Ranking Every Final Fantasy Composer
1. Nobuo Uematsu
Works: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII Remake, VII: Advent Children, VIII, IX, X, XI, XIV, Unlimited
Could it have been anybody else?
Nobuo Uematsu is a bona fide legend and unquestionably one of the most underrated musicians on the planet. Snobs were in uproar when his music appear in the upper echelons of Classic FM’s Hall Of Fame for the first time given his status as a ‘lowly’ game composer, but anybody who’d heard his work over the past three decades knew that it was deserved recognition for the man who single-handedly crafted the soundtracks for the first nine games and has worked in a contributory capacity on many since.
Uematsu has put together thousands of tracks in total and not all of them can be masterpieces. Indeed the vast majority are rudimentary, but these are offset by the sheer number of beautiful compositions that are completely unforgettable by contrast.
From universally beloved pieces like ‘Aeris' Theme’, ‘To Zanarkand’, ‘The Place I’ll Return To Someday’ and ‘Terra’s Theme’ to other perennial favourites like ‘The Oath’, ‘Not Alone’, ‘Aria Di Mezzo Carattere’ and ‘Clash On The Big Bridge’, Uematsu’s work has positively impacted upon the life of all Final Fantasy fans.
Something has certainly been lost since he departed Square-Enix to become a freelancer in 2004, as he’s been brought back less and less as time has gone on.
An Uematsu return
for a future game would be huge. Please make it happen!