RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Music Reviews > Final Fantasy VII: Reunion Tracks
Reviewed by: Mithrandir
"A great CD of some of the best themes of FF7!"
Basically, this CD is a collection of tracks taken from FF7 OST...but not just that. This CD contains three orchestrated tracks arranged by Shiro Hamaguchi, the "official arranger" of Nobuo Uematsu. The CD contains what could be the compositions that Nobuo is the most proud of. So let's do this track-by-track.
Opening Theme- Bombing Mission
What do I have to say about this introduction....well nothing too bad. The track really goes with the FMV. Then the action music starts, a music that goes well with the "bombing mission". This is one of the tracks I remember the most from FF7.
Cosmo Canyon
Cosmo Canyon is one of the greatest themes composed by Nobuo. The percussions start the track, giving it a mystic aspect. Then the flute enters, which fills the track of the "wisdom" emanating from Cosmo Canyon. An unforgettable track.
Still More Fighting
What to say about the boss battle music...well, a simple word: WHOA! I remember the first boss I battled with this music. I believe it was some tank. Anyway, the track adds this little something to the battle, which is already cool with all the camera angle changes. A track not to miss.
Farm Boy
I don't know what made Nobuo put this track on this CD. Sure, the track is appropriate for the situation, but this ruins the ambiance after hearing the previous track. I usually skip this one.
Rufus Welcoming Ceremony
I made a musical arrangement of this track for a school band. It was really fun playing it since it is easy and it is a really good fanfare. We can observe with this track, the ability of Nobuo to compose various styles of music. The part of the game where this plays is also funny so this is a track I'll never forget.
Electric de Chocobo
The electric bass starts the track with a motive resembling to the beginning of Pulp Fiction. Anyway, this track has something to make dance anyone.
Honeybee Manor
This is what I call a funny song with all these synth sounds. I don't think there is much to say about this track, but it makes me smile whenever I listen to this.
Cid's Theme
This theme is really representative of Cid. Also, it represents courage in a great way. It has this "1492"(from Vangelis) something I think...
Forested Temple
I would never put this track in a "best of". I mean, the track is not so bad, but in a "best of"? I don't think so. It becomes annoying.
Fighting
This is the track every FF7 player won't forget. It is great and adds more action to the battle even if you're "fighting" against some low-level crappy monsters. I made a musical arrangement of this track for a school band and the people who never played final came to me and said it was a great composition. Unfortunately, the arrangement is a little tougher than it may sound. Anyway, the track is a must-hear.
Ahead on our way
What!? What is this doing there? The track is already crappy and the synth quality doesn't help it. This "calm" music plays in "Kalm" I think and in some other places...
Gold Saucer
This track is a great success if you say it does the job as an amusement park music. But listening to this while you're reading a book on the bus is another thing. I mean...you would skip it, right?
Crazy Motorcycle
Oh my God! This is absolutely great! I put this track on repeat since this "techno-beat-track" (I think it is techno but I'm not sure...) is really good. The timpani bit at the beginning of the track is just great.
Cait Sith's Theme
I never liked Cait Sith, but I do like his theme. The track has this "jazzy beat" with finger snaps. Sounds like an "investigation" music we only see in detective movies.
Descendent of the Shinobi
I never liked Yuffie either and I don't like her theme. A little too "cute" if I can define it as that.
J-E-N-O-V-A
The music playing while you fight with JENOVA. This trumpet solo at the end is just great. It's a shame it is difficult to make a musical arrangement of this one due to all these synth instruments. Really great track.
Main Theme, The One-Winged Angel, Aeris Theme (all three are orchestral)
The orchestral arrangements of Shiro Hamaguchi really keep the Nobuo Uematsu work while adding a little more to it. It is the perfect pair to give results like these three great tracks. The Main Theme keeps it's calm and beautiful melody. The One-Winged Angel keeps its "scary-latin" voices while adding a better orchestral part than the synth one. There is only a thing I don't like about this track. I would have kept the choir from the original track and added it the orchestral part. The choir from the orchestral one doesn't sound as "natural" as the original one. Aeris Theme...wow! It is even more beautiful than the original one since it represents well the vulnerability and softness of the "Pure person" known as Aeris.
Overall
Well, I have a conclusion to make. This CD is better than buying the whole OST since it contains mostly of the "Best of" from the OST. If you ever don't want to buy the whole OST but you like ff7 music. I suggest you buy this one. The whole CD deserves 91 out of 100.
