• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

I just want to take a moment to express how great I think the FFXIII soundtrack is

DragoonKain

DragoonKain

Neighbours from Hell
It's one of my all-time favorite video game soundtracks. I like giving it recognition and appreciation whenever I can because of how unhappy a large contingent of people were with the FFXIII trilogy, but I think the soundtracks for those games are great, especially XIII. I don't want that lost in the disappointment that was the actual games.

It has an amazing melancholic and ambient feel to it. Hamauzu and his team did a great job, and Sayuri Sugawara's voice was a great addition.

I love Nobuo's work, hell I idolize the guy, but I think Final Fantasy XIII may have my favorite soundtrack of the entire series. So no disrespect to Nobuo here, Hamauzu just did a great job.

Just some tracks I love:

The Warpath Home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Un2kQzC2Do

The Vestige - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv1AXalaRhg

Lake Bresha - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8XcJ0VFjOE

A Brief Respite - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQiH3YO0VB0

The Gapra Whitewood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQzPvgG4AcU

March of the Deadnoughts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yooEf45UWnU

Sulyya Springs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQSr2Qq30mM

Fighting Fate - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgE0VHiYV6Q
 
T

Thoraxes

Member
I've analyzed the hell out of this OST and the piano collections, and I still can't get over how amazing XIII's OST truly is. It also ushered in a new period of sound for Hamauzu's output that carries through to even his most current works. I love that he still composes for games, and is still working with SE as well. WoFF was also an outstanding recent effort by him that was definitely one of the best OSTs from an SE game last year.
 
P

PumpkinPie

Banned
The game is one of my most hated games, but the soundtrack is godly and my favourite from Theatrhythm. Dat Sunleth Waterscape.
 
eXistor

eXistor

Member
It does fit the game, which is good, but it's definitely not for me. I would never listen to it outside of the game (and I would never replay the game again).
 
T

Thoraxes

Member
duckroll said:
Has he even been doing anything since other than that weird Beethoven with mechs (?) anime thing?
Click to expand...
Most recently, since WoFF last year (which was about the same time as that), he just released another album with Mina with their IMERUAT group called Far Saa Far just a couple weeks ago, and is wrapping up Alliance Alive. They seem to be touring for performances right now on that end as well. Still seems to be doing the Sony World Clock site music too. Last year Also had World of FF and the orchestration and recording of his FFX Piano Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra.

But even between XIII and that, there's like at least 20-30 things he's worked on between those two things in all kinds of crazy capacities.
 
B

brianmcdoogle

Member
I liked the soundtrack, but I don't like it in the game. My memory is hazy to discuss it in detail, but there were several cutscenes where it felt like the music was in some tonal dissonance with what was happening on screen, and it was strange. When it works in the game, it works. But, when it doesn't work, I just had an uneasy feeling that something was off. Though that could be a result of the direction/editing of the cutscenes and not the music.
 
D

duckroll

Member
Thoraxes said:
Most recently, since WoFF last year (which was about the same time as that), he just released another album with Mina with their IMERUAT group called Far Saa Far just a couple weeks ago, and is wrapping up Alliance Alive. They seems to be touring for performances right now on that end as well. Still seems to be doing the Sony World Clock site music too. Last year Also had World of FF and the orchestration and recording of his FFX Piano Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra.

But even between XIII and that, there's like at least 20-30 things he's worked on between those two things in all kinds of crazy capacities.
Click to expand...

Boring. Where's Sigma Harmonics 2?!
 
Perfo

Perfo

Thirteen flew over the cuckoo's nest
It's definitely my favorite OST in the series. But in general I bonded so well with XIII that I cherish every memory I have of it, from the story down to the gameplay. M.Hamauzu is currently my favorite composer working with S-E and was a bit sad seeing his talents wasted on a mediocre title like WoFF. Hopefully he'll make a comeback with FF7r or FF16 one day.
 
B

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
No lies detected. I think it's one of the best soundtracks in the series, and in gaming.

Truth be told I think XIII-2's might be even better... but I'm a sucker for that "ethereal pop vocals" thing they lean on in that one.
 
V

Via Purifico

Banned
Say what you want about the game but the music was amazing.

The Gapra Whitewood and The Yaschas Massif are among my favorites.

BocoDragon said:
No lies detected. I think it's one of the best soundtracks in the series, and in gaming.

Truth be told I think XIII-2's might be even better... but I'm a sucker for that "ethereal pop vocals" thing they lean on in that one.
Click to expand...



Origa really helped make the soundtrack better.
 
