I only have the OST, and not played the game yet, of course. I find some songs to be a bit bland, but for the most part it seems pretty good. I think it'd fit in pretty well with the game, just from hearing it and seeing screenshots / movies from the game.
"... and so I close, realizing that perhaps the ending has not yet been written."
One thing I didn't like about the OST was that its main theme (the heroic sounding one) wasn't too memorable, and it felt too much like a watered down version of one of FF Tactics' themes. It also plays in way too many songs, which has two negative effects: First, the soundtrack sounds too repetitive, and second, without a memorable or an effective theme, the songs are quite forgettable. I enjoyed Hitoshi Sakimoto's work for Final Fantasy Tactics, and the music for Vagrant Story seemed pretty good too, but his music for FFXII hasn't been able to impress me so far.
It's weird how my favorite songs in the soundtrack aren't even composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto. So far my favorite song is "Kiss Me Good-bye" (by Nobuo Uematsu and Angela Aki), and other favorites include "Prelude" (originally composed by Nobuo Uematsu), "Final Fantasy" (the Prologue theme with an arrangement similar to FFIV's, originally composed by Nobuo Uematsu), "Symphonic Poem" (by Taro Hakase) and (SPOILER)"Clash on the Big Bridge" (by Nobuo Uematsu). I think Symphonic Poem, especially its Hope part, had a strong and an emotional theme. FFXII should have used that one as the main theme, IMHO.
Compared to previous FFs, I'd say the music is less emotional and less memorable. It could work well with the scenes where it plays, although when I happened to watch some of the scenes around the final battle, I wasn't really impressed about the way the music was used. The music uses a pseudo-orchestral style, which is typical for Hitoshi Sakimoto, but it's still fully synthesized. I think "Kiss Me Good-Bye" and "Symphonic Poem" are the only songs to use live instruments. I've mostly been able to hear the music in psf2 file format (extracted directly from the game), and in that form, the synth sound quality is somewhat weak, especially with choir parts that sound extremely fake. However, the soundtracks usually have a lot better sound quality, and better recording and mixing, so I think the music in the soundtrack would sound a lot better.Originally Posted by Silent Warrior
People dislike FFIX because they're horrible idiots. - Kawaii Ryűkishi
"One-Winged Angel" is far and away the best final boss song ever
composed. - Kawaii Ryűkishi
Oh please. This is one of the best FF soundtracks out there. The other music from the FF titles is starting to become bland, while FFXII's music is different, and enjoyable to listen to. At least I was one person here who actually liked the whole thing.
~Setzer Gabianni
Quote Renmiri on FFXII
She loves it more then X!I bitch about the game a lot, mainly for the lack of story and weak characters, but it is still the best of the series out there.
Don't 'Oh please' us. This thread is about opinions, do you know what they are? People have different tastes in music -- there can be nothing that says what the best soundtrack is. It'd be like telling everyone the FF they think is the best, isn't.
As I stated, I did like the soundtrack. But I don't know where you think every other soundtrack from past FF games are bland. There's so many arrangements, piano collections, fan remixes and live concerts that give so much flare to a lot of the past songs.
One I can think of, is an orchestral arrangement of FF6. It includes things such as the opening theme song (with Tina's theme), Mystery Train and Kefka. It's amazing the amount of quality in the mix of the song there is, and it gives it such a new edge compared to their midi counterparts.
I have a lot of FF music, around 10GB's worth. That includes different spin off's, to live concerts, to arrangments, to the original soundtracks, to piano collections, and so on. I think I'd have a pretty good view for my opinion on what I like and don't like.
All I'm saying is, you have no right to discredit anyone's opinion on what they think of this soundtrack. Too me, although it's a nice soundtrack, is too flat and has no real dynamic from song to song. But I do respect that you think this is a great soundtrack and one of the best.
Last edited by Rostum; 06-05-2006 at 11:42 AM.
"... and so I close, realizing that perhaps the ending has not yet been written."
Sorry for the rant. My stupid rants are usually fueled by [img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img][img]/xxx.gif[/img]e which happens in my lifeI take back what I said
~Setzer Gabianni
Quote Renmiri on FFXII
She loves it more then X!I bitch about the game a lot, mainly for the lack of story and weak characters, but it is still the best of the series out there.
You're not alone! I also think FFXII is a great game, the whole thing is amazing. Music/Soundtrack doesn't really bother me in RPG but having a nice music to hear while playing is good. FFX soundtracks is the best among the others but storyline and character don't.
The Late Owen Macwere Production.
