Title screen/Main Menu theme

I am not talking about the basic FF theme that plays on the menu screen of every FF game, but the music that plays on the load-up screen, and, if you leave it a while, on the title screen. This is the one that also plays during the credits roll on FFVII.

It’s the second one down here, in other words. (http://bluelaguna.net/music/final-fantasy-xii-12-ost-soundtrack/mp3s.php)

Anyway, does anyone agree that this is one of the best pieces of music the series has ever produced? It’s definitely my favourite soundtrack in FFXII, by a long way, at least.

Doesn’t this play in FFVIII, not FFVII? Yeah, I still love it. Fabulous!

Well, it might be in FFVIII too, though I haven’t noticed it, but it certainly plays during the credits on VII. Check out the ‘Staff Roll’ here (http://ffmusic.ffshrine.org/ff7midis/ff7-midis.php). At about 3:25 it will start playing, albeit slightly differently to FFXII’s version.

I haven’t checked the link but I think you are talking about the song called Main theme of Final Fantasy or something like that, it’s in some of the FF games, but not all of them, it’s amazing! Get the FF IV version, it’s great also! 🙂
By the way, get To The End of the Abyss from FF VII now! 🙂

EDIT:
Drop what you are doing right now and buy the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack, on rush shipping! :)!!!

This piece, as the page correctly names it, is "Final Fantasy." It is also sometimes called "The Prologue." It is featured in pretty much every Final Fantasy game. One of the most unique and interesting versions of it is found in Final Fantasy V. It did not appear either X or X-2 (XI I have no clue), but all of the others, yes.

I absolutely adore this piece. I have sung its praises in numerous threads, but haven’t seen it talked about much before.

On Final Fantasy V, it is available as a standalone track. On Final Fantasy VI’s "Ending Theme," it begins at 18:08. 3:25 isn’t quite correct for "Staff Roll" (which is awesome), it’s more like 3:29. On Final Fantasy VIII’s "Ending Theme" it begins at 7:03 and runs to 10:00. The track is included with FFIX’s "Melodies of Life," on the Japanese version, it begins at 5:41.

A (awesome) concert version of the tune is also available.

Oh, BTW, as you may have guessed, "Final Fantasy" is pure Uematsu.

Somewhat loosely on-topic, I’ve been listening to the OST at bluelaguna this afternoon and found an alternative chocobo theme that apparently does not exist in the game but was on the soundtrack. It’s track #212 on the list. Has anyone heard that in the game, and if so, where? Or were they planning to use it originally as the main chocobo theme and then later replaced it with the version that appears in the game (track #311 on the list)

I have to say, I prefer the alternative theme. I know this isn’t related in any significant way to the original post, but was just wondering what your opinions were and didn’t think it was appropriate to start two music-based threads in one day. We should still continue to talk about ‘The Prologue’ in this thread.

The Prologue = squee, whee, awesome! Absolutely in love with it.

This alternate chocobo theme? Not familiar with it. I’ll have to look into it. Wasn’t particularly thrilled with the main one, so I’m for the idea of an alternate one.

It’s a nifty little tune, that’s for sure. Although for the most part, I prefer the Dragon Quest theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG0LJwMKMz8).

One of the best in the series though? Maybe when compared to other theme music it would be up there but it doesn’t hold a candle to some of the more ambitious pieces in the series. Still, it definitely does its job.

It did not appear either X or X-2 (XI I have no clue), but all of the others, yes.

I wouldn’t be able to tell you what song it appears in, but it does appear in X.

It doesn’t appear anywhere in the game that I’ve been able to figure it, I think maybe it’s on the soundtrack. You may be thinking of the "Prelude," though, another popular Final Fantasy piece that appears in pretty much all FF games.

BTW, YouTube acts cranky on my aging computer, anyone have an MP3 of that "Dragon Quest?"

Blue Laguna has everything (http://bluelaguna.net/music/dq8symphonic/mp3s.php).

You want "Overture".

