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Final Fantasy VIII OST is possibly the greatest work ever by a video game composer

S

Sakujou

Banned
i think ff9 is far better than 7. i also love 8.

i think nintendo is far more iconic as well as catchy since the 80ies.

lately iam more into some stuff like the street fighter chiptuned collection which is pretty bad ass. but if its not something electronic or drum n bass, iam pretty much into ff music. the rearrange symphony stuff is simply jaw-droppingly good.
 
Tathanen

Tathanen

Get Inside Her!
Over the last couple weeks, spurned by Theatrhythm and some SQ remix albums, I've been re-listening to a lot of FFVIII music, and man I might agree with some of the OP's sentiment. Force Your Way might be the best battle theme in the whole of Final Fantasy.
 
W

wmlk

Member
There's not one track on Chrono Cross' OST that I would call bad. FFVIII's problem is that it doesn't sound distinct from its other entries; it doesn't have its own sound like what Mitsuda creates in each of the games he does.
 
N

nrvalleytime

Member
wmlk said:
There's not one track on Chrono Cross' OST that I would call bad. FFVIII's problem is that it doesn't sound distinct from its other entries; it doesn't have its own sound like what Mitsuda creates in each of the games he does.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The music also speaks volumes in its ability to create mood landscapes - regardless if you've played the game, nearly every track evokes a feeling similar to what you experience at that moment in the game.

It's uncanny.
 
W

wmlk

Member
nrvalleytime said:
Agreed. The music also speaks volumes in its ability to create mood landscapes - regardless if you've played the game, nearly every track evokes a feeling similar to what you experience at that moment in the game.

It's uncanny.
Click to expand...

I still say that Chrono Cross is the most atmospheric game I've ever played. You wouldn't get that looking at the game, but the landscapes combined with the music is incredible.

I mean, just listen to how Dragon's Prayer progresses on and loops (from 2:25). It's foreboding and totally fitting at that point in the game. I think Uematsu makes great music, but Mitsuda can combine the most ambient of sounds to create something incredible.
 
S

Shahed

Member
While not my favourite Final Fantasy game by any means, the OST is the best in the series. So many awesome tracks. Only VI and maybe X come relatively close.

But no. I'd rank the likes of Chrono Cross far beyond anything. Xenogears is better as well
 
K

K.Sabot

Member
The Man With the Machine Gun is the only thing I remember from playing it in the last couple years, the ost was inoffensive in my memory but nothing more than that.

Oh and the beginning of the boss theme.
 
E

Eblo

Member
Trust Me is my single favorite track from Final Fantasy VIII. Every scene it appears in captures the mentality of hope and that things are going to be alright.
 
E

Eric the Red

Member
It isn't the full package for me. There just aren't enough songs there that get to me.

Balamb Garden is top tier Uematsu.

Breezy is a little simple but the strong melody wins out. I like it.

Liberi Fatali actually pretty kick ass.

Blue Fields is pretty good.

Fisherman's Horizon is okay to good.

I don't care for the rest. Of these, I would only go back to Balamb Garden, Breezy and maybe Blue Fields for repeat listens. For comparison, FFX has 2 or 3. FFVII has maybe a good dozen. I'm such a party pooper, I should just talk about how godly Balamb Garden is. Because it is.
 
G

Ganondorfo

Junior Member
wmlk said:
I still say that Chrono Cross is the most atmospheric game I've ever played. You wouldn't get that looking at the game, but the landscapes combined with the music is incredible.

I mean, just listen to how Dragon's Prayer progresses on and loops (from 2:25). It's foreboding and totally fitting at that point in the game. I think Uematsu makes great music, but Mitsuda can combine the most ambient of sounds to create something incredible.
Click to expand...

Uematsu did the same in the style of Dragons Prayer with this track, forebooding and building up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ag12LOE53c

Compression of Time.
 
O

orioto

Good Art™
Oh ok.. I mean FFVIII has its big moments and was the first FF with big orchestra stuff and all, but.. FFVI you know..

