Music of Final Fantasy
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The Music of Final Fantasy has been, since the release of the initial game in the series, an integral part of the gaming experience. Most of the games' original soundtracks have garnered much critical praise from various sources, ranging from video game magazines to professional music reviewers. Alongside the original soundtracks, many compilations and arranged albums have been produced over the years, to similar acclaim by fans and critics.
Until the release of Final Fantasy XII, the chief music composer of the main series was Nobuo Uematsu, who was the sole creative force from the original Final Fantasy up to Final Fantasy IX. Uematsu worked with Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano in Final Fantasy X and with Naoshi Mizuta and Kumi Tanioka in Final Fantasy XI. His collaborations in Final Fantasy XII were limited to the game's theme song, "Kiss Me Good-Bye".
The music of the entries of the Ivalice Alliance compilation, as well as the music of Vagrant Story was handled mostly by Hitoshi Sakimoto. The music of the Crystal Chronicles series was composed by Kumi Tanioka.
[edit] Recurring themes
Within the whole of the body of musical works, there are certain themes that have made an appearance more than once in different games, clearly associated with a character or a situation.
These themes have appeared in most of the original soundtracks of the main series under different lengths, arrangements and even variations.
[edit] The Prelude
- Main article: Prelude
The Prelude was the opening theme of the original Final Fantasy. Since then, it has become one of the most prominent musical pieces in the series, playing at many different stages throughout the games.
[edit] The Main Theme
- Main article: Opening Theme (Final Fantasy)
The Main Theme of Final Fantasy (originally titled "Opening Theme" in Final Fantasy) has appeared in most of the main series, usually played during the opening sequence or during the ending. Not to be confused with the Prelude, since, despite its title, the "Opening Theme" was in reality not the opening track of the game.
[edit] The Victory Fanfare
- Main article: Victory Fanfare
The Victory Fanfare is the track that plays in every instance of the main series when a battle encounter ends with victory. Although variations of the Fanfare have been used in some of games, the opening bars have remained unchanged since the original Final Fantasy.
[edit] The Chocobo Theme
- Main article: Chocobo#Chocobo's Theme
The Chocobo Theme is played each time the party travels across the land by means of riding a Chocobo or when the enter a Chocobo Forest or any place related to them. Since each entry of the main series includes at least one particular version of the Chocobo Theme, numerous arrangements of this track exist.
[edit] Final Fantasy & Final Fantasy II
- Main article: Original Soundtracks of Final Fantasy I & II
The original soundtrack of Final Fantasy introduced three of the musical themes that became a staple of the series ever afterwards, as well as some lasting fan favorites such as "Matoya's Cave".
The music of the original Final Fantasy and that of Final Fantasy II was first released as a single compilation album, All Sounds of Final Fantasy I & II in 1989, to moderate critical acclaim. Following this release, the arranged album Symphonic Suite Final Fantasy. In 2002, for the release of Final Fantasy Origins, the soundtrack was rearranged by Uematsu and Tsuyoshi Sekito.
- All Sounds of Final Fantasy I & II - NES version; 1989, 1994 (reprint)
- Final Fantasy I & II Original Soundtrack - Remake version; 2002, 2004 (reprint)
[edit] Final Fantasy III
- Main article: Original Soundtracks of Final Fantasy III
The complete soundtrack of the original NES version of Final Fantasy III was actually not the first compilation album of the game, having arrived to the music stores a year after the arranged album Final Fantasy III: Eternal Legend of the Wind was released .
The NES version of Final Fantasy III never made it to Western shores, and therefore it was not until the DS Version of the game that the soundtrack was widely distributed in America and the rest of the world.
- Final Fantasy III: Eternal Legend of the Wind - Arranged Vocals; 1990, 1994 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy III: Original Sound Version - NES version; 1991, 1994 (first re-release), 2004 (second re-release)
- Final Fantasy III: Original Soundtrack - DS version; 2006
[edit] Final Fantasy IV
- Main article: Original Soundtracks of Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV's soundtrack was the first to include amongst its body of works a Piano Collections album, a practice that became a rule of sorts for every game in the series afterwards. Another arranged album, Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon was released as well, performed by Máire Breatnach in the style of Celtic music.
Uematsu noted that the production of the soundtrack was an arduous task, involving much trial and error. The reason stemmed from the then-recent transition phase between on the Famicon and the Super Famicon hardwares.
- Final Fantasy IV: Original Sound Version - SNES version; 1991, 1994 (first re-release), 2004 (second re-release)
- Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon - Arrangements; 1991, 1994 (first re-release), 2004 (second re-release)
- Piano Collections: Final Fantasy IV - Piano Arrangements; 1992, 1994 (first re-release), 2001 (second re-release)
- Final Fantasy IV Official Soundtrack: Music from Final Fantasy Chronicles - SNES version; 2001
- Tsukino Akari -Final Fantasy IV Ai no Theme- - Single; 2007
- Final Fantasy IV: Original Soundtrack - DS version; 2008
[edit] Final Fantasy V
- Main article: Final Fantasy V: Original Sound Version
During production, Final Fantasy V was originally designed to include more than a hundred different themes. Nobuo Uematsu felt the number would make the album unpurchasable for the children in the audience, as it would require a two-disc release, and cut down the track list to 50 tunes. The soundtrack was nevertheless released as a two-disc set.
