Final Fantasy XV Soundtrack Review
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Final Fantasy XV Soundtrack
4 Disc
Album can be brought here
Reviewed by Justin D Williams
Final Fantasy is one of the most beloved franchises ever in gaming. With the release of Final Fantasy XV last November, fans were not only treated to a stellar game but also an amazing soundtrack composed by Yoko Shimomura. Gamers will know Shimomura work from such games as Street Fighter II, Kingdom Hearts Series Xenoblade Chronicles just to name a few. Yoko Shimomura enters the Final Fantasy world with Final Fantasy XV. I'm happy to say that Shimomura versatile composition is worthy of the Final Fantasy name.
The album is a 4 disc set with a total of 90 songs. The music is a mixture of various styles and genres from folk, jazz, rock and classical. Each theme invokes an emotion that captures a moment in the game fluently. Final Fantasy is a series not just beloved for its story and characters. The music of the franchise is one of the most recognizable in the world. Yoko Shimomura doesn't attempt to fill the shoes of veteran Nobuo Uematsu. Instead she creates and leave her own mark with this album. From the opening song in disc 1 "Somus" (Instrumental Version) to the ending song Main Theme of Final Fantasy on disc 4 listeners will get a cinematic feel from start to finish.
One thing I really love about the production of this album is it doesn't feel like a video game soundtrack at some points. Songs like Sorrow Without Solace, Apocalypsis Noctis, Somus, Cartanica just to name a few hit all the right notes to take you into the world of Final Fantasy XV. These songs have a very cinematic feel to it and they scream a different type of emotion from you. Fans of Shimomura will very pleased with the album as she brings a similar sound from Kingdom Hearts to Final Fantasy. An great example will be the track "Veiled in Black." This song has the signature use of strings, piano and heart pumping percussion's in a full on theme of action. While I did enjoy most of the album. Some songs just didn't do it for me due to the tempo and kind of slow tone. Songs like What a Hoot, Blues de Chocobo and Lestallum I wasn't playing twice. That doesn't mean the track was awful by any means, personally the tracks just didn't resonate with me.
There are five tracks that I will way are must listen too tracks. "Somnus" is a very dark, haunting track with a beautiful use of strings and vocals that sets the tone for the intensity and sadness of the game. "In The Light of the Crystal" is an smooth but energy pumping track. It's use of the drums is spot on as I felt the tone of mystery listening to this song. "Veiled in Black" is the signature Yoko Shimomura track as stated above. Fans of Kingdom Hearts will dig this song as she hits you with an intense action theme that you can't help but feel. "APOCALYPSIS NOCTIS" is the definitive action track. On this song Yoko Shimomura pulls out all the stops with a full choir, intense horns, strings, drums and piano that really stands out from the other action themes on this album. Finally "Sorrow without Solace" is one of the most emotional tracks on the album. The use of strings and piano elegantly come to together to paint a hurtful picture of lost and despair. This is one of the most strongest tracks on the entire album and it will definitely put you in the mood.
Final Rating 4.5/5 Stars: Final Fantasy XV Soundtrack is not only a worthy addition to the franchise music lore. I dare say it's in my top five of Final Fantasy soundtracks with 7 being number 1. Yoko Shimomura brings her style to the franchise and it fits well like a glove. This soundtrack is filled with a emotion from joy, sadness, anger and even forgiveness. It's a videogame soundtrack but it has a cinematic feel too it. This is one soundtrack that needs to be in your collection.
TRACKLIST:
Performed by Video Game Orchestra & Força Choir
CD 1
1 Somnus (Instrumental Version)
2 Departure
3 Broken Down
4 Hammerhead
5 Wanderlust
6 Encroaching Fear
7 Stand Your Ground
8 Relax and Reflect
9 Day's End Fanfare
10 Horizon
11 Safe Haven
12 Lurking Danger
13 Hunt or Be Hunted
14 CINDY
15 Urban Chrome
16 A Quick Pit Stop
17 Love Lost
18 Galdin Quay
19 ARDYN
20 The Aggressors
21 Nox Aeterna
22 The Hunters
23 What Lies Within
24 Daemons
25 Bros on the Road
26 Fantastica!
CD 2
1 The Niflheim Empire
2 Veiled in Black
3 Valse di Fantastica
4 Crystalline Chill
5 What a Hoot
6 Blues de Chocobo
7 Reel Rumble
8 The Fight Is On!
9 Lestallum
10 Welcome to the Leville
11 Unsettling Aura
12 Don't Panic!
13 Apocalypsis Noctis
14 Cosmogony
15 Melancholia
16 A Premonition
17 Nox Divina
18 Labyrinthine
19 Flying R
20 Imperial Infiltration
21 Veiled in Black (Arrangement)
22 Invidia
23 Sorrow Without Solace
CD 3
1 Sunset Waltz
2 Disquiet
3 OMNIS LACRIMA
4 Rodeo de Chocobo
5 Listen Up
6 Creeping Shadows
7 Impending Peril
8 Up for the Challenge
9 Cape Caem
10 Cape Caem - Our New Home
11 Cape Caem - Hidden Harbor
12 Bros on the Road II
13 Noctis
14 Over the Waves
15 Altissia
16 Altissia - Gondola Ride
17 Welcome to the Royal Suite
18 Starlit Waltz
19 Prayer de LUNA
20 No Time Left
21 Song of the Stars
22 The Hydraean's Wrath
23 Ardyn II
24 Luna
25 APOCALYPSIS AQUARIUS
CD 4
1 Broken Bonds
2 Dining Car
3 Cartanica
4 Relax and Reflect - Pensive
5 Careening Into Danger
6 Tenebrae
7 Horrors of the Night
8 End of the Road
9 An Empire in Ruins
10 RAVUS AETERNA
11 In the Light of the Crystal
12 A World Unwaking
13 Neverending Nightmare
14 Homecoming
15 Hammerhead - The Last Bastion
16 Somnus
17 Hellfire
18 Magna Insomnia
19 Dawn
20 Somnus Ultima
21 Dewdrops at Dawn
22 Main Theme from FINAL FANTASY