FFVI is far more than the best videogame soundtrack ever.. It probably reaches music history rankings.
 
T

Tenebrous

Member
orioto said:
Oh ok.. I mean FFVIII has its big moments and was the first FF with big orchestra stuff and all, but.. FFVI you know..

FFVI is far more than the best videogame soundtrack ever.. It probably reaches music history rankings.
Click to expand...

Possibly my favourite game of all time, but lets not get crazy now.
 
O

orioto

Good Art™
Tenebrous said:
Possibly my favourite game of all time, but lets not get crazy now.
Click to expand...

And why not. is your hobby not worthy of classical music cause it's a kiddy thing ? FFVI certainly goes pretty far in term of leitmotiv use, thematic composition.. it doesn't have that much equivalent.
 
T

Tenebrous

Member
orioto said:
And why not. is your hobby not worthy of classical music cause it's a kiddy thing ? FFVI certainly goes pretty far in term of leitmotiv use, thematic composition.. it doesn't have that much equivalent.
Click to expand...

Not at all. I'm a firm believer in VGM, and consider it an under-appreciated art form... But what are you ranking it against, exactly? Film composers? Classical composers?
 
O

orioto

Good Art™
Tenebrous said:
Not at all. I'm a firm believer in VGM, and consider it an under-appreciated art form... But what are you ranking it against, exactly? Film composers? Classical composers?
Click to expand...

Let's say, from my small musical knowledge, FFVI track being inspired by Wagner (Leitmotic for each character etc..), it goes pretty far in that particular thing. The number of characters with super strong themes, the way some of those themes are linked together, and that without counting the location musics. And the whole tone of everything. It's truly incredible.

Of course any real classical music destroys it in term of technique, orchestration etc.. I'm speaking pure thematic composition here. Creating a wide set of melodies that tells a story. I firmly believe FFVI reach some kind of peak in that art form. Just the ending medley is some sort of unique thing in musical history i think, just that..
 
W

wmlk

Member
Ganondorfo said:
Uematsu did the same in the style of Dragons Prayer with this track, forebooding and building up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ag12LOE53c

Compression of Time.
Click to expand...

I don't think this is exactly foreboding. It certainly doesn't suggest that something bad will happen or have an evil aura about it.

The post I was responding to was talking about how you don't need the game to understand the feel of Mitsuda's music and it's true. Dragon's Tower tells sets the tone without needing the in-game context.

It's just something that Uematsu doesn't really excel at in my opinion. Never has.

Mitsuda has a lot of tracks that don't need the in-game context to set the tone.

Terra Tower
Jellyfish Sea
Ephemeral Memory
 
T

Tenebrous

Member
orioto said:
Let's say, from my small musical knowledge, FFVI track being inspired by Wagner (Leitmotic for each character etc..), it goes pretty far in that particular thing. The number of characters with super strong themes, the way some of those themes are linked together, and that without counting the location musics. And the whole tone of everything. It's truly incredible.

Of course any real classical music destroys it in term of technique, orchestration etc.. I'm speaking pure thematic composition here. Creating a wide set of melodies that tells a story. I firmly believe FFVI reach some kind of peak in that art form.
Click to expand...

Ahh, alright.

Hmm... Celes' theme proves your point. I cannot think of a more perfectly matched theme for a character in any form of media.

Lothar said:
Are you talking about FF8 or CT? FF8 is the one with the shitty theme. CT has one of the best.
Click to expand...

Both, but especially CT. I really can't stand the synth sounds.
 
G

Ganondorfo

Junior Member
wmlk said:
I don't think this is exactly foreboding. It certainly doesn't suggest that something bad will happen or have an evil aura about it.

The post I was responding to was talking about how you don't need the game to understand the feel of Mitsuda's music and it's true. Dragon's Tower tells sets the tone without needing the in-game context.

It's just something that Uematsu doesn't really excel at in my opinion. Never has.

Mitsuda has a lot of tracks that don't need the in-game context to set the tone.

