Customer Reviews

Final Fantasy VI: Grande Finale

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Like many fans of game music, the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack originally got me interested in the genre. As a fan of classical music, I have always eagerly awaited official symphonic arrangements of my favorite game tunes, and Grande Finale is probably the best of said arrangements.

The music of FFVI is always emotional: sometimes brooding, sometimes hopeful, sometimes exciting. This arrangement showcases Uematsu's versatility as a composer and his cognizance of classical instruments. There are no synthesizers on this CD: only real performances with real instruments. The arrangement of the Aria is the best that has ever been done, and this CD is worth having just for that track. No track disappoints, and all should bring the nostalgic gamer back to the fun days of Super Nintendo gaming.

Not all video game lovers will appreciate this; even true Final Fantasy fans may be turned off by the soft style and lack of exciting battle themes. However, the music is well arranged, well performed, and breaks down the lines between game music and neoclassical composition. People who do not like the synthesized game sounds may appreciate Grande Finale for its imagination and simple charm. While this CD is not a must-buy for everyone, I recommend it to anyone who loved FFVI and anyone who appreciates good symphonic music.

I have the original soundtrack for FF6 But I still love this CD. Well, since it's not OST so don't expect to hear the original music you heard while playing game. All pieces are played by symphony orchestra and, as a classical music lover myself, I enjoy this CD as much as Vivaldi's Four Season!! Every song was well rearranged and perfectly presented in symphonic style...Warning!! if you're only gamers and don't think any classical music is worth listening, don't buy this CD.. But if you're classical music lovers as well, buy it..!! Whether or not you've ever played the game, the beauty of the music will make you not to regret every penny you spend..!!

Being a great fan of ff6,I was impatient to listen to this record.At first I thought it was impressive with the orchestra.But then the more I listened to it the more I felt a bit disapointed.I think that some songs dont grasp the original feeling of the game and that some of them dont even respect the original tunes.But you mustnt get me wrong,it still stays a wonderful record,even though it is not totally faithful to the game. Anyway the best advice I can give is to LISTEN TO SOME SONGS BEFORE BUYING IT,to avoid any disapointment.

As a youngster when the original game came out, the music playing in the background of the game influenced me to an impressive degree. Since this was one of the first games I really played through several times, it was really ingrained into my psyche. At times I would even play through the game just to hear the music. When I heard there was a CD of it done by a full orchestra, needless to say, I was excited. The renditions are very well done, and feature some exotic instrumentation (bagpipes for Relm... rather unusual, but very effective). I was particularly captured by the Aria (the opera house song/Celes's theme). I've played it for people who had never even heard of the game, and they's remarked at how beautiful it is. For those who have an emotional attachment to the game, it's an intense experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone, but particularly those who have played the game and loved it.

Reading the other reviews, I can understand some of their complaints. Yes, some of the selections are not the most exciting from the OSV, and some of the songs have undergone "surgery", so to speak. However, if one can just dig a little deeper into the music, they will discover how truly amazing this CD is. Nobuo Uematsu's simple yet fantastic melodies are blended with a mature orchestra sound to achieve a high level of greatness.

Track Listing:

Opening Theme: This is beyond words. Very similar to the OSV version, only now the song has that rich texture that only a live orchestra can provide.

Cefca: Good. I do agree that some of the darker tone the OSV version had has been removed, but this arrangement is still enjoyable.

The Mystic Forest: Hauntingly beautiful with a very surreal, mysterious tone.

Gau: Excellently orchestrated, nice use of cello.

Milan de Chocobo: Personally being a fan of the fast-paced, jovial qualities of the Chocobo themes from the games, I was initially put off by this track, but as I have heard it more and more I have come to appreciate the tonal qualities; very modern.

Troops March On: Very rousing piece; you can see the soldiers marching in formation. Really the only rousing peace on the whole album, in terms of style.

Kids Run Through The City Corner: I agree that the introduction to this track is a little bland and long, but once the piece enters the original theme, all is forgiven. Excellent use of strings.

