RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Music Reviews > Final Fantasy VIII: Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec
Reviewed by: Ersatz Sobriquet
One of the most famous songs from the Final Fantasy saga outside it's fanbase I would believe to be Eyes On Me, the famous song that garnered itself a award or two over in Japan. And though I've heard the song so much now to the point of sickness, whenever I actually hear it still, I can't resist but to sit and listen to it for but a moment.
But, to get to the reviews, this album has some really outstanding tracks featured on it. Blue Fields is the overworld theme and it's done so very well on this album. The synthed version of this song is pretty bland to tell truth, but this version gives the song so much richness I never thought possible. Plucking of the strings is featured a lot on this song, carrying the main melody along very nicely. A small, slight tambourine makes an appearance here and there, but it's nothing outstanding. A very pleasant song I wish were on the real game.
Don't Be Afraid is the theme song for the battles and what a theme song. Slight horn ensemble in the background with the main one stabbing the song here and there makes it very upbeat as the violins give it even more pep. The flute also makes it sound even more urgent than normal. Probably the best battle theme I've heard from Uematsu since Final Fantasy VI.
The Man With The Machine Gun was one of my favorites from the original soundtrack and it's done even better on here as well. The battle theme when you’re using Laguna is what this song is based off, and gives it a very nice distinction from the standard battle theme spoken of above. Small influences from Spanish music are heard throughout and again, the viola section moves the song very swiftly along.
Dance With The Balamb-fish is also great. A lovely waltz song and a pleasure to listen to as well. This type of melody is rarely heard in video game music nowadays and it was a delight to hear it once more. Very great song with smooth, engrossing melodies the whole time.
One of the problems with this album is that the same song type is displayed twice a lot. Example, though this was a problem on the original soundtrack, in my opinion, as well, is FITHOS LUSEC WECOS VINOSEC and Liberi Fatali. I personally think FLWV could stand on its own with the little Indian type piece displayed in the middle of the song instead of having that annoying, at this point, FLWV chant in there. Also a very unnerving thing in FLWV is that louder Indian type singing in the very end. If it was a bit lower, I probably would like it more. Liberi Fatali is great and a great opening song as well. The chants go with the song wonderfully. It's just a shame that they used the same bits and pieces in each song.
This is also presented in The Ending and Eyes On Me. The Ending is really just Eyes On Me with a super long intro. I'm not fond of The Ending. Hadn't been since I saw the ending in the game. The song, Eyes On Me, as I said in the intro, is great, but I can't stand the super long, annoying intro at all.
I'll be the first one to tell you. I didn't like that little Oath scene in the game and this song, The Oath follows my same feelings, but not as strongly. It takes the song way too long to get to the good parts, which is 3:30+ for me personally. Nothing really outstanding up to that point. I do like the shrilly flute played here and there towards the end and wish it had more moments as well. The song rises in some places, mostly the end, but it's not as well played out as the rest of the songs.
Despite my criticism, this is a good album. It has more good than bad anyway, so I would encourage all to get it, though I know most of the Final Fantasy fanatics already had it in their collection.
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| Album Information | Reviewer Rank |
|---|---|
|
Final Fantasy VIII: Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec Published by: DigiCube Release Date: November 20th 1999 Composed by: Nobuo Uematsu Arranged by: Shiro Hamaguchi 1 Disc, 13 Tracks Catalog: SSCX-10037 |
86 |
Reviewed by: Ersatz Sobriquet
One of the most famous songs from the Final Fantasy saga outside it's fanbase I would believe to be Eyes On Me, the famous song that garnered itself a award or two over in Japan. And though I've heard the song so much now to the point of sickness, whenever I actually hear it still, I can't resist but to sit and listen to it for but a moment.
But, to get to the reviews, this album has some really outstanding tracks featured on it. Blue Fields is the overworld theme and it's done so very well on this album. The synthed version of this song is pretty bland to tell truth, but this version gives the song so much richness I never thought possible. Plucking of the strings is featured a lot on this song, carrying the main melody along very nicely. A small, slight tambourine makes an appearance here and there, but it's nothing outstanding. A very pleasant song I wish were on the real game.
Don't Be Afraid is the theme song for the battles and what a theme song. Slight horn ensemble in the background with the main one stabbing the song here and there makes it very upbeat as the violins give it even more pep. The flute also makes it sound even more urgent than normal. Probably the best battle theme I've heard from Uematsu since Final Fantasy VI.
The Man With The Machine Gun was one of my favorites from the original soundtrack and it's done even better on here as well. The battle theme when you’re using Laguna is what this song is based off, and gives it a very nice distinction from the standard battle theme spoken of above. Small influences from Spanish music are heard throughout and again, the viola section moves the song very swiftly along.
Dance With The Balamb-fish is also great. A lovely waltz song and a pleasure to listen to as well. This type of melody is rarely heard in video game music nowadays and it was a delight to hear it once more. Very great song with smooth, engrossing melodies the whole time.
One of the problems with this album is that the same song type is displayed twice a lot. Example, though this was a problem on the original soundtrack, in my opinion, as well, is FITHOS LUSEC WECOS VINOSEC and Liberi Fatali. I personally think FLWV could stand on its own with the little Indian type piece displayed in the middle of the song instead of having that annoying, at this point, FLWV chant in there. Also a very unnerving thing in FLWV is that louder Indian type singing in the very end. If it was a bit lower, I probably would like it more. Liberi Fatali is great and a great opening song as well. The chants go with the song wonderfully. It's just a shame that they used the same bits and pieces in each song.
This is also presented in The Ending and Eyes On Me. The Ending is really just Eyes On Me with a super long intro. I'm not fond of The Ending. Hadn't been since I saw the ending in the game. The song, Eyes On Me, as I said in the intro, is great, but I can't stand the super long, annoying intro at all.
I'll be the first one to tell you. I didn't like that little Oath scene in the game and this song, The Oath follows my same feelings, but not as strongly. It takes the song way too long to get to the good parts, which is 3:30+ for me personally. Nothing really outstanding up to that point. I do like the shrilly flute played here and there towards the end and wish it had more moments as well. The song rises in some places, mostly the end, but it's not as well played out as the rest of the songs.
Despite my criticism, this is a good album. It has more good than bad anyway, so I would encourage all to get it, though I know most of the Final Fantasy fanatics already had it in their collection.
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