Oh, shut up and help me remodel the Music of Final Fantasy page!
- Adding descriptions in the sections for:
- Each OST
- The many arrangements
- The Black Mages
- Adding a section for external appearances.
This request can be discussed on the associated discussion page. Remove this notice upon completion.
The Music of Final Fantasy has been, since the release of the initial game in the series, an integral part of the experience. Most of the games' original soundtracks have garnered critical praise ranging from video game magazines to professional music reviewers. Alongside the original soundtracks, many compilations and arranged albums have been produced over the years, to similar acclaim.
Until the release of Final Fantasy XII, the chief music composer of the main series was Nobuo Uematsu, who was the sole creative force from the original Final Fantasy up to Final Fantasy IX. Uematsu worked with Masashi Hamauzu and Junya Nakano in Final Fantasy X and with Naoshi Mizuta and Kumi Tanioka in Final Fantasy XI. His collaborations in Final Fantasy XII were limited to the game's theme song, "Kiss Me Good-Bye". Nobuo Uematsu returned to create the soundtrack for Final Fantasy XIV, though later on Masayoshi Soken became the chief composer.
The music of the entries of the Ivalice Alliance, as well as the music of Vagrant Story, was handled mostly by Hitoshi Sakimoto. The music of the Crystal Chronicles series was composed by Kumi Tanioka.
Recurring themes[]
Within the body of musical works, there are certain themes that have made an appearance more than once associated with a character or a situation.
These themes have appeared in most of the original soundtracks of the main series under different lengths, arrangements and even variations.
The Prelude[]
The "Prelude" is the opening theme of the original Final Fantasy. Since then, it has become one of the most prominent musical pieces in the series, playing at many different stages throughout the games.
The main theme[]
The "Main Theme of Final Fantasy" (originally titled "Opening Theme" in Final Fantasy) has appeared in most of the main series, usually played during the opening sequence or during the ending. Not to be confused with the "Prelude," since, despite its title, the "Opening Theme" was in reality not the opening track of the game.
The victory fanfare[]
The "Victory Fanfare" plays in every instance of the main series when a battle encounter ends with victory. Although variations of the Fanfare have been used in some of games, the opening bars have remained unchanged since the original Final Fantasy until Final Fantasy XIII.
The chocobo theme[]
The "Chocobo Theme" plays when the party travels across the land by means of riding a chocobo, or when they enter a Chocobo forest or any place related to them. Since each entry of the main series includes at least one particular version of the "Chocobo Theme," numerous arrangements of this track exist.
Albums[]
Final Fantasy & Final Fantasy II[]
The original soundtrack of Final Fantasy introduced three of the musical themes that became a staple of the series, as well as some lasting fan favorites, such as "Matoya's Cave".
The music of the original Final Fantasy and that of Final Fantasy II was first released as a single compilation album, All Sounds of Final Fantasy I & II in 1989, to moderate critical acclaim. Following this release, the arranged album Symphonic Suite Final Fantasy. In 2002, for the release of Final Fantasy Origins, the soundtrack was rearranged by Uematsu and Tsuyoshi Sekito.
Final Fantasy III[]
The complete soundtrack of the original NES version was actually not the first compilation album of the game, having arrived to the music stores a year after the arranged album Final Fantasy III: Eternal Legend of the Wind was released.
The NES version of Final Fantasy III never made it to western shores, and therefore it was not until the DS version that the soundtrack was widely distributed in America and the rest of the world.
NES version
1991, 1994 (first re-release), 2004 (second re-release)
Final Fantasy IV[]
Final Fantasy IV was the first Final Fantasy to have a Piano Collections album, a practice that continued in the series afterwards. Another arranged album, Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon, was released as well, performed by Máire Breatnach in the style of Celtic music.
Uematsu noted that the production of the soundtrack was an arduous task, involving much trial and error. The reason stemmed from the then-recent transition phase between the Famicom and the Super Famicom hardwares.
SNES version
1991, 1994 (first re-release), 2004 (second re-release)
Final Fantasy V[]
Final Fantasy V was originally designed to include more than a hundred themes. Nobuo Uematsu felt the number would make the album unpurchasable for the children in the audience, as it would require a two-disc release, and cut down the track list to 50 tunes. The soundtrack was nevertheless released as a two-disc set.
Reception for the soundtrack was lukewarm, with some critics stating the album did not live up to the Original soundtracks of Final Fantasy IV. However, some of its themes became popular among the Final Fantasy community, such as "Clash on the Big Bridge" and "Dear Friends".
Final Fantasy VI[]
The last of the soundtracks to be issued for the 16-bit generation of consoles, the soundtrack was the longest recorded for said generation of games. For Uematsu, the music marked the end of a stage in his career, which was well-grounded by then in the video game music industry.
Uematsu stated that this particular soundtrack was the most challenging Final Fantasy soundtrack he had worked on. Final Fantasy VI: Original Sound Version received raving reviews, some hailing it as one of the best soundtracks composed for a video game. The game was the first in the series to feature a leitmotif for every one of its main playable characters.
Preeminent among these are "Terra's Theme" and the Aria di Mezzo Carattere, which featured a synthesized voice in the original game, but was rerecorded with a full orchestra and singer. Another famous piece from this soundtrack is "Dancing Mad", a complex 14 minute piece which accompanies the final boss.
Compilation of Final Fantasy VII[]
Final Fantasy VII[]
Called by Uematsu his "greatest harvest" in terms of creativity, the soundtrack, despite its length, was composed in a period of less than a year, as opposed to the bi-annual period of producing that had become the standard regarding the previous original soundtracks.
