Final Fantasy XIII: Original Soundtrack

Final Fantasy XIII: Original Soundtrack  is the complete soundtrack for the Japanese version of Final Fantasy XIII. Vocals were performed by for the theme songs "Kimi ga Iru Kara" and "Eternal Love."

The Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra performs on the soundtrack.

Some of the soundtracks will be presented in its sequel, Final Fantasy XIII-2, for example, "Sulyya Springs".

Development
The director of Final Fantasy XIII, Motomu Toriyama, asked Masashi Hamauzu to compose the soundtrack for the game. The proposition was a surprise to Hamauzu, who was nevertheless eager to accept the offer. Toriyama requested an orchestral and futuristic hybrid sound, but gave Hamauzu a lot of freedom to exercise his own style. The main tools that were used in producing the soundtrack were Digital Performer, orchestral samples by East West, and some standard software synth by Native Instruments, although a lot of live instruments were used, along with vocals in the many background themes of different locations.

Hamauzu's first compositions for Final Fantasy XIII were scores for the footage shown in events or gameshows in 2006 and 2007 (notably "Blinded By Light"), and he didn't begin composing the full soundtrack until autumn 2008. The soundtrack was composed in a period of about one year. Parts of the soundtrack have been recorded with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, orchestrated by Yoshihisa Hirano. The session was recorded in a concert hall and Hamauzu listened to it from the balcony, saying afterward it was sad there was no audience, since it was so beautiful.

The two worlds of Final Fantasy XIII, Cocoon and Gran Pulse, display contrasting musical styles. Hamauzu explains that Final Fantasy XIII was intended to be a long game, which in itself provided some challenges. He felt it was important for there to be variety to the sound design in order to maintain players' interests over a span of time, and that is why the themed motifs are reintroduced here and there as a kind of obbligato.

The lyrics for "Serah's Theme" and "The Sunleth Waterscape" were revised for the English localization of Final Fantasy XIII, even though the original recordings were already in English, due to the opinion of the English-language staff that the lyrics needed to sound more natural to native speakers. Many of the vocals are performed by Mina, who Hamauzu asked to perform some vocals for demo tracks and improvise some lyrics for them. Initially there weren't plans for several songs, but Hamauzu felt Mina's performance fit the atmosphere of the game, which led to further recording.

"Sulyya Springs" and "Will to Fight" have English vocals, and while Mina and Hamauzu were preparing the demo track for "The Gapra Whitewood," Mina also sang in English, but after receiving the final draft of the lyrics, she was so preoccupied with getting the pronunciation and intonation right that she lost track of the flow of the melody. The lyrics were then dropped and the two employed a fictitious language to regain the feel of the previous songs. In the last part of "Battle Results," which plays upon the completion of each battle, one can hear Mina counting numbers in the Ainu language.

Disc One (49:27)
1. Prelude to FINAL FANTASY XIII (FINAL FANTASY XIII プレリュード, Pureryūdo) - 2:55
 * The theme that plays during Final Fantasy XIII's introduction movie.

2. FINAL FANTASY XIII - The Promise (FINAL FANTASY XIII ～誓い～, FINAL FANTASY XIII ~Chikai~) - 1:33
 * The title screen theme of Final Fantasy XIII, and can be considered its Main Theme. Its tune is featured in several other themes.

3. The Thirteenth Day (第13日, Daijūsannichi) - 0:54
 * Plays during the opening of the game, as the Purge train heads for the Hanging Edge.

4. Defiers of Fate (運命への反逆, Unmei e no hangyaku) - 2:24
 * Plays during the opening of the game, as Lightning assaults the Purge train. It is also played as a background theme at the Engine Room, Starboard Weather Deck, and Bridge Access Zones of the Palamecia.

5. Saber's Edge (ブレイズエッジ, Bureizuejji) - 3:14
 * Boss battle theme. First plays when facing Manasvin Warmech. It is also played as a background theme for Lightning and her party at the Rotary Shaft Zone of the Palamecia.

