Uematsu's bread and butter, making songs that do that!Nice list.I'm gonna have to have a real think about this one!
*Endless Sorrow is such a good shout, by the way. That's actually the definition for me of one of those songs you leave a game running for just to hear.
Gaming The Final Fantasy Thread
- Thread starter WeasteDevil
- Start date
That's the problem I'm having with this list! There are literally hundreds of songs I'm having to exclude literally because they're 'just' standard Uematsu, yet these would be the most catchy, listenable or endearing tunes on any other soundtrack.
I'm actually envious of anyone going through that part for the first time. I like that bit even more than the end of disc 1 with Aeris.
X Maybe I'm A Lion(VIII)
9 Underneath the Rotting Pizza(VII)
8 Eyes On Me(VIII)
7 Turks Theme(VII)
6 Terra's Theme(VI)
5 Beatrix's Theme(IX)
4 Lenna's Theme(V)
3 Clouds Theme(VII)
2 To Zanarkand(X)
1 Aeris Theme(VII)
That's a quick list, and incredibly highly subject to change....
9 Underneath the Rotting Pizza(VII)
8 Eyes On Me(VIII)
7 Turks Theme(VII)
6 Terra's Theme(VI)
5 Beatrix's Theme(IX)
4 Lenna's Theme(V)
3 Clouds Theme(VII)
2 To Zanarkand(X)
1 Aeris Theme(VII)
That's a quick list, and incredibly highly subject to change....
Yeah, there are not only 100's of songs, I could do the list 5 or 6 times over and only include two or three songs each time, maybe.....That's the problem I'm having with this list! There are literally hundreds of songs I'm having to exclude literally because they're 'just' standard Uematsu, yet these would be the most catchy, listenable or endearing tunes on any other soundtrack.
I'm actually envious of anyone going through that part for the first time. I like that bit even more than the end of disc 1 with Aeris.
Did anybody go to see Distant Worlds live?
1) To Zanarkand (Final Fantasy X)
2) Memory of the Wind - Legend of the Eternal Wind (Final Fantasy III DS)
3) Aeris' Theme (Final Fantasy VII)
4) Wandering Flame (Final Fantasy X)
5) Prelude (Final Fantasy VII)
6) Cid's Theme (Final Fantasy VII)
7) The Silence Before the Storm (Final Fantasy X)
8) J-E-N-O-V-A (Final Fantasy VII)
9) On That Day Five Years Ago (Final Fantasy VII)
10) Terra's Theme (Final Fantasy VI)
11) Main Theme (Final Fantasy VII)
12) Balamb Garden (Final Fantasy VIII)
13) Yuna's Determination (Final Fantasy X)
14) Main Theme (Final Fantasy I)
15) Aria di Mezzo Carattere (Final Fantasy VI)
16) Ahead on Our Way (Final Fantasy V)
17) Feel My Blade (Final Fantasy IX)
18) Eternity: Memory of a Lightwave (Final Fantasy X-2)
19) Judgement Day (Final Fantasy VII)
20) Theme of Love (Final Fantasy IV DS)
Had to extend it to 20 because I was so disgusted at some of the omissions, and even then it was a matter of picking just one from FFV, FFVIII and FFIX (couldn't even pick Endless Sorrow in the end).
Think it'd be easier to do a top 10 in terms of what are actually the best pieces of music. Nostalgia with FF7 takes over far too much here to be impartial. Was toying with the idea a while back that I liked 10's the most but 7's clearly the favourite given this list.
2) Memory of the Wind - Legend of the Eternal Wind (Final Fantasy III DS)
3) Aeris' Theme (Final Fantasy VII)
4) Wandering Flame (Final Fantasy X)
5) Prelude (Final Fantasy VII)
6) Cid's Theme (Final Fantasy VII)
7) The Silence Before the Storm (Final Fantasy X)
8) J-E-N-O-V-A (Final Fantasy VII)
9) On That Day Five Years Ago (Final Fantasy VII)
10) Terra's Theme (Final Fantasy VI)
11) Main Theme (Final Fantasy VII)
12) Balamb Garden (Final Fantasy VIII)
13) Yuna's Determination (Final Fantasy X)
14) Main Theme (Final Fantasy I)
15) Aria di Mezzo Carattere (Final Fantasy VI)
16) Ahead on Our Way (Final Fantasy V)
17) Feel My Blade (Final Fantasy IX)
18) Eternity: Memory of a Lightwave (Final Fantasy X-2)
19) Judgement Day (Final Fantasy VII)
20) Theme of Love (Final Fantasy IV DS)
Had to extend it to 20 because I was so disgusted at some of the omissions, and even then it was a matter of picking just one from FFV, FFVIII and FFIX (couldn't even pick Endless Sorrow in the end).
