know how far they dated between Seifer and Rinoa. If they do *that on their date, Squall don't have to get along with bitch and just pick another mature woman like quistis.

[@sue9963]

Did all the people who are confused by the scene where Squall has no face just completely ignore the last two discs of storyline? The brief scene of Squall without a face makes perfect sense in context of the game. Squall is trapped in the Time Compression because he let his mind wander (which is exactly what Laguna said NOT to do!). He started believing he was all alone, and as a result the Time Compression started erasing his memories - first Rinoa's face disappears from his mind ("No matter how hard you hold on....it escapes you..."), then his friends' faces, then his own face. Squall's biggest fear throughout the game is being abandoned and forgotten about, and that is almost what happened to him in the void. In the end, it was Rinoa's love for Squall that managed to drag him out of the Time Compression and back to the place they 'promised' to meet. THAT is good storytelling because it establishes that Squall has changed as a person - at the start of the game he avoided friendships and relationships because he was afraid of being hurt or abandoned. The Squall at the start of the game would have had no-one to rescue him from the Time Compression. But the Squall at the end of the game - the one who opened his heart to people - was able to be rescued.

[@kikyosuki]

hungryforpie 99 i agree with your theory... About squall died in disk one, its doesnt make any sense at all. If squall died in disk 1, there is on disk 2-4. I think the time compression make squall fill empty in the inside... And make his face hollow just like his heart... But the love of rinoa that can bring him back...

[@alextecalero8362]

There is a theory saying squall did die, because disc 1 was most realistic, and the other discs were more "magical" Just a theory, just pointing it out, I love FF VIII

[@balloonsballoon]

Nice...but I don't think we can straightforwardly interpret it as "love conquers all," because by returning to the orphanage Squall sets in motion the game's events again, thereby making it seem like he's trapped in a cycle.

[@InfernoZX5]

@@alextecalero8362 the story writer on the game debunked this theory though he did say he likes it. There's a video on youtube talking about these, one of those "top 5 debunked ff theories" videos. In any case, the writer did like this theory and said if there's any chance at a ff8 remake... it may be considered as an alternate storyline. Kinda cool. I like this ending better though... the Squall is dead theory is just a bit too much for me even though its HELLA good.

[@BloodPump]

Nah dat boi dead

[@amaris27]

For anyone who believes that Squall is dead, watch till the end of the credits. You will see that he is not. The hole in his head was all part of him losing his way when the time compression stopped. Rinoa made a promise that they would meet again at that field of flowers I believe. She or a representation of her come and brings him home to the right time and place. She saves him in the end. Everyone gets a happy ending. Oh and for the record, in case no one realized it, Laguna was Squalls father. Rinoas mother was the one pianist that Laguna fell in love with but got seperated from due to the war. Laguna escaped being a prisoner and found his way to that home with Raine..Laguna decided to stay with her, and the two fell in love. Squall was their child. Sooo...the beauty of the love story between Squall and Rinoa is that they represent the love that Laguna had for the Pianist..and their kids went on to have the relationship that they couldnt. I think thats most beautiful.

[@antiflyingipis]

gee... that's a little incestly weird bro.

[@veelor4632]

Never caught that Rinoa mother was the pianist, thanks makes it more sweet of a story

[@Cat.Gaming]

But here's how you know Squall is dead. If you look at that scene from a different angle, you'll see that he's not actually there!!

[@Mr.Phresh]

Laguna is Squall's father, Rinoa's mother and Laguna never had a baby together. She became pregnant from the general, not Laguna. It's fitting how they found love in each other and kept it. So magical.

[@nichelleharris7496]

@@antiflyingipis except Laguna isn't Rinoa's father lol. No incest at all.

[@gabrielthegamingking3628]

Imagine if it stopped on that still image of squall without his face. That would be so creepy.

[@RP-mi1hv]

9:45

[@Fauntleroy.]

The part where Laguna remembers Raine, and is then joined at her grave by Ellone and his friends, makes me cry EVERY TIME.

[@Thymamai]

yeah whoever did the writing in this one should really just write movies man. guys great, whoever he is

[@Arsio12]

People think too much into that 1/2 second frame. Squall not having a face is just him losing his mind. To put it more accurately, lost of his identity. Face = your identity, that's how it usually is in literature, art, film, etc. Being lost in purgatory, or in this case lost in the middle of time, does that. As shown in footage prior, he was losing his memory of Rinoa, he kept replaying that memory in hopes of remembering her face but the more he did it the more he forgot about her, he tried every other memory of her, and as he forgot more and more about her, other faces of his friends flashed by, representing him forgetting them as well, then finally himself. Then Rinoa, using her sorceress power, found him and brought him back. Done.

[@deralmighty8011]

Or, Occam's razor: Step 1: Smoke this 2: Lick this 3: Eat this 4: Stuff this up your nose 5: Strangle the guy to your left until he passes out from lack of oxygen 6: Cram as much distorted, trippy, and creepy crap into this cutscene as possible. Fans, for generations to come, will desperately try to interpret what's going on here.

[@AkaiAzul]

You forget his promise to Rinoa. Not that he ever fulfills it, but it’s through it that she finds him.

[@3d3f3ct3]

It's his connections to other's that eventually brought his self into focus.

[@3d3f3ct3]

@Taramafor Haikido I think it was her and his friends combined. As we start the journey, Squall wouldn't allow himself to connect with ANYONE, let alone fall in love. But eventually it's his own emotions and experiences with others that reflect back on him and brings his mind into focus when time and space are ripped apart (along with his very being.)

[@wyrmonfire1070]

Squall and Aeris are both alive, they just faked their deaths and went to live in Traverse Town

[@wyrmonfire1070]

((yeah)) CG: I DON'T FUCKING CARE

[@AstonGryffynn]

Nope. Squall is now in Mid Childa and he calls himself Veyron now. Guess he shouldn't have kept a GF junctioned whilst unconscious for 2 months straight!

[@GeorgiaAndrea]

Squall: It's Leon.

[@willowashe]

Georgia Andrea The first time I played kingdom Hearts, that was bizarrely disorienting. SQUALL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO TALK, AND HE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE ANGEL!

[@willowashe]

They’re probably just off livin’ their middle aged, middle class fancy best life.

[@BrunoHarvelot]

This game makes part of my LIFE.

[@tonycerro8879]

Bruno Harvelot Me too, bro. This game woke me up.

[@Holzkopfini]

crazy, but i absolutely know what you mean. For me it´s the same. I wonder if a game/series/ movie or whatever medium it is, can make me have these feelings i have for this total masterpiece. I ...just love it. Thank you squaresoft!

[@eunildoamorim]

mine too ! so many emotions, 20 years later !

[@christianjfowler3052]

Me 5.

[@adamng4912]

The director of ff has spoken. Squall didn't die and Riona isn't ultima. It's a happy ending.

[@dannyhicks8653]

Back when those were possible still its great isnt it.

[@deathnyx]

Devs weren't really needed to understand that.

[@jonetgames]

@@dannyhicks8653 you mean happy endings were possible?

[@gaborsimon3299]

where can I find this?

