Similarly to yourself I'd have to agree with the depressing one. For a game to have something so serious as attempted suicide after building up a character in your mind seriously messes with your head. I remember my heart being in my stomach at that point. The whole game itself was like a bad relationship roller coaster ride.

As for uplifting, I know it's a little sad and not really related to the storyline itself but seeing the two imperial soldiers Biggs and Wedge made me squeal like a 6 year old girl. I hadn't played the game until I was in my teens and by that point I had my whole FF obsession over FF VIII. To see the same named characters was just a big happy moment for me.