https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUAsbFYnFIo (FF 1)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC7AA45CD70F7CB7B (FF 2)

Note: both were included in the same album when the game was released

Back in 2003, Square Enix released their two grand classics: Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II. That latter one was most welcomed since it had never been released in North America. The story line and gameplay are exactly the same – dumb fairy tale for FF 1 and self-mutilation for FF 2 – but had been greatly improved with better graphics, new add-ons and better music. Here is my review of the music from both these games.

FF1: The Prelude

Even though there exist more advanced version of the theme, it was kept to its original, less elaborate version. This one sounds much since it does not have that strange repetition before the notes are played.

Opening Theme

It now sounds more epic. It starts and ends slowly (with harp and flute), while the middle has drums and brass that make for the beginning of a grand adventure.

Corneria Castle

The heavy cellos and the background harpsichord still do not make for a “royal” theme, but it does sound better than the original. The producers even added to the loop by adding a military march (not the Imperial March, but still) to it, which sounded weird since Corneria is not a militaristic kingdom.

Main Theme

Now THAT is what I call epic. I even daresay that it is the most epic-sounding 16-bit overworld theme of them all. The introduction starts with heavy strings, and then the winds and drums just make the theme so grand. Here again, the loop was prolonged and makes for epicness you will want again and again.

Temple of Chaos

Like the original version, this theme is a little quieter than the final dungeon. However modern arrangements (with piano and strings) translate the mystery of these ruins much better. And the piano even seems to have a slight echo to it.

Matoya’s Cave

Probably the only theme that, despite modernization, does not sound like it was played with real instruments (except the background flute played with the main beat). But once again, it sounds better than in the original thanks to better arrangements and a longer loop.

Town

Wow, that was another HUGE improvement. The soothing guitar and flute in this theme make this track an excellent one to relax to.

Shop

I do not think I have ever heard accordion on a video game track. Ever. Well, this one has some and it is perfect, and the “bells” before the end of the loop allow to correct the severe technological limitations from the original theme.

Ship

The flute makes for a more epic theme, which usually characterizes sea travel in video games. The strings in the background add to this feeling, while the drums at the end of the loop (with the winds) make for a good conclusion.

Undersea Shrine

You only hear this one in the final dungeon. The strings make it very dramatic, both in the background and at the end of the loop. The harp adds a touch of magic, since you are now 2000 years in the past when the Temple of Chaos is standing.

Dungeon

Thanks to modern arrangements, the music is much less loud than it was in the original version. It also makes the theme sounds more mysterious than the NES version. The cymbals in the background also add to the drama of the theme

Menu Screen

As useless and it was on the NES. I just skip it, even though it does sound better.

Airship

Modern arrangements make the theme sound more epic. However, the main beat sounds a little overdone; as if they tried to show too much how they had improved the music.

Gurgu Volcano

The new arrangements have a beat I can not describe. However it is once again far superior to the original. It also includes low-tone woods which make for a great addition to the theme. The loop is also longer, but it remains coherent throughout.

The Floating Castle

Ironically, this is the theme for the underwater shrine when you fight Kraken. The new arrangements translate the “underwaterness” better; as if the instruments were muffled in a way.

Battle

The classical battle theme with a modern twist. The new arrangements give a more dramatic turn to the theme, compared to the more joyous themes from Final Fantasy II through V.

Game Over

Since the PSX version is much easier, I never even got close to dying so I never paid attention to this theme (which does sound sad).

Save

The theme is now played by a flute, and wonderfully so.

Church

A new addition to the album. It sounds like the composers wanted to keep a more 8-bit feel to it and did it pretty well with the church organ. It does not sound like FF 1, and yet it does not quite sound 16 bits either.

Abandoned Castle

Another great addition to the soundtrack. I believe you hear that theme when getting inside Bahamut’s castle in the sky; therefore the arrangements translate that floating very well. And like Temple of Chaos the piano has a nice echo to it.

Build a Bridge

This scene was added with Origins, when the Corneria crew completes the bridge that allows your team to move forward. It is a short loop of the Final Fantasy theme played by a flute with upbeat violins in the background.

Fanfare / Victory

I honestly do not remember when this one is heard; it is just the victory fanfare with the first 1 or 2 measures

Crystal Restoration

A nice sampling from the Prelude, with the harp but also other strings and percussions to make it sound magical.

Get an important Item

Modern arrangements (with trumpets and drums) make the track sound like you won REALLY big.

Inn

A remix from the shop theme. There is still accordion, but the main theme sounds like it is played on a large ukulele (no, not a guitar).

Mid Boss Battle

I can not remember exactly when this one is played. However, it does sound proper for a “timed fight” like the Weapons in Final Fantasy VII.

Boss Battle 1

Another nice addition, when you fight the Fiends of the Elements in the present. It has a nice dramatic feeling that, I feel, only FF V was able to capture well for its own boss battle.