E

Etrian Oddity

Member
Will to Fight is fucking terrific, I think it and Gapra Whitewood are my favorites.

Poor Hamauzu. Genuinely one of the most talented composers the industry has ever seen, and he's only had mediocre at best games to credit him. When will he get a break?

DragoonKain said:
It's one of my all-time favorite video game soundtracks. I like giving it recognition and appreciation whenever I can because of how unhappy a large contingent of people were with the FFXIII trilogy, but I think the soundtracks for those games are great, especially XIII. I don't want that lost in the disappointment that was the actual games.

It has an amazing melancholic and ambient feel to it. Hamauzu and his team did a great job, and Sayuri Sugawara's voice was a great addition.

I love Nobuo's work, hell I idolize the guy, but I think Final Fantasy XIII may have my favorite soundtrack of the entire series. So no disrespect to Nobuo here, Hamauzu just did a great job.

Just some tracks I love:

The Warpath Home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Un2kQzC2Do

The Vestige - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv1AXalaRhg

Lake Bresha - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8XcJ0VFjOE

A Brief Respite - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQiH3YO0VB0

The Gapra Whitewood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQzPvgG4AcU

March of the Deadnoughts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yooEf45UWnU

Sulyya Springs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQSr2Qq30mM

Fighting Fate - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgE0VHiYV6Q
Click to expand...

Love you so much OP. Hamauzu did such a phenomenal job with FF XIII. I hate the game and trilogy, but I put its OST atop the franchise.
 
G

gun_haver

Member
The music is okay but it's pretty saccharine in the places I would normally like it. JRPG music is often like that when you don't have somebody with a distinct style doing the music, very melodramatic and cheesy when even the slightest emotion is called for - but then so was the whole game, so I guess it's consistent.

The music is also kind of a generic ripoff of other Japanese soundtracks - a lot of the melodies and piano lines are very similar to Joe Hisaishi stuff, like Hana Bi's OST. Doesn't feel like much personality was put into it, they just made it sound like what people like.

I'm not saying it's a bunch of shit I just don't think it deserves being pointed out as good.
 
Alex

Alex

Member
I think I remember two songs, oh and the battle theme which takes longer to actually get going than most battles last.
 
1

140.85

Cognitive Dissonance, Distilled
The music is profoundly good at moments and consistently solid. It also has a unique identity so that it easy to tell when you're hearing a XIII song when listening to a mix of FF music. All the best FF soundtracks have this. You can tell which game it's from just by hearing it.

XIII gets a lot of shit for its level and dungeon hallways, "mom's are tough" and character design, but it's soundtrack and battle system is some of the best the series has ever produced.
 
TannerDemoz

TannerDemoz

Member
Disagree. I've listened to it loads and while the main melodies are great, I don't want to hear an entire soundtrack built up of slightly different variations. Boring after a while.
 
T

toddhunter

Member
Alex said:
I think I remember two songs, oh and the battle theme which takes longer to actually get going than most battles last.
Click to expand...

I personally found it to be one of the most annoying and out of place soundtracks I have ever heard.

When you listen to something like 6, you know you are playing a final fantasy game. Listening to 13 makes you think you are watching a bad jpop anime where they are going shopping or something. And that is just the battle theme, I wouldn't be able to remember enough of the other songs to even associate them with gaming.

At best it was forgettable, at worst it is awful. Still, I will concede the soundtrack was by far the best thing about the game.
 
B

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
140.85 said:
The music is profoundly good at moments and consistently solid. It also has a unique identity so that it easy to tell when you're hearing a XIII song when listening to a mix of FF music. All the best FF soundtracks have this. You can tell which game it's from just by hearing it.

XIII gets a lot of shit for its level and dungeon hallways, "mom's are tough" and character design, but it's soundtrack and battle system is some of the best the series has ever produced.
Click to expand...

Very true. You got the good points of the game down perfectly.

I'd also add that the graphics are phenomenal. It's a 7 year old game, and I still think it looks nicer than many PS4 games. Bump up that resolution in an 1080/4k remaster and it will look perfect.
 
M

MilkBeard

Member
eXistor said:
It does fit the game, which is good, but it's definitely not for me. I would never listen to it outside of the game (and I would never replay the game again).
Click to expand...
This is how I feel. It's not really to my tastes. I can recognize that it is quality work, however.

On the other hand, I find myself listening to the FFXV soundtrack on YouTube constantly.
 
B

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
gun_haver said:
The music is okay but it's pretty saccharine in the places I would normally like it. JRPG music is often like that when you don't have somebody with a distinct style doing the music, very melodramatic and cheesy when even the slightest emotion is called for - but then so was the whole game, so I guess it's consistent.

