Strength of the Soundtrack

[HighwindPilot]

So, one thing I felt from my experience of FFXII (although it didn't really hit me until after my playthrough) is that the soundtrack was rather...average? I don't want to call it bad, because there wasn't necessarily anything wrong with it. It was just that nothing seemed very prominent or striking about it either. There's no particular piece I can look back on and say that I just had to have my speakers up when it played. Instead, outside of the dub (which could be irritable at times), I never felt any real need or desire to have the audio turned up.

I suppose this especially came to mind because FF has spoiled us in the past with some really fantastic soundtracks. So, again, that's not to say that I felt this one was particularly bad, just that it felt ordinary or weaker by comparison.

I think one of the most enjoyable tracks from the game was "Rebellion".

Thoughts?

 

[Tmoo]

XII's OST doesn't have tracks that tug at the heartstrings. in just about every FF game pre-FFX there were always at least 5 tracks that stuck with you 'cause of their emotional chords and strong melody. XII didn't have this, rather the music served to create an atmosphere for the environment. to put it bluntly, it was all about the world, rather than the characters. regardless, i enjoyed the OST for what it was.

 

[Ilyena]

The soundtrack was decent enough. I wasn't really "wowed" by any track besides Esper Battle but there were a few other enjoyable tracks as well. for the most part, it was just there. I think it took more of a background in this game maybe due to the use of voice overs. Although there were long periods of dungeon crawling that didn't involve any conversation.

Tbh, I don't really remember any of the music from FF X either. That's not to say it was bad but I just don't remember any of it.

 

[.chill]

XII's OST doesn't have tracks that tug at the heartstrings. in just about every FF game pre-FFX there were always at least 5 tracks that stuck with you 'cause of their emotional chords and strong melody. XII didn't have this, rather the music served to create an atmosphere for the environment. to put it bluntly, it was all about the world, rather than the characters. regardless, i enjoyed the OST for what it was.

I absolutely agree with you, but one must not forget that the composer is not the same, therefore the style is completely different. We got used to those so-called "emotional chords and melodies" because Nobuo felt like they were a good asset in the game, and he was right....

 

[HighwindPilot]

rather the music served to create an atmosphere for the environment. to put it bluntly, it was all about the world, rather than the characters.

I think this is a very accurate depiction of XII's style of music. It does seem to feed into the atmosphere a lot (perhaps why it's often said to be Star Wars-esque), which could explain why it seems to blend so much, thus failing to stand out as a real force in the game?

That being said, I think atmospheric music is still capable of playing into emotions quite a bit. Character-based scores certainly do this better and seem more heavily intended for this, but some atmosphere tracks from FF have been truly memorable:

VII's "Main Theme of FFVII" (the world map), "Interrupted by Fireworks" (the date)
VIII's "Breezy" (played in Balamb), "The Mission" (arriving in Balamb to warn Cid)
IX's "A Place to Call Home" (played in the game's intro)

and more from past games as well... I wish XII had tracks that could evoke emotions the same.

Tbh, I don't really remember any of the music from FF X either. That's not to say it was bad but I just don't remember any of it.

I seem to hear/read this a lot. For me, X's tracks were very hit or miss. Some were pretty strong (although I don't remember any specifically), while others were downright bad. I hated most of their techno pr0n upgrades on classics, like the prelude for instance? Yuck.

 

[Stoic Hero]

I don't think XII needed any of those emotional tracks. The tracks in the game serve their purpose, which is to bring life into the environments. Estersand sounds like Estersand. Rabanastre sounds like a city. I wasn't really impressed with XII's music, but then again every single track fit in with the environment, so I have no complaints. XII wasn't meant to center on the characters or the music, XII is more about focusing on the atmosphere and the gameplay. I think it excels in those two categories which it focuses on the most. Again, the music wasn't amazing, but it really wasn't meant to be.

 

[bequiaboit]

Rebellion is terrific! It doesn't sound prominent when it was first heard, but after some time it grows on me.

I also feel the soundtrack is overall weak and not so much memorable as the other Final Fantasy soundtracks. It definitely is a weak point and failed to convey much of the story.

 

[Abstract Debauchery]

Now that I go back and think about it. FFXII only had one track that I really got into, and that was the Boss Battle theme. Other than that, nothing really stuck with me. I think Nobou would have done a much, MUCH better job with it. However, the new guy still did rather well. It was pretty good in its own right.

 

[Martel]

XII's soundtrack wasn't a huge issue for me, really. It took me a while to enjoy some of it - Rabanastre's theme, for example, I hated to start with - and even now there are a few tracks I can't stand to listen to, but...there are very few soundtracks that I like in their entirety.
...most of it sounds better in piano, to be honest.

