The comparisons don't end there!

Smarmy blond rival = Seifer = Malfoy

Dark haired, scarred, and brooding hero = Squall = Harry Potter

Goofy sidekick = Zell = Ron

Female prodigy = Quistis = Hermione

Love interest that people question why hero likes her (I don't know how to structure this sentence...:P) = Rinoa = Ginny
(I do actually like Squall/Rinoa...just sayin'.)