Top 10 FF Character Themes: #7, Hilda and the Wild Rose Rebellion

Ah, Final Fantasy II. With the arguable exception of the third installment in the series, it is probably the least played and well known Final Fantasy game. Before I got around to playing it, I can recall it being treated with derision as the weakest installment by many in the community here on EoFF. After I did so, I was only left wondering why.

Number seven in our top themes hails from that game, and it wouldn't surprise me if many of you will be hearing it for the first time. It is the theme of Princess Hilda and the Wild Rose Rebellion, which, incidentally, would make a fine name for a band. You can also call it the Rebel Army theme, which is not quite as exciting. Let's listen.


This is the original NES version. I imagine you're not overly impressed, although this is the first version of the song I personally heard and it was the one that stuck in my mind. It's really simple, but really what I want to do is show you what that song has become.

As you may know, there have been numerous re-releases of FFII, and as such, the soundtrack has also received a facelift. Let's take a listen to a more modern version that you can find on Final Fantasy Origins.


To give some context to those who haven't played, the Empire of Palamecia invade and capture the town of Fynn, and the party must make a desperate escape after their parents are killed. Princess Hilda, daughter of the King of Fynn, also escapes, making it to the town of Altair. She doesn't take the invasion of her homeland lying down, and rises up against the Empire and forms the Wild Rose Rebellion.

The above version is more powerful than the original, and the switching up of the instruments really adds to it. The strings make the song feel noble and strong, the guitar adds a more humble and simplistic tone, and the brass gives a sense of hope. When I heard what they had done to the original NES version when I first played Origins, I will freely admit I just hung out in the Rebel Base for a good 30 minutes, just chilling and listening to the music.

And now look at what it has become!


This version is obviously incredibly more epic, I also think it is darker. It's more thoughtful and I feel it reflects the losses that the party and the rebellion have suffered to get to where they are, and then more hopeful refrains start to rise in the song too. Just stop and take it in, and then think of where this incredible piece of music came from - a few bleeps from a NES soundtrack.

It's not the only time the song has been orchestrated though:


This is a segment from Distant Worlds, and it's so markedly different from the previous version! It's so bombastic and energetic. You feel invigorated and want to go storm the walls of the Empire to fight for Fynn... and you've never even heard of Fynn! I find it utterly fascinating when you get two tones from the same melody that constrast.


Touching on from what I said last week about Beatrix, Hilda is another strong female character in a genre not known for them. She leads the last desperate struggle of her kingdom, despite losing her home, father and fiance, and inspires them in the fight to come. She's apparently also a dead ringer for a Lamia...

I appreciate this was something of a choice from the left field and it might not invoke the same nostalgia that some of the other themes will have done. If this is true, I hope you have enjoyed discovering it for the first time. Uematsu's incredible music began long before the PlayStation and SNES games we all grew up with, and it blows me away to see how a simple tune can evolve in this way.