Favorite Regular Battle Theme

[Wolf Kanno]

So we're beginning the next Music Tournament. This time around its going to be a bunch of smaller tournaments. The first of which is the Normal Battle Theme tournament. I am making one Omission from this round, which is Man with the Machine Gun, though it is a regular battle theme, its also technically special.

Below are some examples of all the entries, and for some of the older tracks, I'm going to include a remix or some of the remake versions.


FFI - Battle Scene (NES)
Battle Scene (Re-Orchestrated)

FFII - Battle Scene 1 (NES)
Battle Scene 1 (PSP)

FFIII - Battle Theme (NES)
Battle Theme (DS)

FFIV - Battle Theme (SNES)
Battle Theme (DS)

FFV - Battle 1 ~ Battle Theme (SNES)
Battle 1 ~ Dissidia Arrangement

FFVI - Battle Theme (SNES)
Battle Theme (Black Mages)

FFVII - Fighting (PSX)
Fighting (Techno Mix)

FFVIII - Don't Be Afraid (PSX)
Don't Be Afraid (Orchestral Arrangement)

FFIX - Battle Theme (PSX)
Battle Theme ~ Dissidia

FFX - Battle Theme (PS2)
Battle Theme (Guitar Cover)

FFXI - Battle Theme 1 (PC/PS2/XBOX360)

FFXII - Clash of Swords (PS2)*
Clash of Swords ~ Dissidia

FFXIII - Blinded By the Light (PS3/XBOX360)
Blinded by the Light ~Dissidia

FFXIV - Battle Theme La Noscea*

* - These games actually don't have an "official battle theme" rather the theme is based on where you are, I basically chose XII's cause it plays in several scripted non-boss fights and itsnot actually the games official boss theme. XIV's was the luck of the draw as it was the first theme I pulled up and I actually liked it.

If you want your favorite theme to win and don't feel my choices of remixes and arrangements are good enough, feel free to post your own favorite versions of the tracks. This is about the theme overall, so it doesn't matter if you hate the OST version but love the Ukelele version you found in some dark corner of Youtube, this is just about the melody itself.

[Jiro]

This is going to be a tough decision. I think I will definitely have to consult as many variations of each track as possible just to find the one.

[Jessweeee♪]

It was tough, but I voted FFVIII. Nostalgia is what put it ahead, I must admit. FFVIII's battle theme is probably the only theme in the series period that makes me think "I want to play this game again." It's nowhere near my favorite, even in FFVIII alone, but it always does that to me!

[Fynn]

I picked VII. Mainly because of the incredible piano version.

[Jiro]

Whoops I missed the vote It's still a hard decision for me! I can narrow it down to about half the list. Although, if we base it on the alternate links, then VIII would take it. Nothing like a good orchestral version.

[Gamblet]

Noooo, the poll is closed. *sniff*

I chose FF V's battle theme, because of the part at 0:21-0:31 , FF IV was tempting because of the bassline in the beginning, but I still prefer FF V. Wow I really am a FF V fanboy....

[APolaris]

Given that I felt FF12's soundtrack was of good quality but mediocre composition for the most part, it becomes all the more amazing that I think it had the two best non-final boss battle themes, being its main boss theme and its Gilgamesh theme.

Overall, what I feel about the OSTs: FF1 through FF4 were too limited by their technology and mechanical, FF5 sounds more like a casino or party than a battle, FF6 is quite good, FF7 is easily the most appropriate for a battle, FF8 is okay, FF9 is probably the next most appropriate for a battle, FFX is too happy-sounding like FF5's, I get the feeling that I've heard something awfully similar to FF11's in Donkey Kong Country, FF12's is quite good but falls into the trap of repeating the same note/chord too much, FF13's was setting the mood until about a minute in when it decided to go the WTF route, and FF14's... meh, bandwagoning.

Orchestrally, FF1 obviously improved the most although it still sounds too upbeat for a battle. Dissidia arrangements IMO are kind of crap and the FF5 remix is no exception. Black Mage arrangements bore me, some great orchestral music sounds good on heavy metal instruments but FF tracks (at least, the good ones) aren't among them. Techno and trance are awesome, but for a battle theme... sorry, no. The FF8 orchestral (which I've had on CDs for 11 years) sounds like a newscast. The rest are just... honestly bad. I don't see why people are obsessed with making recent battle themes outside of FF12 sound more upbeat and pop-like than intense.

[Raian the Fallen]

Pretty much all of them.

But if I had to pick three favourites...

V, VII, and IX.

[Edge7]

I'm between iv and v. Both were very upbeat and felt fast-paced. I also liked "The Man with the Machine Gun" from FF8, but I guess that doesn't count in this case.