Interesting article:

http://kotaku.com/5821655/why-video-gam … oundtracks

Interesting, in a way, but I still think it's the overall cinematic direction of the games and the streaming technology which changed VGM to what it is today. Also, VII as the example of the greatest score of all time is a bit questionable to me (while VI can qualify as such). I like VII lots, but with voice acting, X, XII and XIII have better music.

Btw, is it minority to feel FFVI's regular battle theme was just terrible? The rest of the soundtrack is pure classic, but I think VI, X and XIV have the worst regular battle themes. I know some love X's though.

I've heard a lot of people say VI's was one of the weakest regular battle themes in the series. Me personally, it's probably my favorite after VII's. I liked X's, but it's one of those themes I really don't want to hear anymore, after playing the game (and this is about 9-10 years ago).

Symphony of the Night featured "little to no voice acting"? If only.

Personally, I think FFVI's normal battle is great. Always liked that one quite a bit.

I also really enjoyed the article as it echoes my thoughts pretty closely. Games have been working really hard to become movies and they've really started to succeed. I don't think it's such a great idea and I find myself more often picking up older games or games the imitate that classic style that I grew up with. Movies and games are both a lot of fun and there are some things that games can learn from movies. In the end though... games are not movies and they shouldn't try to be. Nothing good comes of that.

arc rise fantasia (nintendo wii) probably one of first game ever (english) voice acting completely destroyed mood of game for me. it's terribly unconvincing to just laughably bad, I just couldn't take story seriously at all. everything from being completely unenthused in performance, to emphasizing wrong words, or being off in timing killed it for me. the cg animation in cut scenes also stiff, rigid, and lifeless, like group of marionettes moving and speaking on queue.

I agree tho, music that's more cinematic tends to be less melodic and less interestin

ffvi regular battle theme, good track, but at same time, sounds like parody of past ff battle themes. at times, like a musical joke. of course, when you have comedic dialogue sequences during normal battle musics, or some enemy graphics are just ridiculous (clown enemy with parasol coming out of his back, anyone?) is what solidified my opinion this way.