Seifer Almasy

Seifer Almasy (Cifer in the German version) is a temporary playable character and one of the main antagonists in Final Fantasy VIII. He is the rival of the main character Squall Leonhart and is the mirror image of him in many ways.

He wields a gunblade, a weapon original to the Final Fantasy franchise.

Appearance and Personality
Seifer has short blond hair, blue-green eyes, and a scar across his forehead and nose received from Squall as retaliation during a duel. Seifer wears a blue vest, with a cross-like design lined in white, a gray coat with an emblem resembling the symbol of the Cross of Saint James on the sleeves, and black gloves and boots. The cross is Seifer's symbol as much as the angel wings are Rinoa's and the lion is Squall's. He also wears a silver chain with a tag around his neck.

As Squall's rival throughout the game, Seifer's appearance is directly opposite in many ways. His hair color is light, as opposed to Squall's brown. His chin is square whereas Squall's is more oval. The color scheme of their clothing is opposite, as well as their coat lengths. Even though they both use a gunblade, their fighting styles are different, with Squall wielding his with two hands, whereas Seifer uses his with one. Even their personalities are in direct opposition; Seifer's friends, Raijin and Fujin call themselves a "posse", whereas Squall is more of a loner.

Seifer is quite famous around Balamb Garden, and is known for having great skills in battle, but his stubborn, arrogant, reckless, and unpredictable nature has kept him from completing the SeeD exam multiple times. Aside from Squall, Seifer is the only gunblade specialist in the Garden. At the beginning of the game, Seifer once again fails the SeeD field exam after his impatient behavior makes him disobey direct orders. The other members in his squad, Squall Leonhart and Zell Dincht, pass. When they are announced as the only ones who passed the field exam, Seifer is the first among the other students to applaud them.

There are many parallels between Seifer and Squall. Even though they are rivals, always battling to prove their superiority, they have an unspoken mutual respect for each other's prowess in battle. Both have a facial scar inflicted during their duel in the game's opening sequence; the scars are mirror images of each other, with Seifer's pointing up-left (from his point of view) while Squall's points up-right. Seifer is a stubborn, arrogant, loud and outspoken rebel, while Squall is a silent, strict follower of duty. Both are nigh-equally skilled in using the gunblade; however, Seifer's temper and impatience often leaves him losing to Squall. Seifer's Triple Triad card is also a mirror of Squall's, both having the same numbers.

Despite his reckless and arrogant nature, Seifer is the head of Balamb Garden's Disciplinary Committee. The other committee members are Fujin and Raijin, both of whom are loyal to Seifer and consider themselves a "posse". Other members of Balamb Garden consider them a gang more interested in exercising their "disciplinary" powers than actually keeping students in line.

In spite of Seifer's actions throughout the game, he is not really evil, and is shown to actually care for the party. The most obvious example of this is when he storms out of the detention room at Balamb Garden upon hearing that Squall and company were sent on a mission in which they could end up fighting the whole Galbadian Force, possibly with intentions of aiding them. Seifer is twisted by the sorceress's power, and pursues a warped version of his dream: to be a Sorceress Knight. It could also be argued that he remembers Edea's true identity, as he is seen referring to her as "Matron" right before the second fight against him at the end of disc 2. In the end, Seifer watches the Balamb Garden fly by with a smile on his face, hinting he has repented his actions.

Story
Seifer was born 18 years prior to the events of Final Fantasy VIII. He was orphaned after his parents were killed in the Sorceress War and sent to Edea's Orphanage. From a young age he bullied the other children in the orphanage, especially Zell. As he grew up, he became a student at Balamb Garden, where he studied to become a SeeD. Seifer would later forget his past in the orphanage due to the memory loss that using Guardian Forces causes. Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania reveals that when Seifer was a child, a popular movie was released about a sorceress who stood to defend her country, and her knight who protected her. The film was Seifer's favorite, and inspired his dream to become a Sorceress Knight himself. He even copied the battle pose of the actor who played the Knight in the film.

At Balamb Garden, Seifer found friendship in Fujin and Raijin, and their posse was rarely seen apart. The friends later became the Balamb Garden Disciplinary Committee, abusing their power to give fellow students punishment and detention. Even though he forgot his past, Seifer became a rival to another student at Balamb Garden, Squall Leonhart, who had coincidentally grown up in Edea's Orphanage. Of all the students at the Garden, only Seifer and Squall chose a gunblade as their specialized weapon, and they would often duel to hone their skills.

Even though Seifer had great potential to become a SeeD, his behavior made him fail the exams needed to become one, and he was labeled a "problem child". Seifer also developed a "romantic dream" about becoming a Sorceress Knight and has borrowed several books from the Balamb Garden related to the subject. About a year before the events of Final Fantasy VIII, Seifer started a romantic relationship with Rinoa Heartilly, a girl working in a resistance group to free the occupied nation of Timber.

