In Final Fantasy XIII that theme is "Reminiscence - Sulyya Springs Motif". Occasionally in Final Fantasy piano collections you come to appreciate a new gem of a theme, one that was forgettable in its OST but for some reason strikes a chord in its piano arrangement. Certain moments, like the dramatic melodic rising and falling in "Fang's Theme", do work well in piano form, but for these three tracks the orchestral originals remain the definitive versions. The piano arrangements for "March of the Dreadnaughts", "Nascent Requiem" and "Fang's Theme" try to match the orchestra originals' energy in loudness and tempo but feel overbearing, while the quieter moments come off a bit flat. And the spartan piano finale to "Prelude to Final Fantasy XIII" closes the piano collection as aptly as the original sci-fi synth rendition opened the OST.Ĭonversely the more robust orchestral pieces of the original soundtrack don't fare so well here. "Nautilus" he transforms in a similar manner - though the quiet, introspective passage midway through the track was also present in the orchestral original, it gains an indelible, Yoko Kanno-like grace in the piano version. I wouldn't have expected the pseudo-vocals of "The Gapra Whitewood" to make fodder for a piano arrangement, but not only does Hamauzu relay them elegantly in piano form, he structures a gentler, more contemplative, almost entirely new piece around them. Both the shallow, syrupy lyrics and tediously simple pop beat of the original are gone what remains are the pleasant main melody and an equally pleasant piano performance. Take for example the arrangement of "The Sunleth Waterscape". The switch from the diverse array of acoustic and electronic instrumentation in the OST to a single piano in Final Fantasy XIII Piano Collections actually works to the album's favor by remedying some previously questionable instrumental choices. Some arrangements even far supersede Hamauzu's original work, making this the only Final Fantasy to date where the Piano Collections is the best way to experience the soundtrack. Arranging his own compositions from the original soundtrack, Hamauzu offers a piano collection with far more artistry and emotion than the pleasant but forgettable ones for FFVII and FFXI, and worlds beyond the lead-handed adaptations in the recent "Piano Operas". Shining out among a recent string of mediocre Final Fantasy piano albums is a bright spot in Masashi Hamauzu's Final Fantasy XIII Piano Collections.
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