New music ~ Uematsu?

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Originally Posted by UmJammerSully

Screw the haters. Uematsu is king.

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Kings can be overthrown.

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Originally Posted by Mug

Oh, it's such a cliché to say that FFXIII sucks. I bet half the people who say that, haven't even played it. I personally found it to be a great game.

As far as FFXIV music goes, I think that the original soundtrack was fine for the most part, but it's clear to me that Uematsu had too little to work with when he made it. My main problem is that most tracks are way too short, especially the field themes. It's interesting that many of the battle themes are long tracks, with several movements, when they're usally only on for ten seconds since normal battle are so short.

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This. Personally I thought that the fittingness of the OST to the game was excellent as well, and the tracks themselves were beautiful.

And the latter part is why I chain, much more than for the xp rewards. Some of the transitions are absolutely amazing, especially in the middle of nearly flat-lining your hp with a hard pace.

But on the other hand, where could truly new or dynamic music be placed even if Uematsu were to make more. The areas within each greater region don't vary enough to warrant more than a couple alternate themes. I think the larger issue is that the world itself isn't going to vary enough, carry any sort of progression enough, or fit any subplots enough to fit any outstanding OST as one would usually define it in the majority of Final Fantasy titles.

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Originally Posted by Gramul

Kings can be overthrown.

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Already has been in my opinion.

The new stuff is good. I think letting them continue from here is best. Though i will say i laughed alot at the people that loved the united we stand battle music and the darnus part 1 music and how it was so much better than what Uematsu wrote.

I don't care who does it, I think all of the Square composers are great...

...but they NEED to start giving the music team a bigger budget, Final Fantasy deserves live instruments! I can actually recognize a lot of the cheap MIDI stuff they're using from my Cubase 5's default library.

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Originally Posted by Kowen

I don't care who does it, I think all of the Square composers are great...

...but they NEED to start giving the music team a bigger budget, Final Fantasy deserves live instruments! I can actually recognize a lot of the cheap MIDI stuff they're using from my Cubase 5's default library.

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I agree, music and environments to me is the most important, Music gives the environments "I wanna be in this zone alot" Feeling, And Environments ( Not Graphics) but how they make the Surround areas, making them fit into the Music, Those 2 are the Ultimate pair.

However, Music is a great pair for everything in the game, it gives the game more feeling.

I don't like any songs that released with original FFXIV... it's not match the theme of game and boring.

I like most of the songs that just released with new patch. Garuda, Nuel Theme, other AF CS song etc.
There's lot better than Uematsu songs, IMO.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Uematsu rocks at composing for linear storylines. He's meh at composing for MMOs.

Naoshi Mizuta on the other hand has proven himself as a master of MMO music.

Tracks: [1], [2], [3], [4] - The sound is very classic Final Fantasy, but I'm not sure if this type of sound lends itself well with this game.

If Naoshi Mizuta is composing the new soundtrack for A Realm Reborn, I think we'll be in safe hands. :o

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Originally Posted by Zezlar

Already has been in my opinion.

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Yup.

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Originally Posted by Kowen

I don't care who does it, I think all of the Square composers are great...

...but they NEED to start giving the music team a bigger budget, Final Fantasy deserves live instruments! I can actually recognize a lot of the cheap MIDI stuff they're using from my Cubase 5's default library.

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This, this, glorious this~

It's amazing that SE will spend zillions of dollars on pre-rendered cutscenes and then score them with what might as well be General MIDI.

They should have their music team sit down with Jeremy and Julian Soule and figure out whatever sorcery they used to create Skyrim's soundtrack. I'm am 99.9% sure that 95% of the game's OST was not performed by live instruments, and it sounds closer to real thing than any previous attempts that I've heard. It's like hearing Final Fantasy Tactics for the first time in '98.

And while we're on the topic - I strongly dislike Skyrim as a game, but I will shout from the highest mountain in praise of it's soundtrack. I can think of very few games in past decade that literally have an almost-perfect soundtrack. It's a technical masterpiece that not only fits the game's context, but also enhances it. Tracks have their own distinctive themes while also interweaving the central melody of the game. Nearly every piece is dynamic, acting as a quiet guide in the shadows or a booming warning of danger when necessary.

