A light-hearted FFXII score?

[Jormungand]

I've heard from various people that the FFXII soundtrack is going to be similar to FFTA (or rather, that's how Matsuno wants it)...

I'm really looking forward to this soundtrack, but man did hearing that statement ruin my day.

Sakimoto is my absolute favorite composer -- hands down. And I do love his light-hearted work, but he has proven that his musical maturity and compositional depth arise from his darker scores (i.e. FFT and VS). I had hopes that FFXII would become my favorite soundtrack, replacing FFTactics...but if it is light-hearted, that simply cannot be. It just won't match the depth -- not like Vagrant Story and Tactics, or even Breath of Fire V.

But this really makes no sense at all to me: FFXII is seeming like a much darker game in respect to both plot and atmosphere. Why in the world would Matsuno want light-hearted music to accompany a dark game? It makes no sense.

With that, I am hoping that what I have been hearing is just a rumor with no stable evidence. Why do I have the feeling I'm going to be dissapointed? I have no grounds that FFXII will be generally dark in nature except the preview screenshots and story/plot tidbits, so if it turns out to be something akin to FFTA story-wise, that blows my argument that light-hearted music is an illogical choice for the game.

Either way, no Sakimoto soundtrack will ever be bad -- I'm just waiting patiently for the next epic. And I know it will come along sometime.

Anyway...the man needs to release more of his earlier works. Hourai Gakuen no Bouken anyone? Fantastic music, progressive style mainly, came shortly before FFTactics and Treasure Hunter G. Gauntlet is also a good one.

I also recommend his Legaia Duel Saga work for the more acoustic side of Sakimoto...I felt obligated to mention it since I haven't seen it pop up on this board anywhere (unless I missed it). And especially "Lost Forest" of the same album...inexpicably entrancing.

That's all for now.

[KujaFFman]

I have a different vision of Final Fantasy XII, which actually match what Matsuno think. To me, this game looks brightful, light-hearted as you said. A lot of color (with a lot of orange and blue, warm colors), of light and of life. This game takes place in an exotic world, the dungeons are not that dark (Breath of Fire V, for example, is much darker) and you have this impression of warmth while looking at the pics.

From what I've heard, Hitoshi Sakimoto is doing a polyvalent soundtrack, using a brightful tone but with a lot of different themes - dark and light-hearted. I'm also happy to see that some pieces will be orchestrated. Sounds great ! I love the atmosphere of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and it seems like we'll have the same for FFXII - but different... let me use the word "adult".

[Garamond]

I have a different vision of Final Fantasy XII, which actually match what Matsuno think. To me, this game looks brightful, light-hearted as you said. A lot of color (with a lot of orange and blue, warm colors), of light and of life. This game takes place in an exotic world, the dungeons are not that dark (Breath of Fire V, for example, is much darker) and you have this impression of warmth while looking at the pics.

From what I've heard, Hitoshi Sakimoto is doing a polyvalent soundtrack, using a brightful tone but with a lot of different themes - dark and light-hearted. I'm also happy to see that some pieces will be orchestrated. Sounds great ! I love the atmosphere of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and it seems like we'll have the same for FFXII - but different... let me use the word "adult".

I mostly agree with your point.
I have downloaded the FF12 trailer from mag. "Youth Jump"
except some already released bright pieces
but also about 3 dark tracks are featured with some ethnic perccusion.
If I guess it correctly, Director Matsuno is hoping to find a balance between bright and dark in FF12,
(Vagrant Story is extreme dark but FFTA is extreme bright,
but you know that Matsuno actually only gave his advise to FFTA development team but no more work, that's all)
so HS is simply do the same thing as him, balances the bright and dark,
stereotype and non-stereotype

[Raijin]

To have a idea of what kind of soundtrack you could expect in FFXII, go there: http://www.ff12.com/music/index2.html

[Jormungand]

Yes, I've listened to them.

Fortunately, it's all incredible (as if there were a doubt). Sakimoto's gift for dynamic expression is simply unstoppable. This already overshadows everything the FF series has ever seen as far as musical depth goes, only being matched by Hamauzu and Nakano's work with FFX (though their styles and Sakimoto's aren't really comparable as they are three totally different worlds).

Thank you Matsuno for having such fine taste!

[datschge]

Thank you Matsuno for having such fine taste!

Indeed, without Matsuno Sakimoto most likely wouldn't have started composing orchestral style music at all but instead have kept focussed on sound programming and arranging of others' music.

[Jormungand]

Indeed, without Matsuno Sakimoto most likely wouldn't have started composing orchestral style music at all but instead have kept focussed on sound programming and arranging of others' music.

Well, he'd still be composing too...after all, he has written plenty of non-orchestral soundtracks.

[datschge]

Well, he'd still be composing too...after all, he has written plenty of non-orchestral soundtracks.

Yes, but we wouldn't talk about him here then. Ever listened to his music style in e.g. Sword Maniac (j) and the likes? I like it a lot, but it's not at all reminiscent of the style he built on since Ogre Battle and is so much praised now. =)

[Rain Corale]

[/quote] I also recommend his Legaia Duel Saga work for the more acoustic side of Sakimoto...I felt obligated to mention it since I haven't seen it pop up on this board anywhere (unless I missed it). And especially "Lost Forest" of the same album...inexpicably entrancing.
That's all for now.[/quote]


Can you give a little more detail on music from the Legaia Saga? I am intrigued... [/quote]

[Anonymous]

Can you give a little more detail on music from the Legaia Saga? I am intrigued...
Can you give a little more detail on music from the Legaia Saga? I am intrigued...
I would love to!

The first thing, as I mentioned before somewhere, Legaia Duel Saga was a collaboration between Hitoshi Sakimoto, Yasunori Mitsuda, and Michiru Oshima (who scored the first Legaia game). Stylistically, it is much more acoustic and based on smaller ensembles (specifically, more use of guitar, pan flutes, Latin/African percussion, etc.). From Mitsuda's and Sakimoto's end there are some definite Celtic influences running around, while Oshima's work is...well...kind of lifeless (also note that Sakimoto did the majority of his soundtrack).

Sakimoto's stuff features a lot more experimental ideas, some a little unusual, but he has a select number of tracks that are absolutely beautiful (the aforementioned "Lost Forest" being the highlight). There are some orchestral pieces though, and they shine as they normally do though they are much more light-hearted. Also, another song I have to mention is "Tanza". I don't know if you've hear Masashi Hamauzu's "Sight of Spira" from FFX before, but it had been the single most convincing piece of synthesized acoustic guitar music I'd ever heard...fluctuating dynamics, crisp slides, palm-mutes, fret noises, vivid synchronization...absolutely marvelous. Then I heard "Tanza", and Sakimoto proved quite soundly (no pun intended) that he knew what he was doing with a guitar. The song is just as organic as Hamauzu's, putting the two in close contention for best synthesized guitar music. His darker colors show up in the opressively beautiful "The Repressed Soul", and he demonstrates his adeptness at jazz with "Dream of Paradise". And so on and so forth.

Mitsuda has notable contributions too, such as the opening theme "Fight, then Riot!". Needless to say, I recommend this album.

You should also read this review (http://www.chudahs-corner.com/reviews/macm2024.html) written by Chudah if you want more info. If you've got any more questions, feel free to askl :D

[Jormungand]

Um, yeah, that was me above. ^_^'

Here's a link that actually works. (http://www.chudahs-corner.com/reviews/macm2024.html)

[Rain Corale]

Um, yeah, that was me above. ^_^'

Here's a link that actually works. (http://www.chudahs-corner.com/reviews/macm2024.html)

I definitely have to check that out, thanks for info.