Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 21

Thread: Best and Worst Overworld map themes.

  1. #1
    Memento Mori Site Contributor Wolf Kanno's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Nowhere and Everywhere
    Posts
    19,542
    Articles
    60
    Blog Entries
    27
    Contributions
    • Former Cid's Knight

    *yawn* Best and Worst Overworld map themes.

    I'm only going to count games with a distinct over world map and not games with a scaled world so only like the first nine FF games would count. What do you consider to be some of the best themes and which are some of the worst?

  2. #2
    Don't get mad, get moist I Don't Need A Name's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Earth
    Posts
    4,050
    Articles
    3

    FFXIV Character

    Howie Kipps (Sargatanas)

    Default

    I'll start with the obvious then:
    Final Fantasy VII - I think this is the overworld theme with the most impact thanks to spending so long in Midgar that going out into the outside world is such a huge moment, and the music really fits the world perfectly.

    My personal favourite is Final Fantasy IX but with this entry I always felt that I didn't hear the music enough. I always got in a battle too quickly, or to my destination, or onto a Chocobo. And then the bug in the rereleases that makes the song start again after every battle etc means you really don't hear it enough now!
    I made one myself for a change! Although you can probably tell that..

  3. #3

  4. #4

    Default

    VII's Main Theme is probably the best, closely followed by Crossing Those Hills and Blue Fields, both of which are very good for different reasons. Oh, and Lost Odyssey's is very good as well. As for worst... I dunno, worst is difficult, Overworld themes tend to be pretty strong. I'd expect it to be from something like FFXII or XIII but the concept of the Overworld map was pretty much dead by then, so I got nothing.

  5. #5
    WarZidane's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    885

    FFXIV Character

    Cattleya Paphia (Sargatanas)

    Default

    Even picking a handful of "best" overworld themes is hard for me.
    Including games where you don't actually manually walk on the overworld, but it is a distinct overworld with its own theme (you just select locations instead of walking across them manually)

    - Chrono Cross' four overworld themes are all top notch, though my favorite of them is Shore of Dreams (aka Dreams of the Shore Near Another World)
    - All the Wild Arms games' overworld themes, hard to say which one among these I like most, probably either 1 or 3.
    - Golden Sun 1 and 2, my preference being GS2's second overworld theme (Marching Forward with Determination)
    - Ni No Kuni 1 and 2
    - All the Ar Tonelico games and Ar nosurge (preference here probably goes to Ar nosurge's "Green Lands for Ar nosurge")
    - Legend of Dragoon (second world map theme in particular)
    - Lost Oyssey as well, as Fox mentioned.

    As for worst..I agree that it's a tough one because overworld themes tend to be good even among otherwise mediocre/bad soundtracks. Like even Dragon Quest 11's world map theme isn't something I'd actually call bad, though it's probably the worst one I can think of right now.

  6. #6
    Feel the Bern Administrator Del Murder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Oakland, California
    Posts
    41,600
    Articles
    6
    Blog Entries
    2
    Contributions
    • Former Cid's Knight
    • Former Administrator
    • Hosted the Ciddies

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by WarZidane View Post
    - Chrono Cross' four overworld themes are all top notch, though my favorite of them is Shore of Dreams (aka Dreams of the Shore Near Another World)
    Yep, one of my favorite tracks ever! I walked down the isle at my wedding to this song.

    FFVI's WoB theme is also one of my favorites.

    I can't think of any least favorites, probably because they were not memorable enough.

    Proud to be the Unofficial Secret Illegal Enforcer of Eyes on Final Fantasy!
    When I grow up, I want to go to Bovine Trump University! - Ralph Wiggum

  7. #7

    Default

    Best - FFVII world map theme, Terra, Searching for Friends, Suikoden World Map theme (first and second games at least).

    Worst - BoF III is some troutty elevator music, but I kind of dig it, so not sure. Actually Dragon Quest is pretty bad, but not sure if that should count because of how old it is. Still, if you compare first FF to first DQ, the difference in music is significant. Honestly, the games with the worst world map music probably just have music that isn't very memorable so I won't think of it unless someone else brings it up maybe.

  8. #8
    Would sniff your fingers to be polite
    Nameleon.
    Quindiana Jones's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    These mountains are made of rainbows.
    Posts
    20,870
    Blog Entries
    6
    Contributions
    • Former Cid's Knight

    Default

    I deeply love Lost Odyssey's. I frequently find myself whistling it.