6. The Hanging Edge (封鎖区画ハングドエッジ, Fūsa Kukaku Hangudoejji) - 3:26
 * Background theme for the Hanging Edge.

7. Those For the Purge (パージされる者たち, Pāji-sareru Mono Tachi) - 3:05
 * Plays during the cutscene where Snow calls for NORA volunteers.

8. The Warpath Home (帰るための戦い, Kaeru Tameno Tatakai) - 3:32
 * Plays during the cutscene where Nora Estheim dies after saving Snow. It also plays as the field theme when Lightning and Hope enter Palumpolum.

9. The Pulse Fal'Cie (下界のファルシ, Parusu no Farushi) - 1:13
 * Plays during the FMV cutscene where the Pulse Vestige is transported to the Hanging Edge.

10. Face It Later (逃げてもいいの, Nigete mo Ī no) - 0:55
 * Plays during the FMV cutscene between Vanille and Hope after The Pulse Fal'Cie. A reprise is heard shortly after Lightning and Hope leave Vanille and Sazh in the Vile Peaks for Eden, and after Vanille and Sazh observe a televised broadcast in Nautilus.

11. Snow's Theme (スノウのテーマ, Sunō no Tēma) - 3:48
 * Snow Villiers's leitmotif. Plays at the Hanging Edge while playing as Snow, and at the Agora in Palumpolum.

12. The Vestige (異跡, Iseki) - 2:48
 * Plays at the Pulse Vestige and Taejin's Tower Palisades.

13. Ragnarok (ラグナロク, Ragunaroku) - 3:47
 * Plays when Anima transforms the party into l'Cie. It also plays when the part tries to figure out their Focus in Lake Bresha, and later when they encounter Dysley disguised as Serah in Oerba.

14. In the Sky That Night (あの日の空, Ano Hi no Sora) - 1:24
 * Plays during flashbacks of the 11th day (with the exception of Hope's flashback).

15. Promised Eternity (永遠の誓い, Eien no Chikai) - 2:24
 * Plays during the cutscene where Snow proposes to Serah; also heard when Vanille encourages Hope to follow after Snow in the Pulse Vestige. A brief reprise is heard later when Lightning watches Hope sleeping in the Vile Peaks.

16. Eternal Love (Short Version) - 3:27
 * Plays during the fireworks scene with Snow and Serah (Japanese Version).

17. Lake Bresha (ビルジ湖, Biruji-ko) - 4:11
 * Background theme for Lake Bresha.

18. The Pulse L'Cie (下界のルシたち, Parusu no Rushi-tachi) - 1:37
 * Plays during the cutscene where the party (excluding Snow) see PSICOM looking for Purge survivors in Lake Bresha.

19. Eidolons (召喚獣, Shōkanjū) - 2:50
 * Plays during the battles against the Shiva Sisters, Bahamut and Hecatoncheir. It also plays during the battle against the Havoc Skytank outside the Estheim residence.

Disc Two (55:50)
1. Blinded By Light (閃光, Senkō) - 2:55
 * The Main Battle Theme of Final Fantasy XIII.

2. Glory's Fanfare (栄光のファンファーレ, Eikō no Fanfāre) - 0:08
 * Final Fantasy XIII's victory fanfare.

3. Battle Results (バトルリザルト, Batoru Rizaruto) - 1:15
 * Always plays after "Glory's Fanfare".

4. A Brief Respite (つかのまの安息, Tsukanoma no Ansoku) - 2:08
 * Plays during the scenes where Vanille retrieves her weapon in the Pulse Vestige, and finds an airship in the ruins at Lake Bresha. It also plays in the cutscene where Bhakti is fixed.

5. Cavalry Theme (騎兵隊のテーマ, Kiheitai no Tēma) - 2:38
 * Plays whenever Cid Raines appears, and during the introduction to the Lindblum.

