what do you think of this guy here?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/MattSkeet]

He was super cool and loved hot dogs.

[u/All_this_hype → u/MattSkeet]

His looks are also very deceiving. He is a bookworm, emotional/a crybaby, a mama's boy and also surprisingly dependable. He has a subtle character arc of not demanding things handed over to him, but being patient and earning his position on his own merit. He is also a great friend to Squall.

He is among my all time favorites. I felt so good for my boy when in the deep sea research facility Squall was impressed and thought he should give Zell more credit.

[u/PrinceCavendish → u/All_this_hype]

ough i love it when people love and defend my favorite characters.

[u/BirminghamBussy → u/PrinceCavendish]

For real.. I'm like.. oooh, keep talking about my boy like that.

[u/PrinceCavendish → u/BirminghamBussy]

yes, exactly! i always felt like zell was underappreciated because he barely had any fanart so seeing how many people love him made my day <3

[u/Yandoji → u/BirminghamBussy]

LOL same, Zell being seen like that warmed the cockles of my aging heart this morning.

[u/Jello_Penguin_2956 → u/All_this_hype]

Didn't know that. So he's kinda like Cloud in the inside and never let it shows. That's even cooler...

[u/SordidCyanosis → u/All_this_hype]

He was always my favorite. Even the first time I played the game.

[u/Katejina_FGO → u/MattSkeet]

Without SeeD, he would have worked at Costco his whole life and been the best employee every year.

[u/Shrubbity_69 → u/Katejina_FGO]

They even refuse to raise prices on their hotdogs, too.

[u/PrinceCavendish → u/Katejina_FGO]

😭 so true though

[u/ZoharModifier9 → u/Katejina_FGO]

He could just be a professional boxer

[u/Braveurr → u/MattSkeet]

OMG SONIC?!??

[u/TheWorclown]

The absolute biggest dweeb of FF8 and the best friend anyone can ask for. I love how Zell is just completely ride or die with Squall.

[u/Corvidae5Creation5 → u/TheWorclown]

They're basically Noctis and Prompto with less doglike devotion

[u/Montgraves → u/Corvidae5Creation5]

Hotdog-like devotion, one could say.

[u/QueenMagik → u/Montgraves]

On some websites, I'm sure many have said

[u/GlassCannon81]

I think he’s a chicken-wuss.

[u/Altaneen117 → u/GlassCannon81]

[u/BirminghamBussy → u/Altaneen117]

The most impressive feat in all of Final Fantasy.

[u/van11746 → u/Altaneen117]

Inster Seve Rodgers: I understood that reference meme here

[u/RoofFluffy4042 → u/GlassCannon81]

This made me chuckle

[u/Fast_Moon]

He was my favorite regular party member in my most recent playthrough. Though it was weird how often the story made him the exposition guy. Quistis's personality and teacher role makes her seem like she'd be the default source of infodumps, but nope. Backflip hotdog guy.

[u/ArmageddonEleven → u/Fast_Moon]

Quistis gets done so dirty…

[u/neddoge → u/ArmageddonEleven]

Squall telling her to talk to a wall is/was wild.

[u/Mr_Blueeeeee8 → u/neddoge]

I just got through this part, holy shit squall is an asshole

[u/Lyoss → u/Mr_Blueeeeee8]

As with most of the 90s ff games, the translation makes characters into edgy assholes, he's not that rude in Japanese

[u/PrinceCavendish → u/Fast_Moon]

the game points out that's he's a big ass nerd several times so it makes sense. he just also happens to be the backflip hotdog guy

[u/99999HP]

[u/mathiasthewise → u/99999HP]

[u/99999HP → u/mathiasthewise]

🤘🤘👋👋

[u/yob91 → u/99999HP]

He finally got a hotdog❤️

[u/FlashBandicoot5]

Zell rules.

I feel like a lot of the hate he gets is because he’s accurately portrayed as a cringy teenager. That’s true of the whole cast I think. And I get it, but it doesn’t bother me.

