Yes, but think about the Blue Fields. The synth version has some kind of harp playing staccato notes, and then there's a marimba or something like that playing the melody. Then comes something that sounds like oboe. In the orchestra version, I think the staccato notes played by the harp sound just as annoying. Then instead of marimba, there's something like an oboe used, which makes the song sound a lot more likable. Then the oboe part is replaced by a string part. I'm quite sure Blue Fields would sound just as annoying even with orchestra marimbas because I still really dislike the background harp, in both synth and orchestra versions.
So it seems to me like you're saying that the in-game version has a bad arrangement, at least badly selected instruments whereas the orchestra version isn't as bad since it uses very different instruments. I agree with you there, -N-. I was once working on a team that makes music patches for FFVIII PC, and I didn't like the Blue Fields at all, so I did what some people might consider blasphemy or ruining Uematsu's work: I tested around with the instruments until I found better instruments to play each track in the Blue Fields. I left the melody totally untouched, but with some instruments changed, I think the song sounds a lot different. Click here for a recording to hear how it sounds in the game with the music patch.
You can read a review and hear samples (includes a sample of OWA piano) here. It also has links to two online shops where you can probably find FFVII Piano Collections and import it.Originally Posted by bbomber72000
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