Customer Reviews

Final Fantasy VIII: Piano Collections

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is nothing, I repeat, nothing wrong with this collection. They have managed to put 13 of the best songs, from Final Fantasy VIII and turned them into even more amazing music! 'Blue Fields' is a legendary world map theme, that has only become more beautiful with the piano. 'Eyes On Me' sounds more like 'Love Grows' or 'Julia' (tracks from the original soundtrack), then 'Eyes on Me' but it's still amazing. 'Fisherman's Horizon' is a wonderful track, no matter which verson your listening to. 'SUCCESSION OF WITCHES' sounds much better in this collection, then in the game. The track 'Ami' is like three tracks in one, it's a lot like a piano version of the songs 'Balamb Garden' and 'Where I Belong'. 'Shuffle or Boogie' the song played during a card game, is probably the most different, from the original. 'Find Your Way' is a wondering track, introduced towards the beginning of the game in the fire cavern, and sounds even more mysterious then the original verson. 'The Oath' is my favorite track on any FFVIII soundtrack, period. Although, this version is not my favorite, it's still a beautiful, powerful track, that you will never get tired of. 'Silence and Motion' is so different that it's like a whole new track! 'The Castle' and especially, 'The successor' sound like there original versions. 'Ending Theme' is truly a classic, which features the lovely music from the end credit's and final movie. 'Slide Show Part 2' is the most like it's original, but it is even more fun on this cd!
For all fans of Final Fantasy music, and even people who DON'T like most video game music, should order this now!

I've been listening to the orchestrated version of the FFVIII OST soundtrack for more than a year. I've always found myself tremendously immersed in the music whenever I play it.

A while ago I decided to purchase the piano version. I've also wondered how much this version compares with the orchestrated version, given that that the latter is pretty much "complete" in everything a game soundtrack should be in my opinion.

Well, all I can say is, the piano version is truly a stand-alone in its own right. It incited a different feeling in me when I play it - soft, but aggressive, even though only 1 musical instrument is utilised (as opposed to the those in an orchestra). I would say that it complimented the orchestrated version perfectly.

I especially like to play this version when I'm curled up in a blanket reading a book....life is just sweet. :D

The past Final Fantasy games have brought tracks of music that easily took you to its place in the game, but none like the songs of Final Fantasy VIII. With its beautiful piano scores and wonderfully orchestrated versions of the game music, it can often bring you right into the mood of the scene. To listen to this piano collection of the Final Fantasy VIII tracks, and feel then as if really being in the unimaginable world of it all, makes it an amazing C-D sound track to listen too. If you liked the game, you will love this album!

I loved the compositions from the game and I think Nobuo Uematsu is a great composer, fitting perfect music for perfect environments.
However, I could not abide the repetative synthesised instruments that accompanied the music on most occasions. I recently bought the original FF8, thinking they perhaps implemented real instruments..but no luck.
Then I saw this! Absolutely amazing... A single pianist plays 13 of the greatest FF8 tracks, with clever re-arrangements, you can listen to this, fully imersed in the Final Fantasy atmosphere. My highlight must be the card game theme, shuffle or boogie...an excellent take on the 12 bar blues. Anyway, yes, buy this! Also you get it in Japanese packaging...which is always good, for some bizarre reason the have a little plastic see-though sheath which the real case goes in...lovely.

Quite simply, this is some of the most relaxing piano music that I have heard in a long time. This cd takes music from the game that is related to love, exploration and ambience, and arranges it in piano form. No fast-paced battle music on this cd(which would be pretty hard to turn into piano anyway, so I'm not complaining).

Some of my favorites are AMI(which includes the Balamb Garden theme), The Oath, Succession of Witches, and Find Your Way. All of them work very well as piano arrangements while still keeping the feel of the original. Every piece on this cd is good, though I question the descision that put a ragtime piece in as the last song. It just doesn't fit with the rest of the cd. And I don't think that the Triple Triad theme(Shuffle or Boogie) needed to be arranged(can we please all just pretend that the game never existed?).

The game itself wasn't that great. But this cd is. A tad expensive, but if you like piano music, this is an excellent cd. Very good for playing while reading, doing homework, etc.

Just like the other Final Fantasy Music Collections, this CD is a "must-have" one (although it's not the best of Uematsu). Since the theme for Final Fantasy VIII is "love", this CD gives you the sense of sweet, loving and relaxing. The first track is "Blue Fields" and followed by a super hit, "Eyes on me", track which is a newly rearranged one (But still very good). The rest of the CD gives you the same sensation. I find this CD is good for my relaxing day and before bed time and everytime I listen to it, I just like it more and more. As I said, if you like final fantasy series and Uematsu's work, you will like this CD.

I like each of the Piano Collections, but I think this one is heads above the rest. Now, mind you, each of them has certain merits and whatnot that make them unique and interesting. This one is that and more.

Naturally, some of Uematsu's best compositions from the game are here. Perhaps some of the best of any of the games, really. A bit of everything is included, from the dark to the nostalgic to the peaceful. Every bit as critical as the track selection is the arrangement. All of the arrangements here seem, I don't know, fluid ... natural. In the other Piano Collections you'll find quite a few of the tracks just don't feel right, like they don't quite fit when played on the piano, but none of these exhibit that flaw. At all. Really. It's perfect.

In all of the Piano Collections it's always a different performer. They're certainly all good at what they do, but this is yet another area where this one comes out on top, in my opinion. All of the Piano Collections were certainly played with expert precision, but some of them (not all) to me sound ... lifeless - devoid of emotion - flat. Not even so much as one of these tracks exhibit even a hint of that. Shinko Ogata has brought life to these tracks. From tricky variances, to exquisite delicacies, a full spectrum of emotions ... everything just seems lifelike. Shinko Ogata is an artist!

The culmination of the above is one of the best things I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. I highly, highly, highly recommend!

(PS: I never really fully appreciated this until I listened to it - undistracted - with a good pair of headphones)

I think that out of all the Final Fantasy Piano collection that this one is the best one. A very nice thing for the collection of a Final Fantasy fan.

I have come across final fantasy piano soundtracks just a few years ago and I enjoy them very much. As a piano player, I only used to practice classical music but since I have bought these I have expanded my repertoire. They are very lovely to hear and enjoyable to practice. Each time I play them I develop more and more attachments towards the characters and appreciate the people who made them possible.

I would like to thank the seller for the great quality and the fast shipping :) i really liked your service