Balamb

Balamb
(バラム, Baramu?)
Background information
Type	Nation
Region	Balamb Island
Areas	Balamb Town Balamb Garden Fire Cavern
Gameplay details
Items and draw points	Esuna Blizzard Cure Cure
Enemies	Bite Bug Caterchipillar Fastitocalon-F Glacial Eye T-Rexaur
Quests	Obel Lake stone

A country on the world's smallest continent. Known for its temperate climate and warm people. Balamb Garden adds a school-town feel to this country.

FFVIII Info Corner

Balamb is a country in Final Fantasy VIII. According to the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania, Balamb used to be part of the Holy Dollet Empire, but after winning its war of independence, it has remained calm and peaceful. Balamb is mainly accessed by boats, although it is also connected to the Galbadian continent by underwater train, which offers a service from the town to Timber.

The island's sole town, Balamb Town, itself is surrounded by Balamb Island's varied landscapes, including sandy beaches, thick forests, and mountainous regions. It is the hometown of Zell Dincht. Although shown as a peaceful area, it is captured by Galbadian troops under the control of Seifer. It is quickly liberated by SeeD.

Locations

The present extent of Balamb.

Some of the locations found in Balamb include:

• Balamb Town
• Balamb Garden
• Fire Cavern

Enemies

Plains

• Bite Bug (40%)
• Bite Bug x2 (30%)
• Glacial Eye (20%)
• Bite Bug x3 (10%)

Forests

• Caterchipillar (60%)
• Bite Bug x2, Caterchipillar (30%)
• T-Rexaur (10%)

Near mountains

• Glacial Eye (80%)
• Glacial Eye x2 (20%)

Beach

• Fastitocalon-F x2 (100%)

Draw points

• Esuna - In the tunnel, following the train track.
• Blizzard (discs 1 and 2)/Cure (discs 3 and 4)- Above the entrance to Fire Cavern.
• Cure - Base of the mountains, just to the north-west of Balamb Garden.

Quests

Obel Lake

Oh yeah... At the beach in Balamb, something special washes ashore at times.

Hint from the black shadow of Obel Lake

After talking to the shadow of the Obel Lake near Timber, the player can get a hint that something washes ashore at the beach in Balamb. This refers to Rinaul Coast, the only beach on Balamb island. The player may have to try repeatedly. The message goes:

You found a piece of rock by your foot... But it was just a rock...

You found a piece of rock by your foot... It looks man-made, and has some carving on it...

S T S L R M

After getting all the rocks with writing, the player can return to the shadow for the next part of the quest.

PuPu

As part of the UFO? sidequest, PuPu is encountered on the location where Balamb Garden used to be. If given 5 Elixirs, he will give his card.

Other appearances

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Balamb is present as a room for preset characters of the Multiplayer Mode Online Lobby.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call

Balamb.

Balamb appears as a background in a Field Music Sequence.

Behind the scenes

A region of Balamb is named "Gaulg Mountains". This may be an allusion to Mount Gulg from the original Final Fantasy.

There is a sign for "Koyokoyo Balamb" in Insomnia in Final Fantasy XV. "Koyokoyo" is the Japanese name for PuPu, which debuted in Final Fantasy VIII as a special encounter in the Balamb region.