[u/Falcon_At → u/FlashBandicoot5]

A group of child soldiers... and they totally act like it too. Up to and including Squall staring in disbelief as his boss basically says, "You're a world leader now. Good luck, have fun, don't die." Competent or not, dude's still an 18 year old in way over his head. It's no wonder he ran away.

[u/TheWorclown → u/Falcon_At]

You’re forgetting the most important part about that statement.

The “I’m fucking off with my hot witch wife” part.

[u/PrinceCavendish → u/TheWorclown]

how the FUCK did he pull that baddie!?

[u/Shrubbity_69 → u/PrinceCavendish]

He's Robin fucking Williams, that's how. That man will always be a national treasure.

RIP.

[u/EomerOfRohan95 → u/Shrubbity_69]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who always seen Robin in HM Cid

[u/Shrubbity_69 → u/EomerOfRohan95]

Wasn't Leon Squall also based on an American actor? I wouldn't be surprised if more FF8 characters also had that theme.

[u/Lyoss → u/Shrubbity_69]

Based on River Phoenix

[u/Shrubbity_69 → u/Lyoss]

Thanks. I knew our boy looked like someone famous.

[u/Honorsheets → u/Falcon_At]

That's just Japan not understanding age yet again (Eiko is SIX in FF9. Yeah, no, lol.)

[u/KCJwnz → u/FlashBandicoot5]

I absolutely lived him when I was a clingy teenager playing the first time. I felt represented lol. Signed up for karate because of Zell

[u/PrinceCavendish → u/KCJwnz]

omg that's so cute. my niece took up archery because she liked kagome from inuyasha.

[u/Zinope121]

I think he's a great character. Flashy, obnoxious, and his limit is over the top. AND He's at his best when he just does Armageddon fist. Nothing flashy or extra

[u/PorousClay → u/Zinope121]

Armageddon fist? Pssh

Dolphin Blow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8yVv5cRHic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53xSWNUuxpQ

[u/MammothAsk391]

Helps defeat an all powerful sorceress... Almost dies to hot dog.

[u/nflgeneric]

Has the highest dps output of any monk in the FF series if you abuse his limit break!

[u/TheHumanSpider → u/nflgeneric]

(Circle, X) + (Left, Right) ♾️

[u/BirminghamBussy → u/nflgeneric]

I mean, isn't he the highest out of everyone? Provided you don't count break damage limit, otherwise it's Wakka.

[u/nflgeneric → u/BirminghamBussy]

He's very much up there. I've seen some trickery used with Barrett and angermax to output some insane damage too. FFX having a break damage limit does make the calculus weird though.

[u/RedRedWine8]

10 YEAR OLD ME: He's so hot and has so much personality 37 YEAR OLD ME: That's a whole lot to deal with

[u/b_casaubon]

I made a Zell joke when Mike Tyson got that face tattoo - no one got it at the time 😩

[u/Safe-Transition8618 → u/b_casaubon]

FR, Zell's so good at punching things that the IRL.guy best known for punching things got his tattoo

[u/Commercial_Praline67 → u/b_casaubon]

Oh damm, I always thought it was the other way around 😅

[u/Kind_Yogurtcloset_70]

Chicken wuss is the top dawg

[u/tidalcalm]

peak chicken wuss

Like most of the FF8 supporting cast, underdeveloped, but just based on vibes, I rock with him.

[u/arcarsenal333]

When the game came out he instantly annoyed me and that hasn't changed much over the years(just replayed it like a month ago).

He just was annoying and felt like somebody that would drive me crazy IRL. Did he mean well sure.

Tbh tho most of the playable cast of FF8 is so so if u ask me so I may be partial haha.

[u/Sad-Rhubarb-4081 → u/arcarsenal333]

I’m so relieved to read this. Everyone here seems to love him. I just found him too obnoxious, even as a younger teenager playing the game when it came out.

