FFXIII-2 And WTF Is This

It's not something that is physically tangible or can be explained in words. It's something experienced from playing games of the franchise for over a decade. To see them evolve piece by piece, game by game, to see them take on different angles of light, approaches to different things and how they all retain their values as a Final Fantasy title.

I suppose if we want to look at one small example, here is one iota of why I feel... alienated by SE's trend or direction of FF as of late.

You can see the movement of a singular theme, retaining it's core form and function. Then you hear the X-2 and XIII-2 versions and you can't help but ask yourself: What the *** happened?

Even XIII's chocobo theme was... questionable, yet still redeeming.

Ahhh, those were the days~

I dont mean to insult or anything, but I think you guyes are a bit too scared of change.
This thread is just full of




It's different, yes.
Does that automaticly make it bad? No.

I can understand trying to be innovative and all that noise, but...think about it. There's a reason no one has ever bothered with using questionable elements like that. <_<

Wait wait wait... There have been FF games FAR worse than FF13. 13 had a very engaging story, despite some annoying characters.

Let's not bastardize 13, because it had minor flaws. Have you never played "Final Fantasy Mystic Quest"? Or "Final Fantasy Paladin's Quest"? Those games, as close to my childhood as they are, SUCKED ROYALLY. And Dirge of Cerb, really? I haven't played Dirge, but come on... those are all "FF" games, that are just horrendous... Don't get me started on 10-2 lol...

I enjoyed Dirge of Cerberus a lot more than XIII

Holy hell, I know I'm late but LOL. That song is just funny. I can't even be mad because I'm laughing on the inside too hard to express hatred.

Okay okay, I like XIII, but what IS this. I enjoyed the jazz-like theme to XIII's song but this is just going too damn far. I was feeling it a bit until lyrics came in, then it was like



Is it bad that I envisioned a Metalocalypse scene and chocobos and moogles were all getting their heads cut off?

Different is fine. Different can be great. A tutorial making up 3/4 of a game, mostly consisting of walking down a hallway, with static encounters, is not a great change in my opinion.

OP's link reminds me of the wacky chocobo music from IV when you got the black chocobo. At first I was like "WTF?"

*Stops lurking* I honestly believe I just fell in love with this song...

The fact that you're comparing FFXIII to Mystic Quest on a scale of quality speaks volumes.

Well if there is a silver lining, its this:

I have the OST, there is about 4 different chocobo themes, the game's about parallel universes and Different timelines, so expect some differentiation there.

On the other hand, the final boss theme is actually pretty awesome.

So Japan got this today, NA in another month and finally EU in a month after, not that I'm dying to play this, probably will get it eventually though.

Any version of Dearly Beloved I could listen to for ages, particularly BBS version.

The XIII-2 soundtrack is incredibly strong. One of the best yet. Don't judge it off of one out-of-context track. For all you know, in that segment of the game it could be parodying itself, irony etc. Come on, a serious metal version about a fluffy yellow bird. If you let that woosh you then god help us. How many different stylistic variations does there need to be on a single theme before you realize its poking fun at itself. Trust the internet to highlight the most vulnerable aspect of something, in a sea of great music.

I get the feeling it will make sense when heard with the actual game, I'm guessing some sort of chocobo boss... It still hurts that this exists though.

What the *** are they thinking? FFXIII had such amazing music, and what I've heard from XIII-2 so far was awesome too.

XIII did also have a Chocobo theme with lyrics, but at least there it was cute and fitting. This is just trash.

I'm still looking forward to XIII-2; I loved XIII, and this just looks even better. But please, for the love of god, don't let this be in the actual game. I'd really rather not have to mute my TV every time this filth comes on.

Same!

I said it before, but I'll say it again.
I really don't think there's any circumstance that can remotely justify something as awful as that, even in the form of self-parody or irony.
However, you are correct in that this is rightfully singled out from the soundtrack in whole. There are still redeeming qualities elsewhere, but things like this stick out like a sore thumb for good reason.

Because ppl like you can't take that other ppl have different taste in music? srsly dude. there are a few tracks in here that aren't classic rpg style music. theres some modern stuff as well.

SE is a "Global" company. And their fans like all kinds of music. I'm even willing to bet that this fits in fine with w/e cs it goes to.

bottom line. who cares if u dont like some tracks in the game. its not all meant to please you so stop trying to downgrade the entire game.

Also i read through most of this and i have to say i hated 7's story when i first played but then again i was like 10 and didnt really understand it. playing it when i was 18 was like playing a whole new game and i enjoyed the story for the most part.

X-2 was fun and i liked it. not the best xD but i didnt regret playing it after i finished. (though i was upset that there was no actual blitzball games)

and i enjoyed 13. now... i hated snow and hope... and sorry but vanille's accent kept changing and that got on my nerves. but otherwise the game was ok..

Though i have expectations for xiii-2 im not setting them high. but i think ill enjoy it enough.

He said earlier on a previous page he likes the music, but he doesn't feel it fits the final fantasy franchise. I agree with him on this, it is not the appropriate music for a Final Fantasy game. It was built upon a certain type of music and succeeded many years using it. I feel that the music sample in the OP isn't appropriate for any chocobo theme, it has a long history of what the music is like and recently they have corrupted it.

You do know that things change right? sorry but SE's stories are getting into a more modern era of time. therefore they will use a more modern music. i think this song will "hopefully" fit in with w/e reason it was put into the game. even 10s opening had music like this...

If i remember correctly even 7 had a lot of metal/guitar in it.. though they didn't use lyrics..

If there's one thing I think Final Fantasy is lacking nowadays, it's humor. FFI and FFIV and FFVI had funny parts, but nowadays it's angstangstangst supersrs. Even FFVII had really funny parts.

If this is used like I'm told it is, in a comedic fashion regarding Red Chocobo, then I'll be happy. I think we're assuming that this is a default theme, but it's not; there is one other, more 'standard' chocobo theme.

It's not about what pleases me, and it would be naive to imply that is the source of my grievances.
The point is the disembodiment of correlation or relevant evolution to themes, elements, allusions and general core structure of what makes a Final Fantasy, a Final Fantasy.

FF13 and it's predecessor feel more and more detached from that "essence" or "core."
Some will like it, some won't. I accept that, I simply point it out for what it is.

i think all final fantasys had humor.. 8 did... 9 did.. 10 did..10-2 did..11 does >.> 12 did...13 did...

I think they are trying to make it some complex masterpiece, the actual chocobo theme not the horrible mess the OP has, when a chocobo theme was never meant to be one.

It has always been simple and was always meant to be simple.

I'm not "afraid" of change, I listened to both versions and for both I feel they don't live up to the standards of what the theme has always been.

Sometimes simple is better, and in this case I believe it is. I feel they shouldn't be ruining something that came with every chocobo in every game they have made since it was introduced.