If you haven't played Skyrim (and I don't blame you), at least check out the OST. It makes launch-FFXIV's soundtrack sound like a collection of jingles for action figure commercials.

Nabuo is great, has a couple new, but there are two other great composers in the team who blend well in style, don't foget about them.

Nabuo had great songs in Lost Odyssey as well. When it comes to the story elements, that is where he is strongest, night fight songs. The music of Lost Odyssey as made to fit the feeling of the characters and story perfectly.

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Originally Posted by Meta

This, this, glorious this~

It's amazing that SE will spend zillions of dollars on pre-rendered cutscenes and then score them with what might as well be General MIDI.

They should have their music team sit down with Jeremy and Julian Soule and figure out whatever sorcery they used to create Skyrim's soundtrack. I'm am 99.9% sure that 95% of the game's OST was not performed by live instruments, and it sounds closer to real thing than any previous attempts that I've heard.

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There are some orchestral soundfonts out there that sound pretty damn close to being real (and are also really expensive!). For example, this song from FFXIII doesn't actually use real instruments.

The thing with Skyrim's soundtrack is that it's very lush and ambient with tons of reverb. If they tried to do some more dynamic and melodic stuff the limitations of the samples would definitely show more.

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Originally Posted by Gramul

No, and I think we're the better for it.

I haven't been wowed any of his music made in the past 10 years.

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You should listen to some of the Lost Odyssey Soundtrack. I particularly love the final boss battle music. Or if you are into the more mellow stuff then check out Eclipse of Time from the same game, a hauntingly sad song arranged by Uematsu with lyrics by Sakaguchi.

I think part of the dip in quality you are perceving is due to the fact that Uematsu is no longer an in house member at SE. His music in previous FF games did not get made in a vaccum, if you read alot of his interviews you will realize that there was a bit of a complex interplay between Uematsu and Sakaguchi (who is apparently a bit of a music man himself). In many cases scenes from the older games were (according to this interview) directly inspired by music that Uematsu had written.

This is why I always look forward to the music whenever Uematsu and Sakaguchi are working together directly.

Eclipse of time is great and some of th others with SHeena Easton. Especially during the segement when the mother dies. /cry that part of the game was just ubber sad.

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Originally Posted by Mug

Oh, it's such a cliché to say that FFXIII sucks. I bet half the people who say that, haven't even played it. I personally found it to be a great game.

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FFXIII Sucks, yes i've played it just like ive played:
I,II,III,IV,V,VI,VII,VIII,IX,X,XI,XII,XIII,XIV. games that really got me going are highlighted in red. XI was good i just couldn't follow the story 50% percent of the time.

Compared to there older works XIII just cant get any lower on the bar....i had more Fun with Star Ocean:TLH and that game was bad compared to its older titles.

luckily i had ToV and the Lost Odyssey to fall back on, just wish we could get all the Tales of games over here in the US.

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Originally Posted by Bowen

I believe that Uematsu-San is no longer working on the music team.

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He left SE years ago. They still hire him by contract now & then for certain titles, but AFAIK he closed down his studio ages ago when he started up his rock band "The Black Mages". Actually, IIRC, SE pretty much shut down their entire in-house music department and work purely by contracting composers/artists now.

Even Naoshi Mizuta, who's been doing all the new tracks for XIV since after launch as well as all of XI's expansions, isn't directly under SE's employ.

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Originally Posted by NefGP

Even Naoshi Mizuta, who's been doing all the new tracks for XIV since after launch as well as all of XI's expansions, isn't directly under SE's employ.

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False! Naoshi Mizuta is currently still working under Square Enix.

I hope Naoshi Mizuta is the dominate musician for FFXIV the work done on FFXI was memorable.

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

FFXIII Sucks, yes i've played it just like ive played:
I,II,III,IV,V,VI,VII,VIII,IX,X,XI,XII,XIII,XIV. games that really got me going are highlighted in red. XI was good i just couldn't follow the story 50% percent of the time.