  9. #9
    Radical Dreamer Fynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Tower of the Swallow
    Posts
    18,929
    Articles
    57
    Blog Entries
    16

    FFXIV Character

    Fynnek Zoryasch (Twintania)
    Contributions
    • Former Editor
    • Former Cid's Knight

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lord Golbez View Post
    Best - FFVII world map theme, Terra, Searching for Friends, Suikoden World Map theme (first and second games at least).

    Worst - BoF III is some troutty elevator music, but I kind of dig it, so not sure. Actually Dragon Quest is pretty bad, but not sure if that should count because of how old it is. Still, if you compare first FF to first DQ, the difference in music is significant. Honestly, the games with the worst world map music probably just have music that isn't very memorable so I won't think of it unless someone else brings it up maybe.
    Wait, are you saying the FIRST DQ has bad world map music? Or in general?

  10. #10
    *permanent smite* Spuuky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Hell, eventually.
    Posts
    3,653

    Default

    Even DQ1's world map theme is actually quite good

  11. #11

    Default

    Best: Dragonquest VIII (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU1OxBdlFdE). This is one of my favorite pieces of video game music. It was an overwhelmingly HUGE world to explore when it came out on PS2 and it blew my mind. And even though it wasn't really what we would call "open world" by modern standards, it felt like it was partially because the music was so dope.

    Worst: Dragonquest XI. This might not actually be the worst I've ever experienced, but it's the freshest in my memory. Thankfully you can change out the Overworld theme for DQVIII's I wish they let you do the same with the battle theme.

    It's unfortunate that Sugiyama is such a tool. I try to ignore it :/

  12. #12
    Radical Dreamer Fynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Tower of the Swallow
    Posts
    18,929
    Articles
    57
    Blog Entries
    16

    FFXIV Character

    Fynnek Zoryasch (Twintania)
    Contributions
    • Former Editor
    • Former Cid's Knight

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Spuuky View Post
    Even DQ1's world map theme is actually quite good
    I know which is why I asked. It’s hard for me to believe someone could be annoyed with such a relaxing tune, but people have different opinions! Just needed to know if I understood well

  13. #13
    *permanent smite* Spuuky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Hell, eventually.
    Posts
    3,653

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by I Took the Red Pill View Post
    Worst: Dragonquest XI. This might not actually be the worst I've ever experienced, but it's the freshest in my memory. Thankfully you can change out the Overworld theme for DQVIII's I wish they let you do the same with the battle theme.

    It's unfortunate that Sugiyama is such a tool. I try to ignore it :/
    The moment in post-game when it switches to the DQ3 overworld rules though

    And yeah it sucks that Sugiyama is an absolute trash human being, but so it goes.

  14. #14
    Memento Mori Site Contributor Wolf Kanno's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Nowhere and Everywhere
    Posts
    19,542
    Articles
    60
    Blog Entries
    27
    Contributions
    • Former Cid's Knight

    Default

    Best:
    Chronomantique ~ Chrono Cross
    Fields of Time ~ Chrono Cross
    Terra ~ FFVI
    Main Theme of FFVII ~ FFVII
    Over the Hill ~ FFIX
    Memories of Green ~ Chrono Trigger
    Yearnings of the Wind ~ Chrono Trigger
    Corridors of Time ~ Chrono Trigger
    World of Mana ~ Legend of Mana
    World Map Last Area ~ Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
    Map II ~ Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
    Memories of the City ~ Persona 3



    Least Favorite
    Blue Fields ~ FFVIII
    Four Valiant Hearts ~ FFV
    Rhythm of Wind, Sky, and Fire ~ Chrono Trigger
    I'm sure there are more...

  15. #15

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Fynn View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Lord Golbez View Post
    Best - FFVII world map theme, Terra, Searching for Friends, Suikoden World Map theme (first and second games at least).

    Worst - BoF III is some troutty elevator music, but I kind of dig it, so not sure. Actually Dragon Quest is pretty bad, but not sure if that should count because of how old it is. Still, if you compare first FF to first DQ, the difference in music is significant. Honestly, the games with the worst world map music probably just have music that isn't very memorable so I won't think of it unless someone else brings it up maybe.
    Wait, are you saying the FIRST DQ has bad world map music? Or in general?
    I was just talking about the first one. As to why, it's pretty monotonous and basic. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's annoying but very lackluster. Even making allowances for the era, there are better overworld theme examples from that generation, like Legend of Zelda and FF.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •