FFXII OST - A let down?

While I admit I dislike some of the music in XIIs soundtrack, I can't say it's disappointing. The music always fits with the mood in the game and helps bring each scene to life. While songs such as "The Sandsea" and "Giza Plains" aren't all that exciting on their own, they work fantastically within the game.

There are also those that sound beautiful on their own. Some of my own favourites would include, "Penelo's Theme", "Opening Theme", "Symphonic Poem: Hope", and "Eruyt Village".

And I wasn't really a fan of VIIs soundtrack either. ;P I enjoyed some. "Aeris' Theme" was beautiful, and "Cait Sith's Theme" was classy, but overall I disliked it outside of the game.

I think the songs have to hold some meaning or memory to be beautiful or enjoyable. I hated VIIIs soundtrack until I actually played the game. After that, I enjoyed almost every track on the list.
 
While the soundtrack isn't anywhere close to being bad, i would have to say it's a let down. FF soundtracks have usually been wonderful at helping instill emotions into you, but in XII it's meh. The only tracks that really stand out alot for me are the opening title song, the boss music, and the song that plays during the Second Ascent in the Pharos.

As for why the music is so meh, i do believe i have the answer. This is taken from the Round Table Developers Interview with IX's team back in '01, and while i realize Uematsu didn't do the OST for XII, the interview helps explain it's meh-ness. Rest of the interview can be found here: http://www.ffshrine.org/ff9/ff9_interview_developers.php

[SIZE=-2] Q: Is there a reason why there isn't voice acting in the Final Fantasy games? And will there be any in future games?

Aoki: I'm sure that it would be possible to have voice acting in the future, but for the present in FFIX, with the capacity it's impossible. When we think about the capacity needed for the data, it would be the same as the visuals. With DVD, it may be possible.
Once we do have voice, the way that we would develop the game would change because instead of music, we would have sound effects and the voices.

Uematsu: It would be easier for me, and the music staff. Because with voice, we wouldn't have to use the music to create the drama, now the voice and sound effects would create the real-life atmosphere. So it would be a lot easier for the music staff. So, hopefully that will happen soon.
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No, that's not proof it's actually "meh ness" - you don't like the style of it, that's all there is to it - if the music was so superior in other titles, and less superior because of this supposed reason in PS2 titles, then why are so many people divided? Some people think previous soundtracks from the early days aren't all that wonderful, yet they may like later soundtracks. Some people think FFXII's soundtrack is a masterpiece even. Not all soundtracks are going to be hits with everybody, and we should all know that. Everyone is not going to like the same thing are they?

Even with the whole VA issue - soundtracks are still a hit and miss.

Just because of the above statement, doesn't mean that they've put less effort into making decent music. Though it seems to imply that, it's not concrete evidence. If we somehow find out in the future that they're doing this on badness, that they're making music less memorable, being lazy, well the creators are really to make themselves look bad. You have to put effort into everything you do. For all we know this statement what you've posted may imply that music staff may have extra time to work on things, who knows?

Biasedness aside, FFXII DOES have a good soundtrack, in terms of sound, how everything was put together etc. In no way was it a complete mess. Though people won't have liked everything, this already apparent I know, a lot of the songs (in fact all?) where orchestrated, to a brilliant degree. The quality has not decreased in this title that's for sure. Each game has well put together music, just not to everybodys taste. Like for me - not saying VII's music is poor, but it's well put together. Just for me, I did not like how some tracks sounded.

I'm done. I REALLY should be getting on with work now. AGH.

Hope this made sense and did not come across as being rat arsed XD
 
I purchased the soundtrack about a year ago (I'm just now getting around to actually playing the game) and at first, I was rather disappointed with it. The only track I liked on the first listen through was the Clash on the Big Bridge remake. A month or so ago, however, I decided to give the soundtrack another chance and listen a little more carefully to it. Now there are several more tracks I enjoy, such as the battle themes and the music from the Sandsea desert area. With my initial disappointment, I think I was expecting it to have a sound similar to the previous games (not sure why, seeing as how Uematsu didn't compose it). I think it is very good music, just rather different than what I was used to/expecting to find.
 
While it wasn't by any means a bad score, nothing jumped out at me. I didn't really even find the vocal song to be anything more than background music.
 
If you put music that are the same as in earlier ff's it just would not suit it at all. This game feels more like an adventure RPG compared to previous ff's and background music suits those kind of rpg's more. If you put any other ff music in this it would sound like a PHAILURE
 
the music was fine it suited the game well the background music and the ending track

people just expect too much or maybe they wanted it to be like previous ff titles which if put in 12 would be a let down
 
Gabranth said:
If you put music that are the same as in earlier ff's it just would not suit it at all. This game feels more like an adventure RPG compared to previous ff's and background music suits those kind of rpg's more. If you put any other ff music in this it would sound like a PHAILURE
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Very true that the tone of FFXII totally called for a different type of soundtrack and the composers did well to make compositions that fit the theme - but as well-fitting as the score was, it still could have been more interesting.
 
VengefulRonin, I am a bit frustrated that you posted that interview. That was exactly what I had planned on saying while I read the entire rest of the thread.

Although, I'm sure that had he been given more opportunity to elaborate on that point, I am sure he would have pointed out that the voice overs and sound effects would not entirely take over creating the mood. The difference in this particular FF title is that they used more than just the music to create atmosphere.

I haven't played much of XII yet, but from what I have seen so far, it works well. Sure, it isn't all that memorable, but it works for the game and I got used to it rather quickly because of that.
 
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