[@creamncheese7761]

Its so odd to see a happy ending or A ENDING if I'm being precise. In 3, Celes literally commits suicide and 7 ends with a blank page (well, until advent children came out)

[@nerd7878]

Not that anyone will probably read this but I remember when I had just graduated high school moved out on my own I work at a factory and everyday of the week a young boy down the road would come by and want to know if he can play games with me. Not every day but at least 3 times a week. I was dating a girl whose brother got me connected to this gaming kid and we both liked games so I said yeah what the heck. This was one of the games that we started playing. It started becoming and every week thing to try to beat this game and him and I had good times with this game. At the time he was my girlfriend's brother's friend. Think he was around 12 at the time. Years have went by since those days and I went to his wedding a couple months ago. Good memories of good days.

[@shadowmoses5347]

you became his teacher everyone will have a student eventually

[@tatiannaharrison2128]

One of the best games ever that square invested so much passion into. The graphics for this game at the time were phenomenal

[@XTORD1]

Agree. One of my favourite games too

[@tatiannaharrison2128]

Glad you like it too 😌😌

[@XTORD1]

Tatianna Harrison sorry for late reply , but thanks. ***** thats true , the junctioning and gf system was great. Took some time to figure out how it worked here... but if you use 10-15 mins and really think about is not that complicated and if you feel it is to complicated you can just look up a guide or something even tough i was in disc 3 wher i fianlly decided i wont finish the game with these stats , i figured i cant play this game that much on and off, a little but not much so i took 15 min and figured ah this is how it works, makes sense, even tough the turtorial is somewhat bad , well is not that hard. Yeah the gameplay/combat, the story/plot/ characters and soundtrack so well done. Is it weird people say old games had soul or that magic

[@Barbro247]

The graphics can look like one million diamonds but if the gameyplay and story doesnt hold up who cares. This is the game that took away my love for the series.

[@XTORD1]

aurasmash yeah well each to they own, i dont give a fuck about graphcis , and i still oved this game. The gameplay isnt that bad when you get used to it, and if this took away your love for the series then you should still give ix,x and xii a shot. I finished this 3 years ago so no nostalgia and still really, really liked it, but opinions

[@TrueCicero]

How pissed would everyone be if Seifer was standing next to Rinoa on that balcony? XD

[@UberMedic7]

+John Gunny You monster!

[@Omega_1306]

+John Gunny kill seifer kill seifer

[@058875915]

+John Gunny its people like you that want to watch the world burn

[@samualiam9981]

+John Gunter According to the story line, that would never have happened.

[@TrueCicero]

+Samual Iam Yeah no shit there, Captain Obvious. lol

[@kingartemiz2xxx786]

Squall let his mind wandered here when Laguna told them not to let your mind wander, keep it on your friends. He starts feeling and thinking "Am I'm alone? Am I'm all alone again?" After that, he's walking in literally the desert of time or "Void" as ffwiki puts it, with his emotions pouring out in the world around him, getting all sluggish at one point. Eventually, he reaches the end of the desert, reaching the end of his strength, collapsing as a result, symbolizing he has nothing left. He's then trying one last time to think of Rinoa, but he can't gasp it. Rinoa and everyone else make it back to their time,but Rinoa realizes Squall didn't make it back, and wonders what can she do to help him? She sends her feather to him, he gasps it, Rinoa sensed it, and her sorceress power kicks in. He keeps trying to think of Rinoa, but can't summon the strength to do. He starts thinking of things he really shouldn't be thinking. As a result, his mind starts racing trying to gasp everyone and everything. Right back to Rinoa because she is strongest point in his mind, but he still can't gasp it. Everything in his mind is spiraling out of control. And then BAM, her death is what crushes him, believing he couldn't save her. That's pretty much what is happening here.

[@theboogie1460]

This is my favorite FF. Played this game like how many times. Even tested this in 3 different systems in sony (psp go,psp and the ps3) to be downloadable users here in sony san diego. continue watching this ending after so many years. Yet.... you freaking BLEW MY MIND! I totally did NOT think about that! Your amazing my friend, I'd give you a hug if i could

[@crosswire7777]

Right on point!

[@sonicmanic2556]

+King Scheiber dude you explained that so perfectly. I just beat the game a few minutes ago and I didn't get what was happening at first and then I started seeing this "Squall has been dead since disc one and everything else is a dream" crap but that made no sense because the characters have evolved since that point so I knew that theory is not true for sure. Then, found your comment and it explains everything perfectly.

[@second_second_]

I feel so sad for squall at that time. "Am I all alone..?" It breaks my heart. Glad that rinoa found him! and ouch, he didn't even get into selfie's recording. oh, but he doesn't like that noisy ballroom so it's fine. ops, selfie? selfie???

[@lazygamer7469]

He got phoenix downed by rinoa

[@InoSense85]

Everyone always hypes up FF VII, but this was the first FF I ever played so my heart lies with this installment. VII was good and all, but I just like this one better.

[@HarryBillyBobGeorge]

FF7 is of course a classic, I would say the Star Wars of video games. Thing is, there are better movies than Star Wars so I think it's perfectly acceptable to say FF7 isn't the best. It's 4th on my list, but only because the series as a whole is so good! (My personal ranking is 10, Type-0, 8, 7, 4, 13, 1 and I haven't played enough of the rest to judge)

[@shawncampbell528]

Totally agree with 10, the voice acting and overall story just really tied it together for me, more than previous installments. I would say my rankings would be: 10 - 6 - 7 - 4 - 8. I have played almost all of them, but many of the newer ones I never beat or played enough to truly "judge," same as you. Ten will always have a special place at my table, along with 6 and Chrono Trigger as just the pinnacle of RPG/JRPGs.

[@monstercdog24]

+Shawn Campbell all your choices are all so good and hold special places in gamers hearts but final fantasy 7 crisis core actually made me cry like if I lost a family member

[@TheDas1888]

I find it hard to rank between 10, 7 and 8. I think for overall story and immersion it would have to be 10. When I played through 10 I literally felt like there was a world depending on me to defeat sin at the end. The story was well thought out, easily explained as you go along and each of the characters had unique strengths. It was just the most solid game all round imo. For the others, I think the world in 7 was more immersive than 8's but I preferred Squall to Cloud. I also loved the part of going into space in 8 and thought the ending was way better than 7's. However, I preferred the battle system in 7. 9 was a good game but I just can't remember anything about the main character and for that reason I can't put it up at the top. I loved 4, never completed 5 or 6 (though got near the end of 6) and 12 was decent. 13 was poo, 15 was better than 13 but the story was weak :(

[@tomfrank2115]

how the fuck can you like type 0?

[@raffaelm6558]

Rinoa will always be my number 1 FF girl. No competition. I love her and her design.

[@sephirothff7ps164]

me too i was inlove with her.

[@jessiereynolds1549]

john steed same here ☺️

[@WisamSafi1978]

What “design”? She is real :)

[@WanH80]

@@WisamSafi1978 My first crush

[@sammydavidjr]

Yuna is more beautiful

[@adamclark8994]

Games like these mean a lot to me, they have helped me get through depression in life. The ending to this game is just so epic and awesome, people have an issue with the gameplay of this game but once you understand it, you can really enjoy the game for it's story. An underrated game and this ending is one of the reasons that Final Fantasy is my favourite game series of all time.

