Did he or didn't he? (Ending Spoilers beware)

[Lady Cid]

Okay this is to clear up the thread where a member raised the theory of whether of not Squall died at the end of the game (See "The Sacrfice of Squall" thread).
So, did he or didn't he.
He didn't, I think.

[Orphen]

I had to choose the "I'm not sure" option because I really have no idea. I stand on equal ground between either opinion because their are some very good points for for and against.

To be honest I never even thought that he did die at all before i read a specific website on the internet.

[Hagaren9]

Well,it is so confusing....... one minute he fall on the ground,then we see him standing healthily again.:

[Angry Moogle]

they were going for the whole "oh no, he died"... "wait, no he diddn't! YAY!" kind of thing.

because why would selphie be happy about Rinoa standing on the ledge on her own talking to herself?

aww it's a happy ending.

Of course he lived or he wouldn't have been at the party,unless Selphie and Rinoa are imagining him ._.

[ayameixie]

he lived everyone was happy...... even Seifer(wait maybe he was happy cuz Squall did die) this is really confusing

[Darkwolf]

he lived, period(. see?) anyway, He was on the balcony. Plus I think the flowers were because Rinoa was happy about him still being alive, or It would have been a more dark and gloomy scene. On the other thread someone said that the flowers were because of his death. BUZZZZZ! Why would Rinoa bring up a field of blooming flowers if she wasn't happy? and she wouldn't be happy about him dying

[Masasume]

Squall died. Rinoa revived him. End of story.
Watch the FMV. Read my posts in the other thread About Squall... *BIG ENDING SPOILERS* .
The guy was dead. He didnt STAY dead.

Everybody keeps saying stuff like "well he was alive at the party"
Duh. No shit. Of course he was. That doesnt mean he didnt die though. If Rinoa revived him, then of course he is going to be at the party in the end.

they were going for the whole "oh no, he died"... "wait, no he diddn't! YAY!" kind of thing.

Close >__> They were going for a "oh no, he died"..."oh wait, Rinoa revived him! YAY!" kind of thing.

[Crazy Chocobo]

I don't believe he died. I just thought he fell unconscious at the end of the game and woke up when Rinoa ran over to him. It would have been pretty stupid if he did die. I didn't see Rinoa use any magic on him or anything. I presumed when the sky turned blue and such that he had awoken from his unconscious state.

How do you know he did die? There was no exact proof that he did. He could have been unconscious like I said. If he did, wow. Either way, he was alive at the end.

This is just like the Rinoa/Ultimecia thing. Nobody really knows!

[Masasume]

He wasnt even breathing.... Just look at him. He isnt moving at all. And as I have said a thousand times before...its representation.

I didn't see Rinoa use any magic on him or anything.

How do you know that it was magic that had to be seen? (although I'm pretty sure magic can be seen....with all the flowers blooming from dried cracked earth, and a dusty cloudy sky bursting open to reveal an awesome blue sky. Thats not something that just randomly happens without some kind of magic causing it. Not to mention...the ANGEL FEATHERS.) She is crying, she holds him, everything bursts to life, she looks at him and is happy. Now pause here...

If EVERYTHING suddenly comes to life... then dont you think that squall who WAS dead would come back to life too. Rinoa IS a sorceress...thats in love... Now if the person she is in love with just died...and she wanted him back enough. Then is it really so hard to consider that she used her magic to bring him to life, and her magic was so powerfull that it not only revived squall but the whole entire desert too, and even cleared away the dark clouds?

Seriously...it makes a LOT more since than...squall randomly passes out after walking through this vast desert for who knows how long...and then who nows how much longer afterwards rinoa finds him, cries, hugs him,...and randomly all the flowers bloom and the sky opens up and he suddenl wakes up. What would be the reason for the flowers? Why was squall not breathing? Why didnt Riona realize he was just onconscious if that were the case? I have seen people that are onconscious...>__> I'm willing to bet most of us have. Its pretty easy to tell. I know I dont cry every time I see my dog sleeping >.>;

And back to the thing about the angel feathers. Watch the video closely. She looks at squall, smiles and as she smiles you see angel feathers flying if not off of, then from around squall. Angel feathers in FF games are pretty much always used to show revival.