Reception for the soundtrack was lukewarm, with some critics stating that the album did not live up to Final Fantasy IV's soundtrack. Despite this, some of its themes became popular among the Final Fantasy community, such as "Clash on the Big Bridge" and "Dear Friends".
- Final Fantasy V: Original Sound Version - 1992, 1994 (first re-release), 2004 (second re-release)
- Final Fantasy V: Dear Friends - Arrangements; 1993, 1994 (first re-release), 2004 (second re-release)
- Piano Collections: Final Fantasy V - Piano Arrangements; 1993, 1994 (first re-release), 2001 (second re-release)
[edit] Final Fantasy VI
- Main article: Original Soundtrack of Final Fantasy VI
The last of the soundtracks to be issued for the 16-bit generation of consoles, the soundtrack was the longest recorded for said generation of games. For Uematsu, Final Fantasy VI's music marked the end of a stage in his career, which was well-grounded by then in the video game music industry.
Uematsu stated that this particular soundtrack was the most challenging Final Fantasy soundtrack he has ever worked on. Despite this, Final Fantasy VI: Original Sound Version received raving reviews, being hailed more than once as one of the best soundtracks ever composed for a video game. The game was the first installment in the series to feature a leitmotif for every one of its main playable characters. Preeminent among these are two themes, Terra's theme and the Aria di Mezzo Carattere, which featured a synthesised voice in the original game, but was re-recorded with a full orchestra and singer. Another famous piece from this soundtrack is Dancing Mad, a very complex 14 minute piece which accompanies the Final Boss.
- Final Fantasy VI: Original Sound Version - 1994, 2004 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy VI: Grand Finale - Arrangements; 1994, 2004 (re-release)
- Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VI - Piano Arrangements; 1994, 2001 (re-release)
- Kefka's Domain - 1994
[edit] Final Fantasy VII
- Main article: Final Fantasy VII: Original Soundtrack
Called by Uematsu his "greatest harvest" in terms of creativity, the soundtrack, despite its length, was composed in a period of less than a year, as opposed to the bi-annual period of producing that had become the standard regarding the previous original soundtracks. Final Fantasy VII's soundtrack was innovative in that it was the first game in the series to include a track with digitized vocals, "One-Winged Angel", which has been described as Uematsu's "most recognizable contribution" to the music of the Final Fantasy series.
- Final Fantasy VII: Original Soundtrack - 1997, 2004 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy VII: Reunion Tracks - "Best of"; 1997, 2005 (re-release)
- Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VII - Piano Arrangements; 2003, 2004 (re-release)
[edit] Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children OST - 2005
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Reunion Tracks - 2009
[edit] Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- & Last Order -Final Fantasy VII-
[edit] Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-
Its music were a mix of Rock and Orchestral Genre. It is one of Takeharu Ishimoto's notable works because of the various versions of some famous Final Fantasy VII songs composed by Nobuo Uematsu, and his own compositions for the game itself. It also includes a few tracks provided by Kazuhiko Toyama. One of the most notable song in the soundtrack is "The Price of Freedom" which was played when Sephiroth was reminiscing his days with Angeal and Genesis.
[edit] Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-
- Redemption - Single; 2006
- Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- Original Soundtrack - 2006
- Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Multiplayer Mode Original Sound Collections - 2006
[edit] Final Fantasy VIII
- Final Fantasy VIII: Original Soundtrack - 1999, 2004 (re-release)
- FITHOS LUSEC WECOS VINOSEC: Final Fantasy VIII - Orchestral Arrangements; 1999, 2004 (re-release)
- Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VIII - Piano Arrangements; 2000, 2004 (re-release)
[edit] Related Singles
- Eyes on Me - 1999
- Kokoro no Senshi - 2006
[edit] Final Fantasy IX
- Melodies of Life -Final Fantasy IX- - Single; 2000
- Final Fantasy IX: Uematsu's Best Selection - "Best of"; 2000
- Final Fantasy IX: Original Soundtrack - 2000, 2004 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack PLUS - Companion Soundtrack; 2000, 2004 (re-release)
- Piano Collections: Final Fantasy IX - Piano Arrangements; 2001, 2004 (re-release)
[edit] Final Fantasy X
- Suteki da ne - Single; 2001, 2004 (re-release)
- Music from Final Fantasy X Promo CD - 2001
- Final Fantasy X: Original Soundtrack - 2001, 2004 (re-release)
- Feel/Go Dream: Yuna & Tidus - Image Songs Single; 2001
- Final Fantasy X: Official Soundtrack - "Best of"; 2001
- Piano Collections: Final Fantasy X - Piano Arrangements; 2002, 2004 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy X Vocal Collection - 2002
[edit] Final Fantasy X-2
- real Emotion/1000 Words - Single; 2003