6. Escape (脱出, Dasshutsu) - 1:59
 * Plays during the final cutscene of Chapter 3.

7. Crash Landing (撃墜, Gekitsui) - 1:04
 * Plays before the end of Chapter 3.

8. Daddy's Got the Blues (アフロブルース, Afuro Burūsu) - 4:28
 * Heard during the start of Chapter 4, when Sazh talks to Vanille after Hope leaves. Later, it plays when Sazh tells Vanille about Dajh in the Sunleth Waterscape.

9. The Vile Peaks (遺棄領域ヴァイルピークス, Iki Ryōiki Vairu Pīkusu) - 3:02
 * Background theme of the Vile Peaks and Mah'habara Subterra.

10. Lightning's Theme (ライトニングのテーマ, Raitoningu no Tēma) - 2:26
 * Lightning's leitmotif. First heard during Lightning's assault on Snow in Lake Bresha, and later when she tells the others of her plan to destroy the fal'Cie Eden, when Hope forms Operation Nora and when Fang explains to her how brands work in Palumpolum.

11. Sazh's Theme (サッズのテーマ, Sazzu no Tēma) - 3:25
 * Sazh Katzroy's leitmotif. First heard during the later events with Sazh and Vanille at the Vile Peaks

12. March of the Dreadnoughts (ドレッドノート大爆進！, Doreddonōto Daibakushin!) - 2:31
 * Plays during the scenes when Hope interacts with Dreadnoughts in the Vile Peaks and Mah'habara Subterra. Also plays as the background theme for Vallis Media.

13. The Gapra Whitewood (ガプラ樹林, Gapura Jurin) - 2:45
 * Background theme for the upper areas of the Gapra Whitewood. It is first heard upon reaching the ruins in Lake Bresha.

14. Tension in the Air (緊迫, Kinpaku) - 3:28
 * Background theme for the lower areas of the Gapra Whitewood. Also plays as a the background theme in Vallis Media, after arriving on Gran Pulse.

15. Forever Fugitives (果てなき疾走, Hatenaki Shissō) - 1:50
 * Heard during the FMV cutscene of Snow's flashback of Serah's capture by Anima on the 12th day.

16. The Sunleth Waterscape (サンレス水郷, Sanresu Suigō) - 3:46
 * Background theme for the Sunleth Waterscape.

17. Lost Hope (見失った希望, Miushinatta Kibō) - 2:58
 * Plays during Sazh's flashback of the 5th day, when Lightning has her revelation in Palumpolum, and when Jihl reveals the truth about Vanille in Nautilus.

18. To Hunt L'Cie (ルシ狩り作戦, Rushi Kari Sakusen) - 2:40
 * Background theme of the FMV at Palumpolum where Snow and Fang save Lightning and Hope from PSICOM.

19. No Way to Live (希望なき闘争, Kibōnaki Tōsō) - 2:04
 * Plays when Snow frightens off a crowd of people in Palumpolum, and when they later return as an angry mob.

20. Sustained by Hate (恩讐の果て, Onshū no Hate) - 2:38
 * Plays during the cutscene where Hope almost kills Snow in Palumpolum. It also plays when Hope makes his speech in the Fifth Ark, and when he summons Alexander in the Vallis Media. Reprises of it play during the scenes where Hope tells Lightning about Nora's death in the Gapra Whitewood, and Lightning tells Hope to visit his dad in Palumpolum.

21. The Pulse L'Cie (グラン=パルスのルシ, Guran-Parusu no Rushi) - 4:12
 * Plays during Fang's flashback of the 5th day.

22. Serah's Theme (セラのテーマ, Sera no Tēma) - 1:30
 * Serah's leitmotif. Plays during the flashback of Snow and Serah at the fireworks festival (English Version). It also plays during Snow's flashback of the 7th day when Serah reveals her branding as a Pulse l'Cie to him, the cutscenes where Lightning apologizes to Snow in Hope's place, and the compiled flashbacks of the 11th day before the party leaves for Gran Pulse. Notable for being the only character theme to have lyrics.