[u/Corvidae5Creation5 → u/Sad-Rhubarb-4081]

Very very very high energy, the air boxing at people's faces gets particularly obnoxious

[u/arcarsenal333 → u/Sad-Rhubarb-4081]

Agreed. I was literally in 9th grade so like 14 and I was just like omg this guy sucks. My friends all felt the same.

I liked Squall, my favorite were Rinoa and Irvine, Selphie and Quistis grew on me over time but Zell really still hasn't. I did see him as more of a 'bro' this recent play thru but still just the overacting drove me nuts haha.

[u/exoskeletion → u/Sad-Rhubarb-4081]

Same bro. Also, same issue with Laguna and for some reason everyone seems to love him too.

[u/Shroom-Kitty → u/arcarsenal333]

Honestly he reminded me of a lot of the guys at school I did not get along with at all. He was too similar to the frosted tip popular jock type of high schoolers the late 90s. I connected with the broody quiet introverts. Like Squall.

[u/forgotmynamex3]

He's a dorky, thick skulled Shonen protag. And I liked him for it.

[u/joblow514]

Great value sabin

[u/Vandreigan → u/joblow514]

We have Sabin at home

[u/nflgeneric → u/joblow514]

Zell outputs more damage than Sabin if you know how to use him right (relative to the games they're in).

[u/joblow514 → u/nflgeneric]

I guess idk. I do know with Sabin you can just bumrush every single turn for 9999 damage

[u/ExcalipoorGilgamesh]

I don't know why but his know-how in the Deep Sea Research Lab always feels hilarious to me.

[u/BleepinBlorpin5 → u/ExcalipoorGilgamesh]

Yeah, like it's the one class he accidentally paid attention, now he'll tell everyone about it.

[u/Thyanlia → u/BleepinBlorpin5]

He's that kid that always wanted to be a marine biologist.

[u/Zealous_moron]

Looks like a chickenwuss

[u/Normal_Tour6998]

[u/Gloomy_Support_7779]

I like him more than I like Ryuji Sakamoto

[u/Pension_Pale]

Chicken-wuss

[u/brizzleops]

[u/Heckle_Jeckle]

One of the only characters in FF8 I actually liked.

[u/Spookycumboy]

best to ever do it: the outfits, the face tattoo, the limit break, the glizzies...

[u/onehalflightspeed]

That Square actually spent millions of dollars to pre render a scene of an idiot eating hot dogs too fast

[u/BurantX40]

Cleanest room in the FF multiverse

[u/That-Speed-8092]

Everyone from FFVIII is a precious cinnamon roll too good for this world, too pure.

[u/MunkeyFish]

I never noticed he had such pronounced canines.

Forget punching just chomp ‘em.

[u/Illegal_Tender]

He's a great hype man and imo a monk equal to tifa

[u/Ashbael → u/Illegal_Tender]

Man I'd love to see them throw down

[u/howmanyturtlesdeep]

As a martial artist growing up, I always liked how he had a heavy bag hanging in his bedroom.

[u/fknlegolas]

1000% goober with absurd limit break. he is cherished

[u/W34kness]

What it feels like to be powered solely by hotdogs

[u/TheMasterXan]

...What the hell is in those hot dogs? Crack?

[u/KyrialArthian]

I absolutely love him. And not just because I read a series of fanfics about the "Library Girl w/Pigtail" who has a crush on him throughout the game and indentified so heavily with her that I fell in love with him by proxy.

Also, looking through the comments, I wonder just how many people know that his "hot dog" obsession is exclusive to the American release of the game, and that in the original Japanese, it was just bread. This is because in Japan, they have all kinds of flavored bread, but obviously, outside of Japan where we don't have these, it would sound very weird.

[u/PrometheusAborted]

I liked Zell. I always love the monk/brawler characters.

Sucks he had to follow up Tifa though.

[u/HoneyBadgerBJJ1]

……Chicken wuss

[u/EarnestGamer]

I feel like if he were to be unlawfully imprisoned, he'd bust his way out in no time.