At the beginning of Final Fantasy VIII, Seifer and Squall are shown having a fierce duel in a rocky field near Balamb Garden. Neither one seems to be giving an inch, but Seifer casts a Fire spell during the duel, sending Squall to the ground. Seifer strikes at Squall's face, giving him a bloody scar, but as Seifer lets his guard down Squall strikes back, leaving a mirrored scar on Seifer's face.

For the SeeD field examination, Squall and Zell Dincht with Seifer as their leader, are put into one group to form a squadron of SeeD for a military operation against the Galbadian Army. Selphie Tilmitt later joins the group, but because of Seifer's disobedience during the engagement, he fails his SeeD exam once more. He grudgingly applauds Squall, Zell and Selphie, all of whom pass.

While Seifer is sent to be disciplined for his actions during the exam, Squall, Zell and Selphie are assigned a new mission, their first as SeeD mercenaries: to aid a resistance faction known as the Forest Owls in their mission to free the occupied nation of Timber. In this resistance faction, Rinoa, Seifer's former love interest, is a member.

Having heard of this, Seifer breaks out of the discipline room, injuring many people in the process, and embarks to assist them by holding the President of Galbadia hostage during a broadcast from the Timber TV Station. Backed into a corner and watched on by Squall, Zell, Selphie and Quistis Trepe; who had been sent to retrieve him, Seifer attempts to retreat and is saved by Ultimecia who appears in the body of Edea Kramer. Appealing to Seifer's darker side, Ultimecia successfully convinces him to follow her. Seifer is officially announced executed by the Galbadian government and a saddened Rinoa reveals her past with Seifer to Squall.

Seifer is believed dead until he shows up in Deling City, standing at the side of Ultimecia having become the sorceress's protective Knight. Squall, with their new ally, Irvine Kinneas, had been assigned to assassinate the sorceress by shooting her, but Irvine, remembering his past at the orphanage (he had not forgotten his memories due to the fact he had never used Guardian Forces, though at the time he was unaware of Ultimecia's possession of Edea), refuses to shoot Edea and disguises it as merely nerves.

Squall convinces Irvine to shoot, but Ultimecia blocks the shot with a spell. Squall is forced to break into the sorceress's parade and fight her one-on-one; Seifer stops him and, claiming his new status as hero and Knight of the sorceress, fights Squall. After Seifer's defeat, Squall fights Ultimecia, but is defeated when Ultimecia casts Edea's Limit Break, Ice Strike, which pierces Squall's shoulder.

When Squall comes to in Galbadia's D-District Prison he is quickly transported to the torture room by none other than Seifer who tortures Squall for the truth about SeeD. Squall, who does not understand the question, only further enrages Seifer who turns the electrical torture instrument to full, which leaves Squall unconscious and incapacitated. While Squall later escapes with his friends, Seifer, now head of the Galbadian Army, invades and takes over control of Galbadia Garden under Ultimecia's orders. Enabling the Garden to be airborne he embarks on the search for a girl named Ellone whom his sorceress wishes to find. Eventually, whether the encounter was accidental during the search or intentional is unknown, he manages to intercept a similarly airborne Balamb Garden over the Centra continent near the ruins of Edea's Orphanage.

With Seifer as commanding officer the Galbadia Garden launches a full assault on Balamb Garden. The Balamb students and SeeDs turn the battle and make their way inside Galbadia Garden, where Squall and his party encounter Seifer. He is defeated once again, and is left unconscious and disgraced on the floor. Despite Seifer's determined efforts Squall's party defeats Ultimecia within Edea's body, which results in Ultimecia leaving Edea's body to possess Rinoa's body and ordering Seifer to raise the Lunatic Pandora from the sea.

Under the orders of Ultimecia, Seifer embarks on a new quest to resurrect the Esthar weapon Lunatic Pandora from the depths of the ocean. Restoring the device to active status he directs the pillar to be placed upon Tears' Point, starting the Lunar Cry and bringing into motion Ultimecia's plan for Time Compression. Squall and his party move to prevent this, invading the construct with an Estharian airship and battling their way deeper into the Lunatic Pandora. The many toils had begun to take their toll on Seifer, as his hair is unkempt and his coat is blackened and falling apart. Fujin and Raijin, who up until now had followed Seifer loyally, beg him to stop following this path and go back to being their friend.

Seifer claims it is too late to go back, and wishes them a good life, before he fights Squall one last time. During this fight, if the player has obtained Odin, Seifer manages to bisect him when he is summoned in battle, and Gilgamesh takes his place, and knocks Seifer down. Despite his defeat, Seifer manages to capture Rinoa and offer her to Ultimecia in the body of her new host, Sorceress Adel, whom she had just resurrected.

After Ultimecia is bested inside Adel's body by Squall's group, she casts time compression, allowing Squall to reach her era. After Squall and his party reach the future era and defeat Ultimecia, Seifer is seen in the ending as an entirely different person. He is fishing together with Fujin and Raijin, and smiles toward Balamb Garden as it flies by through the sky.

