Final Fantasy VII may be getting the lion's share of' attention, but fans are still dissecting Final Fantasy VIII over 20 years later. In that time, fans have discussed various ideas, like supporting protagonist Rinoa actually being a villain. Another persistent theory involves the game's main protagonist, Squall, claiming that he is actually dead for the majority of his adventure. Squall's early demise would change everything players think they know about FFVIII -- but is the long-standing hypothesis actually true?
Whether it's for a deeper understanding of the title's plot or a closer look at the narrative's main characters, fans can't seem to stop going back to the 1999 JRPG and finding new information within it. Here's why fans think Squall suffered an untimely death on disc one, including evidence for both sides of the argument.
Why Fans Think Final Fantasy VIII Is All a Dream
The fan theory proposes that Squall actually dies after his encounter with the Sorceress Edea at the end of disc one. After a grueling battle against the villain, Squall and his allies seemingly best Edea. However, with one last trick up her sleeve, Edea conjures an icicle nearly as large as Squall's leg and hurls it at the hero. The icicle impales Squall, and he falls off the platform where the fight occurred. From here, the theory maintains everything that follows is part of a dream-esque sequence.
Those who believe this theory posit that the rest of the game is essentially Squall's life (or potential future) flashing before his eyes before his death. While it feels to Squall and the player like it's all happening in real-time, in reality, rest of the game really takes place over the course of a couple of seconds.
Did Squall Die at the End of Disc One?
Though most players go through the entirety of Final Fantasy VIII without considering that they're playing through the last ebbing thoughts of the protagonist, there is some convincing evidence that's worth considering. While Squall's bizarre reflection on death and the wound itself serve as major pieces of evidence, FFVIII also features some wild plot twists after the first disc.
Near the end of disc one, players hear Squall contemplate death whenever the subject of Seifer's possible execution emerges. According to the theory, these serve as foreshadowing, as Squall reflects on how others might react to his own demise, speculating that he'd become defined by others' memories of him. If that wasn't ominous enough, Squall doesn't appear with or mention the massive icicle wound in his chest after receiving the injury. When players see Squall again on disc two, he's an unwounded prisoner. The theory proposes that Squall's mind can't let the injury exist, or else risk Squall realizing he's dead and shattering his dream reality.
On top of this, FFVIII goes from a fairly routine Final Fantasy game to an outlandish entry full of wacky twists and turns. By the time players are making their way through the game's second disc, they'll encounter red talking lion creatures, a bizarre race of alien-like humanoids and a variety of other odd plot points that just seem to fall into place. It's an almost ethereal realization, going from the first disc's proposition that SeeD is a mercenary academy to learning the organization is at the behest of a giant yellow alien.
However, while there's evidence supporting the theory, what holds it up is all circumstantial. While things like Squall's musings on death are interesting, there's ultimately no hard evidence to hold the Squall death theory aloft. Adding even more insult to injury, the idea was officially debunked during 2017 interview with Square Enix director and producer Yoshinori Kitase.
When asked about the theory, Kitase said, "No, that is not true," though he did go on to say, "But that is a very interesting idea, so if we ever do make a remake of Final Fantasy VIII, I might go along with that story in mind." Though it seems Square Enix never intended for fans to interpret Squall's injury and subsequent journey as anything other than what is seen in the game, there may be a day where players see Squall actually die at the end of the first act should FFVIII get a Final Fantasy VII Remake-style overhaul.