FINAL FANTASY XIII

[MindCandy]

Umatsu's style seems to focus on simplicity over complexity. I, for one, love some of the piano only songs he uses.

I'm a fanboy sure, but it's justified.  I don't think Umatsu is past his prime, I think his niche no longer exists. I would argue his most fantastic work was on the SNES. Seriously, name one song from FFIII (vi) that sucks. The man's gift is making fantastic music with limites tools, and as the hardware marched on, those limitations vanished.

Like Stephen King said in the Dark Tower series, the world has moved on.  His gifts are simply no longer needed, and I personally find that a little sad.

I think Dice has a point... on the Ps1 generation and beyond, but prior to that, I think Umatsu was clearly king of his art form.

[Annubis]

Ah Sakuraba, that dude make the same song over and over again. I like the battle theme for Star Ocean 4 though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCjcLlh8tn0

Fuck awesome.

The biggest flaw of that song is the rhythm. If only they made it a little quicker. It IS the battle song =/
Made a quick little vid to show what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLDT3h8lZlM

[Sagacious-T]

IMO what Uematsu does best is making fitting music to the game is creating. When I hear other video game composers songs, I think "haha yeah i like that guy" but when I hear some classic shit like Tifa's theme I'm so heavily reminded of the character, her relationship with Cloud, and the entirety of FF7 really.

I mean just compare Aeris and Tifa's themes, they are so well done that you can invoke the emotion of the character and how different they are just from listening to music alone. It's amazing, no other composer for games has done that for me yet.

Tifa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHmpL5GUC6A

Aeris:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxRIxovS7nQ

[Ashtrot]

Listen to Uematsu's stuff on XIV. Then listen to the music in XIII.

Uematsu wins.

[Sagacious-T]

I liked XIII's music.. but damn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zltCSeVrqWI

[Farron]

Just listened to the link, it's really something else. Too bad XIV sucks.
You know Thoren, the way things are going, it appears you'll have to play Final Fantasies just to hear a good music until someone does some really meaningful changes hehe.

But don't feel bad as I feel this as I reach midpoint in every Dragon Quest game, at least in your case the soundtracks are better.

EDIT:
Forgot to mention this, the artwork of XIV in this link you sent is pretty cool. Kinda like FFT recent artwork.
I just wish they got the XIV ideas and made a Tactics game instead. Kinda like Disgaea on steroids.
Or even if they wanted to cut production coasts and all, they could make the graphics exactly like the picture of the video. Vesperia has this graphics, so does Totori no Atelier and Eternal Sonata and they look beautiful.

Hell, it could even be the models from 4 Heroes of Light as they do change appearance  as they change equips.

[Yggdrasil]

You can still get the soundtrack and forget about the game. But the fact that Square Enix have the money and man power to make great games and later just offer lame experiences is all kinds of sad and disappointing.

Maybe is because they treat their games like "products" and not actual games anymore. They know that they are making money with the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest names on the box but sometimes is ridiculous how far they go to sell something that's not worth your time and money.

Anyway, the track from XIV remind me so much of Lord of Vermilion, also composed by Uematsu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tElJYle_XFA

This track is called "Black Dragon's Temple".

EDIT:
Forgot to mention this, the artwork of XIV in this link you sent is pretty cool.

Akihiko Yoshida is the man of epic artwork for video games.

[Dice]

IMO what Uematsu does best is making fitting music to the game is creating. When I hear other video game composers songs, I think "haha yeah i like that guy" but when I hear some classic shit like Tifa's theme I'm so heavily reminded of the character, her relationship with Cloud, and the entirety of FF7 really.

I mean just compare Aeris and Tifa's themes, they are so well done that you can invoke the emotion of the character and how different they are just from listening to music alone. It's amazing, no other composer for games has done that for me yet.

Tifa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHmpL5GUC6A

Aeris:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxRIxovS7nQ

I personally found their themes the worst of the other main characters... haha

Tifa's I found fit too much like Chrono Trigger's Marle... it's that sweet sound of a childhood friend that rings in.  The remixes for the theme have been great (piano one you included as well).  But I find it too much of a niche sound for the "second-up" girl.

Aeris' theme I found suited the events she tied to, but not so much the character herself.  I found her too upbeat while this theme sounds more of a "sweet heroine's shining moment".

Not to say Uematsu does bad theme - I do think the character highlights are in FF6 theme songs.
Terra's tune is somewhat sad but hopeful.  Locke's is adventurous.  The brother's have pride in their tunes (one a proud king, the other proud in his own way of life).  Moogle was kupolicious.  Cyan had a determined warrior feel to it.

Otherwise, can't say I'm really into the concepts of personal theme songs; they're usually too narrow a genre to be used in wide scenarios.  Anyone else hate when you talk to Marle in the End of Time (to change characters) to be stuck with some crappy music box tune before kicking ass? Doesn't fit.

[Sagacious-T]

I rolled the Dice.. and lost

[Annubis]

FF7 Cid theme.
I can feel the manliness within each note.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkJrwysczZ0

Anyone can link me the top 3 character song from FF13? Just for curiosity's sake.

[Lord Scottish]

FFXIII isn't Hamauzu's best work, but he's still a better composer than Uematsu.

[Dice]

FFXIII isn't Hamauzu's best work, but he's still a better composer than Uematsu.

I agree - but I think a few tracks on it do exemplify his best work.

Sometimes it's not about the melody, but the situation (I always hated the "disastrous situations" for that because it's nothing but strings and violins going really fast really chaotically).

[Sagacious-T]

Nobou's music never gets old. Hamauzu's music gets irritating quick. I feel sick just hearing the Rabanastre theme.

edit: fuck Sakimoto then

[Dincrest]

Err... FF12 was Hitoshi Sakimoto.  Masashi Hamauzu is most known for the SaGa soundtracks and 1/3 of FFX's music; arguably the best 1/3 of FFX's music.  

EDIT: As for character themes, I'm a sucker for them.  I liked how in Persona 2: Innocent Sin every playable character had multiple variations on their theme (i.e. normal and sad versions) and all of them were great.

[Dice]

1/3 of FFX's music; arguably the best 1/3 of FFX's music.