Introduction:
The follow up to the massively popular Final Fantasy VII, at its time of release it had a rather mixed reception, some fans felt that the game had deviated too far from its roots. Many consider it to be the best of the series. Squaresoft tried a different approach, rather than focus on a high level of character development in the whole cast, they mostly focused on the main hero, Squall and the heroine, Rinoa. The game was the first in the series to have a love story integral to the plot of the game.
Story:
Squall Leonheart is a student at the Military Academy of Balamb Garden. The Garden schools throughout the world train students to become members of SeeD (highly elite mercenaries). Squall is highly disciplined but cold, viewed as anti-social but respected by his classmates and teachers alike. On the night he is accepted as a SeeD, at the ball which takes place he has an encounter with a mysterious young woman, she persuades him to dance, but afterwards she quickly leaves before he can talk to her. Shortly afterwards, Squall, along with his comrades is given his first assignment and travels to a foreign city to work with a resistance movement. The groups leader is Rinoa, the same woman he had danced with the day before. The two don't get along at first, due to their opposing natures, Rinoa is Carefree whereas Squall is serious and disciplined. However, in time they begin to develop feelings for each other. Meanwhile, a Sorceress has emerged from the shadows and has dark plans for the world.