[@niory]

same !

[@pfpf200]

Same here !

[@TheXenon5]

Final Fantasy 8 has the best and most beautiful cast of characters of all the Final Fantasy games. XD

[@sylvian4593]

For you for me is the ff 9

[@androsforever500]

the black hole face squall at 9:45 is probably the creepiest image I've ever seen, gets my skin crawling instantly

[@TheCreeperGuy777]

IKR I'm not gonna sleep tonight

[@christieharvey6581]

Andros Forever l

[@christieharvey6581]

Andros Forever

[@christieharvey6581]

Andros Forever

[@christieharvey6581]

Andros Forever

[@uninterestedhour]

Best game of my entire life, Love all FF but VIII was my first and will always remain my all time favourite. Wish one could see more of the kiss

[@nikitaw9976]

Yeah, I wanted to say the same as you said.

[@uninterestedhour]

Nikitaw99 - Let's Plays, games, reviews​ glad someone is on the same page as me :)

[@nikitaw9976]

Remnants Rants I actually wish that a sequal to FFVII was made, where you play as Laguna.

[@nikitaw9976]

equenoxe86 Why, I even saw on some FFVIII wiki that Laguna is the most magnetic character ever, Srsly. But you are some strange kind of person.

[@uninterestedhour]

Nikitaw99 - Let's Plays, games, reviews​ Agreed, Laguna may not be my favourite character in FFVIII but he is right up there, his story is also awesome to watch unfold

[@MA77SP]

The very last scene where you see Squall and Rinoa are about to kiss. The music, the beauty of the scenery, Squall who never smiled until now and looking at how beautiful Rinoa is. The moment when they kiss always brings tears to my eyes. It's the most powerful heart felt scene in a game that cannot be expressed in words. It's the best finishing scene than any other game I've ever experienced. What was the meaning of the story? The answer is. For Love... FF8 made me the person I am today.

[@stanimirivanov4052]

same here, not just FF8, but most of. Metal gear solid (1-2) was a pillar too

[@beefdog]

What a beautiful ending, I cry everytime I see it and hear the music. The love that Raine and Laguna had or Squall and Rinoa is a kind of love I wish I had. I nearly had it once but it was not meant to be. No matter how much you hold on that kind of thing can slip out of your fingers forever and leave you scarred. You get older and it becomes harder to do it all over again, you almost futilely seek to recapture your youth but it can never come back. Not that most people's childhoods were great but the feeling of being young again, when things were simpler, your intentions and ideals more pure, friendships that were more meaningful. I might be approaching 30 but I am still trying to recapture my youth in my own way. Perhaps find my Rinoa,someday.

[@seb.evidente7328]

D.Bond007 you will, my brother. You will.

[@dannysimion]

Well now you got Faye Wongs song to remind it. :(

[@sebdetyra651]

Very elegantly put.

[@shawnchowdhury8141]

Don't rely on fantasy, work hard and you will get it and you will make scene with your love one just like this scene ..

[@kjirstenhatton]

its been 7 years how ya doin

[@SquillagusNiggle]

I've watched this after reading the 'Squall is Dead' theory forward and backwards.... and honestly I don't think the writers were subtle enough for that. Squall doesn't remember being healed by Edea because he got stabbed through the chest and fell thirty feet off a parade float. Ultimecia hates and fears the SeeDs, so it would make sense for her to want to know more about them and their strength in Edea's time period (also explaining why she adopted Seifer, perhaps she hoped to get Squall too). The difficulty Squall has in remembering Rinoa's face is potentially due to his memory issues discussed earlier in the game, and it is only by focusing on Rinoa that he is able to find his own time period again. Rinoa, obviously, was also thinking of Squall, it is their union that brings them both safely back to the 'present' and out of the 'desert' of time compression. Squall being dead is a cute theory and a fun idea, but it stands at odds with the rest of the writing.

[@yoyogalla]

still loving final fantasy at 35 :)

[@Oldboy2305]

40 now

[@magicamagic3297]

Yare Yare Daze yeah

[@StarDArashi]

Me at almost 34 =D

[@mr.bojangles2191]

Me too

[@TheExcluZ]

Everyone here is talking about Squall being faceless but they're not talking about how this game is just a huge timey wimey paradox and that we just spent all that time playing a story that never ends? Past, present and future are all happening at the same time too. I think I just got depressed after realising that Ultimecia and Squall essentially created an infinite loop. Because it kind of looks like Ultimecia won by becoming the only person that persists the entire timeline and the fact that her powers keep growing. Cid and Edea creates SeeD ----> FF8 starts ---> Squall and Co beat Ultimecia from the future---> Squall travels back in time with a dying Ultimecia ---> Ultimecia gives Edea her power and self while Squall gives Edea the idea about SeeD and Garden ---> "Happy" Ending where Squall returns to his respective timeline ----> Years later, Ultimecia rises in the same timeline that the Squall we played as was in---> Ultimecia forsees her death from another Squall and co from the past ---> Cid and Edea creates SeeD ---> FF8 Starts --> Squall and Co beat Ultimecia from the future ---> Squall travels back in time with a dying Ultimecia ---> Ultimecia gives Edea her power and self while Squall gives Edea the idea about SeeD and Garden ----> And so forth. FUCK TIME TRAVEL.

[@forteprotze]

SkyApple Reading that hurt a little..

[@mariahleitner8992]

I kind of got sad that the whole story was predetermined from the beginning too :c. The real happy ending is the point in the time where Ultimecia was ruling everything and when she was killed in that time by Squall in the past. It didn't matter if Squall killed Ultimecia in the future because she'd just be born again in the distant future in Squall's native timeline. The happy ending we got was just a preparation of the worst to come..

[@therealfriday13th]

More accurately: Cid and Edea creates SeeD & --> FF8 starts -> Squall and Co beat Ultimecia from the future---> Squall travels back in time with a dying Ultimecia -> Ultimecia gives Edea her power and self while Squall gives Edea the idea about SeeD and Garden -> "Happy" Ending where Squall returns to his respective timeline & Ultimecia rises forsees her death from another Squall and co from the past in the timeline -> . Of course, this assumes A-theory of time where any time travel that happens is inevitable from a causality perspective: that is, a time traveller WILL go to a particular time and place because it has technically already already happened.

[@tarkeke]

don't forget that there is the timeline after ultimecia dies, however this plot makes little to no sense the further out the story drags out lol, I love ff8 for its set pieces, music and universe, but the plotline goes from super ambitious to pure time travelling non-sense and...orphanage...

[@double0texan856]

haha

[@HoneyRuruka]

Laguna was always my favourite sub-protagnist

[@gagongflip389]

yeah he a player, just yoloing life lol.

[@jubilantsleep]

Way better than his emo kid

[@sampascoe4387]

He makes for an interesting case for a non-linear narrative.

