F is for Final Fantasy?
Before we get on to the music, I want to say something in regards to the current generation of consoles. I’ve been playing video games for a long time. I remember when I received my first NES when I was a little kid and playing games like Super Mario, Rygar, Paperboy, and other classics. With this history in the subject, I’d like to say that the current battle over the superiority of one system is stupid. Sure, I love the Wii. Sure, I enjoy playing 360. That doesn’t mean I think the PS3 is a piece of shit, though. My own personal misgivings over what I see as a lack of titles for the PS3 at the moment doesn’t make the system itself any better or worse, because in the end a system is only as good as its games. That’s the reason I still play my SNES all the time. In the end, it’s the games that make or break a system, not the specs. No one cares if a system has the latest and greatest hardware or not. They just want to have fun. They don’t care how “revolutionary” motion-sensing controls are if it’s not fun.
While we’re on the subject of the current gen, however, I would like to say that the Red Ring of Death is by far the most gut-wrenching thing I’ve experienced in a long time. Much like the Blue Screen of Death (go Microsoft and your colored indicators of death!), it makes my stomach churn. However, unlike the BSOD, seeing that RROD brings along with it the knowledge that it will be a few weeks before I can enjoy another 360 game. I’m glad that Microsoft has increased their warranties on all the systems, but it’s still annoying to only be able to use your system for a few months before death is imminent. I guess that’s the price you pay for enjoying anything by Microsoft, though.
Today is the letter F. Obviously, Final Fantasy would be included in this list but it seems almost a bit unfair to post music from a series that is already so widely known and block out some other, just as deserving titles. So for the sake of fairness to my collection and your interests, there will be no Final Fantasy posted.
MUSIC
Although I didn’t include arguably the most famous “F” RPG, Fable isn’t too far off. Released in the fall of 2004, Fable was touted to be a new evolution in the world of RPGs, featuring a system that allowed for great user interaction in the story development. Whether the game lived up to the hype is up to you, but the soundtrack is definitely worth mentioning. Russell Shaw, having done other Lionhead titles, scored the soundtrack with Danny Elfman composing the theme.
The track itself is a wonderfully mellow tune. The mixing of atmospheric strings and quiet winds helped to create a feeling that someone could very well imagine as the soundtrack to a flowing field of grass in the late afternoon on a summer’s day. There is no real build up in the song, staying consistent most of the way through, with a small build to a slightly dark feeling about 3/4ths of the way through as the bass becomes much more prominent.
Yuka Tsujiyoko - Theme of Fire Emblem Fire Emblem IV Genealogy of Holy War Arrange Soundtrack
Genealogy of Holy War (or Seisen no Keifu) was the fourth Fire Emblem title in the series, appearing on the Super Famicom in Japan. While the title only found its way to American shores through fan-translations, other titles in the series have since been released in America and quickly found a strong following. Yuka Tsujiyoko scored the soundtrack along with most of the Fire Emblem franchise.
“Theme of Fire Emblem” is a classic RPG theme. The epic nature of the composition helps to build the anticipation in the player as the begin their quest while establishing a style of music that will be heard throughout their adventure. While sounding a bit generic after having heard numerous RPG themes, “Theme of Fire Emblem” still manages to make its own distinct impression on me and many other fans of the soundtrack.
PeeWee and Michiko Hill - Mute City F-ZERO
F-Zero needs no introduction. Originally released for the Super Nintendo, this futuristic racing game broke new grounds in terms of technology and the soundtrack wasn’t too bad either. Composed by Yumiko Kanki and Naota Ishida, the soundtrack has a very contemporary feel to it, which was enhanced when released to album and arranged PeeWee and Michiko Hill.
The theme for Mute City sounds much like late 80s/early 90s contemporary jazz. It’s upbeat with a catchy melody and helps to enhance the feeling of speed when playing. The saxophone work in this arrangement is strong and clear without overpowering the ensemble established in the song. The style to the track is slightly dated, however, sounding like it belongs on a 90s sitcom or movie.
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