Music scores are arguably one of the most important, but most overlooked components of a video game. Often overshadowed by sharp visuals and complex gameplay mechanics, we find ourselves totally immersed.
We're pretty lucky at Square Enix when it comes to video game music. We've had over 25 years of beautiful Final Fantasy tracks at the hands of talented composers like Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu. Similarly, Tomb Raider is receiving the five star treatment thanks to BAFTA-winning composer Jason Graves, who's at the helm.
As one of the distinguishing qualities of a Square Enix game it's only natural that we celebrate it. As many of you are already aware the Distant Worlds concert travels the globe, bringing nostalgia to thousands of gamers, under the expert guidance of conductor Arnie Roth. But that's not the only concert currently in production that puts video game music upon its rightful pedestal.
Final Symphony - another celebration of Final Fantasy music - is coming to London in May. And hands-up here if you're heading to the Zelda Symphony, also in May?
It's also nice that we're starting to see video game music slowly transcend to the realm of mainstream recognition. Take for instance the campaign to get video game music into the Classic FM Hall of Fame. Have you voted yet?
Anyway - the savvy readers among you will have no doubt guessed that this week's theme is all about video game music.
- What's your favourite music track from a Square Enix game and a non-Square Enix game?
- Have you been to a video game concert? What did you like about it and what did you want to see improved?
- If you could have a concert to celebrate the music of any game, which would it be?
As always, share your opinions with us in the comments. Feel free to discuss the topic and engage with each other’s ideas - but please be nice; there are no wrong answers.
Comments
- Soukaigi, a PS1 game.
My favorite track is "Quake".
-KHBBS.
-TWEWY.
Non SE:
- Battle Mania Daiginjou on Genesis/Mega Drive.
- Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire on PC engine/ TG16.
- GENOCIDE2 on X68000.
-Full Final Fantasy Tactics
- Main Theme FF VII
- The Place I'll Return to Someday FF IX
- Terra FF VI
- Vamo Alla Flemanco FF IX
- One Winged Angel FF VII
- Zanarkand FF X
Non SE
-Aion OST - Journey Of Morheim
-Age of Conan - The Dreaming - Ere the World Crumbles
at to moment remember this songs ...
There are also non-FF titles with great soundtracks, like Tactics Ogre:LUCT on the PSP.
For non-SE games, and perhaps oddly enough, I like a lot of the tracks from the Mega Drive Sonic games. They had some great catchy tunes and I love the Labirynth zone stage music.
Anyway, one of my favourite songs from "modern" Final Fantasy-ies is one of XIII-2's battle themes. Seems like the game has a battle theme for each "character", for example "Etro's champion" sounds like Lightning's battle theme, (which only plays in the prologue battle and at the end of the game). "The last hunter" sounds like Noel's battle theme (which plays in half of the "regular" battles). There's also another battle theme which plays in the other half of the "regular" battles which sounds like Serah's battle theme that is the one I like most, but unfortunately it wasn't included in the Collector's edition OST nor in the Plus OST =.=
Utter genius, and absolutely beautiful and haunting (my favourite arrangement was the orchestral and choral version from the old 'FFVI The Grande Finale' CD. I'll love this theme forever! :D Lately I've also been really getting into the soundtrack for FFXIV (version 1.0) - Horribly underrated but oh so good,
with some of my favourites from it being 'Navigator's Glory', 'On Windy Meadows', 'The Forest's Pulse', 'Primal Judgement', 'Answers', 'Widdershins', 'Tempest', and two unnamed tracks (a track used during instanced battles out in the field, and a cutscene theme that played when you chose your Path Companion - I just wish I knew these tracks names sadly). It's fast becoming one of my favourite FF soundtracks. :D
Favourite music from a non-Square Enix game, is more of a stretch, although for me it would probably be something from the old Sonic CD soundtrack (Mega CD version - we lucky Europeans got the original Japanese soundtrack with our version of the game instead of the lacklustre American soundtrack, to Sega's credit.). Tidal Tempest Zone (Present) would probably be my favourite from that soundtrack: ambient, soothing and oh so good. :) Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata really outdid themselves with this. ^-^