[@n1ghttshad386]

9:44-9:45 the flash of squalls face

[@Fools_Requiem]

that's creepy as fuck

[@AHKSTUDIOCHANNEL]

A hole at da face

[@flonkertainment3864]

You can also see it at 9:38

[@Zenter28]

*lack of face

[@KalypsoVega]

I didn't see it. Ugh

[@claireglory]

im 34 years old now and i still remember this game as a child like it was yesterday.

[@therealfriday13th]

And with that post-credits scene, the "Squall is dead" theory is debunked.

[@3d3f3ct3]

The only reason VIII isn't held in as high regard as others is because it was simply over people's heads. Easily the most mature, complex, and poetic JRPG ever created.

[@honeydew3552]

Lmao, good joke

[@3d3f3ct3]

@@honeydew3552

[@souza885]

@@honeydew3552 the only joke here is you stupid

[@tomasgarcia7499]

FF7 Remake recently got me into the Final Fantasy series, and because I don’t have a PS4, I decided to play FF8 Remastered on the Switch. I was not expecting this game to be this amazing. When Rinoa came to bring back Squall to their regular time and Eyes On Me started playing, I immediately started crying. Seeing Laguna propose to Raine made me cry even more. This is the first video game to ever make me cry because of its story. I cannot emphasis enough how awesome this game is, and even though I’ve played a lot of games throughout my 22 years of life, I can definitely say this one ranks very close to the top. Square did a wonderful job creating a story full of action, love, and character. I think I’ll always hold this one dear to my heart. Squall and Rinoa are adorable...makes me want to have a love like that one day. Nonetheless, FF8 is wonderful, and I can’t wait to play more Final Fantasy games. Also, hearing the prelude at the very very end made me SO happy!

[@jason160uk]

Hopefully you play the original FF7 from 1997. Its so much better than the remake.

[@jazznewt]

I played this in 2000 when I was 29 and cried by eyes out when I finished ("beat" is not right) the game and watched this. You just have no idea it's coming, how long it's going to be, and you're still kind of in it when this all plays out. Amazing art has no expiration date.

[@ContentThatMakesMeContent]

What the game's ending means: TL;DR - Rinoa needs to die in space alone. Once she dies, Ultimecia dies with her. The "Princess" Rinoa saves the "Knight" Squall in the end when it's been Squall saving her the entire game. After defeating Ultimecia, Squall and his friends are separated. Squall believes that he can return to them if he calls out to them. However, he realizes that this is no longer possible and succumbs to his greatest fear - being abandoned and alone. When he sees the white feather falling from the sky, he is reminded of the promise he made to Rinoa. Rinoa is his way back; without her, he is lost at the end of time. Final Fantasy VIII's plot is a time loop/paradox. Recall that Squall gives Edea the idea to build SeeD and Garden when he ended up in the past after defeating the final boss. His past self, "young Squall," would later grow up to take part in the events of the game (Squall defeats Edea, Edea transfers her power to Rinoa, Rinoa frees Adel in space, Squall rescues Rinoa and defeats future Ultimecia, Ultimecia transfers her power to Matron, young Squall is raised by Matron and grows up to defeat Edea, etc.). This loop will continue forever, because young Squall does not have the benefit of knowledge or hindsight as the Squall trapped at the end of the paradox. He cannot go back in time to alter his decisions because he does not belong in that timeline (Matron: "Please return. You do not belong here.") At 8:08, Squall begins to see replays of when he first met Rinoa at the banquet in Balamb Garden; this is where the loop begins. Once he meets her at the party, the game's events will take place; you see them replay over and over (you see shots of Rinoa at the party being in frame, then wiped away - as if she is absent). Squall comes to understand that he is forever locked in an eternal battle with Ultimecia, and in this loop, Ultimecia can never truly die. Recall that the only way to truly ensure a sorceress is forever vanquished is for the sorceress to die with her powers. Ultimecia is NOT Rinoa, but their deaths are intertwined, and are also consequently what will end up saving the rest of the world. No matter what kind of action Squall takes in the game in an effort to save Rinoa, it will always end in the same result: replaying the time loop. With the benefit of hindsight, the only way to escape this time loop is in 9:43; Squall must let Rinoa die in space alone (her life support runs out and her helmet shatters). If Squall decides not to save her after the destruction of the Moon Base, Rinoa dies with Ultimecia's powers in the vast emptiness of space, unable to transfer them to anyone, thus ending Ultimecia's existence. Squall can then return to the planet to defeat Seifer and a weakened Adel (who needed Rinoa's sorceress powers in order to become strong again). The SeeD party will never have to experience time compression to rush into the future to defeat Ultimecia because she no longer exists - thus saving the world. Squall realizes this in 9:46; in order to fully destroy Ultimecia, he must sacrifice the only person he truly loves - Rinoa. He must live the remainder of his life alone, broken, and grieving - knowing he broke their promise and abandoned Rinoa. The rest of the world will move on, celebrating the end of the succession of witches. We see Squall unconscious at the end with Rinoa finding her way back to him, and they are taken back to the flower field where they made the Promise. The entire game has reiterated the trope of a "knight" saving the "Princess" (remember Rinoa's nickname by the Timber Owls?) and in some cases, "sorceress." Squall saves Rinoa multiple times: from fake Deling, from Sorceress Edea, from falling during the Balamb vs. Galbadia Garden siege, carrying her to Esthar, rescuing her in space, and saving her from Adel. In the end however, it's Rinoa who ends up saving Squall. Free of Ultimecia's influence and no longer a sorceress, it's the "Princess" who ends up saving her knight. The game ends with a scene from a dream Rinoa mentions she had: "We make a promise. We promise to see shooting stars together. I get dressed up and put on your ring. But the thing is, I can't remember where I'm supposed to meet you. I start to panic. I really want to see you, Squall, but I don't know where to go. I start running through the mountains, the desert, the plains...through Timber, Balamb, and Galbadia..... When I realize I can't run any longer, I just want to see you so badly. So I scream, Squall, where are you!?" But Rinoa finds him in the end and they get to see shooting stars together in the flying Balamb Garden! And they live happily ever after.

[@drown4994]

+MrJustinius Damn, that's some deep shit right there I think they did an amazing job with FF8, I enjoyed FF9 and FF10 but they did not live up to the emotional and psychological standards as FF8 did. Hope they make a HD remake or something of FF8 because realistically it was the game that gave the Final Fantasy series interest.

[@brickfighter1320]

does this kinda proves that Squall could be dead theory

[@youngrich6820]

if this and that... and then..... the games will never be exist.. :)

[@phoenixracing1681]

In case you are wondering. The complete mindf*ck in the ending is because squall is trying to comprehend Rinoa's face. But he cannot focus and he loses his ego. So his ego dies. And then he wakes up with an ego.