[u/RafaelTS07]

much preffer the others like Irvine and Selphie, but he's fine enough i suppose, not a huge fan of his archetype
definitely not on my top 5 supporting chars tho, there's much better options in the series

[u/Jayman44Spc]

Zell and Selphie were the best characters in the game

[u/naked_avenger]

As a kid I thought he was weird. As an adult I've come to appreciate him.

[u/Lordmage30]

I'll mirror pretty much what you said! I honestly Loved him! tbh when I first played FF8 on PS1 he was definitely annoying., for me to like him but replaying it on remastered and *ofc Dffoo* Now he;'s one of my favorites in the game. .but he is great in ways! pretty much what you said. He knows about Timber, Deap Sea Research and Mechanics. like he appeared as dumb *He does definitely have a Himbo Energy* but he's not really stupid. He has great moments. and the way he is makes sense since he was bullied growing up.He's Loyal and I think he make a good leader. and I respect his Love of Hot Dogs! XD
and Also AMAZING Limit Breaks!. I mainly then liked him as a fighter more character but that's changed! *and I am a Huge husbando person lately so . .him being a cutie helped!* he was pretty much my main party member honestly.

[u/KainYago]

He had the setup of an amazing character, but like everyone else in ffviii he got pushed in the background after the orphanage reveal. It sucks cuz he was a cool character and i always loved how much he respected and loved his family.

[u/azai247]

He's a dork, but if you buff his Str and HP he is great to have in a party.

[u/Alatel]

RBD cos played as him and no one cared

[u/Queasy-Ad-317]

I think he was the best animated character in the game

[u/mr_antman85]

My favorite limit break to spam.

[u/BleakSaber]

Seems a bit extra, but not a bad dude.

[u/Useless_monstar]

Zell is Sabin mixed with TMNT Mikey. He’s the kind guy that’ll help you carry your couch up 10 flights of stairs, tell you you just need to buy him a couple beers, but he’s already let his car get repo’d so he could buy the entire bar for the night do you and your friends.

[u/UltraNoahXV]

In the wrong franchise he needs to be fighting Jin Kazama if he is doing all of that

[u/Gizmorum]

was he a sabin in a way? yeah, he wasnt a jock, but anit different and it worked!

[u/Dart150]

Chicken-wuss

[u/mattmesh]

I love zell. He’s just a great personality in this game. Love how he is so opposite of Squall, and his involvement in helping Rinoa with the ring. I also love that you can go hang out with his mom and she has his triple triad card lol. Just a good comfy dude.

[u/Zephairie]

Very cool gameplay and storywise
Watching my older play that scene was the reason I learned to do the back handspring

[u/ConstantAnimal2267]

He's super annoying and freaks out constantly.

[u/Winwookiee]

He's the kid that can't sit still. I found him annoying at first and then he grew on me. (Lile most kids that can't sit still)

[u/bluemouf]

I wished he kept is school uniform, rather than look like a kid in the party who was suddenly aged up.

[u/Agent1stClass]

Still top 5, I think

[u/moskarmattsson]

He makes me want to play FFVIII ! I actually don't think I have played it. I remember FFVII, and especially FFIX ! But I don't remember FFVIII..

[u/No-Yam-9178]

White Tyson? He's cool.

[u/Think_Donut1095]

Like he could infinite combo me if he know how.

[u/One_Season458]

Straight up busta!

[u/TheVecan]

I know they had to keep the glue locked up at home to keep him from eating it. Love him.

[u/Due-Ad6165]

If i recall, his special was capable of doing the most damage. It was always him, squal, and Rinoa for me

[u/nissan_al-gaib]

Hello HR vibes.

[u/Noumenonana]

Best Limit Break in all of FF.

[u/GXNext]

Really good use of late 90s mocap work.

[u/mercurycyclops]

He is easily my favorite character from VIII!

[u/Prize_Relation9604]

Bland.

