terms

Here's some basic definitions to words you absolutely have to know to understand anything about Final Fantasy VIII. Wanna bet I'll be confusing myself while explaining? ^^

Guardian Forces; In other games these are known as Aeons, Eidolons, and Summons. They're basically beasts that you can summon to help you in battle. They're usually armed with an elemental attack and often deal maximum damage. Very helpful. But, unfortunately, there is a side-effect for using GFs. They take their place in the minds of their users, and that spot happens to be where the memory is situated. So the main party can barely remember their childhood.

Hyne; I'm not sure what Hyne was, but he had strong magical abilities and ruled to world because he beat the monsters coming from the moon. When he got lazy he created tools to do the work for him -humans. After a while Hyne thought there were too many humans, and decided to burn the little ones, the children. Humans became very angry and a war ensued. Hyne was losing so he promised half of his body to the humans. Now there was a war between people fighting for the half-body. It turned out that the half-body had no real power and humans have been hunting Hyne ever since. Sorceresses are thought to have a connection with Hyne because originally humans had no magic, only Hyne did.

Lunar Cry; When Lunatic Pandora is over Tears Point, it affects the moon causing Lunar Cry. This is when there are so many monsters in the moon that they fall to earth causing havoc everywhere they go.

Lunatic Pandora; A strange contraption that somehow makes the moon react when united with Tears Point. It's this huge floating pillar that has tubes and something inside it. Very cool place, but not sure what it's made of.

SeeD; Elite forces created to fight Sorceresses. They are trained in Gardens (Galbadia, Balamb, Trabia), and when there is no sorceress-threats in sight, they do odd jobs as mercenaries. Guard important people, act as assassins, etc for money. Idea was created by Edea and Cid Kramer.

Sorceresses; Just to avoid confusion (yeah right!), being a sorceress does not run in the family. When someone passes on their powers (because they're dying or some other reason), it goes to the next potential sorceress, family or not. It seems like sorceresses don't age, and are easily recognized because of their unique appearance. Adel, Edea, and Ultimecia all have veins/horns/other wird stuff visible on their faces, most likely caused by the heightened magic in their systems. On top of that Adel has very manly looks, but that could be because she fought in a war.

Time Compression; As the name suggests, this is a place where past, present and future are intertwined and nothing makes sense anymore. Nobody is able to live in such a place, except Sorceress Ultimecia, who sought for TC so that she could be the ultimate ruler and get powers comparable to those of Hyne. Of course, if nothing can survive time compression, who will she rule over?