The music is also kind of a generic ripoff of other Japanese soundtracks - a lot of the melodies and piano lines are very similar to Joe Hisaishi stuff, like Hana Bi's OST. Doesn't feel like much personality was put into it, they just made it sound like what people like.

I'm not saying it's a bunch of shit I just don't think it deserves being pointed out as good.
Click to expand...
toddhunter said:
I personally found it to be one of the most annoying and out of place soundtracks I have ever heard.

When you listen to something like 6, you know you are playing a final fantasy game. Listening to 13 makes you think you are watching a bad jpop anime where they are going shopping or something. And that is just the battle theme, I wouldn't be able to remember enough of the other songs to even associate them with gaming.

At best it was forgettable, at worst it is awful. Still, I will concede the soundtrack was by far the best thing about the game.
Click to expand...

I'm not really going to argue too hard the very subjective taste that is music, but I can't fathom any talk of it being a generic anime soundtrack. No other game or anime sounds like it. I think what you mean is that it's "score" now, and not "chiptune melody".. because it's the 21st century.

To the point about FFVI: I played it when it was new - I adored its soundtrack as a formative life experience - and I am sure that XIII's soundtrack is at least as unique and memorable in its time and place.
 
D

duckroll

Member
toddhunter said:
I personally found it to be one of the most annoying and out of place soundtracks I have ever heard.

When you listen to something like 6, you know you are playing a final fantasy game. Listening to 13 makes you think you are watching a bad jpop anime where they are going shopping or something. And that is just the battle theme, I wouldn't be able to remember enough of the other songs to even associate them with gaming.

At best it was forgettable, at worst it is awful. Still, I will concede the soundtrack was by far the best thing about the game.
Click to expand...

This is a really good post in the wrong thread. I think you meant to save this for a Xenoblade Chronicles X soundtrack thread in a few decades when skypunch finally gets thread creation privileges back. #fuckSawano
 
T

toddhunter

Member
duckroll said:
This is a really good post in the wrong thread. I think you meant to save this for a Xenoblade Chronicles X soundtrack thread in a few decades when skypunch finally gets thread creation privileges back. #fuckSawano
Click to expand...

Sadly I'm yet to play that one, but I'll keep it in mind.
 
1

140.85

Cognitive Dissonance, Distilled
BocoDragon said:
Very true. You got the good points of the game down perfectly.

I'd also add that the graphics are phenomenal. It's a 7 year old game, and I still think it looks nicer than many PS4 games. Bump up that resolution in an 1080/4k remaster and it will look perfect.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I would take pictures of the screen sometimes during that game. It was beautiful for the time.
 
Ennosuke

Ennosuke

Member
I think we can discuss a lot about linear level design and the combat, but damn I loved the OST and the artdesign.
Even today I still listen to some of the tracks.
 
Y

Yabberwocky

Member
I love FFXIII's soundtrack, XIII-2 and LR have a lot of great tracks, too. (Though we don't mention Crazy Chocobo.)

Hamauzu's WoFF soundtrack was also absolutely fantastic. I shouldn't have been so surprised it was so good, but goddamn, he went all out. I'm quite fond of WoFF, but the soundtrack is far better than the game deserves.
 
K

kromeo

Member
It was a bit more hit and miss for me that the previous 6 games but it's highs are really good. Gapra Whitewood is one of my goats

XV made me appreciate the game a lot more, think I'll replay it once I'm done with Persona
 
Y

YAWN

Ask me which Shakespeare novel is best
Aye, it's phenomenal material.
Gapra Whitewood and Sabre's Edge are the stand outs for me.
FFXIII deserves a lot of flack, but if anything the music helped immerse me, which is a key staple of Final Fantasy.
 
U

uceenk

Member
Blinded by light was my favorite, honestly not only music i also like the gameplay as well, so i don't understand why most gaffers hate thia game
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

NeoGAF's Official Game Soundtracks of the Year 2016: Voting Ends January 15th
6 7 8 9 10
482
94K
Ekai replied
Let's take a moment to appreciate Metal Slug's soundtracks
21
9K
TheRedSnifit replied
Let's all take a moment to appreciate Metal Slug 5's soundtrack
14
3K
SpacePirate Ridley replied
NeoGAF’s Official Game Soundtracks of the 6th Generation: Results and Archive
2 3
142
26K
Evilisk replied
NeoGAF’s Official Game Soundtracks of the Year 2014: Results and Archive
2 3 4
172
33K
Maravers replied
Top Bottom