Prelude (theme)

The "Prelude", also known as the "Crystal Theme", is a recurring piece of music that appears in most Final Fantasy games. It is often considered one of the most important themes in the series, as it is often heard on the file select screen, especially in the Finest Fantasy for Advance releases.

Final Fantasy
The "Prelude" plays in the opening, formation and World Map screens.

Final Fantasy II
The "Prelude" plays in houses with healing Statues and at the Main Screen.

Final Fantasy III
The "Prelude" plays in the New Game screen.

Final Fantasy IV
The "Prelude" plays in the New Game screen, in the Crystal Rooms and during The End screen.

Final Fantasy V
The "Prelude" plays in the New Game screen (GBA release only) and in the Crystal Rooms.

Final Fantasy VI
The "Prelude" plays in the New Game screen, in the Beginner's House and during the "The End" screen.

Final Fantasy VII
The "Prelude" plays at the last part of the Game Over tune, in the opening credits, and after the credits in a space background.

Final Fantasy VIII
The "Prelude" plays during the Game Over screen and also in the last parts of the game's ending.

Final Fantasy IX
The "Prelude" plays during the game over screen and at the end (Blackjack game). An arrangement of it makes the Crystal World theme.

Final Fantasy X
A very upbeat mix of the "Prelude" plays at the very start of the game, when the player is introduced to Tidus in Zanarkand.

Final Fantasy XI
The music is present in the Final Fantasy XI Play page of PlayOnline and appears in the end of the opening movie.

Final Fantasy XII
The Prelude, with vocals, is played during the first part of the opening scene. It is similar to its appearance in Final Fantasy VII. It is titled "Loop Demo" in the original soundtrack.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
The Prelude plays on the main title screen, when deciding to select a new game or not.

Final Fantasy Tactics
A variation of The "Prelude" plays when a battle is won.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
A small version of the "Prelude" is played when St. Ivalice transforms into the world of Ivalice, after a formation of Undeniable Anxiety is played. The music is absent at the Original Soundtrack, though.

Final Fantasy: Unlimited
A little version plays at the top title.

Dissidia Final Fantasy
The Prelude plays in the new game menu, and at the start and the end of the Opening FMV.

Vocal Collections
Vocal arrangements of the Prelude are featured in the music albums Final Fantasy: Pray and Final Fantasy: Love Will Grow.

Pray
The version that appears in Pray is only a multilayered vocalization of Prelude's central melody.

Lyrics

 * Dream in your heart
 * I feel in asleep night
 * But there is only stars
 * Like tears of the moon
 * Like silent moon


 * And on and on
 * So the sad will fall and fall
 * But I think all the dream
 * Is true any day, for anyone


 * Love in your eyes
 * I feel in clear sky
 * But there is only winds
 * Like sighs of the earth
 * Like weeping earth


 * Still on and on
 * So the pain will blow and blow
 * But I wish all the love
 * Is free any day, for anyone.

Chocobo Racing
Titled "Crystal Legend", composed by Kenji Ito, it is a synthesized child version played before the last race in the Story mode.

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales
The Prelude that can be heard is supposed to be the from the original Final Fantasy, but has a second melody that started to sound in the Final Fantasy VII's Prelude. It sounds in the mini-games' preludes and endings.

Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon
Titled "A Memory Returned", arranged by Yuko Takahashi, it is the arrange version from Final Fantasy XI "Prelude".

Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring
There are two versions, depending on the Soundtrack selected, played at the Reactor arena.

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
While Yoko Shimomura composed most of the soundtrack, the theme still appears. The track is named Conversation with Culex and plays after Mario defeats Culex, a hidden Easter Egg character.

Preludio