The concert opened with the Prelude as a brief video celebrating 25 years of Final Fantasy VII played on a projection screen. Ironically, the Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestra World Tour wasn’t supposed to line up with Final Fantasy VII’s 25th anniversary perfectly, but Square Enix made sure to capitalize on that regardless. A world tour featuring orchestral performances and re-arrangements of pieces from a game is an entirely different level of reverence. It’s rare for a game to receive any special treatment beyond a celebratory Tweet and a sale on digital storefronts. Lately it seems like every other day marks another celebrated videogame’s anniversary, with every year after a game or franchise’s release treated as a marketing opportunity. Songs that weren’t originally written to be performed by an orchestra didn’t quite hit the mark, but otherwise, the cheekily-dubbed Shinra Symphony Orchestra and conductor Arnie Roth delivered an exciting performance at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra earlier this month. It only makes sense that Square Enix would want to proudly put such a masterfully-written collection of music on display to its fans in orchestra halls across the world.Ĭoming 25 years after the release of the original game, the Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestra World Tour largely lives up to the high expectations that come with such a prestigious soundtrack.
But with intricate rearrangements and new compositions that sampled the original’s music, 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake outdid its 25-year-old predecessor.
The Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestra World Tour didn’t just transport me back to Midgar, it brought me back to one of the most thrilling gaming experiences I’ve ever had: sitting in my parents’ basement, escaping the fervor around a pandemic I naively expected not to consume a tenth of my life two years ago.įinal Fantasy VII’s soundtrack has long been one of the most celebrated and iconic in the pantheon of videogames. It’s almost empty, except for a comically large sword buried in the ground and the words, “PRESS ANY BUTTON TO CONTINUE.” I almost wanted to reach for my controller, before the dizzying six-floor difference between myself and that harp I just heard snaps me back to reality. A light drum roll interrupts a heavenly harp solo as horns and strings creep in, introducing a stark title screen. Features and/or content may differ from previously rereleased versions of the game.It’s dark. *This remaster is based on the original "FINAL FANTASY VI" game released in 1994. Dive into the world of the game with supplemental extras like the bestiary, illustration gallery, and music player.Improved gameplay, including modernized UI, auto-battle options, and more!.Beautifully rearranged soundtrack in a faithful FINAL FANTASY style, overseen by original composer Nobuo Uematsu.Universally updated 2D pixel graphics, including the iconic FINAL FANTASY character pixel designs created by Kazuko Shibuya, the original artist and current collaborator.Revisit the critically acclaimed FFVI - this remastered version also includes the beloved and iconic opera scene in reimagined majesty, including new vocals and animation. Journey through their interwoven fates in this sweeping melodrama. All the playable characters have their own stories, goals, and destinies. The magicite system allows players to customize which abilities, magic spells, and summons the party members learn. A thousand years later, humanity relies on machines - until they find a young woman with mysterious powers.
The War of the Magi caused magic to disappear from the world. All the magic of the original, with improved ease of play. The original FINAL FANTASY VI comes to life with completely new graphics and audio as a 2D pixel remaster!Ī remodeled 2D take on the sixth game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics.