PixlBit

For the month of September, I'm gonna do something different. We're going to look at four of my favorite VG soundtracks, starting with FF6. This ost has been getting some love on pixlbit thanks to OCR's Balance and Ruin album. Definitely check it out if you haven't (it's free). 

When I was just a kid, my oldest brother found a copy of FF6 at a store for $80. Thanks to Nintendo Power, he knew it was a fantastic game, so he bought it. I remember watching him play it in the basement in the dark, and we were all blown away! What an amazing game! Even as a kid, the music stood out to me. The quality of the instrumentation in this game is very good, considering this was for the super nes. In fact, I think the music of FF6 sounds better than that of FF7. Almost every song in the game is memorable. This is my tribute to this awesome ost; share your experiences and memories of FF6, or let us know how the music affected you. 

Composer: Nobuo Uematsu

System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Year of Release: 1994

Grand Cinematic Themes

The Opening Prologue to FF6 was amazing for the time, as the credits rolled over a snowy backdrop while three empirial soldiers marched to the town of Narshe. The adventurous overworld theme Terra stands out today as one of the most beloved VG themes. Edgar and Sabin was a powerful royal theme, giving off a sense of nobility and power. And who can forget the opera? Uematsu composed an entire opera, with opening, a dance, a dual, then culminating in Aria Di Mezzo Carettere, a beautiful theme in which there was singing (amazing for 1994). And then there's the Ending Theme, which is a massive medley of all the character themes, clocking in at over 21 minutes! It's an incredible ending to an incredible game.

Awesome Battle Themes

I love battle music, and some of my favorites are from FF6. The Decisive Battle has always stood out to me as an exciting and well-refined boss theme. The Battle Theme is also very intense, put together in just a fashion that evokes a sense of urgency in the heat of battle. The Floating Island introduced players to a very powerful foe, giving us The Fierce Battle, a theme so awesome that my brother recorded it on tape when he heard it. Finally, no one can forget Dancing Mad, the final boss theme for when you fight Kefka at the end; this long song is a tremendous work, constantly varying in mood and pace in order to keep you on your toes during battle. At the end, it changes and becomes intense as the fight comes to an end. 

Character Themes with Character

FF6 had 14 characters total, all of them (except Sabin) having their own theme. These themes have character! Locke's theme has always been a favorite of mine, Locke, the treasure hunter, being my favorite character from the game. Celes' theme is beautiful; Gau's theme is a bit sad, the wild boy who was abandoned and raised by animals. Cyan's theme has an Asian style to it, and is just beautiful and majestic. Shadow's theme is mysterious, concerning the shadowy assassin who will not even hint at his past. Setzer's theme is high-flying and adventurous; Relm's theme is beautiful and incorporates bagpipes. Even the two optional characters in the game, Umaro and Gogo, have their own themes. All of these themes are fantastic, adding to the characters which are so full of life and personality. 

Themes of Beauty

FF6 has some very beautiful songs, which sound great thanks to the stellar instrumentation. Forever Rachel is a sad yet beautiful theme, which tells the story of Locke's girlfriend being killed in a cave-in. As mentioned before, Celes, Gau, and Relm all have beautiful themes. Kids Run Through the City Corner is the game's town theme, and it is one of my favorites; it is so relaxing and beautiful. Coin Song and Epitaph are both peaceful themes which set the mood just right for what is happening in the game. FF6 is a game of beauty, so it's fitting that so many songs would be beautiful. 

Themes of Flight

FF6 has many travelling themes, such as The Phantom Train, in which you board a ghost train, or Serpent Trench, where you float along a fast moving river and eventually fight an octopus. When Setzer joins the group, you will be able to fly around in his airship. Blackjack is the theme that plays while you fly around, and it is an exciting theme of adventure and discovery. Later, after the Floating Island incident, a completely different theme plays while flying. Searching for Friends is more subdued, giving a feeling of loss and discovery at the same time. These are remarkable themes, memorable and enjoyable. 

Fantastic Melodies

The FF6 cast will travel to many interesting locations. Mount Coltz stands out to me as a great theme, giving a feeling of grand scale. Slam Shuffle is a cool theme that plays when you enter a crooked town where no one can seem to tell the truth; it reminds me of the Pink Panther theme. The Mystic Forest is a beautiful and mysterious theme, playing while you wander through a mysterious forest in search of a way out. Devil's Lab plays when you enter a laboratory with all kinds of machines and technology; the heavy clanging metal sound only adds to the already great theme. The Last Dungeon is exciting and ominous at the same time, preparing you for the final battle with Kefka.