"Awakening" is a final boss theme in Final Fantasy XI, composed and arranged by Kumi Tanioka.
Game appearances[]
Final Fantasy XI[]
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Shadow Lord in phase 2
"Awakening" serves as the background theme for the final battle against the Shadow Lord in the mission battlefield "The Shadow Lord Battle" at the Castle Zvahl Keep's Throne Room for Mission 5-2. It also plays during several other later encounters in the Throne Room except for "Smash! A Malevolent Menace", as well as the area theme for Dynamis - Xarcabard.
This track's tune is dark and gloomy at start, but soon it rises into a fast-paced theme, giving the impression that the battle is elapsing. After this, the battle cycles between its main tune and a smooth, eerie tune, resembling the track's introduction. The track can be found in the Final Fantasy XI: Original Soundtrack as track 28 of disc 2. It is also released as track 28 of disc 2 on the Final Fantasy XI Original Soundtrack Premium Box.
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail[]
Shadow Lord
Come, mortals. Allow me to show you the depths of my hatred... And your folly!
Shadow Lord
The original "Awakening" from Final Fantasy XI plays as the boss theme against the Shadow Lord in the Throne Room in the 
Jeuno: The First Walk alliance raid, the first part of the Echoes of Vana'diel alliance raid series.
Final Fantasy XV[]
"Awakening" is included in the music player on the Memories of FFXI (Disc 1) album purchased at Burbost Souvenir Emporium for 100 gil.
Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)[]
"Awakening" is a bonus battle BGM, purchasable in the PP Catalog for 500 PP after Shade Impulse is cleared. After being purchased, it can be randomly selected for battles featuring Shantotto.
"Awakening" also plays during the boss battle against Shantotto in Distant Glory: Heroes.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]
"Awakening" is a bonus track bought from the PP Catalog for 150 PP, and is available from the start of the game. It is now also randomly selected by default for battles taking place at the Empyreal Paradox or including Prishe.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]
A new techno arrangement by Takeharu Ishimoto is a default theme, while the original PlayStation 2 version can be bought from the shop for 3,600 gil.
It is track 6 of disc 2 on the Dissidia Final Fantasy -Arcade- Original Soundtrack and track 35 on the Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Original Soundtrack.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]
"Awakening" is the Battle Music Sequence used for the Series play of Final Fantasy XI. The theme is included in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Compilation Album.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
"Awakening" is a Battle Music Sequence for Final Fantasy XI. "Guardian of the Dark II" from Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon appears as a new BMS.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival[]
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Awakening
"Awakening" appears as a playable Battle Music Sequence. It can be bought in the song store for 5 sound medals.
| Difficulty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Basic | Expert | Ultimate | Transcendent |
| N/A | 3 | 5 | 7 | N/A |
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line[]
This section is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
"Awakening (FFXI, FFRK Ver. arrange)" is an arrangement by Yoshitaka Suzuki that appears in the game. The arrangement also features the themes of "Memoro de la Ŝtono" and "Distant Worlds". It is track 3 of disc 1 on the Final Fantasy Record Keeper Original Soundtrack Vol.2.
This section about an album in Final Fantasy Record Keeper is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.World of Final Fantasy[]
"Prismelody: Awakening" (プリメロディ・目覚め, Purimerodi Mezame?) is an arrangement by Shingo Kataoka that plays when Shantotto uses her Champion summon ability.
It is track 9 of disc 4 on the World of Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack.
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon[]
"Guardian of the Dark II" (闇の守護者2, Yami no Shugosha 2?) is an arrangement of "Awakening" by Yuzo Takahashi that appears in the game. It is track 21 on the Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon ~Labyrinth of Forgotten Time~ Original Soundtrack.
Arrangement album appearances[]
The Star Onions ~ Final Fantasy XI - Music from the Other Side of Vana'diel[]
An arrangement of "Awakening" by Masato Kouda, with programming and mixed by Kouda, appears as track 8 in this album of arrangements of Final Fantasy XI music by The Star Onions.
