First Topic. Is Nobuo underrated?

[PB8J]

i don't know, now that he's become a legend, he's starting to be labeled as overrated, and not as good as other composers.

he's been getting bashed big time, lately.

i just think he's starting to be bashed a little too much.

[Eriol]

I think he is spreading himself too thin.

He should probably take some time off.

[Zephyrin]

He is overrated. Half his **** hasn't been good since 6. Some decents in 8, but 7 was stagnant crap, if you ask me.

I think the only think that keeps him afloat still is the blind nerdish devotion to these overdone games. It's just a good thing that the series is sinking faster than his music.

[ktriton]

I don't know, I never really caught onto the Uematsu fever like everyone else ::ducks:: . I do have a collection of FF CDs (most of them out of respect), but I still consider Mitsuda a notch higher than Uematsu (FFX and XI are really good, but they don't count 'cuz it's not just him anymore).

His current music seems to be directly drawn on from his earlier works. And Phantasmagoria just flat-out sucked in my opinion. I think he had his peak compositional and creative skills way back in FF V and VI.

[Emperorsblackbones]

I like all the Final Fantasy soundtracks composed by him. I don't like every track on every soundtrack, but I do like every soundtrack. I haven't heard all his work outside the FF series but what I've heard is not bad. I'm looking forward to the new Hanjuku Hero OST and the little bonus disc with music from the FC HH.

Even if the new HH sucks, it won't matter. He made enough good music in the FF series to last several lifetimes.

[ktriton]

He made enough good music in the FF series to last several lifetimes.

Very true. Don't mistake me, he's a great composer in my eyes. He's 3rd on my list. But lately his ideas seem to be...dwindling...Although I am looking forward to recieving my copy of The Black Mages lol. Battle themes + metal = Pure insanity :D

[Einherjar]

I agree with what has already been said about Mr. Uematsu. Certainly, his earlier works can compete with the best that Mr. Iwadare or Mr. Mitsuda have done. His orchestrations in FF: Symphonic Suite are nothing short of brilliant, and I believe that he hit his high point in video game music with Final Fantasy VI, which, to me, is probably my favorite album for a video game.

However, his stuff as of late his really been somewhat lackluster compared to what he has done before. Final Fantasy VII was really hit and miss, with some spectacular pieces (Aerith's Theme, One-Winged Angel, and FFVII Main Theme), and some forgettable (everything else, almost). Final Fantasy VIII was a definite improvement, not only in composition but also sound quality. Some of my favorite pieces of music that he has done are on this soundtrack (Man With the Machine Gun, Liberi Fatali) but to me, it still isn't quite as good as FFIV, V, or VI. I'm probably the only one here who thinks this, but I loved his works for Final Fantasy IX. The battle themes were great, as were all the themes for the characters and whatnot, particularly for Kuja and Freya. Final Fantasy X, to me, was another hit and miss. While I appreciate Mr. Uematsu trying new things, this shows me that he really should stick to what he does best, and not branch out to, say, the gothic tunes of Overworld.

All in my opinion, of course.

[Dash]

He is really big in the whole gaming industry but I think he was a little underrated when he collaborated with another musician in Ah! My Goddess the Movie.

However I like Mr. Uematsu's works very much, and I truly appreciate them. You can't go wrong with Uematsu. Sure, some pieces may sound like, or simliar to previous ones, but to sensitive people, they are different enough to be considered as new. Mainly because they are new, and you know his skill... He knows music. Whatever his music is like, they are very enjoyable and he knows how to express his own world. Also when I listened to his latter pieces I was shocked, and realized he could still kick ass. Anyway, I'm not tired of his amazing style. I could listen to his music on and on. He is still very good and at least he's not underrated by me. He is one of the remaining masters from the old school period.

[MajinBlueDragon]

when he teamed up with Kenji Ito and did the soundtrack to SaGa 2 (Final Fantasy Legend 2, in the US), I personaly found it to be one of his best works (aside from FF6..But I mean, you can't really compare GB sound to that.) There's even an ost (of Game Boy music o_O), wouldn't it be cool if we see him doing the sounds to...oh I don't know, a much anticipated (but likely to never happen) GBA remake of this game? :P

[Anonymous]

He made enough good music in the FF series to last several lifetimes.

Very true. Don't mistake me, he's a great composer in my eyes. He's 3rd on my list. But lately his ideas seem to be...dwindling...Although I am looking forward to recieving my copy of The Black Mages lol. Battle themes + metal = Pure insanity :D
1. Many classical composers certainly made enough music to last that long, if not moreso.

2. It's more like Battle Themes + Synth Solos + Metal. Want some much better VGM metal? Try the Konami albums... like Dracula Battle. (SlightlyDark.com *hint, hint*)

[demalavor]

I believe he is both underrated and overrated

He is underrated by a lot of VGM fanatics who think he is too mainstream and don't like him just because he is too popular

He is overrated by the die hard Final Fantasy fans who hate anything and everything that isn't Final Fantasy.

