9. Seifer vs Squall
Final Fantasy VIII opens up in a cacophony of steel hitting steel as two SeeD students cross blades and eventually each other, giving them both matching scars across their faces. Not only serving as the start of the game but as the start of a legendary rivalry, the cutscene draws players into Seifer Almasy and Squall Leonhart’s relationship. The tension is built up even more by making their love interest the same woman: Rinoa Heartilly. Seifer eventually succumbs to the darkness while Squall finds himself a reluctant antihero, forcing them to engage in numerous battles throughout the game’s four disc narrative.