- Eternity ~Memory of Lightwaves~ Music From Final Fantasy X-2 - Promo single; 2003
- Final Fantasy X-2 Original Soundtrack - 2003
- Final Fantasy X-2 International + Last Mission Original Soundtrack - Companion Soundtrack; 2003
- Final Fantasy X-2: Vocal Collection - Yuna - "Character" Single; 2003
- Final Fantasy X-2: Vocal Collection - Rikku - "Character" Single; 2003
- Final Fantasy X-2: Vocal Collection - Paine - "Character" Single; 2003
- Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collection - Piano Arrangements; 2004
[edit] Related Singles
- Come With Me - 2003
[edit] Final Fantasy XI
- Final Fantasy XI: Original Soundtrack - 2002, 2004 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart Original Soundtrack - Expansion soundtrack; 2003, 2004 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia Original Soundtrack - Expansion soundtrack; 2004
- Final Fantasy XI - Music from the Other Side of Vana'diel - Arrangements; 2005
- Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan Original Soundtrack - Expansion soundtrack; 2006
- Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack Premium Box - Box Collection; 2007
- Final Fantasy XI Crusaders of Altana Original Soundtrack - Expansion soundtrack; 2008
- Piano Collections Final Fantasy XI - Piano Arrangements; 2008
[edit] Final Fantasy XII
- Kiss Me Good-Bye - 2006
- Final Fantasy XII: Original Soundtrack - 2006
- Symphonic Poem "Hope" - 2006
[edit] Final Fantasy Tactics
[edit] Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance: Original Soundtrack - 2003
- White: Melodies of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - Arrangement; 2003
- Shiroi Hana (Single) - Single album for the advertisement song Shiroi Hana; 2002
[edit] Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
[edit] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Opening Theme - Sound of the Wind - Single; 2003
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Original Soundtrack - 2003
[edit] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
[edit] Final Fantasy Unlimited
- Final Fantasy: Unlimited - Music Adventure Verse 1 - 2001
- Final Fantasy: Unlimited - Music Adventure Verse 2 - 2002
[edit] Other
- All Sounds of SaGa - Final Fantasy Legend The Final Fantasy Legend, Final Fantasy Legend II, and III; 1991, 2004 (reprint)
- Final Fantasy USA - Mystic Quest Sound Collections - Final Fantasy Mystic Quest; 1993
- Seiken Densetsu: Sound Collections - Final Fantasy Adventure; 1995, 2004 (reprint)
[edit] Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
[edit] Chocobo Albums
- Chocobo Racing Original Soundtrack - Chocobo Racing; 1999
- Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon ~Labyrinth of Forgotten Time~ Original Soundtrack - Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon; 2008
[edit] Dissidia Final Fantasy
The game's soundtrack were composed by Takeharu Ishimoto, who also composed the soundtrack of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. It features remixes of different famous songs of the series, some original tracks composed by Ishimoto himself, some tracks sung by Your Favorite Enemies, and a bonus track— The Messenger by Your Favorite Enemies. Some tracks that featured in the game weren't featured in the soundtrack, which were the original versions of some famous songs like the Dancing Mad, and the Mambo de Chocobo and Final Fantasy V Victory Fanfare which was featured in the Data Install feature.
- Dissidia Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack- December 24, 2008
[edit] Arrangements & Compilations
- Symphonic Suite Final Fantasy - 1989, 1994 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy 1987-1994 - 1994, 2004 (reprint)
- Final Fantasy Mix - 1994, 2004 (reprint)
- Final Fantasy: Pray - 1994, 2004 (reprint)
- Final Fantasy: Love Will Grow - 1995, 2004 (reprint)
- Music from FFV and FFVI Video Games - bonus cd; 1999
- The Best of Final Fantasy 1994 - 1999: A Musical Tribute - 2000, 2001 (re-release)
- Final Fantasy N Generation: Official Best Collection - 2001
- Final Fantasy S Generation: Official Best Collection - 2001
- Potion: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy - 2001, 2006 (re-release)
- Potion 2: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy - 2001
- Final Fantasy Song Book "Mahoroba" - 2004
- Final Fantasy Finest Box - 2007
- Square Enix Battle Tracks V.1 - 2007
- Final Fantasy Remix - 2008
[edit] Concert Recordings
- 20020220 music from Final Fantasy - 2002, 2004 (re-release)
- More Friends - Music from Final Fantasy - 2005
- Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy - 2007
[edit] Outside Groups
[edit] The Black Mages
- The Black Mages - 2003, 2004 (re-release)
- The Black Mages II: The Skies Above - 2004
- The Black Mages III: Darkness and Starlight - 2008
[edit] Project Majestic Mix
- Project Majestic Mix: A Tribute to Nobuo Uematsu - 2002
- Project Majestic Mix: Squaredance - 2002, 2007 (re-release)
- Project Majestic Mix: The Trance Album - 2004
[edit] OverClocked ReMix
- Final Fantasy VII: Voices of the Lifestream - 2007
- Final Fantasy IV: Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption - 2009
[edit] External Links
