"Refers to monsters falling from the moon. Completely destroyed the cities of Centra. Occurs when monsters reach a saturation point on the moon. It's believed that there are factors on the planet that cause this phenomenon. This phenomenon has occurred many times in history and will reoccur in the future."

—FFVIII Info Corner menu

The Lunar Cry (月の涙後, Tsuki no Namida^?, lit. "Moon's Tears") refers to a phenomenon in Final Fantasy VIII where creatures of the moon - monsters - fall to earth at regular intervals. According to the Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania^[1] the cycle began tens of thousands of years ago; a product of gravity, the phenomenon is similar to the pull on the tides; when the moon's surface reaches saturation point with monsters, it spills and falls to the planet. The monsters can cause damage sufficient to destroy entire nations. The natural flora and fauna may change drastically; it has also been mentioned creatures can undergo change by being in touch with the monsters of the moon.

StoryEdit

It is said that when the Lunatic Pandora is in perfect alignment with the moon, the Lunar Cry can be performed, and monsters will be summoned to wreak infernal havoc on earth. Lunatic Pandora was constructed under Sorceress Adel's rule, likely to be used as a weapon in the Sorceress War. The only known incident of Lunatic Pandora having been used to induce Lunar Cry under Adel's rule occurred in the Trabia region. During his movie-making adventures in the Vienne Mountains, Laguna Loire spots the Lunatic Pandora in the distance, although he doesn't know of its significance. There are also two men talking on the bridge in Esthar City of this event during Squall and co's first visit to Esthar. This Lunar Cry over Trabia what likely caused the crater near Trabia Garden.

Seventeen years after the end of the Sorceress War, Seifer, on Ultimecia's orders, steers the Pandora towards Tears' Point, and uses it to induce the Lunar Cry with the intent of bringing Sorceress Adel's tomb back to earth. As a result, Esthar is flooded with an untold amount of monsters that overrun the country and Esthar City, causing massive casualties, as well as turning the sky a dark hue of red.

MusicEdit

When the Lunar Cry sequence takes place, the track "Tears of the Moon" plays. It is the 18th track of Disc 3 in the original soundtrack.

ReferencesEdit