Lunar Cry (Final Fantasy VIII)

The Lunar Cry is 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 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 and can 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. According to a controller in the Lunar Base, monsters' behavior becomes abnormal when there are irregularities in the moon and the planet's gravitational forces, making them cluster at one spot on the moon, ready to fall to the planet.
==Story==
The game gives conflicting information on when exactly Centra was destroyed by the Lunar Cry. The Information section in the menu says 80 years, but both the Operator in Lunar Base and the Ultimania say it happened over a hundred years ago. The Lunar Cry annihilated the entire Centra civilization and wiped it from the world map.
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 spotted the Lunatic Pandora in the distance, although he did not know of its significance. Two men talk on this instance of Lunar Cry on the bridge in Esthar City during Squall and his party's first visit to Esthar. This Lunar Cry over Trabia is 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 to induce the Lunar Cry with the intent of bringing Sorceress Adel's tomb back to earth. Esthar is flooded with monsters that overrun the country and Esthar City, causing massive casualties, as well as turning the sky red.
==Musical themes==
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.
==Other appearances==
===Theatrhythm Final Fantasy===
During the Dark Note of "Blue Fields" and "The Man with the Machine Gun", and the iOS exclusive "Don't Be Afraid", the sky color changes to red, a reference to the Lunar Cry.
===Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call===
Esthar used the effects of the Lunar Cry appears as a battle background in Battle Music Sequences.
==Gallery==
Lunar Cry about to start from FFVIII Remastered.png
Lunar Cry approaching the planet from FFVIII Remastered.png
Lunar Cry monster stream from FFVIII Remastered.png
Lunar Cry enters the planets atmosphere from FFVIII Remastered.png
Adels Tomb swallowed by the Lunar Cry from FFVIII Remastered.png
Lunar Cry in space from FFVIII Remastered.png
==Etymology==
Lunar Cry thus refers to the cry of the moon. It is called Moon Tears in Japanese and its musical track is "Tears of the Moon", the monsters being the "tears". When Lunatic Pandora docks at Tears' Point a statue of a woman cracks along the corner of its eye, alluding to this.
==Citations==
de:Träne des Mondes
es:Lágrima de la Luna
vi:Lunar Cry
Category:Events in Final Fantasy VIII
Category:Technology