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[NecrosaroIII]

When Final Fantasy XII came out, it was divisive for many reasons (and still is), but one of the criticisms I've heard is that it had a horrible soundtrack.

Frankly, I don't agree at all. It's a tough act following up after Uematsu, but I think Sakamoto did a wonderful job. Candidly, I think it might be one of my most listened to gaming soundtracks. I find it to be beautifully composed. Here are some of my favorite tracks:











https://youtu.be/4qOA5r-7AZM?si=HrpIzHXfLXPGAj9T
https://youtu.be/_h4XBqsXVNY?si=UBj5Jjs_itmu2CRI
https://youtu.be/dj1HD2-jlxA?si=yPoAZxwXafdzuDvI
https://youtu.be/Z0ypp60l5fM?si=K572jd3TBhrfdBR_

Now candidly, I'm divided on the Zodiac Age arrangements. I don't find them to be as good as the original versions, but that's a matter of debate.

 

[March Climber]

There was nothing wrong with it to me. It just felt like it fit an online multiplayer experience (whether that be an MMO or not) moreso than a singleplayer RPG.

That doesn't make it bad though.

Edit: This was always one of my favorites:



Basic in the grand scheme of the soundtrack, but it had a really nice loop and explorative feel to it.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

In game it has no real strong impact but actually listening to the music outside of playing the game it's very good.

I just stopped playing XII: ZE and never went back to it. I fucked up my character builds and couldn't be bothered to reset it all.

 

[Myths]

No defense needed…? It’s top tier, but so is the vast majority of the FF OST catalogue.

 

[Hero_Select]

I have tried multiple times to like FF12 but I just cant. I hate Vaan and the combat.

Worst of all is I have this stupid music in my brain that I remember from time to time:



I hate it. So much.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

It's an ok soundtrack but vastly inferior to the next FF games.

 

[NecrosaroIII]

It's an ok soundtrack but vastly inferior to the next FF games.

13's soundtrack is underrated, but I wouldn't say it's better. Different sure.
14's soundtrack is certainly something. I do indeed love it, but it's sort of a mishmash. Not very cohesive. But that's sort of its charm. And there is certainly a lot of it.
15 and 16's soundtracks aren't bad, but not really as good IMHO.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

I love XII’s soundtrack, fuck the haters. It might not be as catchy and anthemic as Uematsu’s soundtracks but it was still incredible and suited the game perfectly. I also like how it matches the style of FF Tactics

 

[Edellus]

First time I've heard of FFXII's music being divisive. I read the title of this thread and I instantly thought it's just clickbait and an excuse to share FFXII's music... and fair enough.

 

[squidilix]

For me he have one of the best boss theme with 13, 7, 9 :



But FFTactics was a better work from Sakimoto

 

[Sebastian1295]

I bought this game for the ps2 back in the day and the reason i bought it was because dragon quest 8 had a demo of it on the disc and i tried it and liked the demo. The soundtrack is great and underrated and i find it pretty epic in places especially boss battles.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Didn't appreciate it as a teen and now I love it as an adult.

It's top tier.

 

[Hudo]

FF12 is the second-best FF ever made. And the soundtrack is great. Imagine if Square had left Matsuno alone. It might have even surpassed FF6.

 

[swaffles23]

i always thought the FFXII OST was generic and one of the worst in the entire franchise

 

[DW74]

My FF listening mostly revolves around 10 (imported the OST from Japan), 12, 13, and 7 remake. Probably because after 9, they graduated to the PS2, DVD storage, and real instruments.

 

[Naked Lunch]

XII is the best game in the series - with the best soundtrack in the series.
There. I said it. Easy. Done.

Near the Water is one of the best songs ever made.

The only mainline FF game close is VI.
For the franchise in general though - I still place FFTactics ahead.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

It's a good soundtrack, though I found it somewhat dull when I first played the game - it's just not as focused on distinctive melodies as something like FFX's soundtrack. But the music, like the game, has only gotten better for me over time. Great stuff.

My personal favorite:

 

[adamsapple]

I'm not sure it needs any defense. While it's not the best, it's a pretty good set of tracks.

I can recall multiple tracks from XII off the top of my head, much better than I can say for 13, 15, 16 or Rebirth.

 

[Variahunter]

One of the best soundtrack in FF series, for evolved ears, as always with Sakimoto.

Uematsu is really good (FFVI and VII most notably for me), and more approachable with catchy tunes, but Sakimoto has elevated its art to reach a point Uematsu could not dream of.

FF Tactics, Vagrant Story (damn that intro) and FFXII are amongst the best OST Square has ever produced.

