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[Vincent Grayson]

There's not a single one I don't like. The lowest possible rating I'd give any of them is "better than most other games".

That said, I'd say VII, VIII, XII, and XIII are my favorites.

Though I do also have a special place in my heart for the early ones largely because they've gotten so many amazing arrangements and vocal versions over the years.

 

[Nakazato]

XI

 

[Dark_3nergy]

My heart says FF4. Because, dat intro.

FF9, Tactics and FF6 have some pretty neat tracks.

 

[Kalamoj]

VI
Crisis Core
X
IV

 

[Seth]

13-2 and 11... and 14

 

[wamberz1]

I haven't even finished heavensward yet and I know it's XIV.

 

[Wagram]

Final Fantasy XI is an easy pick then again it has like 5x the amount of songs.

 

[Megalosaro]

VII has the best soundtrack, but I've probably listened to XII's the not out of any FF soundtrack.

IV's is also very good and I don't like IV that much

Any Dragon Quest soundtrack shits on any FF soundtrack tho

 

[Funkybee12]

X without an f'in doubt

Besaid Island
Wandering Flame
Someday the Dream Will End
Fight With Seymour (Uematsu's best piece)
Battle Theme
A Contest of Aeons
People of the North
Movement In Green
Thunder Plains

The HD remaster was stain on this games legacy

Edit: To Zanarkand, Sprouting.

 

[pizzacat]

6 or 9


Also I'm pretty sure final fantasy legend has a version of wipe your tears away from the SaGa games on the GBC and I gotta commend them for making such 🔥🔥🔥🔥 fit in the gbc

respect


TOO GOOD

 

[mrmickfran]

Edit: To Zanarkand, Sprouting.

Ultros already had Zanarkand in the OP. Sprouting is "Movement in Green".

 

[Adam_Vania]

i would vote VI for the amazing "Searching for Friends" airship theme with that sick bass line....

but VII is just too good. especially once you realize most of Midgar is Twin Peaks-style synth noir music.

 

[Rowleyfan3620]

Gotta go VIII here. Then VII.

 

[PulseONE]

XI, VII, Crisis Core, XIII and XIV are probably my favorites

 

[Rhomega Beta]

Final Fantasy IV

Theme of Final Fantasy IV
The Airship
The Land of Summons

Final Fantasy VI

Dark World
Phantom Forest
Forever Rachel

 

[jsrv]

XIV:ARR and XI for me are ahead of all the other ones by a gigantic margin

Never played/listened to the remastered games or the sequels though (like X-2 or XIII past the first one)

 

[Thabass]

Final Fantasy XIV.

There is no other soundtrack the matches the beauty of a world and the music of such tenacity of Uematsu and Soken and co.

It's one of the best soundtracks of all time.

Here are some of the best tracks in the game:

1.0/A Realm Reborn
Torn from the Heavens
SerenityI
On Westerly Winds
Sultana Dreaming
Nemesis
Tenacity
A Fine Death
Under the Weight
Fallen Angel
The Emperor's Wont
Penitus
Primal Timbre
Answers


Before the Fall
Through the Maelstrom
Persistance
Pa-Paya
Battle on the Big Bridge (FFXIV Version)
Thunder Rolls
Out of the Labyrnith
A Light in the Storm
The Warrens
Hamartomania

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
Heavensward
A Cold Wind
Against the Wind
Lost in the CloudsSafety in Numbers
Night in the Brume
Limitless Blue
Woe is the Madness
Dragonsong

I tried to make this list as diverse as I could and not to give too many songs away. But this is my case for, not only one of the best Final Fantasy soundtracks, but one of the best VIDEO GAME soundtracks of all time.

 

[LordKasual]

VII
VIII
XII
XIV

I never would have put 12 on here in the past, but like everything else about that game, the older i get, the more i appreciate it.

It's not really fair to put XIV on there since the OST grows every few months and none of its music is ever bad

 

[AlexFlame116]

This is extremely hard cause all of the games have incredible songs that are so memorable. I don't know how to choose a couple! Special points will be given to IV though cause it's the soundtrack where I can remember every song. It's also my favorite soundtrack. Plus whenever I hear the Prologue theme I always associate it with Final Fantasy IV, even though that song was heard in I and in basically almost every other Final Fantasy game to date.

