Did anyone else find the FFXII OST was a real let down compared to some of the past OSTs? The music went well with the settings, but I didn't really like any of it apart from the first song on the titles. FFVII had a cool battle and boss theme, the awesome One Winged Angel theme and some other good tracks, FFIX had The Escape From Evil Forest, Trance Kuja, Kuja's Theme, cool battle and boss music, FFX had cool battle and boss music, and Otherworld, by Rammstein, which was an awesome track and just made the fight with Jecht so much more epic. Whereas with FFXII... none of the music appeals to me. All of the previous boss and normal battle tracks have been good, but on FFXII they have just been dissapointing, along with the rest of the OST. Thoughts?

I agree with this, probably the reason that none of the music stuck with people was that it was relatively without a tune. There were exceptions, and those were the most memorable. The new style was nice, and the score was anything but bad, it just wasn't as good as those from other FF's.

Music in FF games are generally accompanied with original main themes, character themes, or fmv music and each had their own purpose, doing more than just serve as background music.

The opening theme of Zanarkand in X conveyed a sense of impending doom which I thought was so fitting to the whole concept of Yuna's summoner pilgrimage. For character themes, Tidus as a person seems to epitomise hope or victory whether it be blitzball or saving Spira, and that theme of his just encompasses all that. Of course, who could forget those several notes of Aerith's theme playing in concurrence with each bounce of the Holy materia during that iconic scene. Don't you just wish that the person you battle right after that tragic moment was Sephiroth? Marvellous stuff indeed.

This kind of quality appears to be non-existent when speaking of XII, that's likely to be where the bulk of the criticism stems from I'd imagine.

But gotta admit, the boss battle themes did well to pump up the adrenaline during fights, enabling them to feel more epic. Other memorable ones that stand out I guess include Phon Coast, Old Archades, Giruvegan, Great Crystal. But other than these select few, they're nothing much to write home about. One that sticks to mind that I really felt was closest to bad was Gilgamesh's battle theme, it kind of ruined his dramatic cameo appearance for me personally.

I'd say yes. Mainly because Clash on the Big Bridge was the only song I liked on the OST.

......?
Uematsu may well have been going for the Rammstein/Rob Zombie sound when he wrote the track, but it certainly wasn't Rammstein who performed it.

I could be mistaken but I'm pretty sure that a few of the characters did have theme tunes. wouldn't be the first time they don't stand out though, took me till earlier this year to realise Lulu had a theme tune.

As for XII's score; this is my favourite F.F. soundtrack, without exception. The only two to perhaps come reasonably close are VIII and X. The music itself is far more grand than any of the pieces to be penned for the previous games.

Boss themes? XII's boss theme was excellent, but I'll concede that this is perhaps were it doesn't exactly stand out on top, VII and VIII arguably had better boss tunes than XII did.
But final bosses? Battle For Freedom is the best finale track for any Final Fantasy, period.

People keep saying that the music wasn't memorable. All I'll say is this, I still have nightmares about the Gold Saucer theme because it's memorable, and hellishly annoying whilst it's at it. There's something to be said for good music which can do it's job = Background Music. Something whihc can do it's job perfectly well whilst playing through the game, but actually rewarded anyone who went to the trouble of listening to it again outside of the game enviroment.

That's me for just now. [/XII fanboy rant]