Throughout its 25 year history the Final Fantasy series has presented us with memorable and emotion provoking pieces of music that transcend the medium from simple 8-bit melodies to awe-inspiring orchestral performances.
Fans of the series have their own opinions on which game is the best of the series but one thing that always seems to reach a unanimous verdict that the soundtracks are always stellar..
This series of monthly threads will reflect on some of the more specific pieces from game to game and allow for you, the faithful reader, to vote on the best of the best for each theme.
Fans of the series have their own opinions on which game is the best of the series but one thing that always seems to reach a unanimous verdict that the soundtracks are always stellar..
This series of monthly threads will reflect on some of the more specific pieces from game to game and allow for you, the faithful reader, to vote on the best of the best for each theme.
~*~
- January 2013 -
World Map 
- January 2013 -
January may be upon us and we all are likely feeling the winter blues but there's a whole new year ahead of us. A world of possibilities. So, what fitting way to start off than by examining one of the most cherished musical moments of the games of old - the World Map Theme.
The music of the World Map often encapsulates the feel of the game as whole. From upbeat melodies to slow and haunting chords we've been treated to some very timely pieces that change as the story of each game progresses.
As we're on the topic of beginnings I suppose it's only appropriate I start with my beginning:
World Map Theme #1 (Final Fantasy VII)
This author still fondly remembers the day of finally getting out of Midgar for the first time and being greeted by a big, sprawling traverse of a world accompanied by the somewhat melancholic theme on her journey to Kalm. This was a world stuck in a gloomy status quo - but the longer the theme played this creeping sense of hope would rise up to bursting point creating that unescapable feel of adventure, but not just any adventure - oh no, this was adventure about something far greater than the sum of it's parts. This, was a journey.
Speaking of journeys...
Terra's Theme (Final Fantasy VI)
Little did I know of the overwhelming sense of awe I was in for when I picked up a copy of Final Fantasy VI following it's PSX port release. Terra's theme instantly reminded me of those feelings I felt when venturing out of Midgar for the first time and from the moment I heard it I felt there was something almost... fleeting.. about this world.
Little did I know indeed...
World of Ruin (Final Fantasy VI)
This piece is so haunting - the only way I could describe it is as if the strings of sanity themselves are being plucked and snapped. This was the ruin of madness, this theme so beautifully grasped exactly how I felt at that point of the game - completely dumbfounded that a game from the SNES era had such depth to it.
Back on the topic of hopeful adventure into the great beyond...
Crossing Those Hills (Final Fantasy IX)
This remains one of my favourite map themes of the series. The sense of adventure I felt finally emerging from that forest and roaming around with my companions of circumstance still not entirely sure who the big bad was going to be or where this adventure would lead. This felt far more upbeat and almost carefree than the themes that had come in previous games - this was a journey of friendship and of discovery, circumstance may have brought the group together but together they would go forward.
Forward unto despair...
The Evil Mist's Rebirth (Final Fantasy IX)
This piece so beautifully captures the despair that Gaia was in. It has such an oppressive feel to it. A hopeful journey into the unknown that has turned into a cautious journey into the void - nothing was certain anymore.
These are just my picks though - even now I'm still debating going back and changing my choices. Each theme has such a set of undertones that support the story of the world they represent - this wasn't an easy list to make.
So, what have you? Which world map theme was your particular favourite? Do you think they were all as good at encapsulating the themes of the game - or do you think some were ahead of the pack?
Comment below and let me know! In the next edition we'll have a look back at the theme that's the most popular with some shout-outs to the best contributions.
With you in adventure, 
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