Final Fantasy: 25 Greatest Heroes

There are elements of the Final Fantasy fandom that despise Squall, summarily dismissing him for his sullen and negative demeanour and throwing labels like ‘emo’ about.

What they seem to miss is that he is deliberately unlikable at first, before his gradual unraveling and development across the game’s four discs serves as a character transformation that is unmatched across the series in terms of how masterfully it is written.

Squall’s stoicism is a mask for the fears that stem from relatable self-doubt and abandonment issues. He doesn’t seem himself as a leader, but the eventual realisation of his potential results in his crowning moment of glory.

His speech in the battle between Balamb and Galbadia gardens, delivered to the tune of ‘The Oath’, one of composer Nobuo Uematsu’s all-time greatest creations, seems to freeze time, with the reluctant commander inspiring both himself and those around him to continue the fight when all seems lost.

The dualistic nature of his relationship with Seifer enables each of their interactions to be meaningful, from the opening duel that gives them their mirrored scars through to Squall’s torture at his onetime classmate’s hand, whilst the development of his affections for Rinoa, irksome as she may be at times, enable his mental armour to be chipped away piece by piece.

As he succumbs to his feelings and shares his vulnerabilities with her, he emerges as a true great, the best element in a hugely underrated series entry.