[Crazy Chocobo]

Him passing out in the desert does make sense. People get dehydrated or over exhausted and pass out. Rinoa may have thought he was dead but he wasn't. Or perhaps she thought he was hurt really bad and wasn't completely sure.

For the flowers and stuff, it could have been just sign of happiness. It doesn't necessarily mean she used magic on him. As he awoke, she was really happy so the flowers and colours could have been represented as happiness or being overwhelmed that he was alright. It could have meant anything really.

I'm not saying I'm right, those are my beliefs. I don't have to believe he died. Not everybody believes he died in the end. If he did he did, if he didn't well he didn't. Like I said, either way... he lives.

[SourBreak]

He most likely did die, atleast I thought he did...actually the way he sat it seemed to me like he was giving up on life because the desert when on and on...he probably sat because he walking for hours..and he thought he wasn't to see his friends again.

Or more to the point, I think it was like he wasn't walking anywhere but his mind made it out like he did. Perhaps he went into a short coma or unciousness or something and in reality, Rinoa was right beside him wanting him wake up and he did because she reached out to him inside his mind.

Not the most realistic of theories, but that's what I think.
Sort of like, the Ayreon album - The Human Equation.

[Nin`]

Sorry, but there really is no indication to say that Squall actually died. I think that the actual intention, from the makers point of view was to let the audience think he died, so as to have a greater impact at the very end, when Squall and Rinoa kiss/embrace (*pukes*).

Its more plausible (and realistic) to suggest that he merely passed out, and under the circumstances of going through time, time compression and all that chaos going through his head after he returned to the field can you really blame his brain for going into unconsciousness?

Either way its pretty indeterminable to generally answer from a players point of view, and, as far as I can tell, it is left open completly to the players own (personal) interpretation. It is fantasy after all, with a very big audience to please.


Lucifer

[Stephi]

To be perfectly honest, it sees more like he just passed out. Remember earlier in the game they said they would meet in Edea's garden, the one with all the flowers? I think thats where they were. I think that squall was lost after the time compression, and because Rinoa was a sorceress, and loved him, she was able to find him. When she did though, he was unconcious. But having her there made Squall escape the place he was in, and they reappeared in Edea's garden. Or, they were in the garden to begin with, and that is how Rinoa found it, but Squall just couldn't see it... Just my opinion!

[Anachlirium]

When I saw it, I did think that he had died, and I did for a while, because around the time I was just happy that he came back. But after that wore off, I kinda thought 'wait, what if he wasn't actually dead? How'd he come back?' He definitely looked pretty dead to me, but if would've made alot more sence had he just passed out.

But I kinda like the idea of him dying and coming back better. It just seems..more dramatic. In a good way, of course. People fall unconsious and wake up everyday. But not many come back from death.

[Axeman]

Well lets put it this way: If he's dead then Rinoa's a necrophiliac because she kisses him on the balcony of the garden at the end of the closing titles!

[Stephi]

Lmao!!!
They are trying to say that he did die, and that she revived him. Which I don't think is what happened, but there you go.
They really should make a Final Fantasy VIII movie... I would pay good money to see that!!!

[Darkwolf]

why would the flowers come up and be all colorful and Rinoa be so happy if he was dead? IT MAKES NO SENSE so he lives, despite the ever growing hate club going on here

you people should make a club for all who wanted squall to die so you can talk about this on your own time.

[Stephi]

Yea, if you wanted him to die, don't ruin the good memories those of us that loved him had!
hehe
Well, not loved... but he was a good character!

[Darkwolf]

My friend thinks Squall is weird because he keeps putting his hand on his forehead. I think he just wants to be antisocial. Some people don't like antisocial people, now I'm confused, ok whatever, I'll just end my post here.
"whatever"
*acting like a little boy* oooooooo you like squall!
lol