Think it'd be easier to do a top 10 in terms of what are actually the best pieces of music. Nostalgia with FF7 takes over far too much here to be impartial.
Was toying with the idea a while back that I liked 10's the most but 7's clearly the favourite given this list.I'll probably wake up tomorrow and have a completely different idea of what should've gone where. Love the inclusion at 10 - a real dark horse. It never gets as much attention as One Winged Angel or Dancing Mad but it's absolutely quality.
Nope, acquired the albums though and they're impressive. They do an awesome Liberi Fatali (which should clearly have been on a top 20 list!!
).Looking at your list and I see tonnes of "dang, didn't think of that", "should have picked that", "maybe I could squeeze that in"...
So much good music!Like you say, tomorrow could be a whole different story!
Looking at your list and I see tonnes of "dang, didn't think of that", "should have picked that", "maybe I could squeeze that in"...
Like you say, tomorrow could be a whole different story!
I bottled it so much that I couldn't even follow instructions, to be fair!
The funny thing is that none of us managed to fit in Liberi Fatali, One Winged Angel, The Final Fantasy Main Theme, The Bombing Mission, The Landing, Crossing Those Hills, Ronfaure or Clash on the Big Bridge. If you were to make a list based on popularity, or if you were to look over an orchestrated album, most of those would come up.
Was gonna have this one as an honourable mention:
Shows Uematsu's still got it, which was obvious anyway...obviously. It's just the video game industry is moving towards a different, more shite level to the one he's operating at. Some 3DS game developers should sign him up so we can get one last great soundtrack out of him.
I hummed and hawed Clash On the Big Bridge over Lennas Theme or Maybe I'm a Lion.
Uematsu is damned ridiculous. Perhaps Mistwalker stops faffing about and releases a handfull of RPG's on 3DS and Vita, let him work his magic.
I did consider putting in a Lost Odyssey song too.
Uematsu is damned ridiculous. Perhaps Mistwalker stops faffing about and releases a handfull of RPG's on 3DS and Vita, let him work his magic.
I did consider putting in a Lost Odyssey song too.
I'm sad enough to have that soundtrack, despite never having played it. Liked this one, which sounds a bit like a mix of the 'Silent Night' christmas hymn and something else at the start that I can't pinpoint.
Then this:
Really like the general theme running throughout too - the one you hear during the intro with that meteor (?) that comes crashing down to the planet. The 'Numara' track, as well.
It's clear spackery that I've never played this game, to be honest. I've seen it briefly at a mate's before and it looks class.
*That's an amazing playlist that guy's assembled, by the way! Really is the 'best VGM'.
Then this:
Really like the general theme running throughout too - the one you hear during the intro with that meteor (?) that comes crashing down to the planet. The 'Numara' track, as well.
It's clear spackery that I've never played this game, to be honest. I've seen it briefly at a mate's before and it looks class.
*That's an amazing playlist that guy's assembled, by the way! Really is the 'best VGM'.
That was lava, IIRC, pouring out of the sky, mindbigglingly brilliant scene. Shades of FFIX when the Queen used the summons for war.
The music gives the entire game this kind of air, or aura, it's amazing. At times it blends in during quieter moments, only to bust to life and make a scene stand out, but it's always there, making you feel like you're in a fantasy world, or a dream.
I hate to big it up so much, in case people don't like it, but I firmly believe it's the best Final Fantasy since, 10, maybe 9. Even has a guy named Sid(
).KingEric, it's a quality game
That was lava, IIRC, pouring out of the sky, mindbigglingly brilliant scene. Shades of FFIX when the Queen used the summons for war.
The music gives the entire game this kind of air, or aura, it's amazing. At times it blends in during quieter moments, only to bust to life and make a scene stand out, but it's always there, making you feel like you're in a fantasy world, or a dream.
I hate to big it up so much, in case people don't like it, but I firmly believe it's the best Final Fantasy since, 10, maybe 9. Even has a guy named Sid(
Sid.
Yeah, I saw the exact same sentiments on some Youtube comments before, and my mate always said it was "the one 12 should've been".It's the Xbox 360 exclusive I should've got when I said I didn't get any!
Your mate is dead on, couldn't put it better!Sid.
It's the Xbox 360 exclusive I should've got when I said I didn't get any!
KingEric7 and Earthquake, you should be ashamed of yourself. No Celes theme?!
It is possibly the most nostalgic piece of music (after Aeris) in the entire video games. Seriously, I feel very sad every time I listen to it, and as I said not only her suicide attempt but also the entire dark nature of the second part of the game comes in my mind. Helps the fact that she was a wonderful characater (the best on FF6 IMO).
