Music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series

Lore & Background

The music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series was primarily composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto. For the original Final Fantasy Tactics, he was assisted by Masaharu Iwata, with Sakimoto composing 46 tracks and Iwata composing 25. The Final Fantasy Tactics Original Soundtrack was released by DigiCube in 1997 and re-released by Square Enix in 2006. No separate soundtrack was released for Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. The soundtrack was well received by critics, who found it to be astounding and one of the best video game music soundtracks in existence at the time of its release.

For Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Sakimoto was assisted by Nobuo Uematsu, Kaori Ohkoshi, and Ayako Saso. The Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Original Soundtrack was released by DigiCube in 2003, and a new age arrangement album entitled White: Melodies of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was released by SME Visual Works in 2003. The original soundtrack was well received by critics, who praised its composition, while the arranged album was found to be mediocre with poor arrangements. The music for Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift was composed by Sakimoto with assistance from composers at his company Basiscape, and was released as an original soundtrack by Square Enix in 2007, which reviewers found pleasant and rewarding.

Reader's Guide

The music of the Final Fantasy Tactics series holds significance as a body of work primarily by Hitoshi Sakimoto, whose compositions defined the sound of these tactical role-playing games. The soundtracks were released across multiple albums, with the Final Fantasy Tactics Original Soundtrack reaching #62 on the Japan Oricon charts and selling over 12,400 copies, while the Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Original Soundtrack reached #130 and sold over 1,800 copies. Critics praised the original soundtracks for their composition and inspiration, though the arranged album White: Melodies of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance received negative reviews for its new-age style and sub-par arrangements. The legacy of the series' music extends beyond the albums: a radio drama based on Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was broadcast in 2003, and a medley from Final Fantasy Tactics A2 was performed at the Fantasy Comes Alive concert in Singapore in 2010. Selections from the series have also appeared on Japanese remix albums and English remixing websites, indicating ongoing interest in the music.

Did You Know?

• The Final Fantasy Tactics Original Soundtrack was released by DigiCube in 1997 and re-released by Square Enix in 2006.
• No separate soundtrack has been released for Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions.
• The White: Melodies of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance album was criticized for being mediocre with poor arrangements.
• A medley of pieces from Final Fantasy Tactics A2 was played at the Fantasy Comes Alive concert in Singapore on April 30, 2010.