Final Fantasy fans were spoiled today, getting a meaty State of Play Showcase in which 25 minutes of ridiculously awesome-looking Final Fantasy XVI gameplay footage dropped, with the promise of more to come.
We were also introduced to the game's theme song, “Tsuki Wo Miteita – Moongazing”, performed by Kenshi Yonezu, which is kind of a bop in its own right. It might be a little more "anime opening" than we had anticipated and still falls well short of the GOAT, but this is Final Fantasy in 2023, after all. You can hear a snippet below.
The theme was written by Yonezu, who is probably best known for the song "Kick Back" from the anime Chainsaw Man. He also co-wrote "Kite", which served as the theme song for the NHK's coverage of the 2020 Olympic Games.
What do you think of Final Fantasy XVI's theme song? What did you think of today's State of Play? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 26
I think it sounds awful. But different strokes for different folks I guess.
It’s not great. And this is coming from someone who thought that the Florence and the Machine cover for FFXV’s opening was alright.
Kenshi Yonezu was known for doing the third best MHA OP. Now he's done the theme for Chansaw Man, Shin Ultraman and Final Fantasy 16 in the span of a year.
Right on for him. You should check out his song 'Loser'. It really slaps
I don't know that I'm ready for how hard this games gonna hit me in the feels when the main theme already sounds like this. Kinda weird to hear this type of song for the series
Anime openings can be great like the vast majority of the Tales games openings. But sometimes you'll get the duds like FE Engages and Star Ocean 6s opening themes. I'm pretty sure I felt warm liquid coming out my ears listening to Engage's theme. But it was in English, it probably sounds a lot better in Japanese
I'd need to hear the full theme but it sounds mediocre to me and doesn't seem to fit the theme of the game. This opinion can obviously change once the game releases and I see context for when the song plays, but only time will tell.
Think the song's okay. I prefer his other songs like Pale Blue and Umi no Yuurei better.
Mmm I must say that I am surprised they went all out with a Japanese lyrics song with this but you can already hear the instrumental song beneath it sounds so good.
Jesus, a song isn't an "anime opening" just because it's performed by a Japanese dude.
Anyway, I don't really get what they were going for here. Especially considering how Western influenced the rest of the game is. Something orchestral would have been preferable.
But even on its own merits, the song is vaguely unpleasant to listen to.
@Enuo I knew I remembered his name from somewhere I love Loser it's a great song
This song does not fit the game at all. Fingers crossed it only appears in game during the final credits. It doesn't help that I'm not a Yonezu Kenshi fan at all.
Hard to tell if this theme song or the action combat is more out of place. Thank goodness we've got the pixel remasters in the next few days.
Currently isn't gripping me, but it's hearing it during the game that really makes something click or not
Should have stuck with Soken. That guy is a genius.
@Jey887 soken only write music and conduct he not a singer.
Its all personnel taste of course, but I dislike this more than any title tune for a FF game in the past. For a game series which has had so many memorable tunes and pieces of music in the past, this strikes me at being poorly matched to the title,
Its hardly a show stopper for the game of course, but I cant imagine I'd ever listen to it again by choice, and I certainly wont be whistling its melodic riffs for days.... maybe I'm just getting old!!
Personally really don't like this. Feels completely inappropriate for the look and tone of the game. And just isn't to my tastes.
Uematsu did it far better with Eyes on Me, Melodies of Life and Isn't it Beautiful? Those were orchestral and melodic and fit the tone and themes of the games they were part of. This just sounds generic.
I quite like it. It didn't blow my mind or anything, but it's good.
@Slayer25c did someone say....LaHeE?
@Ralizah am I the only one who didn't spot anything overly "western" in last night's trailer? Especially in the presence of notably more WRPG-influenced JRPGs like Dark Souls and Dragon's Dogma? Then again, not the first time fans and media get wacky with nomenclature. But on that subject, I don't see any "anime openings" here either. Or even an opening for now - a theme song is a theme song. FFXIII's never even played in the game intro.
I still haven’t heard it b/c twitter won’t let me. Anyone have a non-twitter link?😝
Glad that they mentioned eyes on me from FF8, what a song. Still remember the first time I heard it, over 20 years later
sounds like generic anime weeb *****.
still looking forward to the game.
YEAH SHOUTOUT TO CHAINSAW MAN IN THE ARTICLE LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOO. In all seriousness this is great news the Chainsaw Man OP was second in my Spotify wrapped right behind SiM (who worked on some yakuza music) and THE RUMBLING for Attack on Titan. He’s a great singer and this is great to see him score such a prestigious gig.
While it isn't strictly Final Fantasy, the GOAT JRPG theme is Kingdom Hearts' 'Simple and Clean' by Utada Hikaru. Having said that though, I actually like this one. I think it's going to be very moving when played at the right moment. The lyrics I heard, just from that short snippet, I think will resonate well with the story.
@Jey887 Yeah, it doesn't help that the songs he and his team have been putting out for Endwalker have been banger after banger... I don't mind this as long as its an end credits thing, I can't see it blending with the actual game in the same way Flow or Closer in The Distance does in XIV
@Slayer25c Yeah, and they should have stuck with that.
Not listening to this video, I choose to wait to hear it for myself in-game when late June rolls around.
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