It is possibly the most nostalgic piece of music (after Aeris) in the entire video games. Seriously, I feel very sad every time I listen to it, and as I said not only her suicide attempt but also the entire dark nature of the second part of the game comes in my mind. Helps the fact that she was a wonderful characater (the best on FF6 IMO).
Ok you feckers. I gave in, have just installed Steam on my Bootcamp and downloaded FFXII. What's the best controller for doing this on a laptop? I've only ever played it on Playstation before.
Explain this to me.
You can get replicas of PS controllers for laptops I'm sure, pretty easily.
XII is so good and so underrated by people.
I have a Macbook air, not a PC based laptop. So, I have installed Win7 on a drive partition using bootcamp so the machine boots up as a PC. I've installed Steam and just downloaded FF7 from the store.
D'oh! My bad, wasn't really paying attention, was too busy trying to figure out game controller options.
Right, time for my Final Fantasy playlist. I've only played 7,9,10,10-2 and 13 so my choice is a little more limited.
In no particular order:
1. Walls of the Sacred Beasts - Final Fantasy IX
2. Mount Gagazet Final Fantasy X
3. Jenova Theme - Final Fantasy VII
4. Aries Theme -Final Fantasy VII
5. You Can Heart The Cry of the Planet - Final Fantasy VII
6. Kuja's Theme - Final Fantasy IX
7. Esto Gaza - Final Fantasy IX
8. Terra/Bran Bal - Final Fantasy IX
9. Illusion - Final Fantasy X
10. Macalania Forest - Final Fantasy X
11. Path of Repentance Final Fantasy X
12. Wandering Flame - Final Fantasy X
13. Secret Sleeping in the Sea - Final Fantasy VII
14. Memoria/Crustal World - Final Fantasy IX
15. If You Open Your Heart - Final Fantasy VII
Shit, that lst is only from 3 games!
10-2 and 13 had some good pieces of music but nothing that springs to mind that beats that lot. If Lost Odyssey was included I'd have some in there without a doubt. Fantastic sound track
In no particular order:
1. Walls of the Sacred Beasts - Final Fantasy IX
2. Mount Gagazet Final Fantasy X
3. Jenova Theme - Final Fantasy VII
4. Aries Theme -Final Fantasy VII
5. You Can Heart The Cry of the Planet - Final Fantasy VII
6. Kuja's Theme - Final Fantasy IX
7. Esto Gaza - Final Fantasy IX
8. Terra/Bran Bal - Final Fantasy IX
9. Illusion - Final Fantasy X
10. Macalania Forest - Final Fantasy X
11. Path of Repentance Final Fantasy X
12. Wandering Flame - Final Fantasy X
13. Secret Sleeping in the Sea - Final Fantasy VII
14. Memoria/Crustal World - Final Fantasy IX
15. If You Open Your Heart - Final Fantasy VII
Shit, that lst is only from 3 games!
10-2 and 13 had some good pieces of music but nothing that springs to mind that beats that lot. If Lost Odyssey was included I'd have some in there without a doubt. Fantastic sound track
Aria di Mezzo Carattere and Celes' theme are just different variations of the same melody. Went for the former on the basis of personal preference and because it's possibly the most famous FF6 tune there is.
Wouldn't have minded putting both of them in but there were too many others I liked more.
Glad to see more love for this.
Such an underrated gem, and it's not even one of Uematsu's.Thought briefly about 13 but I think it's only really the battle themes that would enter consideration, and there are literally dozens of songs before those that would get on a list. Not really a memorable score.
*Do you mean Silence Before The Storm for Macalania by the way, RM99? Macalania's quality too, just curious.
That would have been one of the "on another day songs", bloody hard to pick just 10-20 out of 7000 masterpieces.
Well, that's my lunchtime burnt playing FF7 I'd forgotten how big Cloud's sword is
I'd forgotten how big Cloud's sword is As is evidenced by how different all the lists are.
The only one that makes it on all lists is Aeris' theme, which is saying something about the status and impact of that song in itself. Ha, I once made a CD for my Grandad when I was younger to listen to on the way to the United games, and I put the Tour De Japon version of that theme on it. It went down extremely well and it goes to show just what a great piece of music it is in itself even without the context.
You know what they say about guys with big swords?Well, that's my lunchtime burnt playing FF7
fecked wrists when they age.
Yup, that one is beyond special though, and tied to one of the most nostalgia driven moments in videogame history, so it's quite understandable.As is evidenced by how different all the lists are.
The only one that makes it on all lists is Aeris' theme, which is saying something about the status and impact of that song in itself. Ha, I once made a CD for my Grandad when I was younger to listen to on he way to the United games, and I put the Tour De Japon version of that theme on it. It went down extremely well and it goes to show just what a great piece of music it is in itself even without the context.
Just listening to the Shinra theme now, "how the feck didn't I put that in...."