Boss Battle 2

When fighting the Fiends in the past. It somehow has a less dramatic feeling to it compared to the previous one. However the drums help keeping the drama high enough for such a fight.

Last Battle

Self-explanatory. It starts out with an intro of organ, followed by some piano and a much more dramatic version of Boss Battle 1. I wonder how it would have sounded on the NES…

Ending Theme

Although there are better arrangements, they were not put in a way to make the triumph of conquering the game loud enough, at least until the second loop. THAT was louder as it should.

Final Fantasy II

Prelude

Once again, the original beat was kept and just played with better instruments. To be honest I thought the original one sounded better; the harp has a weird echo I do not like here.

Battle

The introduction to the theme is weirdly arranged, kind of like old NES songs where the notes are stuck together. But the rest of the theme is done very well. The “second part” of the battle is not as sharply cut as in the NES version. A very nice remix

Revivification

It has been completely redone. It still has the main extra short loop, but it has been extended with other arrangements that make the theme much more beautiful than the original.

Reunion

Even with modern arrangements, it could have been made even better and more triumphant. Disappointing

Rebel Army Theme

The first part of the theme sounds more triumphant than the NES version, and the extended loop (with a guitar and sampling from the main theme) have greatly improved the theme.

Town

Guitar is really the main instrument in this re-edition. In addition with the flute, the theme actually sounds just as good as the original, although the flute allows for a better transition between the two halves of the loop

Main Theme

The use of a clarinet makes the overworld theme sound even more mysterious than the original. The guitar (and strings) used in the extended loop also adds to the mystery created by the whole track.

Castle Pandemonium

Now THAT is the proper music for a final dungeon. The very loud violins create a drama that, I believe, was only matched by Final Fantasy VI’s final dungeon theme (the Lunar Core in FF IV sounded too quiet).

Imperial Army Theme

The original theme was already very imperialistic-feeling. Well, this new version sounds even more dramatic thanks to better drums, but also an extended loop that sounds even more dramatic than the first part (which makes the first loop sound too quiet in comparisons).

Chocobo Theme

The same short loop as the original, but played by an upbeat guitar. It is a better homage to the famous yellow bird that carries you all over the planet.

Magicians Tower

This one is the least interesting of the lot. It was WAY overdone; the background beat is so loud that you can barely hear what made me like the theme on the NES. It sounds more like cheap Halloween music (especially with the synth in the second part) than the music of the Tower of Mysidia.

Run

Not only does this track sound more dramatic than the original one, but the loop has also been greatly extended. It adds greatly to this dramatic track.

Ancient Castle

When you first visit Fynn Castle. The original part (from the original NES track) carries the “ancient” feeling better. The clarinet in the first part was nicely done, and so were the strings in the second part. However the extended loop has drums that are just out of this place. Fortunately we can still hear the clarinet so it is not completely spoiled.

Dungeon

Yet another track for which I preferred the original one. Oh, the violins used to carry the main beat are done well; however the modern flute just does not carry the same feeling as the “Arabic” sound from the NES.

Revived Emperor

As short as the original one, but the drama of the event is much better-arranged than the original one (especially with the drums).

Victory!

It was done better on the NES, especially the intro which sounded more “incisive”. The rest of the loop has the notes stuck together in an uninteresting manner.

Waltz

Despite better arrangements, it is as short and uninteresting as the original one. Just skip it.

Temptation of the Princess

Here, the Swan Lake sampling is ever more obvious with the extended loop. The harp in the background sounds weird, and the synthetic voices in the extended loop sound lame, but to add to the “temptation” theme.

Game Over

I never die, so I do not care for these themes. The guitar is beautiful, though.

Fanfare

It is played only with a single trumpet, giving the track a very different feel from other fanfares. Not that it is a bad thing.

Added Companion

This one was not down as well. The Dragon Warrior (NES) version sounded more triumphant; this one is too quiet.

Inn

Man, the composers REALLY love guitar! It is still short but it was done well

Battle Scene A

The “lost track” from the original game. The intro is simply spectacular, showing very good drama and epicness. The rest of the track, with the violin as the main beat and brass in the background, make it an excellent “major boss battle”, as I call them.

Battle Scene B

The “regular” boss battle. Although the distinction (that did not exist on the NES) is welcomed, it sounds much too synthesized, especially with the “voice” sampling, to be enjoyable. I just skip it.

Battle Scene 2

The final boss battle theme. The theme as a whole is done much better than on the NES: the intro is louder and more dramatic (there are even bells in the background), the violins and brass add to the drama and the final part of the loop made the “decrescendo” much better.

Finale

A very nice militaristic triumph. Although the arrangements sound too synthetic at times, it was a nice composition.

Diagnosis: it is overall superior to the original soundtrack. However you may want to listen to the original Final Fantasy II at times, especially Magician’s Tower.