|
Rinoa Heartilly is the main female character in Final Fantasy VIII. Rinoa is the seventeen-year-old daughter of General Caraway, a high-ranking officer in the Galbadian army. She has a poor relationship with her father that is never fully explained. At the start of the game, Rinoa is leading a resistance movement called the Forest Owls, which seeks to free the small country of Timber from Galbadian occupation. It is unknown whether her involvement with the resistance is the cause of, or a reaction to, her estrangement from her father.
Rinoa first meets Squall Leonhart, the male protagnist of the game, at a ball at Balamb Garden, where she manages to charm the usually taciturn and unfriendly Squall into dancing with her. She and Squall later meet again when the Forest Owls hire Squall, Quistis Trepe, Zell Dincht, and Selphie Tilmitt as mercenaries. Outspoken, emotional and compassionate, Rinoa seems like Squall's polar opposite. Nevertheless - and despite Rinoa's former relationship with Seifer Almasy, Squall's rival - they gradually fall in love. Their relationship, along with Squall's corresponding emotional growth, is a major focus of the game's storyline.
Rinoa's weapon is a curious projectile device called the Blaster Edge. It appears to be a bladed ring, mounted to her wrist, that flies at enemies and then returns to her. Rinoa has surprisingly high stats in Strength, but is generally better utilized as a mage. She has a dog, Angelo, who figures heavily in her limit breaks. Due to certain plot developments later in the game, Rinoa manifests a secondary limit break called Angelwing, in which she uses extremely powerful magical attacks.
Rinoa is a relatively controversial character among Final Fantasy fans. Many considered her immature and resented the fact that she required rescue on multiple occasions during the game. However, other gamers found that Rinoa's character flaws made her a more realistic and interesting character, and enjoyed the game's portrayal of her growing relationship with Squall.
|