The soundtrack was the first in the series to include a track with digitized vocals, "One-Winged Angel", which has been described as Uematsu's "most recognizable contribution" to the music of the Final Fantasy series. Another one of Uematsu's best known compositions is "Aerith's Theme".
1997, 2004 (re-release)
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children[]
Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII- & Last Order -Final Fantasy VII-[]
Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-[]
The game's music is a mix of the rock and orchestral genres. It is one of Takeharu Ishimoto's notable works and includes various versions of famous Final Fantasy VII songs composed by Nobuo Uematsu. It also includes a few tracks provided by Kazuhiko Toyama.
One of the notable themes is "The Price of Freedom", which plays when Sephiroth reminisces his days with Angeal and Genesis, as well as during Zack's final stand against the Shinra Army.
Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-[]
Final Fantasy VII Remake[]
.jpg "FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE Original Soundtrack Plus Cover (iTunes).jpg (334 KB)")
Final Fantasy VIII[]
- Related singles
- Kokoro no Senshi - 2006
Final Fantasy IX[]
Final Fantasy X[]
Final Fantasy X-2[]
- Related
- Come With Me - Single (2003)
- Adagio - Album (2004)
Final Fantasy XI[]
2002, 2004 (re-release)
2003, 2004 (re-release)
Final Fantasy XII[]
Lightning Saga[]
Final Fantasy XIII[]
- Related singles
- My Hands - 2009
Final Fantasy XIII-2[]
- Related singles
- New World - 2011
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII[]
Final Fantasy XIV[]
Version 1.0[]
A Realm Reborn[]
Final Fantasy XV[]
A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV[]
Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV[]
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles[]
2003, 2004 (digital)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates[]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King / Darklord[]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time[]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers[]
Final Fantasy Dimensions[]
Dissidia Final Fantasy[]
Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)[]
The soundtrack was composed by Takeharu Ishimoto, who also composed the soundtrack of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. It features remixes of different famous themes of the series, some original tracks composed by Ishimoto himself, some tracks sung by Your Favorite Enemies, and a bonus track—"The Messenger" by Your Favorite Enemies.
Some tracks that featured in the game weren't featured in the soundtrack, which were the original versions of some famous songs like the "Dancing Mad", and the "Mambo de Chocobo" and Final Fantasy V Victory Fanfare which was featured in the Data install feature.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]
The soundtrack was composed/arranged by Takeharu Ishimoto, responsible for the music from the first Dissidia. Like the first Dissidia, it features arrangements of the music from the series as well as some original versions.
The soundtrack's regular edition sports a white cover on the front with the Warriors of Cosmos, and a black cover on the back with the Warriors of Chaos.
The limited first run edition featured an album jacket box with the Cosmos side artwork on the front and Chaos side at the back. It also included a DVD featuring the game's trailers and promotional videos.
Dissidia Final Fantasy -Arcade-[]
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]
Final Fantasy Explorers[]
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light[]
Mobius Final Fantasy[]
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
Final Fantasy Tactics[]
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy[]
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call[]
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival[]
Final Fantasy Type-0[]
The limited edition includes a DVD featuring a teaser movie, the game's trailers, two cinematics from the game, and a booklet.
Final Fantasy Type-0 Music Collection - First Campaign was released before the game and the soundtrack, as a preview. It contains five tracks.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD[]
World of Final Fantasy[]
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within[]
Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals[]
Gallery[]
Final Fantasy: Unlimited[]
Other[]
Chocobo Albums[]
1997, 2006 (re-release)
Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon
Single Title Arrangements[]
Albums focusing on one game title. Music styles can vary by album (and on some, by song), but are often orchestral arrangements.
Final Fantasy XIV[]
Non-FF[]
Compilation Arrangements[]
Albums containing arrangements from multiple titles. Music styles can vary by album (and on some, by song).
1994, 2004 (reprint)
2009
2010
2011
2011
2012
2012
2013
2014
2015
Themed Arrangements[]
Bands[]
Band albums consist of arrangements by bands formed by members of Square Enix's music team members.
2003, 2004(reissue)
2004, 2008(reissue)
2004, 2008(reissue)
Brass[]
Albums consist of arrangements made for wind-instruments. Known as the BRA★BRA series.
Chips[]
Albums consist of arrangements in the style of old 8-bit video game chiptunes.
2011
2012
Guitar[]
Sheet music companion albums of arrangements for solo guitar.
Jazz[]
Albums consist of arrangements in the style of jazz music.
Piano[]
Albums consist of arrangements for solo piano. Most have an accompanying sheet music book.
Piano Collections series[]
1992, 1994(reissue), 2001(reissue)
1993, 1994(reissue), 2001(reissue)
1994, 2001(reissue)
2003, 2004(reissue)
2000, 2004(reissue)
2001, 2004(reissue)
2002, 2004(reissue)
2002, 2004(reissue)
Piano Opera series[]
Ukulele[]
Sheet music companion albums of arrangements for solo ukulele.
Vocal[]
Vocal albums consist of arrangements with with lyrics added to songs.
1994, 2004(reissue)
1995, 2004(reissue)
2014
Image songs[]
Tie-in albums with image songs for characters. Includes arrangements and original songs.
Compilations[]
Compilations are collections of tracks compiled from other album releases, from soundtracks to arrangements.
1994, 2004 (reprint)
2001, 2006 (reprint)
2005, 2011 (JP printing)
2005, 2011 (JP printing)
2013
Live recordings[]
2002, 2004 (re-release)
Distant Worlds[]
2007, 2009 (JP reprint)
Vinyls[]
OverClocked ReMix[]
Project Majestic Mix[]
2002, 2007 (re-release)
