3. A Nobuo Uematsu Soundtrack
As anybody who has read my previous article on the music of Final Fantasy (whatculture.com/gaming/final-fantasy-30-defining-pieces-of-music.php) may have gathered, it is my belief that the soundtracks of the series are one its defining attributes, with captivating melodies across the games offering people an enjoyable auditory experience as they play. Audio highlights of the series include the soundtracks of Final Fantasies VI through IX, all of which have one thing in common - composer Nobuo Uematsu. Until the release of Final Fantasy X, Uematsu was solely responsible for the creation of every track in the series, but beginning with X, his involvement began to dwindle. He contributed to about a third of X's tracks, including the memorable 'To Zanarkand', but offered just one piece for Final Fantasy XII, and none at all for Final Fantasy XIII, both of which, audio-wise, pale in comparison to their predecessors. The reason for this is that Uematsu left Square Enix in 2004 to work freelance, however, he returned to the company to compose the entire soundtrack for the online-only Final Fantasy XIV, so there is hope that he can do so once again for Final Fantasy XV, creating compositions that will live in the memory as long as classics such as Aria Di Mezzo Caraterre, One Winged Angel and Aeris' Theme.