Disc Three (1:03:28)
1. Can't Catch A Break (父ちゃん奮闘だぁ!, ''Tō-chan Funtō dā!) - 5:20
 * Plays during the battle with Enki and Enlil.

2. PSICOM - 1:02
 * Plays during the opening FMV cutscene in Palumpolum.

3. Hope's Theme (ホープのテーマ, Hōpu no Tēma) - 3:30
 * Plays during the flashback of the 11th day between Hope and his mother Nora in Bodhum, and later when his father forgives Snow.

4. This is Your Home (おまえの家はここだ, Omae no Ie wa Koko da) - 2:16
 * Plays while in Hope's house.

5. Atonement (償い, Tsugunai) - 4:24
 * Plays during the cutscenes where Snow wakes after nearly being killed by Hope and carries him up a ladder in Palumpolum. Also heard at the Fifth Ark, when Snow and Lightning talk about Serah, and later when Snow decides to honor Serah's wish to save Cocoon.

6. Vanille's Theme (ヴァニラのテーマ, Vanira no Tēma) - 3:00
 * Plays during the cutscene where Vanille and Sazh prepare to rest in the Vile Peaks. Also plays upon entering the Sunleth Waterscape, and during the cutscene in Palumpolum where Lightning and Hope promise to protect each other.

7. The Final Stage (刻限, Kokugen) - 0:42
 * Plays during the cutscenes where Snow fuels Hope's rage by saying that it's stupid to fight if you die, and where Vanille and Fang talk about the War of Transgression upon entering the Yaschas Massif.

8. The Pompa Sancta (ポンパ・サンクタ, Ponpa Sankuta) - 2:12
 * Background theme for the FMV of the Pompa Sancta.

9. Nautilus (歓楽都市ノーチラス, Kanraku Toshi Nōchirasu) - 4:58
 * Plays upon arriving in Nautilus.

10. Chocobos of Cocoon - Chasing Dreams (コクーンdeチョコボ～夢をみようよ～, Cokūn de Chokobo ~Yume o Miyō yo~) - 2:57
 * Plays at the Nautilus Park's area of Chocobos, and also during the first visit of the Font of Namva in the Archylte Steppe. Specifically, the song shares strong similarities with "Let's Have a Dream", from the Chocobo no Fushigina Dungeon Original Soundtrack.

11. Feast of Betrayal (偽りの饗宴, Itsuwari no Kyōen) - 3:17
 * The battle theme for Nautilus. Also plays as introduction to Gran Pulse fal'Cie Atomos.

12. Eidolons on Parade (夢の終わり, Yume no Owari) - 3:36
 * Plays during the cutscene where Sazh confronts Vanille outside the Fiendlord's Keep and Brynhildr appears.

13. Test of the L'Cie (ルシの試練, Rushi no Shiren) - 2:23
 * Plays during the battles against Anima, Brynhildr, and Alexander. Also plays in Edenhall.

14. All the World Against Us (世界の敵, Sekai no Teki) - 1:16
 * Plays during the FMV cutscene where Vanille is escorted by soldiers with Sazh in a coffin as Jihl Nabaat watches.

15. Game Over (ゲームオーバー, Gēmu Ōbā) - 1:15
 * Plays during the Game Over screen. It also plays when Sazh points his gun at Vanille again after defeating Brynhildr and in the area just before the entrance to Orphan's Cradle after Yaag Rosch sacrifices himself.

16. Primarch Dysley (聖府代表ダイスリー, Seifu Daihyō Daisurī) - 3:03
 * Plays during the newscast featuring Dysley at the end of Chapter 3, and cutscene where Dysley (Barthandelus) tells the party to destroy Orphan on the Palamecia.

