FFVIII Opening "Dialogue"

[Ite]

Who says what? Which lines are Rinoa and which lines are Squall? They never actually have that conversation in the game.

 

[Drax]

It's all the dialogue that is implied during Squall and Rinoa's part in the ending. All dialogue that asks the questions are Squall's lines. Rinoa is the one that says things like "I'll be waiting here."

Spoiler

It's foreshadowing how Squall has to recover his memories in order to make it back to their time and reality. Rinoa's the one calling him and trying to help him remember. That's why at the end when Rinoa finds him, the same garden starts to appear that you see her standing around in the OP.

 

[Aurenare]

They do have that conversation, or something very similar to it, ingame. It happens in the Orphanage in Centra, after they rescue Rinoa in Esthar.


Squall: It was just a dream... It doesn't mean anything. Don't worry
about it.

Rinoa: ...I guess you're right.

Squall: How about this... I'll be here...

Rinoa: ...Why?

Squall: The reason why you couldn't find me was because we haven't
promised yet.

Rinoa: Promised...?

Squall: I'll be waiting for you. If you come here, you'll find me. I
promise.

Rinoa: I'll be here, too. It's a promise! Thanks, Squall! Next time,
we'll meet for sure!


So, basically, everything with a question mark is Rinoa, and the rest is Squall.

 

[Ghost X]

Yeah, real conversation is real.

 

[Ite]

Thanks.

The opening always seemed to imply to me that Rinoa was the one saying that she'll be waiting. Maybe because early-game!Squall would be more likely to say things like "Why?" and "For what?" and early-game!Rinoa is more likely to be a crazy-forward romantic. Maybe because she is standing around in a field during the dialogue while we are traveling towards her over oceans and deserts etc.

Intentional bait and switch?

 

[Obsidian Fire]

I wouldn't be surprised. A lot of the game revolves around what someone appears to be vs. what they actually are. I feel like Squall and Rinoa rub off on each other throughout the course of the game.

 

[ForceStealer]

I feel like Squall and Rinoa rub off on each other throughout the course of the game.

At least that's what they're shooting for.

 

[Drax]

So, basically, everything with a question mark is Rinoa, and the rest is Squall.

Well, I sure cocked that answer up.

Gonna go play the game for a second time.

 

[Ite]

I hate to break the wonderful streak of double-entendre posts in this thread, but I must get this off my chest. (ba-dum-psh)

FFVIII is WAY better the second time! Especially when you realize that Irvine hasn't lost his memories and he knows who Edea is...!

 

[Cthulhu]

FFVIII was better for me the second time because only then I actually had figured the system out and knew how to get my characters moar powerful and actually beat bosses and shit, . But yeah, I probably should replay it sometime too.

 

[Lex]

The story is more enjoyable the second time round because it's easier to understand what's actually going on - and yeah, having a better understanding of the system makes it better too.

I had a clicking moment with that Squall/Rinoa scene at Edea's house (because of the dialogue from the opening intro), the fact that Irvine can't shoot Edea in Deling City etc. Also let's not forget the creepy message on the TV in Timber *shudders*. It took me several playthroughs to realise that Laguna was actually Squall's father.

EDIT: Here's a video of the in game scene with the opening dialogue:

 

[Obsidian Fire]

FFVIII is a lot more fun to play though the second time then FFVII is. It references itself a lot more and the backstory is more subtle. Okay, and the mini-game was fun and very worth it to play!

The only scene/idea that still doesn't work for me is the "using GFs gives you memory loss" one. Squall and Co. do eventually remember what happened so it isn't like the memories were gone. It's more like they were harder to access.

 

[Lex]

Also, as Flint once pointed out to me, it's perfectly possible to play through the entire game without using GF's at all. Slow, but possible.

 

[Obsidian Fire]

^^It's the FFVIII equivalent of the no Materia/Item chanlenge for FVII.

 

[ForceStealer]

Also, as Flint once pointed out to me, it's perfectly possible to play through the entire game without using GF's at all. Slow, but possible.

I dunno, you do save all that time watching summon animations

At least in the early goings.

 

[Obsidian Fire]

I don't know. Given you can't use any magic, or items in battle I sense a lot of dying.

 

[Ite]

Yeah holy fuck I considered it once but that's goddamn hardcore.