Compared to there older works XIII just cant get any lower on the bar....i had more Fun with Star Ocean:TLH and that game was bad compared to its older titles.

luckily i had ToV and the Lost Odyssey to fall back on, just wish we could get all the Tales of games over here in the US.

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Well, everyone has the right to their own Opinion on what FF games were great and the ones that sucked, Just because you played it and you saying FF I,III,VII,XI,XIII, XIV Sucks doesn't mean other people hate it. I really didn't have a story, but the game was good nevertheless. III was actually one of my Favorite Retro FF game, VII alot of people will be against you on this one, considering the fact that, alot of people consider this the Best FF game of all time ( though I disagree with that IX is the best of all time to me).

XI (though didn't attract people into the millions) the game was a Success nevertheless CoP is the Best Storyline to me in that Game. XIII though it sold good their are quite a few people that didn;t like the Linearityof the game ( Myself included) however the story was really intense to my eyes (even though the game acted more along the lines of a movie then a game, it still was a great watch.)

I understand you didn't like the non-red games, however other people will probably think different than how you see them.

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Originally Posted by Ruisu

False! Naoshi Mizuta is currently still working under Square Enix.

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That's not what I read years ago. He's still under contract with them, yes, for XIV and probably a few other things. But he's not a full-time employee of SE - I told you, they shut down their music studio to save money because it was costing them way too much to keep doing what they did all those years with Nobuo.

Nobuo always releases top notch music. It's a shame he doesn't work for SE anymore but they often contract him, hopefully they grab him again to do at least a few tracks for XIV.

The ones he did for XI were some of the best in the game.

He only did about 85%-ish of XI's original tracks, and I believe a couple of Zilart (along with Naoshi and Kumi).

but yes, I totally agree that the series has been lacking his special touch. To be fair, Naoshi Mizuta has become a very respectable replacement and I would go so far as to say they're on par with one another now. His work has improved a lot since Zilart.

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Originally Posted by Starlord

Well, everyone has the right to their own Opinion on what FF games were great and the ones that sucked, Just because you played it and you saying FF I,III,VII,XI,XIII, XIV Sucks doesn't mean other people hate it. I really didn't have a story, but the game was good nevertheless. III was actually one of my Favorite Retro FF game, VII alot of people will be against you on this one, considering the fact that, alot of people consider this the Best FF game of all time ( though I disagree with that IX is the best of all time to me).

XI (though didn't attract people into the millions) the game was a Success nevertheless CoP is the Best Storyline to me in that Game. XIII though it sold good their are quite a few people that didn;t like the Linearityof the game ( Myself included) however the story was really intense to my eyes (even though the game acted more along the lines of a movie then a game, it still was a great watch.)

I understand you didn't like the non-red games, however other people will probably think different than how you see them.

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oh i know, opinions and tastes being what they are...it just urks me to see people Defend FF13...it was a poor game all around the Cineamatics where great, but yeah as far as Music,Controls,Story and Replay value it was very sad to see.

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

oh i know, opinions and tastes being what they are...it just urks me to see people Defend FF13...it was a poor game all around the Cineamatics where great, but yeah as far as Music,Controls,Story and Replay value it was very sad to see.

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YEAH OPINIONS ARE FINE AND ALL BUT I HATE HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIKE FFXIII.

Hahaha, you're serious aren't you?

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Originally Posted by Ruisu

YEAH OPINIONS ARE FINE AND ALL BUT I HATE HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIKE FFXIII.

Hahaha, you're serious aren't you?

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yep, there a problem with posting an agreement statement with an opinion tacked to it?

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

yep, there a problem with posting an agreement statement with an opinion tacked to it?

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You contradicted yourself. You pretty much said you don't care if people like FFXIII, but you get pissed off when people defend something they like.

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

yep, there a problem with posting an agreement statement with an opinion tacked to it?

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It just irks me to see people bash FFXIII. It was an excellent game all around. It was linear, sure, but as far as lore, story, music, and battle system, it was excellent.