17. Fighting Fate (宿命への抗い, Unmei e no Arai) - 2:28
 * Plays during all battles against Barthandelus.

18. Separate Paths (ルシたちの想い, Rushi-tachi no Omoi) - 2:42
 * Plays during the cutscene where Lightning finds a crystallized Serah in Lake Bresha, and later during the flashback of her birthday.

19. Setting You Free (継ぎゆく意志, Tsugiyuku Ishi) - 2:17
 * Plays when Vanille and Fang tell the others the legend of the Arks. Later, a brief reprise is heard when Raines tells the story about the Maker.

20. Desperate Struggle (死闘, Shitō) - 3:49
 * Plays during the battles against Odin in Vile Peaks and Cid Raines in the Fifth Ark. It is also a battle theme for Cie'th Stones marks.

21. Mysteries Abound (神秘, Shinpi) - 2:41
 * Plays upon arriving at the Fifth Ark and at the end of Sulyya Springs.

22. Will to Fight (Choose to Fight) - 4:20
 * Plays during the cutscene of the 13th day and is the background theme for the Fifth Ark, as well as the Faultwarrens.

Disc Four (1:15:21)
1. Fang's Theme (ファングのテーマ, Fangu no Tēma) - 3:32
 * Played during the FMV cutscene of the party's arrival to Gran Pulse, and as the background theme for Lightning's party while onboard the Palamecia.

2. Terra Incognita (異境大陸グラン=パルス, Iki Dairiku Guran-Parusu) - 2:18
 * Played during the first in-game cutscene on Gran Pulse.

3. The Archylte Steppe (アルカキルティ大平原, Arukakiruti Daiheigen) - 4:25
 * Background theme for the Archylte Steppe.

4. Chocobos of Pulse (パルスdeチョコボ, Parusu de Chokobo) - 4:18
 * Plays while riding a Chocobo on Gran Pulse.

5. The Yaschas Massif (ヤシャス山, Yashasu San) - 2:11
 * Background theme for the Yaschas Massif.

6. Memories of Happier Days (優しい思い出, Yasashī Omoide) - 3:13
 * Plays during Fang and Vanille's reunion on the Palamecia, and later during Vanille's flashback of the 9th day.

7. Sulyya Springs (スーリヤ湖, Sūriya Mizūmi) - 3:25
 * Background theme for the Sulyya Springs and the beginning of The Faultwarrens.

8. Taejin's Tower (テージンタワー, Tējin Tawā) - 3:08
 * Theme for Taejin's Tower.

9. Dust to Dust (色のない世界, Iro no nai Sekai) - 3:49
 * First plays when Fang talks about her past in Palumpolum. Later, it is most notably played at Oerba.

10. The Road Home (帰郷, Kikyō) - 1:07
 * Plays in the cutscene where Lightning and company board the airship supplied by Barthandelus and fly off to Cocoon.

11. Start Your Engines (カウントダウン, Kauntodaun) - 3:23
 * Plays during the FMV cutscene of the party with their Eidolons in Eden.

12. Eden Under Siege (動乱のエデン, Dōran no Eden) - 2:33
 * Background theme for Eden.

13. The Cradle Will Fall (終焉の揺籃, Shūen no Yōran) - 3:58
 * Background theme for Orphan's Cradle.

14. Born Anew (降誕, Kōtan) - 2:59
 * Plays during the battle against Orphan in its first form.

15. Sinful Hope (罪深き希望, Tsumibukaki Kibō) - 3:44
 * Plays when Fang transforms into the incomplete Ragnarok.

16. Fabula Nova Crystallis (ファブラ・ノヴァ・クリスタリス, Fabura Nova Kurisutarisu) - 2:40
 * First heard when Serah becomes a crystal, and later during Snow's flashback of the 7th day when he finds Serah at the beach, and during Vanille's flashback of the 1st day. It also plays in Orphan's Cradle as the party remembers everything that happened to them.