Terra Tower
Jellyfish Sea
Ephemeral Memory
Click to expand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8kLkgsSpi4

What about this one from FFVII, this one also captures immediately the depressing mood of the location and the situation of the characters.
 
O

orioto

Good Art™
Tenebrous said:
Ahh, alright.

Hmm... Celes' theme proves your point. I cannot think of a more perfectly matched theme for a character in any form of media.



Both, but especially CT. I really can't stand the synth sounds.
Click to expand...

_Celes Theme, being also the opera theme
_Locke Theme being fucking epic, and transposed to become one of the most beautiful love song ever, Rachel theme.
_Same for Setzer theme being so catchy and perfect, becoming Daryl heart breaking song.
_Tina theme of course, i mean.. that alone..
_Figaro theme used in cult coin song music
_Strago theme, Shadow theme, Cyan theme, Kefka, Relm, Gau..
_Locations ? Mystic Forest ? Mistery Train ? Kid's run through the city corner ? Narshe ?

The unique cumulation of god tier melodies.. the incredible cleverness of their associations + 20 minutes opera piece (with Celes and Ultros theme in it) + 20 minutes ending with incredible medley and onf of the most epic things i've heard in my life after that..

There is just too much in FFVI.
It probably killed Uematsu inside.

And see, the amazingness of FFVI is that even by listing everthing i could like that i forgot Searching for Friend which is in itself some kind of musical orgasm. Being stuck for hours, no characters anymore, no transportation vehicle, then when you're suddenly free.. yo hear Searchig for Friends.. I have no words.
 
T

thespartin

Member
I played 8 before 6 or 7, so i might be biased. That said, 8 has the best music in my opinion. I remember loving the song that played when Edea was on screen back in middle school.
 
L

LegendOfGood

Member
DNAbro said:
I liked IX soundtrack better.
Click to expand...

I told Uematsu in person that IX was my favorite. He started laughing and said out loud "this guy gets it!". Then we high-fived and he wrote me a cheque for exactly nine dollars.

Note: Only one of the above sentences is true.
 
T

Timeaisis

Member
As much shit as I give VIII for being a meh FF game, it does have a great soundtrack. The Man with the Machine Gun is incredible. The piano stuff is great, and all the character themes are great.

IX still has the best soundtrack, though.

LegendOfGood said:
I told Uematsu in person that IX was my favorite. He started laughing and said out loud "this guy gets it!". Then we high-fived and he wrote me a cheque for exactly nine dollars.

Note: Only one of the above sentences is true.
Click to expand...

The cheque part, right?
 
M

Merkunt

Member
It's great, but I vastly prefer FF X's soundtrack over it:

At Zanarkand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WvtxIpi5Aw

Hurry!!!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf5UTcP0jY8

This is Your Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5YkqFdhBNs

Blitz Ball Gamblers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjaXUgurtEs

Besaid Island: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNNWCb9MyrM

No Hopes, No Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UeX416IeU0

Enemy Attack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xosc-CbPhXM

Summoned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnZqm94nFjY

Yuna's Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd23kMLuV-s

Sprouting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf5V8Ny2t7w

Farplane Sending: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUgb64bEr0Q

Confrontation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBP-p8L149k

Macalania Woods: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swqiLkYiX9s

Seymour's Ambition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_By-JIOo9M

Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHEGTdjVqfg

Raid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebs7RvtzZ_8

Time of Judgement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cr7tNgdVU8

Wandering Flame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZT-687SZdM

Someday the Dream Will End: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEJPLUY0W6c

Seymour Battle (Final): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5VBvNkPMSA

Summoned Beasts Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Miml7ImaCg
Bonus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovicGVrSLJ0
 
C

CentroXer

Banned
I think the stage is set is actually my favorite piece. It builds the tension into something big, and you wont forget that Irvine is planning to assassinate the sorcerer.
 
E

elkniwcire

Member
Just finished FFVIII for the first time last night and I would definitely have to agree with OP.

This OST is BRILLIANT. It is the first OST for a video game I've ever actually purchased.
 
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