Basically my avatar says it all. But FFXV might just become one of the ultimate OSTs.

 

[Secret Character]

Final Fantasy VIII and it wins by a very wide margin.

The wide range of styles incorporated into the soundtrack all match their respective uses during the game. When you begin the game and hear Liberi Fatali, it's such a rush. Then almost immediately, you're in Balamb Garden and hear that theme, which is calming and almost feels like you're home. The battle music during the game is all spectacular and gave us the best battle theme in all of Final Fantasy. You know what I'm talking about... Man With the Machine Gun (Distant Worlds II version linked because it's awesome.)

Oh, and don't get me started about the absolute serenity that Fisherman's Horizon puts me in. Absolutely one of the best town themes in all of gaming.

Next up is Final Fantasy VI. I actually think that some of the character themes in VI tell a lot more of a story than most musical themes do in gaming. Gau's theme, for example, has this really melancholy melodic line that speaks volume about the character and how he was raised. Celes's theme, too, tells of how things feel hopeless and how broken she has become as a character.

Oh, and Dancing Mad is the best final boss music in the entire series. Nothing else touches Dancing Mad.

 

[AsylumBlue]

VII remains my favorite after all these years.

 

[TannerDemoz]

Final Fantasy XIII

Spoiler

Joking, it's probably IX. Doesn't have as many stand-out tunes but it's the most varied of all titles imo

 

[mysteriousmage09]

VII and X.

 

[Shifty1897]

VI all day.

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

Final Fantasy I.

It's simplistic and repetitive (as is much of the 8- 16-bit era music) but Matoya's Cave has never been surpassed in Final Fantasy Music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cydRVuK8OoM

The volcano music makes me feel like I'm on a great adventure, and getting ready to kick ass.
Volcano Music


Also the dungeon music puts me on edge... like I shouldn't fucking be there and I'm going to get slaughtered soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6LccPvdsPk&index=4&list=PLB2FCCB5379E3720F

 

[Timeaisis]

IX. It's the most musically cohesive and fits fits with the game better than all the others. The music really brings out the emotion of the game in a way that the other soundtracks can't quite reach. Also, damn good songs in there. Something to Protect, Crossing Those Hills, You're Not Alone, Kingdom of Burmecia (that mood, that fucking mood).

Followed by I'd say a toss up between VI and VII. VI and VII was where Uematsu started getting almost experimental with his music, and it shows. Battle themes get more exciting, and easily the best in the series here. FFVI and VII have great battle and boss themes. And who can forget FFVII's pure catchiness with the likes of Cosmo Canyon and Opressed People (probably individually my favorite song from a FF ever).

VIII is really, really good, but not as cohesive as the preceeding. That said, standouts are Fisherman's Horizon and Man With a Machine Gun.

 

[Holyoneturtle]

1. VIII
2. X
3. XIII


VIII's superiority will never be out shined in my opinion. Too many theme's not to mention that God tier opening.

 

[Wireframe]

FF VIII all day long.

 

[gforguava]

A close call between Lightning Returns and 13-2.

The whole 13 trilogy stands high above the rest in my book.

 

[PhilipDoesMatter]

Aria Di Mezzo Caraterre - FF VI. Celes is by far my favorite game character.

 

[wamberz1]

Final Fantasy XIV.
A Light in the Storm.

HHHHHNNNNNNNGGGG
It's so fucking good.....

 

[¡HarlequinPanic!]

It's VIII, the crown jewel of Uematsu's body of work.

Always surprised to see how much people like XIII's soundtrack. Aside from some standouts I always found it extremely dreary and tiring. To each their own.

 

[DylanEno]

As someone who hasn't played through any mainline final fantasy game and has really only ever dabbled in them, I'd give the edge to VII. Based on playing theaterhythm curtain call, lol.

Bravely Default has the best "spin off" OST, though.

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

6

Same. The competition is not even close for me personally. Like, not even remotely close.