Blackjack: Very pastoral. While listening you can see the hills and mountains moving by as though you were on the Blackjack itself. Doesn't quite have the pulse of the OSV version though.

Relm: Very well done. This is one of the better pieces on the album. The bagpipes are obtrusive but the rest of the arrangement more than makes up for it. If you liked it on the OSV then you'll like it here.

Mistery Train: This piece received the most "surgery" of any of these on the disc. Whereas the OSV version suggested the use of a full orchestra with brass, this version is merely a piano and violin. It is still very enjoyable and the arrangement gives it even more of a "blues" feel.

Aria Di Mezzo Carattere: What can I say? This track is wonderful as well. While not my favorite--I'm not an opera fan, so sue me--I still find this enjoyable. The melody of Celes's Theme is amazing no matter how it is performed. And unlike the simple notes of the OSV version, this arranged adaptation of the aria has lyrics in Italian.

All in all, this is an excellent CD. None of the tracks are bad if you have a sophisticated enough taste in music. If you like any of Final Fantasy VI's music--or any of Nobuo Uematsu's, for that matter--no matter what form, you will probably like this album.

Don't get me wrong, I own both this and the FFVI OSV, because the music simply amazing. However, this CD didn't quite live up to what I was expecting. True, the first track is superb, and some of the others are cool to listen to, but some are re-wired to the extream.

I first noticed it as a problem in the Kefka track (the second one!), where I was only about a minute into it where I could no longer recognize it! Relm's theme was done with bagpipes, and while I laughed at first, I was later upset by its failure to subside.

I was also really mad by the track selection. I was expecting "Dancing Mad" (the final battle theme) instead of these tracks. True, some of those tracks are classics, but a good chunk of these are the few tracks I skip over when I listen to the OSV.

I won't deny that this does have great stuff, but I just want to tell you all that this CD is not the perfect CD I was hoping for! If you truely love all FF6 music, and don't mind if it's been redone, than get it, for then you will love it! More than me, at least.

So, judging by some of the other reviews for this CD, I can assume that this album might not appeal to everyone. That is understandable because everyone's taste varies, this is what gives life so much spice.
All of that being said and gotten out of the way, I will do my best to make this review as unbiased and honest as I can.
As background, this album has a lot of emotional attachment for me. I absolutely loved the game when I was growing up, and I remember seeing this album when my parents and I were at a comic book-esque store (I'm not sure how to describe it, they sold everything there from anime and manga, to Comics and music, clothes. figurines). I was so excited to get it. It was a bit expensive, as it still seems to be, however they bought it for me in exchange for doing extra-chores. I excitedly agreed and this album with interesting cover-art was in my possession. From the moment I popped it in the CD player, I loved it, from beginning to end (accept for Relm, the bagpipe seemed really out of place. They should have used a Clarinet or something). After well-over a decade, I still have fond memories of it and enjoy listening to it.
Getting that out of the way, I think it might not be possible for me to be completely objective. I think this is a fantastic album, and while I can understand how some classical aficionados might not be as excited about it as others, I think Mr. Uematsu did a wonderful job composing and conducting this.
If you go onto your favorite video-sharing site, you should be able to find some complete recordings of some of the songs to give you a taste of what it sounds like. If you enjoyed Video Games Live (which was on PBS), then chances are you are going to love this album.
I definitely recommend this album, however if you are skeptical I verily encourage you to find some decent samples and listen to it first to get a taste. If you enjoy it, then please buy it! Music like this needs to be supported.

Final Fantasy VI Grande Finale: an orchestrated album of some of video gaming's best songs, and a must-buy. All of the tracks are fully orchestrated and rewritten, allowing for a new feel and added flavor.

Tina - A great start to a great album. An almost Batman-esque sound followed by the better-known overworld theme, and at times vaguely reminiscent of the ever-popular Prologue.

Kefka - If you weren't told this was Kefka's theme, you might not realize for the first 20 seconds. An interesting piano introduction leading to a woodwind version of Kefka's bouncy and mocking theme.