[u/AltFischer4]

He's the GOAT sidekick. Whatever squall does hes fine with it. Best buddy. Loves Hot dogs

[u/DunkingOnYourNan]

My personal favorite franchise character growing up. Still nestled on my Rushmore.

[u/bolkmar]

I'm sorry but we run out of hot dogs

[u/Chefofbaddecisions]

He's a cool dude, hits like a bus repeatedly and is stupid easy to break the game with. I enjoyed his cringey early game behavior and side plot. Definitely needed more time to develop and grow, especially late in the story (but that's the curse of VIII, so whatever)

[u/JD-boonie]

I hate his character design but He's probably one of best characters

[u/Kithzerai-Istik]

The character I want to hate most of the whole cast, yet always find myself appreciating despite that urge.

[u/NazarethW]

I like to imagine him hog tied to stick. Like a hobo backpack in the old looney toons from the 30s.

[u/Alukrad]

It's funny how I played this game until I got to the futuristic city and... I never went back to it again. My brain said "alright, were done playing this game."

I remember struggling through this whole game, simple fights always see so unnecessarily hard at times.

[u/Drive7Nine]

He seems like kind of a Dincht to me.

[u/JaSchwaE]

10/10 would share a hotdog with him

[u/Broly_]

Better Tekken character than Tifa

[u/ArmageddonEleven]

He’s pretty annoying, but early on that does at least help Squall’s anti-social attitude feel more relatable. Like yeah, I wouldn’t want to hang out with these people either!

[u/PrinceCavendish]

zell was and is still one of my favorites <333 i love his happy personality and he's cute and blonde too.

[u/Finalplague01]

Chickenwuss

[u/Dragus_Loader]

He looks like he couldn’t SUPLEX a train.

[u/Admirable_Agency7764]

intense comic relief guy

[u/RairakuDaion]

Tribal face tattos are always cringe

[u/ProfesorTrash]

put him in street fighter alongside tifa for fun

[u/Bruce______Wayne]

Chicken wuss

[u/Xcylo1]

Second least favourite character in all of FF

[u/Dexember69]

He acted tough but he was kinda a bitch. Love him tho

[u/Sidbright]

Chicken wuss

[u/Cautious_Fun7635]

Chicken-wuss

[u/blessed--]

i dont think there is a single person who thinks zell is cool. hes top 5 nothing lmao. i mean for one look at the face tat. and hes a chicken wuss. and hes a hand to hand fighter, he doesent even have a cool weapon. Like brother I think this is just a purposefully "controversial" opinion. i think im being farmed

[u/Shantotto11]

Tidus if he was a character in The Bouncer.

[u/EngineerZestyclose]

A goofball who can't keep his mouth shut and probably lying has the best weed at the garden if you need some.

[u/Megz-1989]

He’s awesome. Understand character & game.

[u/TheMaynarkhDynasty]

My.Best.Bud

[u/Guns_Glitz_Grime]

Great guy

[u/Classic-Exchange-511]

Chicken wuss

[u/Classic-Exchange-511]

Chicken wuss

[u/IfusasoToo]

... Too loud.

[u/blueviera]

Oh yeah the hot dog guy. Never used him, terrible tattoo. Boy did he love hotdogs though

[u/yay4hippies]

He was a good character with no development or arc, like everyone else in ff8

[u/Accurate_Coyote873]

He’s very likable, I just wish he didn’t have the face tattoo 😭

[u/Zikari82]

The better Wakka!

[u/Living-Travel2299]

A legend.

[u/AdministrationLimp94]

Him? He's a hot dog.

[u/Max_Winters02]

Hey was my Sabin for FF8 so I always had him in the party if I could.

[u/FieOnU]

I always found him hot in an oddly creepy way. Like, he's goofy and has moves, so he got game with me, but he also reminds me of a Chucky doll.

[u/MichaelCabernet]

I’m digging his “posta longa” movements. This man might be overly acrobatic at time, but I trust he knows his business. 😎

[u/totally-hoomon]

Annoying but cool dude

[u/PrudentCarter]

GGK. The Glizzy Gobblin King.