17. FINAL FANTASY XIII - Miracles (FINAL FANTASY XIII　～奇跡～, FINAL FANTASY XIII ~Kiseki~) - 2:49
 * Plays in the cutscene prior to fighting Orphan's final form, where the party talks about their new Focus. The piece contains elements of the Prelude and The Promise.

18. Focus (使命, Shimei) - 2:21
 * Plays during the scene where the group's brands turn white before they fight Orphan in its true form.

19. Nascent Requiem (生誕のレクイエム, Seitan no Rekuiemu) - 5:03
 * Plays during the final battle against Orphan.

20. Determination (決意, Ketsui) - 3:22
 * Plays when Fang and Vanille transform into Ragnarok and crystallize Cocoon, before Kimi ga Iru Kara.

21. Kimi ga Iru Kara (Long Version) (君がいるから (Long Version)) - 6:22
 * Plays when Lightning, Snow, Hope, and Sazh awake from crystal stasis (Japanese Version).

22. Ending Credits (エンディングロール, Endingu Rōru) - 4:42
 * Plays during the credits. It is first heard during the FMV cutscene between Snow and Lightning at the Skyreach in Sulyya Springs.

Limited Editions
The limited edition of the soundtrack is packed with a special box case. It contains an artbook of the game characters' CG and illustrations, and a fifth disc, which is the Drama CD on Final Fantasy XIII Episode Zero -Promise-, voiced by the voice actors and actresses of each character in the game. This drama CD focuses on the first story called "Encounter." The album also contains the audio drama's script in Japanese.

The Final Fantasy XIII Limited Collectors Edition (for both XBox 360 and PS3), which was exclusive to PAL territories, includes a selection of the composer's favourite tracks, complete with his own comments and notes on each track. It was supplied in a slipcase with a sans-serif font XIII, which had the depiction of Lightning on the cover. It is titled Original Sound Collection.

Liner Notes
These liner notes are included in the Original Sound Selection CD bundled with the European limited collectors edition of Final Fantasy XIII. Masashi Hamauzu's comments were originally posted in Japanese on Square Enix's official website for the soundtrack.

1. Prelude to FINAL FANTASY XIII For this piece, I had a marching tempo demo version, but it sounded too cheerful and it was rejected (the only piece rejected for this project), as the team wanted to renew the image of FF and I was yet to grasp the game's outlook. 10 months passed and we were at almost the end of development...it was then that I remembered another slow tempo version that I had previously written and I thought it would be the perfect match. So, I made a quick adjustment without touching the chord and sub-melodies, and it was perfect! I suppose my initial inspiration wasn't too off (laugh). Afterward, I hurried and arranged another piece which is now played in key scenes.

2. FINAL FANTASY XIII -The Promise- Just like "Prelude", I was feeling my way around as I wrote this piece since the world of FF was yet to be revealed. I had about four demos and by incorporating ideas from Mr Toriyama (the Director), I made one arrangement to another to form the piece. So I feel that Mr Toriyama and I wrote this together. At the end, we asked Mr. Toshiyuki Omori to turn it into orchestrated piece by adding harp to the intro piano part and also changing the outro sound from synthesizer to strings. He actually said that the synthesizer wasn't bad at all, but it was the first one to be played in the demo version and I insisted on the live instruments.

3. Defiers of Fate This is derived from the earlier version of "Blinded By Light", which was the first FF13 piece I wrote for E3 back in 2006. The original plan was to create a B-melody by evolving the E3 "Blinded By Light", but I ended up not adding anything, because I didn't think it was ideal for battle music to take a long time to get to the climax. But I had this B-melody stuck in my head and wanted to use it somewhere...so part of it is incorporated in this piece.

4. Saber's Edge I laid a live orchestra over a programmed orchestral piece that was almost completed. I've used quite a bit of this "lay-over" technique for this project, but because this style is rarely done, it wasn't easy for us to reach the recording stage. Some of the percussion was programmed, but for majority of the instruments I had an arranger who would orchestrate them or adjust the scoring. By mixing the expressive live sound and the large scale programmed orchestral sound, I could match the grand world of FF. When I was making demos, people often said that the programmed elements were good enough because I made them in great detail. In hindsight, I think the combination of live and programmed sounds worked quite well.