It's a damn shame that Matsuno had to lower its standards of storytelling to accomodate for FF target audience (thanks SE...).
Its results, while still pretty good overall, didn't really achieve to please neither of Matsuno audience or FF audience.

When trying to replay older FF, most of the writing and dialog feels cringe (aside from some episodes) and targeted for teens, while FFXII aged like fine wine (though still having rare cringe parts here and there to please that audience... thanks SE and your fear of losing sales).

You can tell Ogre Battle and Tactics Ogre (for Quest), Vagrant and FFT were nowhere as important as FFXII and Matsuno had complete authority on it.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

There are things to dislike about XII, certainly, but I did not realize the soundtrack was considered one of them. I like the OST for it. As much as VII, VIII, etc? No. But I like it. Even the FF games I did not like at all, like X-2, I still mostly enjoy the OST. That is one thing I do not think they have particularly failed at (say with XV, XVI, etc).

 

[clem84]

It was definitely divisive. Some people referred to it as 'elevator music'. lol

It's a great soundtrack if you ask me, just like the rest of the game.

This is my favorite track.

 

[Soltype]

XII is not the most digestible game for the average person.The game's strengths lie in its subtleties and the score is no different.I love it, but I understand why someone wouldn't.

 

[Brigandier]

Fantastic game with a fantastic OST, At the time Zodiac Age released it was the best FF game to release since FFXII I liked the remastered soundtrack too.

I liked the size of the game and the amount of optional content, Gambit system gets a lot of hate but it was great imo and made party members actually useful!!

 

[Madflavor]

I've never heard criticism for FFXII's soundtrack, where did you see this? Hitoshi Sakimoto is one of the best Japanese video game composers out there, who also worked on Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, and Valkyria Chronicles.

Also wtf, nobody here has posted Phone Coast yet?

 

[Zacfoldor]

Over time, I’ve come to realize XII is the best actual game in the FF series. It is truly legendary. No defense necessary and poor is the soul who has overlooked the majesty of this masterpiece.

 

[SakkanartSilentJealousy]

In defense of the game itself. I wish FF17 is back to Ivalice again, just imagine this with modern graphics.

 

[Sooner]

There are a few mainline Final Fantasy games that aren't very good (VIII, XV...), but there isn't a mainline Final Fantasy with a sub-par soundtrack. Best in gaining, imo.

 

[NecrosaroIII]

I've never heard criticism for FFXII's soundtrack, where did you see this? Hitoshi Sakimoto is one of the best Japanese video game composers out there, who also worked on Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, and Valkyria Chronicles.

Also wtf, nobody here has posted Phone Coast yet?

Back when the game came out, every aspect of the game was criticized but the soundtrack was probably the third most common one

 

[kunonabi]

I have tried multiple times to like FF12 but I just cant. I hate Vaan and the combat.

Worst of all is I have this stupid music in my brain that I remember from time to time:



I hate it. So much.

Vaan I can live with but the combat and the shitty license board implementation just completely turn me off. I've tried like 6 times but the game just isn't for me.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

It's a good soundtrack, though I found it somewhat dull when I first played the game - it's just not as focused on distinctive melodies as something like FFX's soundtrack. But the music, like the game, has only gotten better for me over time. Great stuff.

My personal favorite:

One of the main reasons I feel FFXII's soundtrack is so good is that for being largely orchestral it DOES have a lot of distinctive melodies. Maybe not as much as the older Final Fantasies, but still a good amount. Most games with orchestral soundtracks these days take the movie route where the music is there to convey a mood but isn't really interesting to listen to separately. FFXII I feel manages to mostly be both.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I wasn't aware it ever needed defending. It's one of the best soundtracks composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto

 

[Shifty1897]

XII is a masterpiece, eclipsed only by VI. It's probably tied with Metal Gear Solid 3 for my favorite PS2 game. Zodiac Age makes it even better.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

One of the main reasons I feel FFXII's soundtrack is so good is that for being largely orchestral it DOES have a lot of distinctive melodies. Maybe not as much as the older Final Fantasies, but still a good amount. Most games with orchestral soundtracks these days take the movie route where the music is there to convey a mood but isn't really interesting to listen to separately. FFXII I feel manages to mostly be both.

Oh, absolutely - it's a really good middle ground that is far more memorable than orchestral soundtracks tend to be today. I just thought it was a departure from what came before it.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

Oh, absolutely - it's a really good middle ground that is far more memorable than orchestral soundtracks tend to be today. I just thought it was a departure from what came before it.

Oh definitely, I guess I sounded like I was refuting your statement but I was actually just adding to it. Like almost everything with FFXII it was a big departure from previous Final Fantasy games, but in a surprisingly good way.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]