Let's talk music - Dawntrail really drops the ball reusing old themes

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Originally Posted by Gaddes

I actually never realized what that music's title was, I always just associated the tune with "ok here's the cutscene where we get down to business." But to be fair, that theme has been used a ton in every expansion since ARR, so I honestly wasn't as bothered by that one popping up.

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Whenever I hear Machinations, I know it's a cutscene I can skip. What a horrible tune. It's not just overused, but it's such a gratingly loud and obnoxious song as well.

It borrows literally from old expansions and also borrows aspects of execution in SHB/EW. I was so let down by this OST tbh. I can't believe people are still calling it amazing when it's the weakest and shortest one in a while.

When I say execution I mean for example trying to emulate what they did with Dynamis. Dynamis was the theme yes but it also had thematic relevance to the scenes it was used in usually.

Dawntrails "piano" theme is pulled out of a hat at any time something emotional is being talked about.

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Originally Posted by DynnDiablos

I want to state upfront I am not a Dawntrail hater. I really love it (it seems to be a minority opinion). However, one thing I've been annoyed about with Dawntrail more than Endwalker is the lack of unique music in cutscenes.

Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers (and to some extent Endwalker) all brought their own unique themes that were utilized in scenes etc. They brought a "flavor," so to speak.

Dawntrail seems to recycle all the old themes, borrowing A LOT from Shadowbringers, which I feel music fits the themes and style of that expansion and feels really, really out of place in Dawntrail.

I feel music is so important to set the tone and give each story its own sense of identity. Dawntrail is so distinct with its visual style and flair and cultures, yet most of that is lost when we're slammed over the head with the Shadowbringers music cues.

Sorry, small rant.

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Eh I disagree. Shadowbringers music sounds great, keep reusing it whenever you can. Certain Heavensward and Endwalkers one too. What ruins the game is having cutscenes that still use the stock ARR and pre-ARR soundtrack.

How many times do we have to have yet another unvoiced scene where the characters slowly nod their heads one by one as the camera cuts to each individual while Machinations plays in the background? In 2024 I think we deserve better. Things pre-ARR were more animated and lively at times how have we still not caught up yet? The only time cutscenes look visually interesting is when they actually do new animations, which is mostly the battle scenes.

Did Square Enix run out of budget with this expansion? It's a serious question that we have to start asking, since Square Enix apparently had a 70% decline in profits in 2023. We know the company isn't doing well and it doesn't have the money to hire good script writers or voice actors. But I was shocked to see ARR music being the #1 source of filler music in cutscenes. Prior expansions were not this bad. Naturally, nothing will change because this is Square Enix and the company's probably headed for a liquidation soon.

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Originally Posted by Tehmon

Whenever I hear Machinations, I know it's a cutscene I can skip. What a horrible tune. It's not just overused, but it's such a gratingly loud and obnoxious song as well.

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I always associate it with Northern Thanalan since it plays in the safe-havens there. It's one of my least favorite zones for that reason.

The song is a nervous tic at this point where you can just feel them sweating when they've gone through too many cutscenes without tossing it in.

I think there should be a mandate that machinations needs to be removed from the game outright

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Originally Posted by DiaDeem

Though I don't think Soken has ever truly fully missed, I do have a few thoughts...

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Soken said in an interview that YoshiP asked him to write more upbeat music for this expansion and he was a bit insecure about it since it's not his typical type of music. Hopefully the music coming up isn't just these 2 songs over and over.
Part of me wonders if SE is pushing for them to market the game to more people and that means making songs like Smile. I thought they had a good mix of rock and poppy sounds already. I guess we'll find out in about a week when Arcadion is released if this is their new trail.

What I found most unusual about the music is the theme for the capital city. It's modern jazz music, for what seems to be an Aztec themed city.

Which absolutely does not fit the theme whatsoever.

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Originally Posted by DiaDeem

- For the love of Hydaelyn and every living being in Etheirys: Give us new FATE music, PRETTY PLEASE!!

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I only ever activate the music in this game for story and initial zone exploration.
While the music is good, it's also short and given the amount of hours we spend in each given area (especially when doing endgame stuff like crafting/gathering) it gets old quickly.

Even in the last zone of DT I had to deactivate the music half way through the story ugh ... that repetition.

Also, what the flying FORK was that "music" in Trial 2? ... Dear Lord.

Not done with MSQ so can’t comment, but I do feel disappointed in the overall same-e-ness of a lot of the music riffs. Like rather than just enjoying the music, there was a lot of “this is an aweful lot like castrum” or “oh I remember this bit from Stormblood” etc.

The boss music especially is very forgettable, but also really just sounds like mid-boss music with recycled themed. This is a shame as the Shadowbringers boss theme I love a lot…even Endwalker’s is “fine” in that it mirrors the core unique theme.

Even the main city themes feel off. I know they were going for Latin Jazz vibes, but this feels too much…I dunno.. New York? Bourbon Street?

Probably would have felt better if the capital had more of a French Quarter vibe, but it was very much Disney’s Polynesian Resort with a sprinkle of Cancun?

I like the field music overall, but it too has a lot of “feels like off brand Stormblood” themes… shame too.