You can definitely beat the game with using any of the selectable characters in your party, but some characters are more optimal to include and are more powerful than their teammates. Check out this section for more information.

Squall, the main protagonist of the game, is the character that you start off in control of. For most sections of the game, he is a mandatory party member.

Rinoa Heartilly is the love interest of our main character and plays an important role throughout the story. She is aided in battle by her dog, Angelo.

Quistis starts off as one of the instructors at Balamb Garden but eventually opts to join Squall and the other SeeD members on their upcoming missions.

Zell is a fellow Balamb Garden student, eventual member of SeeD member and resident of Balamb Town itself. He is hot-tempered, constantly bullied by Seifer, and makes use of his fists in battle.

Selphie is another Balamb Garden student who transferred over from Trabia Garden. She joins Squall and Zell during the mission in Dollet and accompanies them for the remainder of the game.

Irvine is a specialist who joins the party last after they reach Galbadia Garden. A bit of a womanizer, he makes use of guns in battle.

Seifer is Squall’s primary rival at Balamb Garden and for the rest of the events of the game. He joins your party for a brief time during the Dollet SeeD Exam.

Sorceress Edea is a figure shrouded in mystery whose role changes as the game progresses. At some points of the game though, she will join your party briefly.

Laguna is a character that you play temporarily during the Laguna Dream Sequences and flashbacks throughout the game. He is the stand in for Squall.

Kiros joins Laguna in all of his adventures and you get to choose which party member will “play” Kiros for each of the flashback sequences.

Ward joins Laguna and Kiros in nearly all their adventures. Like Kiros, you get to choose which party member will “play” Ward when he makes an appearance.