In Battle
Originating as a temporary player character Seifer is later fought against four times in the game primarily as a mini-boss.

Weapon
Aside from Squall, Seifer is one of other students at Balamb Garden to wield a gunblade. His particular model bears the name Hyperion, features a pistol handle based on the Beretta M9, rather than the revolver handles favored by Squall. The Hyperion might be decidedly lighter than Squall's Revolver, as Seifer holds it with one hand as opposed to Squall holding his primarily with two.

While Seifer is useable, as his weapon is a gunblade, pressing the trigger button when he strikes will boost his damage.

Limit Break
Seifer's Limit Break is called Fire Cross. While there are three skills Seifer can use, only the first, No Mercy, can be used by the player. The other two, Demon Slice and Bloodfest, are used during battles against the player. Every Fire Cross Limit starts with him casting a Fire spell at his target in similar fashion as seen in the game's opening FMV.

Unlike the rest of the player characters, Seifer can use his Limit Break without having to be in critical health; the chance it becomes available is at 84% or lower from his max HP.

Pocket Station Memorycard Icons
An icon sprite of Seifer appears in the Pocket Station memorycard file manager.

Dissidia Final Fantasy
Seifer is mentioned in the Museum under Odin's entry, where it is mentioned that Seifer was able to counter the Zantetsuken and bisect Odin instead. Several references to Seifer also exist in Dissidia Final Fantasy; Squall fights with a faster, one-handed style similar to Seifer, and begins his EX Burst by striking his opponent in an upside down cross, similar to Seifer's Bloodfest Limit Break. Seifer also appears as the name of a Ghost card, a Level 100 Ultimecia bearing the Green Gem and GF Eden battlegen items.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
Seifer appears as a sub-character in Theatrhythm, obtained by collecting Gray Crystal Shards from Dark Note bosses.

Final Fantasy Brigade


Seifer appears as a Legend in Final Fantasy Brigade.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
Seifer appears in the Trading Card Game of Final Fantasy and is represented by four cards. They are all Lightning-elemental.

Kingdom Hearts II


A younger version of Seifer makes an appearance in Kingdom Hearts II. He is the leader of the Twilight Town Disciplinary Committee, together with Fuu and Rai, and is idolized by Vivi for his strength. Seifer is known for being a top Struggle fighter, but also likes street brawls.

In DiZ's simulated Twilight Town, he is a rival of Roxas and his friends, while in the real Twilight Town, Hayner is his main rival since Roxas does not exist. He is also antagonistic toward Sora, but after he saves Seifer's gang from the Nobodies, Seifer gives him the Struggle Trophy, an unspoken sign of respect. Although his rival Squall (under the name of Leon) appears in the series as well, the two never meet, though they retain their trademark scars.

Seifer is voiced by Takehito Koyasu in the Japanese version and by Will Friedle in the English version.

Final Fantasy Brigade
Seifer appears as a Legend in Final Fantasy Brigade.

Etymology
Seifer's last name Almasy is from the common family name Almásy (pronounced ). It means "related to or from [the land] of apples". His first name could be based on the Semitic root s-y-f, seen in Arabic سيف (seif), Hebrew סיף (sayif), and Maltese sejf meaning "sword" or "saber". Even the word "Almasy" possibly based on the Arabic word (which has the same pronunciation) ألماسي which means "Made from Diamond". This is also likely the reason refining Seifer's card yields Diamond Armors. "Seifer" is also a variant of the name Siegfried (meaning victor); a common German first name.

Cifer, Seifer's German name, comes from, a type of encryption that is normally hard to read or understand without the original producer's clues. The spelling was most likely changed because Seife is the German word for "soap", thus Seifer can be understood as an agent noun "soaper".

Trivia

 * Seifer uses a power similar to magic, though in-game information confirms he does not use real magic, but chi-based attacks.
 * The red cross usually worn by Seifer, is a variant of the Cruz de Santiago (Cross of Saint James), the emblem of an ancient Spanish order designated to protect the European pilgrims from the Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula.
 * Seifer is the second-eldest character from the "orphanage gang", the eldest being Quistis.
 * Although Seifer forms a mighty posse with Fujin and Raijin, the player never gets to actually fight all three of them in the same battle.
 * Seifer uses the more traditional meaning of "romantic", which can cause some confusion over the meaning of his "romantic dream".
 * During the parade, Seifer is usually seen on the float with Edea during the FMVs, however, he appears to have momentarily vanished for one scene.
 * A point of interest is that without even knowing it, the brief time he was an item with Rinoa, Seifer was actually living his romantic dream since Rinoa had the potential to become (and later became) a sorceress.
 * On May 30th, 2012, official website for Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary, in the character section dedicated to Final Fantasy VIII, Seifer's katakana was correct while his English name was translated to "Sephiroth". As of May 31st, 2012, Square Enix corrected the error.
 * In Kingdom Hearts II, Seifer calls Roxas "chicken wuss", which he calls Zell in Final Fantasy VIII.