One of the best in the series though? Maybe when compared to other theme music it would be up there but it doesn’t hold a candle to some of the more ambitious pieces in the series. Still, it definitely does its job.

What other tunes were you thinking of, exactly?

I’d say "Hikari (Kingdom Orchestra Instrumental Version)" from Kingdom Hearts also gives it a run for its money.

What other tunes were you thinking of, exactly?
The few that come to mind as being the most ambitious would be Dancing Mad (FFVI), The Dream Oath: Maria and Draco (FFVI), The Battle for Freedom (FFXII) and the symphonic poem Hope (FFXII). Some of the ending themes from various games are pretty neat as well.

Still, it’s probably better to compare The Prologue to other theme/scene specific music in the series rather then the more ambitious pieces. In that regard, it would probably be up their with Kefka, Tina, You’re Not Alone and To Zanarkand.

I never particularly thought FFVI’s music was that great, other than a few pieces, the boss battle theme, for instance. And I certainly thought the Prologue was on a par with any other tune in FFXII.

I’d say of the whole series (VI-XII are the ones I’ve played) the only tracks that beat it are a few from FFVII and FFVIII, which, despite being otherwise questionable games had very good music, and maybe one or two from FFIX.

Obviously though music is a matter of opinion and personal taste, so it’s not as if I’m saying ‘I’m right and you’re wrong, end of discussion’.

In that case, I’ll toss in one from V, its opening theme, "A Presentiment."

It doesn’t appear anywhere in the game that I’ve been able to figure it, I think maybe it’s on the soundtrack. You may be thinking of the "Prelude," though, another popular Final Fantasy piece that appears in pretty much all FF games.

BTW, YouTube acts cranky on my aging computer, anyone have an MP3 of that "Dragon Quest?"

I stand corrected, but either way it’s very unusual compared to "The Prelude" in other FF games. Here’s the link and it’s the 3rd on the list.

http://ffmusic.ffshrine.org/ff10midis/ff10-midis.php

Yeah, I know what it is, I have the International release soundtrack. And yes, they went for a very funky version of "The Prelude" in this game, but I still like it.

I think the best version of the FF theme is the one from the first FF (or at least the ORIGINS edition of FFI).

I haven’t checked the link but I think you are talking about the song called Main theme of Final Fantasy or something like that, it’s in some of the FF games, but not all of them, it’s amazing! Get the FF IV version, it’s great also! 🙂
By the way, get To The End of the Abyss from FF VII now! 🙂

EDIT:
Drop what you are doing right now and buy the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack, on rush shipping! :)!!!

"To the End of the Abyss" is from X, not VII.

Somewhat loosely on-topic, I’ve been listening to the OST at bluelaguna this afternoon and found an alternative chocobo theme that apparently does not exist in the game but was on the soundtrack. It’s track #212 on the list. Has anyone heard that in the game, and if so, where? Or were they planning to use it originally as the main chocobo theme and then later replaced it with the version that appears in the game (track #311 on the list)

I was wondering about that myself, I also prefer the alternative theme to the one mostly heardin the game.
My guess it isn’t a song on the soundtrack that never made it into the game itself, or… it’s played breifly. It MIGHT be during the scene with the Chocobos in one of the Rabanastre gates, not sure. This is my guess based on the tracks it comes between.

I always assumed one was for riding chocobos, and one was for any other chocobo occurrence, but I don’t think chocobos play any part in the story (other than transportation), so… I can’t explain it.

I always thought Dancing Mad was overated. I never understood what was the appeal. An Epic theme as one called it, doesn’t mean it does a better job or that it is obligatory better composed.

‘Final Fantasy’ is one of the best theme Uematsu composed (along with some others throughout the series… Tina, Battle on the Big Bridge, the whole opera musicals from FFVI, Aeris, and others I’m forgetting right now). No wonder it is one of the themes that have the most versions, second only to the Chocobo theme.

But for all the titles I mentioned I think ‘Final Fantasy’ is the most powerful theme Uematsu ever composed.