Squall Leonhart was the first fictional character that 12/13yo me ever really related to on a personal level, and that really went a long way to cementing my obsession with the game. FFVIII wasn't just my first FF, it was also my first RPG of any kind, and the first game I ever played that really went all in with the FMV cut scenes, so I was pretty enthralled with it for a number of years.

Took me a long time to wrap my head around the junction system tho. I was flying blind for the entirety of my first playthrough, and I got through most boss battles by the skin of my teeth. (still my fav ff where's my remake!?!)