The music on this CD is quite simplistic, especially compared to the other FF Piano Collections. However, its simplicity calls for a different feeling, and it is still great. Basically, like FF5-6 Piano, this CD was rare as anything (until the reprint). Unless you plan on buying the reprint, the only place you can get this is on eBay… Now that the reprint is out, it shouldn’t cost nearly as much. The reprint itself costs about $25 and can be found at stores such as Anime Nation.
Oh, the real appeal of this to piano players is the fact that the CD (not the reprint, only the original) comes with a hard-cover booklet featuring complete sheet music to every song on the CD…Note the front cover of this CD is a book because it doesn’t come in a case. The CD is put ON the front, which is a great idea!…unless you are unfortunately incapable like me and accidently break the little plastic device that allows the CD to stay in the front.
Even though the soundtrack is “simple” (I think people say that because there is a LOT of repetition), even skilled piano players will have problems playing certain songs to perfection. Examples would be the faster, more jazz-oriented songs (the one section in Chocobo is just WAY crazy…for me anyway); and “The Battle” is a very LONG song so if you plan on memorizing it, know that it takes a lot of work. Other songs, such as the Main Theme, are very easy…these are the type of songs you teach your younger siblings to play (and your younger siblings haven’t taken any formal piano lessons!). Still, the songs are played with amazing skill and otherwise great dynamics and ornamentation. I recommend this collection to any avid piano player that wants to get deep into the world of Final Fantasy.
Note that this piano collection is different from all others because there’s a bonus orchestra track at the end, so it’s not ALL piano.
Again, note that there have now been a series of reprints run on the FF IV-VI Piano Collections. The information for them is above, and they come at a much cheaper price than the originals. The one problem is, of course, they don’t come with the hardcover book filled with the sheet music. It’s just a CD now. Ah well! You can pick it up at many online retail shops.