[@stillthesnazz]

At 8:11 (and again at 9:24), Rinoa's face blends with Ultimecia's. At 9:45, we see the hole in Squall's face and Rinoa's spacesuit break. All the images suggest both the Squall's (and potentially Rinoa's) dead, and R=U theories, but they can't both be true. I don't think either are. We are just watching Squall's mind fill up with doubt. (Maybe over a long time, but sped up for our benefit.) When he thinks about Rinoa and Edea being possessed, he can't separate that from their true selves. He believes they, and Ultimecia are all the same. They're sorceresses, enchanting suckers like Seifer, and like himself, to be their knights. And his friends, so stupid, so naive, encouraged it to happen. Now he's alone again, in pain again, because he let himself love them. He let himself love Rinoa, and he can't remember why. He loses himself completely (hole in face) as he imagines a scenario where Rinoa dies alone in space. Then he suddenly comes to, startled, a tear falling from his eye as he regrets thinking such horrible things. FFVIII is about how easy it is to fall in love, but hard to stay in, either because people move on or they die. ("No matter how hard you hold on, time--it escape you.") Squall knows this to be the ULTIMATE reality, and the game is about him dealing with it. Squall is heartbroken when Ellone is adopted, but he forgets her. Quistis is in love with Squall, but she gets over it. Rinoa is in love with Seifer, and likewise gets over it. Laguna and Julia are in love with each other but they also get over it. Presumably, at the end, Selfie and Irvine are together, which is why when he flirtatiously waves at some other girls, she gets mad. We see Zell with the SeeD girl that he's been into, but now he seems more interested in his plate of hot dogs. Squall knows love is futile, but, after his moment of doubt, after finding Rinoa, he chooses to be with her anyway. The game is a big, weird metaphor. A fleeting happy moment is better than no happy moments. When Laguna visits Raine's grave and remembers her, he's glad for the memories (and consequent relationship with Ellone) rather than dwelling on the pain of losing her.

[@oofyalDAMMIT]

Well said. Him losing himself completely is a psychological nightmare.

[@generalissimustg810]

questions about ff8 ending are same as questions about 'inception' ending. basically, it is half-full or half-empty glass question. who wants optimistic happy ending where rinoa is not ultimecia, squall is alive and everyone lived happily ever after will accept that. and who likes pessimistic dark stories will accept opposite version. the fact that makers of game never strictly stated what is truth allow everyone to appreciate ending according to their likes. so enjoy in this freedom of choosing. usually i am usually for tragic endings where somebody dies but in this case i like to believe in good ending. because no matter how tough or dark their stories can be final fantasy always makes me feel good in the end. it is the beauty of that games.

[@rf5510]

The video camera scene in the credits was the most realistic thing i had ever seen in a game up to that point. It blew me away.

[@soozyrandall7551]

Going from the Squall is Dead Theory, this is the best ending to a game I have ever seen. Even the prologue theme while the home-video is running, and the final clear look at Rinoa's face with the dying battery are just incredibly fitting.

[@pattrickmerete]

My cousin and i used to play this. I am in gradeschool back then. I miss him so much, he died in an accident while working in Korea. RIP my brother.

[@lukoscreyden]

Of all video game endings, this one has the most emotion in it for me. I haven't seen it in years and watching it now as an adult, I shed a few tears. Absolutely beautiful. Time to plug that ps3 back in!

[@niory]

same !

[@J0000OOOO]

This end sequence is literally the only thing in any game, song, movie, any form of media I've actually cried at. Not sure why. Many criticize the characters in this game but I loved Squall and Rinoa so emotions run high through this for me.

[@lupina015]

This 1000 times.

[@Spades20XX]

If Squall died at the end of Disc 1, that directly contradicts with... the whole plot, it'd make a time paradox. When he defeated Ultimecia at the end of the game he returned to the past when Matron Edea took Ulti's powers. HE was the one who gave her the idea of SeeD by showing up and mentioning it to her. She recognizes Squall and creates SeeD together with her husband, and this is why in Disc 2 Cid told Squall when he gives him the role of Leader on the Balamb Garden "This is your destiny." He was the hero who defeated the villainess. He was MEANT to beat Ultimecia. Him dying in disc 1 means the events of Disc 4 never happened, and thus, he never meets Edea in the past, meaning there WOULD BE NO SEED. No SeeD means no angsty Squall, and without him you have nothing. Jesus Christ, don't listen to those stupid ass wannabe creepypastas, they're just unconfirmed theories trying to make sense of plot holes.

[@Lordidude]

But there are still too many things that make NO sense whatsoever. Rinoa falling in love with Squall, although she had no interest in Squall at all before Disc 2. She was in love with Seifer. They were all raised at the same place, yet they don't know each other? wtf! And only after Disc 1 everything centers around Squall, how a SeeD student is the rescuer of the earth all of the sudden... I'm just saying there are too many things that aren't conclusive without the death-theory. And by the way the creation of SeeD doesn't contradict the death theory.

[@Spades20XX]

Those are legitimate faults of the PLOT of the game. They don't need explanation. Doesn't matter whether it does or it doesn't, the theory IS NOT REAL.

[@Lordidude]

TaijutsuJoshua To say it's a "legitmate fault" is just an excuse not to think. You can't deny nor approve the theory.

[@Spades20XX]

I don't accept the theory, so that's enough for me. There's also many other holes in the theory, but I'm not going to explain them. It's interesting no doubt, but it doesn't cover things like Squall having Laguna dreams pre-disc 1, the Lunar Cry being mention in disc 1, or the fact that if the rest of the game is a dream where Squall is the hero, he would never put himself through intense emotional and physical pain. Stop trying to make me accept it. And don't say I tried to do the same, you came onto my comment looking for an argument. I'm saying that this theory is an attempt to explain the more confusing parts of the game.

[@Lordidude]

TaijutsuJoshua I don't want to convince you. Why should I care if a nobody in another part of the world believes anything? I've never stated this to be true. I always said it's a theory. But one MAJOR plot hole is never even mentioned: What happened after he died -> Nobody ever talked about Edea's attack. And if the theory is 100% wrong then explain to me: Where the hell is his wound? Don't tell me shit like "He's heald through magic" or anything. Because he has a wound from the training with Seifer, and that was just a little scratch...

[@davidsiaw]

zell finally got his hot dogs

[@mylenedoussot2910]

David Siaw bretzel !

[@silentfanatic]

Oh my god, I'm 18 all over again. Thank you for uploading this!

[@lobstrosity7163]

I love it when Selphie is taking a selfie in the credit roll.

[@michaelluciano1980]

Doesn’t this game pre-date this term? Crazy!! 😱🤯

[@aerisgainsborough2141]

@@michaelluciano1980 Selphie Tillmit...("Selfie Till We Meet") The game was HER universe....

[@arnaudbarranger6521]

just wanna say thank you for the vids, I started playing this game when I was 15 .. I left it unifinished for years... now thanks to you I've been able to finish it at age 30. so.. thanks. really fun with the comments and all. keep the good work

[@Moggleberries]

Will always be my favourite game of all time. Suddenly had to watch this.

[@Tarathx]

Yep, dont know why it got so much hate, this game holds really dearly to me :/. For some reason the ending of it tugged at me really hard, apart from other final fantasy games.

[@Moggleberries]

Agreed. I think partly because I wasn't sure what was even happening at the end the first time I saw it, I was on edge until I saw Squall on the balcony.