:rolleyes:

if you like grass growing faster than story progresses, one must also enjoy excessive Whining Crying and the occasional oh poor me moment... the only badass in the game doesnt say crap 3/4 of the way in if your cool with that then fine the game was alright.

but unfortunately i don't like any of those, so yep the game is still garbage compared to its older offline entries.

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Originally Posted by Ruisu

You contradicted yourself. You pretty much said you don't care if people like FFXIII, but you get pissed off when people defend something they like.

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thats right it bothers me that some people defend the game, even when its one of the worst in the offline series, how this concerns you or others opinions of the game i haven't the slightest.

but this is a thread to discuss the awesomeness that is Uematsu and whether his works will stay or go.

Naoshi Mizuta is amazing. He did Tu'lia and Zitah, and most of XI and XIII/-2. http://m.youtube.com/results?q=ffxii...?v=bKmZ7Uw76qI

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

if you like grass growing faster than story progresses, one must also enjoy excessive Whining Crying and the occasional oh poor me moment... the only badass in the game doesnt say crap 3/4 of the way in if your cool with that then fine the game was alright.

but unfortunately i don't like any of those, so yep the game is still garbage compared to its older offline entries.

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All these things you listed are opinionated. What you call whining, I might say is a human being in distress. The way the storyline progressed reminded me of FFVII. They literally just throw you into it, and you figure things out on the way.
And, by the way, you not liking the game does not mean it is a bad game.

Now, I think we've derailed this thread quite enough.

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

thats right it bothers me that some people defend the game, even when its one of the worst in the offline series, how this concerns you or others opinions of the game i haven't the slightest.

but this is a thread to discuss the awesomeness that is Uematsu and whether his works will stay or go.

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You're not very bright, are you?

I'd like to think that he is waiting for a 'proper' Final Fantasy game to be released before he put's his awesome musical touch to it.

We live in a day of extremes. If people don't like something, it's labeled garbage.

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Originally Posted by A5ko

I'd like to think that he is waiting for a 'proper' Final Fantasy game to be released before he put's his awesome musical touch to it.

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He's not even at Square Enix anymore.

Paradigm Shift Battle theme for FFXIII-2 is an awesome Battle theme! Naoshi Mizuta Does know what he's doing, I wouldn't mind if he was one of the composers for FFXIV =).

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

I still find FF12 OST marvelous, and the classical style would fit a lot in the FF14-verse in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by Bowen

It just irks me to see people bash FFXIII. It was an excellent game all around. It was linear, sure, but as far as lore, story, music, and battle system, it was excellent.

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13 had several issues with it - the Linearity being the least of them. I for one actually liked it. It's not a feature I'd want to see come around every single game, or even every other game, but once in a while it IS nice to know that you don't have to back track, that all the dungeons are pretty straightforward (unlike 12 where you could get horribly lost quite easily).

I for one thoroughly enjoyed 13's battle system, if nothing else for finally removing MP and letting "mages" just fire away with magic. I never really understood why if someone's devoted their careers to magic, they should ever have to fall back on physical means. MP just feels like a dated concept now. It worked for years but maybe it's time to find better ways of balancing magic other than just outright limiting its use?

I hope 13-3 is the last one though. 13-2 was pushing it, big time (even though I genuinely liked Sarah and Noel, and some of the endings were pretty funny, the game just felt tacky. ditch the pokemon aspect too, please.)

Getting back to music, I wonder if we'll get any audio previews of new tracks for 2.0? Also, speaking of 12 in the post above me, anyone else find Ifrit's theme "Primal Judgment" sounds similar to 12's Esper Battle?

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Originally Posted by Ganbachi

Naoshi Mizuta is amazing. He did Tu'lia and Zitah, and most of XI and XIII/-2.

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XIII(the first) was all Masashi Hamauzu, other than a few remixes.

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Originally Posted by NefGP

He only did about 85%-ish of XI's original tracks, and I believe a couple of Zilart (along with Naoshi and Kumi).

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Uematsu only did a handful of vanilla XI tracks, but I'm not sure of the exact number. After that, he did CoP's vocal ending theme.