Customer Reviews

Final Fantasy XI

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first listened to the Final Fantasy X Soundtrack, I had hoped for the best. Unfortunately, I didn't get that. When I listened to the Final Fantasy XI Soundtrack, I have to admit that I really perhaps get the best.

Nobuo Uematsu teams up with two new composers, Naoshi Mizuda and Kumi Tanioka to develop the soundtrack for Final Fantasy XI. And you can tell that this time the Final Fantasy music crew means business as the opening theme turns out to be the prelude of all Final Fantasies...and more. First, a fanfare type of music sounds out, then a chorus after. With this, I had confidence that I found a product better.

Also, the new battle theme is a major improvement. Composed by Naoshi Mizuda, the battle theme is perhaps one of the best in my opinion. The new battle theme matches up with the style of Final Fantasy VIII with the symphonic style.

Overall, it is simply a great CD, and those who had hoped the Final Fantasy XI soundtrack to be a major improvement should get it without a doubt. Although doesn't really have the best songs, it certainly doesn't have the worst songs, just good, and very good songs. In conclusion, four stars is given to the new Final Fantasy XI soundtrack.

Okay, it's time to defend this soundtrack. I hear a lot of people saying how bad of a musician Naoshi Mizuta is, and how his music is uninspired and blah blah blah. People buy this soundtrack thinking they're going to get highly emotional music similar to what they're used to hearing in the past Final Fantasy games, but what they find is a collection of music whose purpose is only to provide atmosphere. This means that instead of story-driven music, you get music inspired by scenery, and many people are turned off by this and instantly think "this music is bad," mostly because we expect to be taken on an emotional journey with our music, but instead we're taken on a journey through an imaginary land.

Final Fantasy XI is an MMORPG, and unlike the past Final Fantasies, it has a different kind of plot; a plot that has no lead characters, no character or NPC development and just includes the bare essentials needed to get the player on their way in the world. The player takes an active role in molding his or her adventure, just like every MMORPG. It's a very different concept from what someone would normally find in a Final Fantasy game.

In the notes included with the soundtrack for the Rise of the Zilart expansion, Naoshi Mizuta clearly states the goal of his music for this particular game: to convey the ideas of earth, nature, wood, water, etc. He accomplished his goal beautifully. There're a few tracks such as Buccaneers that leave you wondering if Mr. Mizuta recorded those songs deaf, but for the most part each song has an earthly feel to it that fits the MMORPG genre perfectly, not to mention the depth of most of these songs is amazing.

That said, the person who buys this OST shouldn't expect to find many sweeping emotional themes in this score (they're there, but they're done by the other two composers, they're in short supply and you won't find the level of emotion you'd find in other Final Fantasies), simply because it's impossible to have very emotional music accompanying a very unemotional video game. They should expect to find very atmospheric music influenced a great deal by minimalist art music and popular music; music that's repetitious, sometimes is very aggressive, but most of the time is very easy to listen to, and music that is artistic and fits each scene in FFXI wonderfully.

I hope this review can help other people understand this man's style, because he writes truly magnificent music.

The music on this CD is wonderful. I don't care what any of the other reviewers giving it negative feedback say---this is a CD worth having. This soundtrack is beautiful and is just as good-if not better- than any other FF soundtrack out there.

I had to quit playing FFXI during my first years in college due to the demands of "real life". This CD soundtrack is great in reminding me of the good ol FFXI days. For those of you who miss playing the game but cannot afford to keep playing it, this CD will do the job of taking you down memory lane.

I would have to agree with Andrew. As a heavy player of the final fantasy XI game, I hear this music over and over and over again. And as such, I typically don't pay much attention to it. But there are times when I just stop, and listen to the music, because it IS wonderful, and it's so evocotive of the world of Final Fantasy. It's true that it's not as memorable as the music from FFVIII, or FFX, or other games in the series, but it wasn't meant to be. It was meant to add flavor to the already enormous world of Vana'Diel. So I DO recommend buying this CD, as it brings its own unique flavor to your collection.

If you love playing FFXI you need this! In the car, doing housework, or any other time you can't be logged in you can enjoy hearing the music from some of your favorite zones. This is one of the best things I ever bought. You will enjoy it too.

I came into this fully knowing this is music for a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. When compared to other games of this same genre (Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot, etc.), the music is incredible. The music is something you will hear again and again if you play the game, therefore it was made to be unobtrusive and rather simple.

Few songs stick out in my mind, mostly the battle themes, as I love the upbeat tempo of them. If you're looking for something of the same high quality as Final Fantasy VII or VIII, this may not work for you. But if you want something that you can put on in the background and not be disturbed, this is perfect.

I have read some of the reviews and decided for myself to listen to this soundtrack and I truly think that it is indeed a good soundtrack. Granted, it's not like most final fantasy soundtrack, but this is an interesting point of view. To explore the different areas of video game music. I glad that I enjoy it and it will be in my collection. Yes, I have plenty of game music and let the beautiful music bring me peace in such a harsh enviroment.

Robert

this man saved square soft in the day with his inventive sound tracks and i must say the music from ffxi inspires everyone who plays the game if you hate the music from the game then you will hate this but if you love the music you will love this it has 50 tracks. 50! normal cds have 12 or 13 you cant get a collection like this anywhere else buy this if you like final fantasy xi or are just a fan of Nobuo Uematsu like many american/japanese people i like him and i play the game
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chaosknightx 25SAM/12WAR remora server

I'm a huge fan of Square (games, music, even the FF movie!), and would have bought the CD regardless of the reviews. I do however agree with Kent - yes, there are some gems on the two CDs, but for the most part it feels like background music.

Basically, if you're a fan you should get it. Otherwise, skip it and pick up the Chrono Cross, FFVII, or Xenogears soundtracks - you'll love those.