Selections from Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack

Square-Enix's Final Fantasy is one of the most successful video games series ever created. Running into over ten sequels, a number of spin-off games, related movies, merchandising and other goods, it is a strong franchise which looks to grow even stronger as it continues to rise in popularity. One of the most recognizable aspects of Final Fantasy is certainly its soundtrack CDs which have been regularly released along with the games. The soundtrack to the widely anticipated newest release, "Final Fantasy XII", looks set to take its place in a long line of soundtracks which have gained a cult following around the world.

The Final Fantasy XII Selection CD takes on a different format to the previous recent releases of Final Fantasy soundtracks. Firstly, the music was composed, arranged, and produced by Hitoshi Sakimoto as opposed to Final Fantasy regular composer Nobuo Uematsu who is credited as the composer only of the theme song, Kiss Me Goodbye, which is the last track on the CD. This fact should not worry fans of Uematsu-san as Hitoshi Sakimoto does a fine job on this CD and most fans will probably be pleasantly surprised at the quality of his compositions.

This particular CD is an abridged version of the Japanese four CD set which contained over 100 tracks. Due to the nature of gaming music, each individual piece of music is short, usually lasting on an average of two minutes with the major exceptions being the main theme and final battle theme, Struggle for Freedom. The short length of most of the tracks leads to each little piece of music having a different mood depending on what it is matched to in the actual game. For example, the track Penelo’s Theme features a cheeky oboe to suit the character in the game. Fast paced tracks like Flash of Steel conjure up the image of a swashbuckling battle scenario while another song, Zertinan Caverns, features glockenspiel accents and plucked strings to give the impression of water dripping from the ceiling of a cave. This epic and very atmospheric “movie style” soundtrack is certainly enjoyable without having played the game and for those who have played the game, it will be a satisfying reminder of their time attached to the joypad.

There are several excellent melodies on this CD and, in a change from previous works in the series which used fully synthesized orchestration, this definitely sounds like a full orchestra performance. This fuller sound adds warmth and atmosphere to the piece and makes it more attractive to a music listener who would probably usually shy away from game soundtracks.

There are a number of stand out tracks on this CD including of course the Final Fantasy XII theme song Kiss me Goodbye by popular Japanese singer Angela Aki. Following in the footsteps of previous Final Fantasy songstresses including Faye Wong, Emiko Shiratori and Rikki, Angela Aki adds her own special touch to this romantic song. Her vocals are easy listening and very enjoyable. The song is a romantic ballad that you would expect to hear as the showstopper in a stage musical and does a superb job of completing the rest of the CD.

This Final Fantasy XII Selection CD would probably be a must-buy for fans of the game but it can also be appreciated by those who have no interest in Final Fantasy itself, as the CD can be listened to simply as a kind of "symphonic storybook". The addition of the lovely Kiss Me Goodbye also makes this CD an enjoyable listen and easy to recommend to anybody who likes either the game series or movie style soundtracks.