Hearing a remix of Clash on the Big Bridge from FFV was awesome, and I loved the Esper and Judge boss battle themes. Both extremely dramatic, just as boss themes should be. The title theme was pretty inspiring as well...best remix of the main theme I've heard in a long time~<3

 

[Icarus]

I loved the Giza Plains songs- both the Dry and the Rains. I also loved Boss Battle; they both have a very strong beat. The others... they really needed some work. They were too quiet.

 

[Jimmy]

I enjoyed the soundtrack in this game, for me it as the best boss battle theme that i have heard so far and i'm always listening to it, it gives me a rush of energy for some reason also de music that plays during the battles you have against the summons is amazing to my view, i always raise the volume to hear it.

Those are the two songs that i absolutely love, the others i can't say i disliked them but i never had them stuck in my head either.

Overall i don't consider the soundtrack of this game inferior to the other titles.

 

[greenyxi]

I had to go to Youtube to find some of the soundtracks...and I've completed the game with quite a bit of level-grinding.
Compared to the other FF OSTs, I think it's pretty terrible.

 

[Platinum_Lies]

To me it was uninspiring and bland. The only track I can ever remember is the one Sandsea track... but then that is because it sounds an awfully like a certain Star Wars track.

Really, compared to every previous FF, FFXII's soundtrack is easily the worst. Not to say it is actually horrible, just that it is not up to the FF standard.

 

[Misty]

I had no issues with the music - it was very beautiful, and it's definitely up there in my top 5 FF soundtracks. Sorrow (Imperial Version), really tugged at the heartstrings.

 

[Linnaete]

In terms of strength, the soundtrack certainly isn't the best I have heard out of the series. I have no major gripes with it, but it did not blow me away either, which is rather understanding.

Sakimoto had a huge shoe to fill after Uematsu, so I can see why he opted to take the soundtrack to a slightly different level. I loved "Rebellion", a really powerful track. The boss battle theme was well done- it brings the right kind of atmosphere to any boss battle.

"Kiss me Goodbye" very fittingly is put at the end, and I am still loving it. Angela Aki has a great voice there and really puts her all into it. However, other than these positive points, the rest of the soundtrack remains rather weak.

Many of the dungeon and overworld themes were simply bland. I can name a few such as the Estersands, the Tomb of Raithwall, Stilshrine of Miriam etc. Although what I heard in Paramina Rift was certainly surprisingly calm and tranquil to listen to.

 

[Tmoo]

I had no issues with the music - it was very beautiful, and it's definitely up there in my top 5 FF soundtracks. Sorrow (Imperial Version), really tugged at the heartstrings.

perhaps i need to give the game a replay. i do love the ost, but it is different from previous titles, 'cause of the change in composer like someone said earlier.

 

[Summoner Yuna]

Personally, I really liked the soundtrack. I can name quite a few tracks that stood out for me. They are: Ozmone Plains, Ashe's Theme, Cerobbi Steppe, The Opening Theme, and of course, The Battle for Freedom. I actually found the soundtrack very rich in texture and atmosphere, which really enhanced the area or event in the game. To each their own, I guess.

 

[Subeinu]

After finally completeing the game I can say that I actually liked the soundtrack all in all as a whole. The songs really fit to where they where played which is kinda a given.
Enjoyed the soundtrack quite alot, but the games soundtrack was not one of the best that is for sure.
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[Not of Rust]

I absolutely loved the soundtrack.

The previous poster(s) was spot on - the music matched the atmosphere, helped set the scene in a given location or during an event, and I think did so quite effectively.
It wasn't about creating themes for the charaters (which is an approach I like as I don't feel it's quite as essential when you have voice actors vs a text script).

The compositions were very creative and some of them extremely intricate and deep. Almost all the tracks had "hooks" which is an essential part of successful songwriting (i.e. a piece of a melody that jumps out, catches your ear and gets stuck in your head).

I'm sitting here right now with a FF XII soundtrack playlist running on youtube while I work (er.....well, try to work anyway).

 

[Cecily]

I loved this soundtrack. Sakimoto did XII and Tactics (I think?), and I really liked the Tactics soundtrack, too. All of the open field songs were just calm enough to match the surroundings and quick enough to convey the tension of a fight with monsters. Giza Plains, Ozmone Plains and Phon Coast - I would randomly lurk in those places because I liked the music so much, haha.

EDIT: And Mosphoran Highwaste. I liked that theme, too.