5. The Hanging Edge It's the piece we played live at a game event in 2008. As I was given the direction to use "hybrid music" for FF13, "Blinded By Light" was a consolidated piece of violin solo, guitar and orchestra (and more), while this one is based on strings, piano and synthesiser. For a hybrid piece, it seems like the live feel of it is too overwhelming given the arrangement and number of the tracks. However, by adding a minimal mood, it comes closer to the synthesiser side, which I think creates a good balance For these minimal 8 minute string and 16 minute piano pieces, I kept the rough sound of the initial random play and developed from there. The delayed "whang!" of the piano sound just before the loop is used from time to time, which could almost give the impression of it "almost not being able to catch up with the tempo", but it's all intentional. This is my favourite part (laugh).

6. The Vestige The backing chorus is actually a recording of my daughter Aya's voice. I had her sing for a demo, but I ended up using it. Since I was told that FF13 has various dark scenes especially in the beginning of the game, I wanted to create a mood of light tension here. By writing using conventional minor sounds, it would sound tacky and too heavy, so I deliberately tried to use chords which could sound neither major nor minor.

7. Promised Eternity I recorded the MIDI sounds whilst I watched the relevant scene in the game being played out, so it was a real-time process. There were moments, as the piece was coming together and the movie was reaching its climax, that I was so moved I was almost trembling...(laugh). At 0:57, I intentionally set the chord like that. That's the kind of thing I like...

8. Lake Bresha This track is using all programmed sounds except the violin solo. By adding just one acoustic violin, it reduces the "wow factor" significantly. I really enjoy work like this. It was originally a 90 second piece, but just before the recording, I thought the loop was too fast for a field track, so I quickly wrote the development part.

9. Eidolons All summoned creatures in FF13 are cool which made me really excited creating a tune for them! I originally thought to mix orchestra, guitar and drums in one piece and then cut out any unnecessary parts, however it turned out to be quite interesting and well-balanced, so I decided to use it as is. I especially like the "pounded out string" sound which looks like it's ignoring the basic tune when it comes back to the introduction. Mr. Saito finally added some acoustic guitar, then it was completed. We have many ace guitarists in the SQUARE ENIX Sound Division!

10. Blinded By Light This tune is the first piece, created for E3 in 2006 when we revealed FF13. I remember that I worked hard on this piece in order not to let people down. I tried to create something which can deliver the sense of the game and have a catchy melody without being too straightforward...then finally, ensure to repeat the highlight part of the music.

The main melody and chords came to mind almost instantly, but I rearranged it many times. Originally the main melody phrase was 4x 4 bars, but it seemed too repetitive even for chords and backing, so I decided to have 3x 4 bars in order to add some things. On top of this, I asked Mr. Yamazaki to add a taste of rock music to it, and I don't think we could add such a sense of speed without him...I am so proud of my best buddy! I rearranged it so many times after that, but I could still not create something definite. When I brought a tune burnt on CD back home, my little daughter came to me saying "you should add a flute sound to it," thinking there were high tones missing in the tune that I created. Since then, I added a soft violin tone with an octave high to it and then it sounded like it worked perfectly. Also, I was originally considering adding a B-melody for further development to it, but thinking that gamers play hundreds and thousands of battles, I came to the decision it would be simpler to go straight into the climatic part. After all these twists and turns "Blinded By Light" was born.

Sheet Music
Published by KMP Music Publishing, the Final Fantasy XIII Original Soundtrack Piano Solo Sheet Music book contains piano arrangements for 33 pieces from the Final Fantasy XIII: Original Soundtrack.

Links

 * Official Japanese Site
 * VGMdb - Final Fantasy XIII Original Soundtrack