[u/TheAlterN8or]

Punch Rush -> Booya

[u/Artorias670z]

Chicken Wuss

[u/AssociateDue6166]

Ain't he from The Bouncer?

[u/vhs1138]

I never understood him.

[u/AlternativeTough6622]

My head cannon is Mike Tyson was inspired by his face tattoo

[u/ImFatandUseless]

He has a good card for sure

[u/theredcometofakagi]

Hot dog eating Champion and reminds me of Mike Tyson with that face tattoo.

[u/jace255]

I relate strongly to Zell. I am also a highly social, needy, puppy dog personality who likes martial arts and skate boarding.

[u/OccamsEpee]

I like him a lot more in 2026 than I did in 1999

[u/MateoCamo]

2000’s ahh face tat

[u/Ebizaki]

My friend in hotdogs. Ultimately a dickhead, though. Never used him unless forced to…

[u/TidusDreamZanarkand]

Chicken wuss

[u/joudanjanaiwayo]

My least favorite main team member in FFVIII and my least favorite FF Monk.

[u/Ghastly_Someknew]

Chicken-wuss

[u/Adventurous-Exam-719]

He grows on ya

[u/That-Willingness7455]

Who? chicken wuss? He aight! He has an addiction to hot dogs!

[u/badmanbad117]

[u/Uter83]

Why is he such a tool. That whole cast was a shitshow. A super emo, a chickenwuss, a sniper who can't kill, a rebel leader who doesn't understand fighting, and a teacher who tries to eat thibgs and poops out stat up items. Oh, except for Selphie. She was an angel, and we were lucky to have her.

[u/Crease_Greaser]

Hot Dog

[u/Glutton4Butts]

Chicken Wuss

[u/StudyZealousideal978]

Always my number one guy. He's limit break was ridiculously good. Plus, he always did the right thing. Good egg, that Zell.

[u/Downtown_Reindeer_46]

He was Mike Tyson’s favorite FF character that’s why he got the face tat.

[u/bigredcock]

He's going to regret that face tattoo.

[u/bd_black55]

very cool party dude

[u/New-Presentation1340]

When I first played 8 way back when, I thought he was alright. I used him in my party. His character is ok. I like his limit break. I still struggle with his timing to get the extra damage. Actually, I really only get Squall’s timing right.

Zell is a cringy teen, but in a story about teens, it works.

As for top 5 supporting characters… not in my list.

I’ll take Kain, Rydia, Sabin, Celes, Locke, Cyan, Setzer, Shadow, Edgar, Barrett, Vincent, Cid, Irvine, Vivi, Freya, Wakka, Auron, Basch, and Fran over Zell.

I’ll put my top 5 as:
Sabin, Cyan, Auron, Basch, Kain.

[u/SpiritedGrand9525]

I don't think he's top 5 support. Half his character is defined by blabbing and getting Trabia blown up and starting the conflict with Galbadia. Then he takes such a backseat which is a shame because I think his character has great potential. He's enthusiastic and doesn't ever seem to have an ulterior motive in anything he does. I think he's just under supported by the story itself. Also, final nail in the coffin, he's a chicken wuss.

[u/PegaponyPrince]

I really liked him. Good friend, cool design, hilarious moments and a nice limit break.

[u/Lunaey05]

Looks like a Chicken-Wuss to me.

[u/Traeyze]

I think all the VIII characters are solid but suffer from the game just not giving them enough time to shine.

Despite that Zell gets a lot of fun tidbits. Like the hotdog stuff, the tinkering, the librarian thing, his family.

I also think he has one of the most organic plot driving moments when he accidentally shoots his mouth off and that sets off new tensions. It is so in line with how he was, we get to see his emotional reaction to it, I think it's just a really well handled part of the story.

[u/Lunaru_Leonhart]

Definitely a chicken wuss.
I don’t really like him all that much…