Release Date: July 13, 2021
224 pages
ISBN: 978-1-940535-28-9
Terra the magical half-human. Shadow the mysterious assassin. Celes the tough, tender general. Kefka the fool who would be god. Each of the many unforgettable characters inFinal Fantasy VIhas made a huge impression on a generation of players, but why do we feel such affection for these 16-bit heroes and villains as so many others fade? The credit goes to the games score, composed by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu.
Armed with newly translated interviews and an expert ear for sound, writer and musician Sebastian Deken conducts a critical analysis of the musical structures ofFF6, the game that pushed the Super Nintendos sound capabilities to their absolute limits and launched Uematsus reputation as the Beethoven of video game music.
Deken ventures deep into the games lush soundscapefrom its expertly crafted leitmotifs to its unforgettable opera sequenceexploring the soundtracks lasting influence and how it helped clear space for game music on classical stages around the world.
Sebastian Dekenis a writer and musician born in St. Louis, Missouri. He studied music and French literature at Washington University in St. Louis, then went on to receive his MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University School of the Arts. He currently lives in New York City with his husband, Brett White.
*"If youre at all interested in video game music or are a huge fan of FFVI and Uematsu, then this latest release from Boss Fight Books is absolutely worth your time. [...] I fell in love with FFVI all over again and relived it through the music because of this book." - RPGFan
"Remarkably well-researched. [...] Even if youre a more casual fan ofFinal Fantasyor games in general, DekensFinal Fantasy VImakes for an illuminating read on both a gaming classic and the evolution of music in the medium." - Mobile Syrup
"I learned so much. I can tell you what chests to leave for the World of Ruin, all of Sabins blitz combo inputs or how to earn infinite experience early on but never realized how vital the games music is as a whole." - Obilisk
Excerpt:The Believer
Interview:Triple Jump(video), Dev Game Club (podcast), GameDev Breakdown (podcast)
More Reviews:Goodreads