Final Fantasy XI Chips[]
A chiptune version of "Awakening" appears as track 9, mixed in with "Shadow Lord", arranged by ajiponn.
Final Fantasy Orchestral Album[]
"Awakening" is the eleventh song of the final track, "Battle Medley 2012 (Final Fantasy I – XIV)", orchestrated by Hiroyuki Nakayama.
X'mas Collections II music from SQUARE ENIX[]
A festive arrangement of "Awakening" by Kumi Tanioka and Sebastian Schwartz appears as track 8 on this festive-themed album under the name "The Shadow Lord's Yuletide" (闇王さんのクリスマス, Yami Ō-san no Kurisumasu?, lit. Shadow Lord's Christmas).
Square Enix - Airship Cruise Beats Vol.2[]
"Awakening (Airship Cruise Beats Version)" is an arrangement by FUMI that appears as track 4 on the album.
Final Fantasy Series Acoustic Arrangements[]
In this arrangement I elected to go with a theme of "continued speed." To this end, I utilized fluid, comparative sound patterns and focused on what parts to best use the melody line. At the same time, I wanted to maintain the melody change of the original, so I tried to keep the suspense instilled by the trill and tremolo of the violin and cello while emphasizing their dynamic range. The composition of the song as a whole remains faithful to the original while the other sections are brought together through the inlaid melody and motifs.
Shingo Nishimura
An acoustic arrangement of "Awakening" by Shingo Nishimura appears as track 11 on the album, performed by Atsuki Yoshida (violin), Kirin Uchida (violoncello) and Yuna Kobayashi (piano).
Live performances[]
Final Fantasy XI Fan Festival 2006[]
"Awakening" was performed by The Star Onions as the final performance before the encore at the Fan Festival 2006 as part of the live concert final event on March 11, 2006 at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. Final Fantasy XI Global Promotion Producer and The Black Mages drummer Arata Hanyuda took the percussion helm for the performance.[1]
Final Fantasy XI Fan Festival 2007[]
A piano solo of "Awakening" was performed by Kumi Tanioka at the Fan Festival 2007 as part of the live concert final event on November 17, 2007 at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel in Anaheim, California.[2]
Final Fantasy XI Fan Festival 2008[]
A piano solo of "Awakening" was performed by Kumi Tanioka as the encore and final performance at the Fan Festival 2008 as part of the live concert final event on December 6, 2008 at the Renaissance Hollywood in Hollywood, California.[3]
Final Fantasy XI Vanacon Anniversary 11.11.11[]
"Awakening" was orchestrated by Hayato Matsuo for the orchestral concert and was conducted by Masahiko Enkoji and performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Video performances[]
Square Enix Music Channel[]
A piano cover of "Awakening" was arranged and performed by Hiroyuki Nakayama and uploaded on the channel on November 18, 2022 in celebration of Final Fantasy 35th Anniversary.[4] Kumi Tanioka praised it stating that it is many times more refined than her piano arrangement.[5]
Compilation album appearances[]
Final Fantasy XI 8th Anniversary: Memories of Dusk and Dawn[]
"Awakening" appears as track 8 on this album celebrating the 8th year since the conception of Final Fantasy XI.
Sword Songs: Final Fantasy XI Battle Collection[]
"Awakening" appears as track 2 on this collection of battle themes.
Final Fantasy Villains[]
"FINAL FANTASY XI : Awakening" appears as track 11 on the album.
Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Tracks 1987-2017[]
"Awakening" appears as track 10 of disc 2 on the album celebrating Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary.
Appearances outside Final Fantasy media[]
Lord of Vermilion Re:2 FAN KIT[]
A remix of "Awakening" plays as the conclusion of the Final Fantasy XI medley, arranged by Ryo Yamazaki.
Citations[]
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120624105227/http://www.ffxifestival.com/2006/staronions.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110418084725/http://www.ffxifestival.com/2007/liveconcert.php
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150814100456/http://ffxifestival.com/wrapup_concert.html
- ↑ https://x.com/sem_sep/status/1593529695554846721
- ↑ https://x.com/tanikumi/status/1593809375080374277