RPGamer 2024 Awards – Best Music

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2024 Best Music -- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth defied odds and expectations, delivering a critically acclaimed game. While the core gameplay is excellent, it’s the production values of Rebirth that let it soar. Taking the framework from Remake, this time around we are treated to arrangements of classic themes from Cosmo Canyon, Gold Saucer, and the like. These stylish reinterpretations of iconic tracks take what we know and love and update them for a new generation.

Square Enix’s full team of immensely talented composers seem to enjoy themselves here, with bodacious flair; “On Our Way” is used a handful of times in different regions, each with a distinct energy that feels both new and nostalgic. Likewise, tracks like “Midgardsormr” remind us there is still a lot of juice to be squeezed from themes and melodies we already heard in Remake. If you’re in the mood for new, don’t worry; the Queen’s Blood theme is a sharp new classic, while “Let’s Go, Mt. Corel!” and “Firework Blade” demonstrate off an electric verve that feels right in place.

 

 

 

Stellar Blade’s soundtrack is an interesting collection. Going so far as to tap Keiichi Okabe’s Monaca studio for some of its pieces, the soundtrack is clearly following the rest of the game in trying to capture some of NieR: Automata’s energy. While these tracks sound nice on their own, it’s actually the ones that deviate from NieR: Automata’s style that make the biggest impact. The K-Pop-infused songs that fill the more high-octane moments of the game mix well with some of the feats EVE performs. The metal-infused boss themes similarly add a lot of energy, and some of the music used in cutscenes can and does go a long way in helping to elevate the narrative, especially as the game gets closer to its final moments.

Final Fantasy XIV‘s full set of soundtracks is considered legendary at this point. Since taking over the reins, Masayoshi Soken and the rest of the team have exhibited incredible ability to elicit a spectrum of emotions, and Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail continues that, even managing to add in its own flavour through many of its pieces. The Tural capital of Tuliyollal features a delightful mix of upbeat jazz during the day, bringing about a call to adventure, before chilling out a bit in the night with a track evocative of a beachside walk. These tracks are joined by more excitement-building battle and dungeon themes, particularly as the story hits its zenith, while other highlights include a scene-setting Wild West guitar riff. It all combines to produce another excellent collection of music for fans.

 

by Paul Shkreli, Ezra Kinnell, and Alex Fuller