Esthar - West Coast

Esthar is a major political power in Final Fantasy VIII, and also the name of its capital city, Esthar City. Located on the large continent east of Galbadia, Esthar is Galbadia's main political rival and its territory spans the entire eastern continent. Esthar is a technologically advanced nation governed by a president. Since the Sorceress War, the city has been hidden from the world using a cloaking device known as the Optical Camouflage System (OCS). Esthar possesses a powerful military, with soldiers equipped with special armor and swords that have built-in shotguns. The nation is also developing mechanized soldiers, aiming to replace human soldiers in the future. In the game, Esthar was once ruled by Sorceress Adel, leading to the Sorceress War, but was later overthrown by Laguna Loire. Esthar closed its borders and was known as the 'Silent Nation'. In the plot, the main characters travel to Esthar seeking help to save a comatose Rinoa, ultimately uncovering the hidden secrets of Esthar.