[@TheWalker10]

Akshay G The hate comes mainly from the gameplay, and the fact that it isn't quite as good/epic/awesome/etc... as Final Fantasy VII (in most Final Fantasy fans' opinion) while coming right after (I find both very good, but I'm somewhat easily contented when it comes to Final fantasy ^^). The game in itself is VERY far from bad! Good characters, good story (though quite romantic-oriented, which people might have found cheesy, perhaps), superb grapisms (for the PS1), Square Enix quality garanteed ^^ And, last but not least, Nobuo Uematsu for the music.

[@Tarathx]

TheWalker10 Yeah thats true. Everyone keeps comparing it to FF7. The gameplayof FF8 was a bit difficult and strange, mainly the junctioning system but I quickly came to enjoy it and made me experiment with so much different stuff. I really enjoyed the game for its story, plus also about the Rinoa = Ultimecia theory, just made it more awesome :P Whether or not true, it was interesting / thought provoking. I loved the music, the world theme would just make me doze off in pure bliss. Just a shame square won't be able to make games as awesome as FF V - FF IX.

[@TheWalker10]

Yeah, I thought the gameplay was interesting myself (though it can become really too easy when you know some tricks about it, which is also why it was hated ^^). And the R=U theory is probably the most plausible one, if you take into account some things as the non-linearity of time, parallel universes, etc... (I've got a nice little theory about that ^^). As for music, well, Nobuo Uematsu, that's all I have to say. And I don't know, FF X was good (apart from Tidus. Urgh!), and I'm still waiting with a certain amount of excitement for FF XV. Although it's true that the best J-RPG I played these last years wasn't a Square Enix : Xenoblade, Wii exclusive. My god, that game is good!

[@theresavilla250]

I like randomly seeing Angelo running around at the end.. So cute.

[@jasonle4125]

Who's watching this in 2016

[@samualiam9981]

This guy. And for many years to come.

[@mudturtlevision]

Thinking about this game still makes me cry. I played it over ten years ago

[@rufusmyoui]

Jason Le me!

[@ExodusDRex]

me and i think i finally got it xD

[@TK-Kaioken]

I literally jus beat this game lmfaoooo

[@RyDawg96]

You shocked me at the end of the video when you started speaking.

[@jaredwii123]

made me jump out of my seat XD

[@cangri1788]

HIRONOBU SAKAGUCHI WE MISS YOUUUUUUUUUU

[@malik87breaker]

cangri1788 he wasn't much part of it?

[@TyTimeIsAwesome]

Squall is alive and well. Any other theory is just wrong. Haha. Yeah! A happy ending!

[@dememiys]

Did you see the picture with the hole in his face. Creepy shitz yo.

[@TyTimeIsAwesome]

Edward Lim Lol yeah, there were a lot of images in the ending that were a little disturbing.

[@dememiys]

IKR I freaked out.

[@evertonporter7887]

Squall became unstuck in time...and Rinoa rescued him. Time was restored. Simple.

[@jaradona1305]

OR Squall could be dead And Rinoa Ending time compression brought Squsll's body back to the present time.. and the end scenes afer the credits mean that Squall and the whole group met again at heaven (Balamb garden.. the place that once brought them all together).. That is a depressing t hought but it is another ending that players would imagine..) So Square puts it up to the players to choose the ending they want.. a happy ending or a sad ending..

[@mcpepa]

9:44 in this second you can see the squall face with the hole kind of subliminal so repeat it slowly with youtube speed options. I dont belive that squall dies in disc 1, even when he said he has no wounds when he wake up in disc 2, rinoa start to loving him and the words of ultimecia. if that was the real story behind, he never meets edea and disc 2 3 and 4 where for nothing, which its stupid. what I believe is that japanese interpretate concepts diferent than us. may be the hole and most of all crazy stuff you saw here represent the empty squall was feeling all his jurney since he was a kid and the only way he has to scape from it was to remember his friends "thats also why we see rinoa triying to dissapear from squall mind", so remember was the key to stop the time compression, not only killing ultimecia, but leaving away his fear to be alone. rinoa has the ring of squall, that make her easy remeber squall and save his life for the time compression. do you rembember the intro of the game they write"ill be here","you will find me" and then "I promise" I bet you recognice those places better know, thats because the end of the game its the start of the game too. and affter credits its the end of the time loop. a happy ending for ever :D

[@amysantiago6284]

+PEPA Yeah, I don't like the 'Squall is dead' theory at all because it would make the entire game pointless. The scene where Squall's face is gone is like the perfect representation of Squall's fears - not only is he alone (all his memories of Rinoa and friends have disappeared), but he is going to disappear into the Time Compression and be forgotten. If he hadn't evolved throughout the game and opened up to Rinoa, he would have disappeared forver. It's funny when you think about it - Squall always kept people at a distance because he was scared they would leave him if he got to close to them. But the only thing that saved him at the end was the fact that he DIDN'T keep his distance from Rinoa. It was Rinoas love that was able to pull him through.

[@tarnishedone4746]

Life is Strange has an ending that renders the entire game pointless too, where you Max goes back in time to the moment she discovered her powers but let's Chloe die, thus making the entire 5 episode game pointless because suddenly everything you did never happened. I think that's the genius in FF8's ending and it's story as a whole is that it's left open to interpretation, it makes you really reflect and think back on what happened, because so much of the story telling is subtle. You can interpret that the game is about love and fate and the story of Squall fighting through his emotions with Rinoa's help, whereas other interpret the story post disc 1 as a fleeting, vivid dream of a man's life and what he wished for flashing before his eyes as he dies.

[@BayTongan510]

I beat this game back in 2000, but the cd was scratched so I couldn’t watch the ending. I bought a brand new copy back in 2003 and I couldn’t watch the ending because it was scratched. I didn’t get around to watching the ending until 2017 here on KZbin.

[@PandoraheartsAlice16]

Holy shit I kept playing and pausing through 9:41 - 9:45 hoping to catch the frame with Squall's empty face and it just popped up on me. My heart skipped a beat.

[@teareaclark9328]

I keep doin that too but it keeps going too fast, when I actually got it I jumped.

[@Oldboy2305]

Creepy af

[@KalypsoVega]

I never see it.

[@MrRobman2009]

I figured it out in 1999 when I beat this game that Laguna and Raine were Squalls parents from the ending.

[@dannysimion]

This is an awesome ending. Lots of metaphorical meanings here and there between Squall and Rinoa. I wonder how this game would look when its HD remastered? Its a pretty game still. I miss the older titles of FF from this era. Good imaginative storylines and catchy soundtrack! Faye Wong breaking out her iconic lyrics kind of brings a nice tear of nostalgia for me. Childhood days.

[@ericgilbreath182]

Thanks for posting I have played to disc 4 twice and haven't been able to beat Ultimecia. 15 years I've been waiting for this moment.

[@irfanburningowl]

I just beat the game and I can't help but to watch the ending scene several times. It's beautiful.

[@FekMz_7]

I know that feeling. Besides I always cry at the very ending. Such a beautiful ending scene for such an incredible game

[@PunchlineEverytime]

Final Fantasy VII is my favorite Final Fantasy, but I think in terms of endings VIII will always be my favorite. Such a great, and beautiful, way to wrap everything up.