The Mystic Forest - A mellow, sweeping song that seems melancholy at times, but always maintains the air of control.

Gau - This song was one of my favorites in the original soundtrack, and it remains so with this remake. The use of strings is superb. While I would have preferred a deeper and richer sound for the melody, this song still incredible.

Milan de Chocobo - An orchestrated version of the famed Chocobo theme? You bet! I never thought I'd hear a mellow yet whimsical version of this theme, but here it is. Very intriguing, with interesting countermelodies and a unique bass line.

Troops March On - Start out with a drum roll, and bring in the majestic horn section. A truly regal-sounding theme with excellent varied use of instruments and sounds.

Kids Run Through the City Corner - Violins set the tone for this next track with a drawn-out introduction leading into the familiar village theme. Very nice use of strings in this piece.

Blackjack - This track starts out sounding almost like a Gershwin piece, or a park scene from a Broadway musical, but it shortly resolves into a woodwind version of the Blackjack theme from the soundtrack.

Relm - This was one of the sweetest themes in the soundtrack, though the synth bagpipe sound turned some people off. In this orchestrated version, real bagpipes are used, providing a rustic feel while maintaining the lilting theme in the wind section.

Mystery Train - Whereas the original track utilized 'spooky' instruments to relay a feeling of urgency, this track starts out with violins melodies, adding in a piano countermelody shortly thereafter. An intriguing twist on an already interesting song.

Aria di Mezzo Carattere - Being a fan of opera, this track blew me away. Using an opera in a video game seemed surprising enough, but changing it into a well-orchestrated and well-sung Italian opera went beyond what I had ever expected, even of Nobuo Uematsu. I fell in love with Celes's theme before I even knew I was into gaming music. When the opera scene came up, it almost made me want to cry, it was so touching. This version does even more than the original could, and the soloist is superb. My favorite track of the album.

Having reviewed every track separately, it only confirms my feeling that this is one of the best, if not the best, video game music albums ever recorded. It definitely deserves a five-star rating. I applaud Uematsu on his work.

For all of those who didn't like this soundtrack or who didn't give it a full five stars for its quality, I'm writing this review. Let me just say that a true lover of "classical" or movie music should truly enjoy this soundtrack all by itself; and for those who are not only among that order but who've had these tunes running in their head for years ever since they first played the game itself, this is a must-have item. Upon first hearing the orchestral versions of these songs via Napster MP3, I was blown away: Those beautiful layers of mellow strings and dazzling piano and every other orchestral instrument make it all worthwhile. It's simply a more refined and mature interpretation of the music that's just fantastic to hear. One might say it's almost like turning your favorite pop into a beautifully blended wine. My one favorite song had originally been the Aria, but sadly, the reworked "Kefka" was just plain gorgeous; the two are now in close competition. I only wish the lot of you could preview the music on the website through RealAudio to judge for yourself more precisely. Apparently, it's not popular enough for that! Needless to say, get this soundtrack if you don't have it already: it's worth it.

I love this album so much! As a classical music lover and devoted Nobuo Uematsu fan, the concept of the album really appealed to me. I really enjoyed the fusion of classical music with some of my favorite songs in the game. My favorite track on this album by far was "Aria Di Mezzo Carattere", which adds a whole new level to the already beautiful song- the lyrics are actually sung in Italian. Other tracks I enjoyed were:
"Opening Theme~Tina"- which is a blend of "The Opening Theme" and "Tina" (known as "Terra" to those of us playing the NA versions of the game), which sounds like it came from a Spaghetti Western
"Gau"- the cello is lovely
"Kids Run Through the City Corner"- I love how the violin and harpsichord "flirt" with each other in the introduction, and then work together afterwards
"Relm"- which has a harpsichord AND bagpipes in it!
"Mystery Train"- There is some intense violin and piano on this track

Even if you're not the biggest fan of classical music, you will still enjoy this album if you love the music in Final Fantasy VI. I definitely recommend it!