Throughout it's 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.
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 examing one of the most cherished 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.
Before I go ahead and comment on your thread, can I just say this deserves both promotion to the frontsite and everyone's commendations. Just...look at it! It's a thing of beauty! This is something special Aulayna! :D
But right. See, for me, I loved all of those suggestions up there, but I really loved "Searching for Friends" of VI. You Get a sense of hopeless blended in with a mix of a shining light, guiding you on your way. It's very fitting for the World of Ruin where your effectively by yourself, with all of the friends you have collected over the story vanished and into other locations. Traversing the world map with that tune playing is awe inspiring to say the least.
I really liked "Crossing Those Hills" as well from IX. It's more uplifting and joyful, which sort of reflects much of IX really. It's very gentle and slow, slowly picking up pace as the song goes on, before reaching a crescendo. Many world map songs share this build-up. "World Map theme #1" in VII slowly builds to the trademark chorus, as does other songs.
Most fittingly, VIII's world map song isn't on the list. I personally didn't much care for it myself.
01-09-2013, 06:46 AM
Super Christ
While I have liked all of them up to 9 (since, after all, 10 and later didn't have world map themes) I've got to say that my favorite by a long shot has got to be Final Fantasy III's "The Eternal Wind".
01-09-2013, 09:32 AM
Loony BoB
Not sure if it counts as a World Map Theme, but the theme when you hop into the Highwind (not the miserable one, the uplifting one) is freakin' awesome. I also like the main world map theme of FFVII. I detest the miserable one, though. I know it's there to be foreboding or something but urgh, make it stop.
Can't remember many other world map themes... probably because most of the newer games don't have traversable overworlds and most of the other games I just haven't played recently enough. In some cases, though, such as the older games, I just never felt the music was as memorable.
01-09-2013, 02:13 PM
Freya
I could swear ti was called over those hills since i'm a freaking BALLER at it on theartrhythm. But it may have a slight variation with crossing those hills. Regardless I love it because it's calming. Makes it seem like yeah we're going on an adventure, this is a fun relaxing thing, don't freak out, no just adventure!
01-09-2013, 06:25 PM
Aulayna
Quote:
Originally Posted by Formalhaut
But right. See, for me, I loved all of those suggestions up there, but I really loved "Searching for Friends" of VI. You Get a sense of hopeless blended in with a mix of a shining light, guiding you on your way. It's very fitting for the World of Ruin where your effectively by yourself, with all of the friends you have collected over the story vanished and into other locations. Traversing the world map with that tune playing is awe inspiring to say the least.
I really liked "Crossing Those Hills" as well from IX. It's more uplifting and joyful, which sort of reflects much of IX really. It's very gentle and slow, slowly picking up pace as the song goes on, before reaching a crescendo. Many world map songs share this build-up. "World Map theme #1" in VII slowly builds to the trademark chorus, as does other songs.
Most fittingly, VIII's world map song isn't on the list. I personally didn't much care for it myself.
Thanks for your input Formy. The FFVIII map theme is certainly... weird... it's catchy but at the same time it just doesn't have as much of "the vibe" for me. When I listen to it I don't really recall much of the game as you mentioned - whereas with other map themes I'm immediately whisked back and can remember adventures out in the field.
Searching For Friends is another fantastic theme that has a very "the world has been broken, lets fix it" vibe to it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freya
I could swear ti was called over those hills since i'm a freaking BALLER at it on theartrhythm. But it may have a slight variation with crossing those hills. Regardless I love it because it's calming. Makes it seem like yeah we're going on an adventure, this is a fun relaxing thing, don't freak out, no just adventure!
Yeah it seems to have various variations in names from Over Those Hills to Crossing the Knoll. I used the one that was the title of that YouTube video so there's a possibility it may be inaccurate - I'll check my iTunes library at some point to see what it's listed as in there as I brought the soundtrack on it. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loony BoB
Not sure if it counts as a World Map Theme, but the theme when you hop into the Highwind (not the miserable one, the uplifting one) is freakin' awesome. I also like the main world map theme of FFVII. I detest the miserable one, though. I know it's there to be foreboding or something but urgh, make it stop.
Funny you should mention that BoB - I was considering covering Airship themes in a future edition though my memory is a bit rusty on how many Airship themes there have been. I shall do some research on it!
01-09-2013, 09:37 PM
metagloria
LOVE "Eternal Wind". Heard "Blue Fields" the other day and it sent all sorts of memories swirling back. Always loved the FFVII world map theme too. It's a shame world maps have disappeared!
01-09-2013, 09:52 PM
Aulayna
Quote:
Originally Posted by metagloria
LOVE "Eternal Wind". Heard "Blue Fields" the other day and it sent all sorts of memories swirling back. Always loved the FFVII world map theme too. It's a shame world maps have disappeared!
Now that both you and Super Christ have mentioned it I've gone back and given it a listen as I honestly couldn't remember it - in the process I stumbled across this video
Doesn't it sound amazing?
01-09-2013, 11:29 PM
Forsaken Lover
Great choices. I haven't beaten VI yet but Terra's Theme blew me away.
Gonna have to stand by my guns though and say FFIV continues to have the best of everything in terms of music.
01-10-2013, 07:31 PM
charliepanayi
My favourite is probably Over the Hill/Crossing Those Hills from FFIX, when I re-play the game one of my favourite moments is emerging from Evil Forest and hearing that piece for the first time. But I would say I really like all the World Map themes from FFVII-FFIX, they're all very strong.
01-11-2013, 04:17 AM
Del Murder
FFVI WoB is the best map theme. It's perfect.
01-12-2013, 07:55 PM
Formalhaut
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aulayna
Funny you should mention that BoB - I was considering covering Airship themes in a future edition though my memory is a bit rusty on how many Airship themes there have been. I shall do some research on it!
Even more funny, while VIII's world theme sucked, it's airship theme was just delightful!
01-13-2013, 09:22 AM
Wolf Kanno
Great article and I agree with your assessments of the feelings they represent. VI, VII, and IX actually have my favorite world map themes.