[@tatiannaharrison2128]

PunchlineEverytime agreed ☺️☺️☺️

[@2222-l5b]

My favorite is Crisis Core's ending.

[@CensoredSquirrel]

I'm currently playing this game and i wanted to check the ending cause i love the story to this game and the characters. Rinoa and Squall is love and life i thought he might have died my heart skipped some beats.

[@uninterestedhour]

No love story ever captivated me like Squall and RInoa's. wow

[@uninterestedhour]

***** yip

[@lukecovey8406]

Some theorize that Squall is dead, and that he died when they were trying to assassinate the sorceress in the parade. It's then suggested that the rest is a hallucination of Squall's mind as it's dying. There are some fairly convincing arguments in favor of the theory. Try googling it.

[@uninterestedhour]

Luke Covey I know all about it

[@jamesellis33]

Luke Covey thats far fetched nonsense. Game developers aren't going to go that much in depth. The evidence is nonsense, its nothing but a bunch of bullshit. Its a damn game not some mystery book.

[@Varbess]

The body trailing effect from 4:29-5:20 and the visual blurry/watery effect, repeats of time, background blurring in with people, and fuzzy echoing sound from 8:08-9:45 is actually the perfect example of an LSD trip.

[@swastikazero3325]

me just waiting for FF8 Remake T.T even it takes eternity to wait!!!

[@KILLtrOTTcity]

🙏🖒🖒

[@Chi2SE]

Laguna's spinoff would be great ;)

[@niory]

I played this game when I was 11 and I LOVED IT ! after 15 years I re-watched it on youtube thx to osiris143 and I love it even more ! It deserved every bit of fascination I had for this game for the past many many years... The ending was perfect ! everyone back to with the ones they love where they belonged and everyone is in peace ! very few shows, movies, anime or games leave you with such peaceful and beautiful ending these days ... but I wonder if Squall and Laguna had any father son talks ?! BIG FAT THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS ON KZbin !

[@rosaheartlily]

Love the bit with Laguna and Raine *wipes a tear*

[@emp651]

Ok so do you think squall makes it back to them? They don't show him in the videotape of the party but rinoa does make the same fireworks gesture when they first met.

[@hermonylee6123]

2019! Who's here after 8 remastered?

[@caancel]

HVeiromloany L i am 2019 do u think they will do a remake foe this one ???

[@khalifakush7297]

Look, guys, People think too much into that 1/2 second frame. Squall not having a face is just him losing his mind. To put it more accurately, lost his identity. Face = your identity, that's how it usually is in literature, art, film, etc. Being lost in purgatory, or in this case lost in the middle of time, does that. As shown in footage prior, he was losing his memory of Rinoa, he kept replaying that memory in hopes of remembering her face but the more he did it the more he forgot about her, he tried every other memory of her, and as he forgot more and more about her, other faces of his friends flashed by, representing him forgetting them as well, then finally himself. Then Rinoa, using her sorceress power, found him and brought him back. See that proves the truth, not some lie "oh hh hh squall died because Edna struck him through the torso, cause I'm so stupid and didn't realize it was on his shoulder, and disc 2 forward is his life flashing before his eyes and to him its real time when in reality it's fast, blah blah blah, I don't know anything about FF8, I just go by what people say about how he died blah blah blah his faceless self blah blah blah" whatever, if you don't know any truth behind the game you have no business even looking into it. (thing about the 1/2 second frame of faceless squall copied from Ariso12)

[@OddEyes1]

Wait so Squall is alive lmao. This is my favorite game of all time and the first FF I played as a kid. I always thought the ending was just him dying alone in that dimension and hated the ending lol. So I was living in a lie for so long damn, now the ending is much better after seeing this.

[@malik87breaker]

OddEyes i have the opposite feeling. I felt that if he died. It's a beautiful tragedy. :)

[@PinkMona88]

For a moment in the video i forgot you Was here! I love this video is part of my childhood. Thanks

[@lanzer6990]

this video was HD, selphies camera was not

[@TheLadyLiddell]

Wait...so Final Fantasy VIII is just a big time loop. You defeat the sorceress in the end, who ends up going back in time to pass on her powers to Edea, who ultimately gets possessed by her so she can cause time compression which has already happened...

[@omgkikoo]

dude you scared the shit out of me when you started to talk at the end of the video omg :D

[@gurufabbes1]

I just finished it after an hour long battle with Ultimecia. I bought this game over 10 years ago and have played it on and off; only finally finishing it now. I love it and feel that I grew up playing it. It's the first and will definitely not be the last, Final Fantasy game I've played. Beautiful, simply beautiful and unforgettable.

[@csklmf86]

FF8 is the only FF game series I played. I was and still am totally stunned by how good the storyline is, how each character stood out, how good all the music was. Hands down my most favorite game I have even played. I cried when I got to see the final scene. I heard FF7 was good too but meh, FF8 for life!!

[@pondrthis1]

+csk lmf If you liked FF8, you will not like FF7. I say this being someone like you, in that 8 was one of the first FFs I completed (I had beaten 4 and started 6 & 7, but didn't finish those until later). The main reason for this is that they have polar opposite story structures. In 8, you go from climactic scene to climactic scene, and the "big bad" comes out of nowhere at the end as sort of an arbitrary finale, wrapping up only the "succession of witches" plotline, as everything else was already wrapped up. In 7, the big bad is introduced in the first few hours and absolutely nothing of interest happens (except a character death that everyone knows about) until you defeat him in the end; there's no progression to the story so much as it's one big chase scene. Obviously, you either prefer one form or the other.

[@sammojk]

FF 7 is even better than 8. Especially story wise. Best story of anything I've watched or played or read. Both are my top 2 games.

[@PhobeBarrymore]

All of the Final Fantasy games are centred around the characters and their story. If you like VIII because of its attention to characters, chances are you will like more of the franchise. People get attached to certain games, VII being the most fan heavy and IX being the most positively received by critics, but you really need to try out a few games to decide. I personally would choose VI as my favourite.

[@SmokingCures]

+Sam Khan Agreed. FF8 was the first one I played and will always be my favorite. But FF7 was brilliant and is well worth a play.

[@stanimirivanov4052]

FF8 story is great, but in my opinion FF6 history is collosal. True fantasy. They are diffrent, but both are superb.

[@PopDeOllie]

They don't make games like this anymore...

[@nikitaw9976]

PopDeOllie I wish the was a sequal

[@teampangz1000]

PopDeOllie the ffxv is good tho

[@lllool8404]

FF14 is awesome.

[@modzmodzz]

I got freaking nightmares from this. My god. And it's midnight here.

[@blip1]

This somehow released in the U.S. at the start of my freshman year in college. I am 35 years old now. Greatest video game ending I have experienced.

