@Caz: Final Fantasy VIII's gunblade design is vibration based. By pulling the trigger, you create a vibrating effect through the length of the blade which increases the damage output (by, in theory, eliminating the 'clean cut' and creating a jagged blow that would bleed more). The pistol-based types have less of an intense vibration than the revolver type.
That's why learning to wield a gunblade is difficult; there's a lot to learn, number one (using a blade, to begin with, then handling the gun, then handling the gunblade as a whole).

We're considering making a gunblade 2.0, but I'm still thinking of ideas for such a weapon since it won't make it's debut til the second part of the game.

@Amaterasu: if you have a look at Dissidia's gameplay, Squall uses the gunblade for that function even without a redesign (or transformation properties). Aaand since Squall's skillset includes some of his Dissidia moves (such as Beat Fang) using the gunblade as a propulsion instrument might be on the cards.

I'm probably going to adjust the tint on this map, since I agree wholly about the soldiers being difficult to see/washed out by it. They're blue to begin with, so I'm not exactly surprised.

@Link: not a big enough concern to warrant an edit.