I don't know if it's nostalgia, and frankly I don't care. All I know is this is the only OST from a FF that pops into my head on its own and which I can summon themes at will simply by what part of the game it was from.

 

[Sagely]

For me it's VIII and XII, both my favourite FF games overall too. All FF games I've played have had very strong soundtracks but those two stick out to me, howeverI think XV is going to surpass them.

I love both for very different reasons. VIII had a great range of music with some amazing stand out tracks; XII had a grand, exciting fantasy music style which really enhanced my immersion. Some of my favourites are:

VIII
Don't be Afraid
Force Your Way
Balamb Garden
Blue Fields (piano arrangement is gorgeous)
The Landing
Fisherman's Horizon
The Sacrifice
Maybe I'm a Lion

XII
Boss Battle
Secret Practice
Rabanastre
Dalmasca Estersand
Nalbina Fortress
Eruyt Village
Ozmone Plain
Salikawood

And so many more from both of them.

 

[DarknessTear]

The XIII games had fantastic music. Well, LR less so but I like to pretend it doesn't exist.

Strongest for me probably goes to FFVIII or IX.

 

[mrmickfran]

Glad to see a lot of praise for the XIII OST.

Hamauzu needs more love.

 

[Scotia]

1. 8
2. 7
3. 6

 

[jetsaito]

Tactics. 5 and 6 are hot stuff too.

 

[DarknessTear]

Why did I forget XIV? XIV wins.

 

[Deckard Chapel]

VI and VII for me.

XV sounds like it could top all of them though!

 

[ChaosZeroX]

For me its between VII and X

 

[Sephimoth]

7, followed by 6, followed by 9

 

[Pejo]

Final Fantasy XI is the underrated GOAT:

Vana'diel March
Rolanberry Fields
Awakening
Battle Theme #3
Fighters of the Crystal
The Sanctuary of Zi'Tah
Tu'Lia
Depths of the Soul
Tavnazian Archipelago (BEST)
Al'Taieu
Bustle in the Capital
Mercenaries' Delight
Jeweled Boughts (BEST)
Delve
Ragnarok
Echoes of a Zephyr (BEST)
Flowers on the Battlefield
On this Blade
Wings of the Goddess
Melodies Errant
Shinryu

Sorry for the link spam but more people need to get a taste of this masterpiece.

This is the right answer if I'm being honest. FFXI had so much good music. I hope the upcoming mobile version keeps most of the songs.

For non MMO's it goes IV <-> VI -> X (Tidus laughtrack version)

 

[Cathcart]

6-9 is such a great run. I still listen to them all regularly and have a hard time picking a favorite.

 

[Shepard]

Unpopular opinion, XII. It doesnt have a music as strong as One Winged Angel/To Zenarkand/Terra theme, but it matches perfectly well with the world and is full of great tracks. The Necrohol of Nabudis song is my favorite FF theme ever.

 

[Garlador]

Kind of unfair, since I adore songs from every single game. It's like picking your favorite child.

CURRENTLY, I'm learning the piano renditions of various Heavensward music, so for the time being, I'm all in on FF14's soundtrack in my life.

 

[MrMatt555]

13-2

Spoiler

fight me.

 

[Vincent Grayson]

Unpopular opinion, XII. It doesnt have a music as strong as One Winged Angel/To Zenarkand/Terra theme, but it matches perfectly well with the world and is full of great tracks. The Necrohol of Nabudis song is my favorite FF theme ever.

I love XII's OST. My only negative is that if you threw together most Sakimoto tracks into a random playlist, I couldn't tell you whether any given track was from a particular game.

 

[MaverickHunterAsh]

I know you said mainline games only, OP, but I consider each game's direct sequels part of the mainline series as well, and even if I didn't, Final Fantasy XIII-2's soundtrack is too godly not to mention in any discussion about the best FF OSTs. That said, in terms of the soundtracks alone:

1. FF VIII
2. FF VI
3. FF XIII-2
4. FF X
5. FF VII / IX (kind of a tossup)

13-2

Spoiler

fight me.

Now why would I fight a fellow GAFer with amazing taste?