Squall Leonhart
Squall
Job	SeeD Student/Member
Age	17
Weapon	Gunblade
Height	5'8"

Squall Leonhart is the main playable protagonist of Final Fantasy VIII. Squall is 17 years old, although acts much beyond his age. He is one of few specialists in handling the Gunblade, a gun-sword hybrid weapon. He is often haunted by the painful memories of his past, but conceals them deep within, putting on a brave and taciturn face in his daily life.

Squall's Limit Break, Renzokuken consists of a trigger bar whereby the player must press a button when a moving line hits a certain point in the bar. If done successfully, this will sometimes trigger a finishing move that can be quite devastating to the enemy.

[edit] Character Design

An in-game shot of the Hero.

Tetsuya Nomura and Yoshinori Kitase collaborated on the design for Squall. Originally planned with more feminine features, it was then decided to make him stylized. Specific features such as his scar and pendant were added to help generate a background for the character. The scar bears significance due to the scar sported by rival Seifer, a mirror of Squall's scar.

The design of Squall has been criticized for being too Westernized,compared to his more Asian inspired love interest, sparking claims the game is hinting at the West's dominance. The creators dismissed any such claims, stating the character designs were based on nothing but what best suited their personality. His design and attitude is based on River Phoenix.

[edit] Final Fantasy VIII

Squall Leonhart is a loner by nature, and believes that people should rely only on themselves. While having all the capabilities needed to lead, Squall tends to reject the role of a leader wherever he can. While many in Garden look upon Squall with admiration and respect, he disregards them, choosing to live his life wholly independently.

A SeeD candidate at the onset, Squall wakes up in the infirmary with a head injury that creates a permanent scar, caused by antagonist Seifer Almasy. A mission to the dukedom of Dollet brings Squall into contact with some Galbadian soldiers which is just the beginning of what will soon become a larger problem. Making the position of SeeD with little effort, Squall's first post is to be sent to Timber to assist with it's liberation by special request of Rinoa Heartilly, the leader and princess of the Timber Owls. This chance meeting creates the thread that ties the events of Squall's life heavily to the protection of not just Timber, but the much larger world.

Squall is one of very few gunblade specialists that reside at Balamb Garden. Headmaster Cid would be elated if Squall could join the ranks of SeeD as one of the only specialists of this particular weapon as it has been awhile since he has seen anyone with such talent. Squall is also considered to be one of Headmaster Cid's favorites as he later is elevated to headmaster position in light of events that lead to a conflict with Galbadia Garden.

Orphaned at an early age, Squall transferred to the Military Academy of Balamb Garden as a youngster and excelled in combat. Despite being calm and level-headed, Squall can not tolerate fellow student and rival Seifer Almasy, and tends to lose his composure around the arrogant young man.

[edit] Other Appearances

[edit] Dissidia: Final Fantasy

Squall appears in the PSP game Dissidia, where he and other heroes of Final Fantasy battle it out with the main villains of the series.

[edit] Abilities

HP Attacks
Name	Acquired	Type	CP (M)	AP for Mastery	Description	Additional Effect
Fated Circle	Initial	Ground	40 (20)	180	swings gunblade in a horizontal circle creating balls of energy that explode	Absorb, Magic Block, Wall Rush
Rough Divide (ground)	Initial	Ground	40 (20)	300	leaps, rushes at enemy, and strikes with gunblade	Wall Rush
Aerial Circle	Initial	Aerial	40 (20)	180	swings gunblade in a vertical circle creating balls of energy that explode	Absorb, Magic Block, Wall Rush
Rough Divide (midair)	Level 16	Aerial	40 (20)	300	leaps, rushes at enemy, and strikes with gunblade	Wall Rush
Blasting Zone	Level 28	Ground	40 (20)	300	strikes ground with gunblade, sending a line of energy at enemy	none
Revolver Drive	Level 38	Ground	40 (20)	180	charges enemy with gunblade, using joystick to guide & holding for more time	Wall Rush

[edit] Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Squall returns as a Warrior of Cosmos in the prequel to Dissidia.

[edit] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

Squall represents Final Fantasy VIII in the 3DS rhythm game.

[edit] Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade

Squall appears as a Legendary character.

[edit] Final Fantasy All the Bravest

Squall appears as one of the random purchasable Premium characters in the shop.

[edit] Kingdom Hearts

Squall's design in Kingdom Hearts

Squall appeared in the game series Kingdom Hearts, now a broken and bitter man, he assumed the name of Leon. He is one of the main supporting characters in Kingdom Hearts and a has a large part in the storyline. He says he will continue to go by the name Leon until he is sure the Heartless have been defeated and he can start to live is old life again.

[edit] Kingdom Hearts ReCoM

Still going by Leon, Squall reappears as a figment of Sora's memories. He teaches Sora more about the cards and battles. His design is unchanged from Kingdom Hearts.

[edit] Kingdom Hearts II

Squall's Kingdom Hearts 2 Design

Leon appears in the Kingdom Hearts games older than he was in Final Fantasy VIII (age 26 in KHII). He's in the Restoration Committee with Yuffie, Aerith, and Cid. During the ending credits he is seen reading a letter that has a butterfly floating out of it (a Rinoa reference).

[edit] Quotes

[edit] Gallery

Artwork of Squall in Dissidia	Squall's Ex Mode in Dissidia	Squall's SeeD form in Dissidia
Squall's Ex Mode for his SeeD form in Dissidia	Squall's Amano form in Dissidia	Squall's Ex Mode for his Amano form in Dissidia
Squall's DLC Kingdom Hearts outfit for Dissidia 012