[@Luxai]

Yes everyone, there is a frame of Squall with a hole in his face. You overthink it. They were trapped in a time void, meaning that reality is blurring, and if memories are slaved to the past, which they may well be, it would be difficult to recall them in such a situation, hence the blurriness. And since memories are stored in the brain, located in the head, there is a hole. Metaphorically speaking. Yes, there is a theory of Squall being dead, but that seems to largely hinging on the world being "dream like" by the end of disk 1. Uh, hello? Giant elemental monsters, crazy monsters... It's not so realistic at all. And considering that Squall downloaded these powers from a PC, why are you so surprised that the Gardens can fly? Some theorize that Squall died in the intro when he dueled Seifer, but didn't Seifer throw a fire spell? Realistic? And so on, and so forth.

[@Arsio12]

This comment needs more thumbs up. The only one of these fan theories that makes the most sense is U=R and even that has too many holes in it and from what I've read, though have not found a proper source but a lot of people saying it, Square said it's false.

[@Sheechiibii]

Arsio12 I think the R=U theory is more impossible than the Squall's dead one. The Squall's dead theory is stupid and has pretty much no basis, but it could theoretically be possible I guess. R=U is impossible because during time compression there are no past, present and future, everything is merged into one time-line. So it is impossible for one person to exist in time compression as both their older self and their younger self. Both Rinoa and Ultimecia were present in time compression at the end of the game, making it impossible for them to be the same person.

[@Luxai]

Maybe that''s just the wishes of a lot of young girls?

[@Sheechiibii]

Luxai Yeah, I don't think it's even uncommon among people in general, not just young girls. When you're having a good time, plenty people wish it would last forever. And when there's a war going on, guaranteed most regular folks would like somebody up top to fix the problem so they can stop living in terror. We're not ignoring those things she says, Elementguy, we just don't think they are indicative of what you think they are.

[@Luxai]

"We"? Lel okay then, but not everything needs to have a deeper meaning.

[@matthewellis8025]

I found this game during my early high-school years and was instantly captivated by all aspects of it. The setting, the characters, the soundtrack, the initial difficulty of battles prior to really understanding the junctioning system. It may sound quite extreme but it always felt like a dear friend to me in that it helped me endure and cope with the abuse I was experiencing at the time, both at home and at school. This game really will always occupy a special place in my heart.

[@willowashe]

Wait-does this mean that FF8 is technically just a feedback loop that will just continue on in perpetuity?

[@KalypsoVega]

Seems so.

[@freddquadros]

I did not remembered how amazing and beautiful this ending was...

[@TranNguyen-sw7wu]

Wait I never thought of this before, but since Squall only tries to remember Rinoa at the ballroom, does it mean he has fallen for her ever since? I have always thought so, but never seen this scene as evidence.

[@BomazXD]

Thank you for recording this Osiris. Fun watching even though I only did from Ultemicia castle. Can tell you enjoyed it.

[@fr3akbrother]

wait, wait, WAIT!! What's up with that picture of Squall with a hole in his face!!? It wasnt until now that i saw. it D':

[@miiiiillyyyyy]

when?

[@fr3akbrother]

millycutenails If you look around 9:44 direclty after Rinoa's face turns to water the image will show in like a millisecond. Slow down the speed and pause. Its scary as fuck!!

[@Lordidude]

There's a pretty crazy theory that Squall died early in the game. It sounds ludacris first, but it makes really sense: squallsdead.com

[@Spades20XX]

It's like a single frame long so you'll see it for like a split second. And I can't stand those stupid theories. They're just scary stories attempting to make sense of the plot holes, that's all.

[@Spades20XX]

Vinyl_Frost But then people try so hard to make sense of it like it was originally planned to be that way...

[@SoKevinly]

uhhh MrJustinius is... kinda wrong :x 7:54 is simply doing what Ultimecia said. They forget everything. That's why Squall said, "If I Call out, they'll hear me" Cause that's what they said they'd do previously, that they'll always have each other as long as they call out to each other 7:54 is Squall trying to remember his friends but not working--trying to remember Rinoa, but not working. at 9:45, climatic point happens which is really just him reaching a climax of not remembering Rinoa.

[@Lvsitanu]

I just beat the game and saw the ending, finally finishing an unfinished business from 16 years ago, when I first played the game. Back then I couldn't finish the game because the 2nd CD had a small scratch and it would freeze on the first FMV sequence, during the prison escape. I really hated that back then when I had to give up on the game. I loved the story and the characters and it really felt good to be able to finish the game after all these years. I just have 1 complaint when it comes to the story... Squall never gets to talk with Laguna after he says "We will talk when all this is over". That is something that should be in the ending.

[@TheMorfiend]

That is musical and visual perfection. Still the best game ending i've witnessed. The music is beauty personified and the video recorder section in the credits is something i've rarely seen in gaming and a memory i'll never forget the first time I had the pleasure of seeing it.

[@Angela-lp7zw]

Anyone else still deeply saddened by Laguna and Raine? It still gets to me years and years later. Ugh.

[@JenStrife]

thank you for making this walkthrow ive never played ff8 i resintly got it and its my first time playing it and your walkthough is helping me big time

[@Devilsolution]

11:20 Rinoa is so beautiful there.

[@civtactical9164]

Great Walkthrough. I enjoyed it very much and some bloopers :D Thank you. 2016 Final Fantasy 8 Gamer.

[@greatestever184]

Been years since I played this. I completely forgot that Laguna is Squall's dad. He just looks to be the same age, so I guess it never dawned on me as a wee one playing this.

[@TheShadoKnite]

Yeah the idea of the Garden and SeeD is an origin paradox. It makes you wonder cuz then, like you said, it's a cycle, so by definition this can't be the 'original event'.

[@leon2550]

speed: 0.25 quality: 360p time: 9:45 squall: faceless

[@leon2550]

how did Square think that it was a good idea to put that there?

[@gustavovillegas95]

Ah... I see what you did there. Nice Mastercard reference!

[@juanala3]

So?, theres a lot of weird stuffs in that part because of that time shit you conspiracy genius

[@myke111111]

Even after all these years, this ending still ranks among the most satisfying that I have ever experienced. I may just be speaking for myself here, but the scene with Seifer laughing with his friends on the pier still gives me the same warm fuzzy of 13 years ago. Well done Squaresoft.

[@Duke_Togo_G13]

He never died at the end of disc 1. He was wounded... It went through his shoulder. Really look at it. If anything he had maybe a punctured lung.

[@88zsurla]

Dos this mean that everything that has happened in the game will just keep repeating over and over again? I mean, Edea took Ultimecia's powers which means this already has happened since Edea did mention before in the game that she became a Sorceress 13 years ago when she received the powers from dying Sorceress at the orphanage. And it was Squall from the future was the one who gave Edea an idea for Garden right? This is all one big loop right? I have been wondering about that for a while...

[@rufusmyoui]

The reason why I like this VIII is because of the story, characters and of course, the music! And also I like that this game has too much theories like Squall's dead, Rinoa is Ultimecia(tho Square confirmed it's not true), Squall and Laguna father and son relationship. Oh man, the feels

[@thesungodterry]

That's not true. Although Laguna and Raine are Squall's parents. Ellone's parents were killed by Estharian Soldiers during the Sorceress War. Ellone was then raised by her neighbour Raine and later by Laguna and even later by Edea and Cid Kramer. This would make them adopted siblings only.