I think he's a very good composer, not the best, not the worst. His soundtracks have awesome songs, ok songs and mediocre songs, just like any composer.

[Hajime Saitou]

i like this work with Junya Nakano and Yasunori Mitsuda for Front Mission Gun Hazzard Ost,itsa VERY GOOD soundtrack imo,i mean come on! Yasunori and Nobuo on 2 cds?? of course its good :wink:

[cloudff7]

I think Nobuo Uematus has lead the revolution in game music. His contributions in making it a worldwide genre of music should be credited. Granted we, as hardcore VGM lovers, know more outside the "FF music box" but others don't, therefore affiliate him as their favorite composer. I think what is pulling Nobuo down is the FF series. I don't about you, but I'm not liking where this series is heading and I think the same can be said about the music. No more are we getting fantasy, medieval type of games, but more sci-fi. And of course the music is going to have to stick with the atomosphere.

But don't just assume he did FF, he also contributed to others, such as Front Mission: Gun Hazard, which is an amazing soundtrack, I must add. I think Nobuo needs to take a break, like someone else stated. His been working hard for the past 20 years or so. But don't say his stuff is crap, because it really isn't...

[Uber_User_And_Then_Some]

But don't just assume he did FF, he also contributed to others, such as Front Mission: Gun Hazard, which is an amazing soundtrack, I must add. I think Nobuo needs to take a break, like someone else stated. His been working hard for the past 20 years or so. But don't say his stuff is crap, because it really isn't...

Here, here. His music, and Yuzo Koshiro's music in the acclaimed soundtrack of "Actraiser" was the initial point of my interest of VGM being conceived. I am grateful for his music, and many pieces of his will always remain in my head. I never think negatively towards Nobuo.

[Anonymous]

In my opinion Nobuo Uematsu is the best video game composer ever. Unfortunately he is getting old, his peak was at Final Fantasy 6 I think. He still composes some good music, the FF XI opening theme was very good, and so was Hanjuku Hero... It disappoints me each time that he composes less and less for each new Final Fantasy released...

[Mikal Aganti]

I completely agree with cloudff7. FF6 not only has the best soundtrack, but it is also the greatest FF game created. The music has to fit the theme of the game, and I hated FF7 and the ones afterwards have only been mediocre, and the music reflects the game. If Square made FF games like they used to on the SNES we might get the same quality music we loved on the SNES.

[Anonymous]

Nobuo is nothing short of genius! His works have been INCREDIBLE! He is almost the John Williams of video game music composition. You can hear a little bit of him in almost every RPG soundtrack. If it wasn't for how he and Mr. Kondo inspired the following generation of composers, the world of video game music would be drastically different today. Not to mention what doors of opportunity his success created for all those who would follow. Best works? FFIV, FFVI, FFVII (Yes it was awsome! Perfect blend of traditional videogame music and hollywood cinema, which is exactly the combination FFVII as a game was striving for!), and FFIX. It's really hard to say objectionately that one artist is better or worse than another because styles can vary so drastically, however, I'd say that most other composers in the field truly look up to Uematsu as a source of great inspiration. Truly I don't think any other composers work rivals Nobuo at his peak but there are plenty that are equally good. Examples would be Iwadare's Lunar compositions, Sakuraba's Star Ocean stuff (Tales series is very good also but more of a steady 8 than individual 4's and 10's), and of course Kondo with all of his Zelda stuff. Sugiyama was great back in the day with Dragon Quest too! Seems almost that video game music has become milder however. Softer. We need more hard hitting anthems like the Final Fantasy VI overworld theme and the Overworld theme from Lunar. Also music like that from the first and second Dragon Quest is greatly missed by me. :)

[Drakken]

I believe he is both underrated and overrated

He is underrated by a lot of VGM fanatics who think he is too mainstream and don't like him just because he is too popular

He is overrated by the die hard Final Fantasy fans who hate anything and everything that isn't Final Fantasy.

I think he's a very good composer, not the best, not the worst. His soundtracks have awesome songs, ok songs and mediocre songs, just like any composer.

Yep, very true.

He's one of my favorite composers. My favorite FF soundtracks are 8 and 5. I haven't heard any of his non-FF soundtracks.

[chocohi]

i believe his music is great, incredible and beautiful, especially when orchestred. FF7 and FF8 has unbelievablely great sound tracks. Of course theres the odd song that i don't find as well composed as others, but that is due to many deadlines squaresoft was constantly putting on him.
Pretty much all the series of FF have great songs composed by him. I only wished i was in a country where i could buy FF sound tracks. (australia)

[Geoffrey Taucer]

I think he peaked around FF6, and, with a few exceptions, he's gone significantly downhill since then. I think his older stuff is hugely underrated, and his more recent stuff is hugely overrated.