As for game music concerts, the only one I've attended was the 'A Night in Fantasia 2004' concert performed by the Eminence Orchestra in Sydney, Australia in 2004 (one half of the concert was devoted to the works of Joe Hisashi of Studio Ghibli fame, the second half, FF themed). Nobuo Uematsu himself was a guest of honour in the audience, and the performance was sheer magic. It was an amazing experience that I've always cherished attending. Sadly I missed Distant Worlds' Aussie concerts due to family commitments, but if it returns to Australia in the future I am going to make sure I attend this time! ;)
Finally, I can't really think of a concert for any other game I like at this time, except maybe for the Sonid the Hedgehog games, as next to FF it's my favourite game series (up to Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast that is). :)
My favourite non SE game music instead is the sountrack of Skyrim, really well done in my opinion
Final Fantasy VI - Terra's Theme
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - The Price of Freedom
Final Fantasy VII - You Can Hear the Cry of the Planet
Final Fantasy VIII - Eyes On Me & Julia
Final Fantasy IX - You're Not Alone
Final Fantasy X - Suteki Da Ne (closely followed by 'To Zanarkand' of course)
Final Fantasy XIII - Blinded By Light
Final Fantasy XIII-2 - Knight of the Goddess & Tears of the Goddess
25 years of gaming within this franchise and there hasn't been one soundtrack containing a piece of music that I didn't love. Looking forward to another 25 years and hopefully more :D (assuming I live that long, hope so, would be a bit of a downer to die just before another is released... anyway enough morbid thought, way to drop the thread down a bit aha)
My first FF concert-kinda thing was actually the private special event last November with the chamber music. My favourite piece there was Let the Battles Begin!/Tatakau Monotachi. Although I have to say, having Nobuo join the performance was a treat in itself.
Btw, maybe I'm being pedantic here but the Classic FM voting site lists 'Aerith's Theme' as included with the FFVIII soundtrack and not VII, talk about derp. :D
from KH (i think is half SE): Sanctuary and this is Halloween
from other: Sacrlet wind from Radiata Stories, Alexander God of destruction from Makai Kingdom and Frog´s theme from Chrono Trigger
i really would like to go to a music game concert!
Non FF game...Suikoden II intro.
I've never been to a game concert, they don't play close enough to where I live. I would love to hear Nobuo Uematsu live in concert.
while for non-SE game will be Passion of Kingdom Hearts II , Utada Hikaru is simply a super awesome singer!
i had been to the Distant World concert in Malaysia, the overall experience was really great. I like it the most when i actually know the track that were being playing and i can "sing" along with it. In my opinion, the only thing i hope to be changed at that day was a better venue could have been chosen. The stage is not big enough to fit more instruments and therefore reducing the overall feelings somehow, not "epic" to the maximum. I would like to see some music piece to be played on piano as well, especially "Those Who Fight" , i'm pretty sure everyone will like it.
If i could have a concert to celebrate music of any game , it will definitely be Final Fantasy Series and Kingdom Hearts Series.
A track from another game would be "Covenant Dace" - Halo.
I havent been on a Video game concert, but would love to go... Because the only music i listen to at the moment would be only Game Music.
A concert for the music of one game... Id pick, Final Fantasy... dafgh.. okey, VII <3 no.. eh... (Feels like a question that will decide the future of Final Fantasy, if you answer wrong... FF will DIE) okey, Id pick XIII! More action, and "new thinking". <3
Thats all, THANKS!
Will to Fight - FFXIII
Probably not a favourite for every fan, but I would say that this song stands out the most for me on the soundtrack. But yeah, SE games, especially the FF series, has a LOT of music that I love, so it's not really possible for me to pick a single favourite.
Non-Square Enix game? ... hmmm...
Dark Saint - Lost Odyssey
Would that really count since that was composed by Uematsu? xD Yeah, Lost Odyssey really is the only non-SE soundtrack that I like, so yeah...
I have never been to a video game concert. I am soooooo desperate to attend one, preferably Distant Worlds, but being a student, I never usually have the time or money to make arrangements to travel and attend one. :'(
There isn't a game that hasn't been covered that I would want to see in concert really. I think eveything I would want to see has already been done.