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| Album Information | Reviewer Rank |
|---|---|
|
Final Fantasy VII: Reunion Tracks Published by: DigiCube Release Date: October 22nd 1997 Composed by: Nobuo Uematsu Arranged by: Shiro Hamaguchi 1 Disc, 20 Tracks Catalog: SSCX-10012 |
91 |
Reviewed by: Mithrandir
"A great CD of some of the best themes of FF7!"
Basically, this CD is a collection of tracks taken from FF7 OST...but not just that. This CD contains three orchestrated tracks arranged by Shiro Hamaguchi, the "official arranger" of Nobuo Uematsu. The CD contains what could be the compositions that Nobuo is the most proud of. So let's do this track-by-track.
Opening Theme- Bombing Mission
What do I have to say about this introduction....well nothing too bad. The track really goes with the FMV. Then the action music starts, a music that goes well with the "bombing mission". This is one of the tracks I remember the most from FF7.
Cosmo Canyon
Cosmo Canyon is one of the greatest themes composed by Nobuo. The percussions start the track, giving it a mystic aspect. Then the flute enters, which fills the track of the "wisdom" emanating from Cosmo Canyon. An unforgettable track.
Still More Fighting
What to say about the boss battle music...well, a simple word: WHOA! I remember the first boss I battled with this music. I believe it was some tank. Anyway, the track adds this little something to the battle, which is already cool with all the camera angle changes. A track not to miss.
Farm Boy
I don't know what made Nobuo put this track on this CD. Sure, the track is appropriate for the situation, but this ruins the ambiance after hearing the previous track. I usually skip this one.
Rufus Welcoming Ceremony
I made a musical arrangement of this track for a school band. It was really fun playing it since it is easy and it is a really good fanfare. We can observe with this track, the ability of Nobuo to compose various styles of music. The part of the game where this plays is also funny so this is a track I'll never forget.
Electric de Chocobo
The electric bass starts the track with a motive resembling to the beginning of Pulp Fiction. Anyway, this track has something to make dance anyone.
Honeybee Manor
This is what I call a funny song with all these synth sounds. I don't think there is much to say about this track, but it makes me smile whenever I listen to this.
Cid's Theme
This theme is really representative of Cid. Also, it represents courage in a great way. It has this "1492"(from Vangelis) something I think...
Forested Temple
I would never put this track in a "best of". I mean, the track is not so bad, but in a "best of"? I don't think so. It becomes annoying.
Fighting
This is the track every FF7 player won't forget. It is great and adds more action to the battle even if you're "fighting" against some low-level crappy monsters. I made a musical arrangement of this track for a school band and the people who never played final came to me and said it was a great composition. Unfortunately, the arrangement is a little tougher than it may sound. Anyway, the track is a must-hear.
Ahead on our way
What!? What is this doing there? The track is already crappy and the synth quality doesn't help it. This "calm" music plays in "Kalm" I think and in some other places...
Gold Saucer
This track is a great success if you say it does the job as an amusement park music. But listening to this while you're reading a book on the bus is another thing. I mean...you would skip it, right?
Crazy Motorcycle
Oh my God! This is absolutely great! I put this track on repeat since this "techno-beat-track" (I think it is techno but I'm not sure...) is really good. The timpani bit at the beginning of the track is just great.
Cait Sith's Theme
I never liked Cait Sith, but I do like his theme. The track has this "jazzy beat" with finger snaps. Sounds like an "investigation" music we only see in detective movies.
Descendent of the Shinobi
I never liked Yuffie either and I don't like her theme. A little too "cute" if I can define it as that.
J-E-N-O-V-A
The music playing while you fight with JENOVA. This trumpet solo at the end is just great. It's a shame it is difficult to make a musical arrangement of this one due to all these synth instruments. Really great track.
Main Theme, The One-Winged Angel, Aeris Theme (all three are orchestral)
The orchestral arrangements of Shiro Hamaguchi really keep the Nobuo Uematsu work while adding a little more to it. It is the perfect pair to give results like these three great tracks. The Main Theme keeps it's calm and beautiful melody. The One-Winged Angel keeps its "scary-latin" voices while adding a better orchestral part than the synth one. There is only a thing I don't like about this track. I would have kept the choir from the original track and added it the orchestral part. The choir from the orchestral one doesn't sound as "natural" as the original one. Aeris Theme...wow! It is even more beautiful than the original one since it represents well the vulnerability and softness of the "Pure person" known as Aeris.
Overall
Well, I have a conclusion to make. This CD is better than buying the whole OST since it contains mostly of the "Best of" from the OST. If you ever don't want to buy the whole OST but you like ff7 music. I suggest you buy this one. The whole CD deserves 91 out of 100.
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