Music of Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI Original Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Nobuo Uematsu
Released	March 25, 1994 July 1, 1994 (Kefka's Domain) October 1, 2004 (reissue)
Recorded	Sunrise Studios
Length	58:00 (disc one) 57:18 (disc two) 72:03 (disc three)
Label	NTT Publishing Square (Kefka's Domain) Square Enix (reissue)
Producer	Nobuo Uematsu

Final Fantasy VI Original Soundtrack is a soundtrack album containing musical tracks from the game, composed and produced by Nobuo Uematsu. The album was originally released through NTT Publishing on March 25, 1994, under the name Final Fantasy VI Original Sound Version and the catalog numbers PSCN-5001~3, and was later re-released by Square Enix on October 1, 2004, with the new name and catalog numbers NTCP-5001~3. The soundtrack spans three discs and has a combined duration of 3:07:21.[1] The soundtrack was also officially released in the United States by Square/NTT Publishing under the name of Kefka's Domain on July 1, 1994. This version of the album is the same as its Japanese counterpart, except for different packaging and small differences in the translation of some track names between the album and newer releases. The album has a catalog number of SQ108.[2]

Ten tracks from the soundtrack, comprising all of the character themes for the required characters of the game, were released in a pair of EPs entitled Final Fantasy VI Stars Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. The CDs were released in 1994 by NTT Publishing with durations of 13:04 and 11:54 and catalog numbers of N09D-023 and NO9D-024, respectively.[3][4] Additionally, thirteen tracks from the soundtrack were included in a bonus CD titled Music From FFV and FFVI Video Games that shipped with Final Fantasy Anthology on October 5, 1999.[5] The soundtrack was again released as part of the Final Fantasy Finest Box by Square Enix on March 28, 2007, under the catalog numbers FFFB-0004-6 along with the OSTs of IV and V after the game was ported to the Game Boy Advance.[6][7]

Final Fantasy VI Original Sound Version sold 175,000 copies as of January 2010.[8] The album was very well received by critics. Ben Schweitzer of RPGFan claimed that "almost every track here is truly a very good, or even a great composition".[1] Issac Engelhorn of Soundtrack Central agreed, claiming it to be the best video soundtrack ever, a sentiment Jon Turner and Nick Melton of Soundtrack Central agreed with.[9] Patrick Gann of RPGFan claimed that the "Dancing Mad" track contained some of the "most astounding music ever created on a keyboard" and highly recommended the soundtrack.[1]

A new edition of the soundtrack, Final Fantasy VI Original Soundtrack Remaster Version, was released by Square Enix on September 3, 2013. The album has the catalog number SQEX-10387~9, and its 61 tracks have a duration of 3:07:47. Andrew Barker of RPGFan opined that the differences between the original release and this version were "minor and barely noticeable", but that all of the praises for the original music still held true.[10]

Track listing[11][12][13]

Final Fantasy VI Grand Finale is a collection of orchestral arrangements of Final Fantasy VI music composed by Nobuo Uematsu and arranged by Shiro Sagisu and Tsuneyoshi Saito. It was initially released through NTT Publishing on May 25, 1994, under the catalog number PSCN-5004 and subsequently re-released on October 1, 2004, under the catalog number NTCP-5004. The arrangements are performed by the Milan Symphony Orchestra, with vocal performances by Svetla Krasteva. The album spans 11 tracks and covers a duration of 54:33.[14]

Final Fantasy VI Grand Finale sold almost 34,000 copies.[15] It was well received by critics, though not as well as the other albums of music from the game. Daniel Space of RPGFan found that, while he was pleased with the album as a whole, there were issues with the track selections and arrangement quality that detracted from the album.[14] Adam Corn of Soundtrack Central found that, while not without flaws, the album was "interesting and entertaining".[16] Patrick Gann concurred, saying that while there are a few minor arrangement issues, the overall quality of the album is great.[14]

Piano Collections Final Fantasy VI is an album of music from Final Fantasy VI composed by Nobuo Uematsu, arranged on piano by Shirou Satou and performed by Reiko Nomura. It was first published by Square and NTT Publishing on June 25, 1994, with the catalog number PSCN-5005. It was subsequently republished by NTT Publishing on July 25, 2001, under the catalog number NTCP-1003. The album spans 13 tracks and covers a duration of 41:23. The original release included a hard-cover piano score with all pieces from the album.[17]

The album was well received, with Daniel Space of RPGFan terming it an "amazing CD".[17] Sigmund Shen of Soundtrack Central concurred, calling it "an impressive CD" and "a must-have".[18] Gary King of Soundtrack Central termed it "simply astonishing" and "a CD that really no collector should be without".[18]

Final Fantasy VI Special Tracks is an EP released on April 25, 1994, through NTT Publishing with the catalog number PSDN-6101. It is composed primarily of unused or remixed tracks for Final Fantasy VI, including the exclusive unused vocal track "Approaching Premonition"[19] and a remixed version of the Final Fantasy IV track "Troian Beauty".[19] The CD spans six tracks and covers a duration of 20:46.[19]

Final Fantasy VI Special Tracks, while not as widely reviewed as the other Final Fantasy VI albums, was seen as "very neat" by Patrick Gann, who especially liked the "Techno de Chocobo" track.[19]