I like it a lot, I really think it's some of Sakimoto's best work and much better then the OST of the last few FF games. But the best songs are easily his remixes of the old themes, he really took them to the next level. Angela Aki's song was great too, it's now my favourite FF song that has someone singing it next to Eyes on me.
I watched some of the clips and although they fit the scenes well I found the lack of melody.. a little.. weird. I like to walk around a place in FF with a definitive and melody driven piece that is pleasant to the ear.. not just a piece that makes me think "o right.. there's some music in the background". I guess i'm a fan of Uematsu and i'm a big music lover so personally it's what i mainly concentrate on. However, i haven't played the game so i can't knock it JUST yet.
Oh indeed, completely agree. The music is wonderful for memories of past gaming experiences.It's probably a good idea to play the game before you listen to the soundtrack. A large part of what makes soundtracks to great games so listenable is the great memories the tunes and songs bring back from the game.
Lol, if you're talking about the one I think you're talking about, that (SPOILER)Clash on the Big Bridge (I think from FFVI). I know for sure it plays while you're (SPOILER)fighting Gilgamesh. Yes, it's awesome, but it was originally done by Uematsu. And that's my one big problem with the FFXII OST. Pretty much all the music on there I like is a re-arranged version of a Uematsu piece. The new composer is obviously good, but it's more music to suit a certain situation. Uematsu's music was brilliant to listen to just by it's self. It had brilliant and very memorable melodies. I often found that his music for when you are simply running around the environments was not so good, but the character's themes and the music for the big events in the game story-wise were always brilliant. And that's what I miss from the new soundtrack. Shame.
The other piece I really like is the FF prologue (number 2 on disc 1), and guess who wrote that...
Be more careful with spoilers - Psychotic
That song is (SPOILER)from Final Fantasy V, and it's known as the Battle With Gilgamesh in FFV. I agree with what you said about most of the best music being Uematsu's, though. The song "Final Fantasy" (aka the Prologue theme, titled "Final Fantasy ~ FFXII version ~") is great, though that's because it's always been a very good song, and it has a pretty good FFIV-style arrangement this time.
I managed to listen to FFXII OST, though I still haven't listened to all the songs. So far, it seems the sound quality (synth) is a lot better than when you listen to the .psf2 files (extracted directly from the game). The songs are synthesized, though I'm not sure whether a couple of songs are orchestrated or not. I can't remember which songs they wear, but they were quite cinematic sounding (most likely played during an FMV), and their string parts sounded quite orchestral, although the brass instruments sounded somewhat synthesized. However, I'll try to write more about the OST when I've listened to all of it.
People dislike FFIX because they're horrible idiots. - Kawaii Ryűkishi
"One-Winged Angel" is far and away the best final boss song ever
composed. - Kawaii Ryűkishi
I've listened to it, and (other than Clash on the Big Bridge remix), I'd say it's pretty good. It'd be nice to compile memories of it, of course, but I'd say it's a decent soundtrack. I'm glad they picked Sakimoto for the soundtrack, after hearing FF Tactics. Although I'd say he could be a bit more creative with his titles. (I.E., a dungeon/area's theme is titled the name of that area, etc.)
I thouroughly enjoy Dark Cloud (Imperial Version) and The Sochen Cave Palace.
Yeh, sorry about the spoilers. I tried to highlight it, but I could only change the text colour. Can anyone please tell me how to do that please?
Edit: Oh, I worked it out now, (SPOILER)hopefully...
Though I have not actually listened to the soundtrack, I do fear for I was not entirely impressed by the FF Tactics Soundtrack. I wish Nobuo wasn't leaving SE. Then we could still have good music. Just my opinion. I wonder what the music of XIII is going to be like when Nobuo will have no part in the music.
[QUOTE=Aralith]I wish Nobuo wasn't leaving SE. Then we could still have good music.[quote]
Even if Nobuo had not left SE, he would still NOT compose the music for FFXII. In fact, FFXII's composer also had left Square, and even before than Nobuo did. The reason of why Sakimoto was hired to compose the OST for FFXII was because his music fits the type of game that FFXII is much better than Nobuo's type of music.
And are you trying to say that without Nobuo, the series can't have good music? Nobuo isn't the only good composer in the whole world.
Nobuo will work on the main theme of FFXIII, actually. The rest of the music should sound like FFX's best and most well composed tracks. Kitase apparently was very impressed by Hamauzo's work in FFX to decide to put him in his next games, DoC and FFXIII.Just my opinion. I wonder what the music of XIII is going to be like when Nobuo will have no part in the music.
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