Final Fantasy VIII has one of the best groups in Square Enix's series. All six of the main characters play major roles throughout the game and have become well-loved by fans. Plus, this entry continued the trend of setting a fantasy game in a more modern-esque setting much like Final Fantasy VII.
While all six characters are known for their very different personalities, they are also known for their iconic and unique looks. Some have undergone a few minor changes while appearing outside of the game and others have remained the same. Here is how the characters rank based on their design.
Disclaimer:Â Only the main party members will be included, so temporary playable characters like Laguna Loire and Ward Zabac will not be considered.
6 Selphie Tilmitt
The most cheerful character has a yellow overall dress to match her attitude and hide that she has one of the strongest Limit Breaks in the game. The brightness of the dress makes Selphie stand out no matter where she's at, but it's not exactly practical for the SeeD missions.
Selphie's overall look is lacking for her character. Her dress is the only thing that matches her personality, but her accessories and boots don't add much to her design.
5 Irvine Kinneas
With his cowboy hat and long khaki jacket, Irvine has a style that will grab attention for a few seconds. The cowboy hat adds a nice appeal and enhances the character's charm. Irvine's design matches the southern gentleman attitude he tries to go for while impressing the ladies.
The brown chaps match closely to Irvine's jacket, making his outfit monochromatic and a little plain. The cowboy look is perfect for Irvine since he is a sharpshooter and uses a gun as his main weapon.
4 Quistis Trepe
Quistis' design is monochromatic like Irvine, but the salmon-colored vest and skirt do make her stand out. Though the pants under her skirt seem a little unnecessary, this does allow Quistis to move around without having to worry about the constriction her skirt might give her if she wasn't wearing anything underneath. But her skirt adds a nice feminine and sophisticated touch that seems fitting for the youngest instructor of Balamb Garden.
Quistis' arm warmers and gloves also keep her covered up while adding protection. Even while on a mission, Quistis makes sure to keep looking stylish while also guaranteeing that her outfit doesn't hinder her.
3 Zell Dincht
With his hot-headed attitude and energetic personality, Zell has an outfit that matches him perfectly along with his fighting style. His black vest with a red design is very stylish and adds a nice edginess to him. His long denim shorts make it easy for him to do his martial arts moves. One thing that makes Zell stand out from the rest of his friends is the large tribal tattoo he has on the left side of his face.
If fans look closely, the tattoo looks similar to world-famous boxer Mike Tyson's facial tattoo. Since Zell is a martial artist, it wouldn't be surprising if his tattoo was inspired by Tyson. Plus, Zell doesn't have to reach for his weapon at all since his fists are his weapon of choice.
2 Rinoa Heartilly
One of the most popular heroines in the Final Fantasy series. Rinoa's design is memorable because of how unique it is. Her long, sleeveless duster sweater with the white angel wings on the back adds some elegance to her outfit. There are more feminine elements to her outfit such as the black tank top with a v-neck and her blue skirt. However, Rinoa is still ready to move around quickly when needed and wears a pair of biker shorts along with black boots that keep her from looking too girly.
Compared to Quistis' and Selphie's designs, Rinoa certainly sticks out among the three of them. Plus, her look serves as a foil to Ultimecia's design and personality. Rinoa was also a subject for a character design contest, and a new look called Dion Rogers' Rinoa became a huge hit with cosplayers.
1 Squall Leonhart
Squall has one of the most memorable designs in the whole Final Fantasy series. Known for his cold persona, his design matches him perfectly. With his black leather bomber jacket and matching black leather pants, Squall looks very much like the SeeD mercenary he is. Though his interconnecting belts seem a little silly, they do add a unique trait overall.
Squall's pendant of Griever also shows how much he idolizes this mythical being. Plus, Squall uses the Griever design for his gunblade and his ring that Rinoa wears on a necklace. The Griever symbol is also part of Squall's design for the Kingdom Hearts games and is shown on his jackets.