I know. Love it - it just screams "EVIL CORPORATION".
Love it - it just screams "EVIL CORPORATION".They lack self esteem and pretend to be someone else?
That too.
This is true about the direction in terms of how they made characters less defined, but I don't really see these as overly significant criticisms when every FF game from the SNES onwards right until 12 is pretty easy anyway - the challenge disappears from most FF games when you've played a fair few of them. I look at these games side by side, and I see that 7 has the superior storyline (by quite a distance, in my opinion - it has a far more intricate narrative), a better magic/equipment system, greater heights of difficulty, as good a soundtrack (which you could naturally argue is better on a technical basis, even if 'better soundtrack' is a different debate) and, crucially, a superior cast in Cloud, Jenova and Sephiroth in terms of depth, background and character strength. I dunno how anyone comes up with the Jenova stuff, to be honest - I go overboard about the stories of FF games sometimes, but they actually churned out an amazing Sci-Fi plot here. If you really pay attention to the stuff that goes on before the game is set with Professor Gast (and later on with the Jenova/Sephiroth twist) then you realise just how huge a leap that story was from 6's.
These are things that stand regardless of perceptions and emulation. There's also the fact that FF7 is a more consistent game throughout, and does not suffer the drop in quality or the collapse in narrative that 6's does at any point. I love 6 but that was a black mark against the game.
I think VI and Chrono Trigger are the two best JRPG's ever made, and I played both after VII.
I'm not going through it all again right now, far too many times over the years have I done this and it's the same arguments vs the same arguments. Like I say when I get time I'll hunt down my all encompassing post because you'll find it easier responding to that mate.
May I ask how you played 6 though and when? I.e emulator?
May I ask how you played 6 though and when? I.e emulator?
Agree with this post. However, FF6 is better than FF7 IMO, is the companions. If we take Terra as the protagonist of FF6, then we still have Celes, Locke, Edgar and Cyan which are better than the companions of VII (though Aeris is excellent and Tiffa and Vincent are good too) but still FF6 wins here for me. As good as Kefka is as antagonist, it is a bit difficult comparing him with Sephiroth who very likely is the best antagonist in video game history. When it comes to protagonist again it's difficult for anyone to challenge Cloud. The story is in both very good, but as you said FF7 has a deeper story.
In memorable scenes I think that 6 wins. In opera scene, the end of world, Celes attempted suicide, Cyan losing his family and General Leo fighting Kefka etc we have more memorable scenes than in any other video game. Aeris scene is probably the best in any video game, but still the amount of memorable moments in FF6 is unmatched.
Definitely agree with your point in drop of quality. If The World of Ruin would have been as good as The World of Balance, then it wouldn't be up to debate which game was better. Unfortunately, The World of Ruin had a big drop in quality which essentially makes half of the game far inferior to FF7.
I don't understand how people criticize FF7 for not being difficult, when all Fantasy games are very easy. Definitely FF6 is not a harder game than FF7, and it isn't that FF7 was as easy as FF8 to use the difficulty of the game as a point against it. Both are failry easy games (as are other FF games I have played, with FF4 possibly being the most difficult which again was a relatively easy game). Both top games though, easily 10/10 games and must play games for anyone.
No way. I know that it is cool nowadays to say that Chrono Trigger is the greatest thing to ever exist, but I call it bullshit. There isn't a single part of the game (protagonist, antagonist, characters, music, story, game mechanics) when Chrono Trigger is better than FF7 and dare I say even FF9 is superior in all those aspects. Probably for that time it was so great (especially the graphics which were absolutely fantastic for a SNES game) but I think that it has been surprassed by other games. Seriously, to each with his opinions but I think that it fall short in every aspect if you compare it against FF6, FF7 and FF9. Still a very good game though and I enjoyed it so much.
I really need to play 6 again, have it on my Vita ready too(though I should have gotten the US version, dang), but for all it's brilliance, I remember being highly disappointed by the World of Ruin and late game in general.
I didn't criticise it for it's difficulty, though I'd say 6 was a bit more difficult if you stick to the dedicated save points (as you had to do on cart). This is why I need to find my post because in it I ramble on for ages about the challenge in both games, getting the best out of the different magic systems, finding the best and hidden stuff and all that. 7 was rightly criticised at the time for being a bit more walk-through, whereas 6 was more a game where you had to work to learn all the cool stuff.
Remembering all along there was no internet for hints and tips at the time too! Plus there was nothing really like either game that worked in quite the same way. It's easier looking back now having played some of the games we have in the modern time than it ever was back then. That's something that the likes of yourself and Eric will never be able to factor in, 6 really did move the entire genre to a peak and as great as 7 was when the dust settled there was plenty people and magazines had to say at the time.