entertainment

'Final Fantasy VII' concert to be held in Tokyo this summer

18 Comments
By Casey Baseel

When "Final Fantasy VII" was first released in 1997, gamers around the world emotionally connected with it in a way that had never been seen before. Years later, the game still occupies a special place in many people’s hearts, with many clamoring for developer Square Enix to release a version with graphics updated to today’s standards.

But even as so may ask for a new edition of the game that looks better, you won’t find anyone asking for one that sounds better, as the role-playing classic’s soundtrack is one of the most universally-loved musical collections to ever come out of the medium. As testament to its lasting appeal, a "Final Fantasy VII" symphony concert will be held in Tokyo this summer.

The performance, taking place on June 21, will be the first of the Game Symphony Japan concert series. While the tour’s subsequent dates and music selections have yet to be announced, the first features pieces by Nobuo Uematsu, the legendary video game composer behind almost the entire soundtrack for the "Final Fantasy" franchise.

Uematsu, who serves as executive music advisor for Game Symphony Japan, will make an appearance at the performance, which will be conducted by Kenichi Shimura. The performance will take place at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo’s Akasaka neighborhood, which boasts some of the highest-quality acoustics in Japan. This isn’t the first time for the venue to host a game music performance, as one was previously held for "Final Fantasy’s" long-time rival "Dragon Quest," but it will be the first "Final Fantasy" concert held at the concert hall.

Rather than simply cherry-pick their favorite pieces from the soundtrack, the organizers have set out to recreate the "Final Fantasy VII" narrative through the musical selection, going through the beginning, middle, and end of the game’s story in an attempt to recreate the sensation of playing through the game in its entirety. So while you’ll hear stand-outs such as the "Final Fantasy VII" main theme and arch-villain Sephiroth’s leitmotif “One-Winged Angel,” the orchestra will also play music used for the game’s overworld, fight scenes, and ending credits, as well.

Ticket prices range from 6,500 to 10,000 yen, depending on seat location. The doors open at 1 p.m., and the concert is scheduled to wrap up roughly two and a half hours later, giving you plenty of time to scoot on over to the "Final Fantasy" café and grab a Buster Sword Parfait before it closes.

Venue information Suntory Hall Address: Akasaka 1-13-1 107-0052 東京都港区赤坂1−13−1

Source: 4 Gamer.net

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18 Comments
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COOOOOOLLL! I need to go !

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Are people really gonna pay money for this? It's annoying how much squareenix capitalizes off of this games popularity while at the same time denying us a proper sequel.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Darknuts, we don't need sequel for VII. We need remake for Ps4.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I think Darknuts didnt really mean a sequel but some proper follow up in the series. FF9, 10 11 etc While looking great have been a complete disappointment. FF7 and FF8 have been absolutely the best FF games in my opinion and both had a great system, Materia and Junction. The only problem with ff8 was that you had to draw magic to max it out heh.

As for the concert, should be great

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ZOMG!!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

OMG! Definitely going!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I've been to a similar concert in the US, one with only Final Fantasy music. It was a nice time but why limit it to only FFVII? That was one of the most overrated entries in the entire series!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Ok Papi san and Nuts san, let's just hope the FF15 won't end up like the rest.

The crisis core FF7 made me cry. The song "Why" by Ayaka dragged me into tears. I hope they include it in the line-up.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Advent Children CGI movie rounded off the story of Cloud and Sephiroth quite nicely, and acted as a fitting sequel to the best game I have ever played (only the Saturn game Panzer Dragoon Saga comes close in my opinion). Might dig out my old Playstation during the summer for a whirl... it's been lying all packed up with my Saturn for the last 10 years.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I think Darknuts didnt really mean a sequel but some proper follow up in the series. FF9, 10 11 etc While looking great have been a complete disappointment. FF7 and FF8 have been absolutely the best FF games in my opinion and both had a great system, Materia and Junction. The only problem with ff8 was that you had to draw magic to max it out heh.

FF9 is anything but a "complete disappointment" and, in my opinion, the best game after FF6 (and before 7), while I think FF8 might easily be the worst due to its really poor narrative and cheap story explanations. Plus, the battle system really sucked as well. Also didn't like FF10, but I only played it in the really bad English language version yet, so maybe it's better in the original -- although I prefer games with text only a lot. I just hate American English when it sounds too American. And FF12 is a really really great game, although very non-FF. 13, for me, was on the same level as 10, while its sequels belong to the worst games I've ever played. Looking forward to 15. Can only get better than that.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Also didn't like FF10, but I only played it in the really bad English language version yet, so maybe it's better in the original

FFX is actually more popular among Japanese than FF7.

I've always been partial to FF6 and FF4, but I'll admit that's mostly nostalgia.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I think Darknuts didnt really mean a sequel but some proper follow up in the series. FF9, 10 11 etc While looking great have been a complete disappointment. FF7 and FF8 have been absolutely the best FF games in my opinion and both had a great system, Materia and Junction. The only problem with ff8 was that you had to draw magic to max it out heh.

FF9 is the best game in the series, so much better than the overrated FF7 and 8.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

FF7 is certainly NOT overrated, people who think so have NOT played the game and so do NOT understand/know the deeper meaning of the story. Liking the other FF games above 7 is something else. Also, FF7 has the only unique concept where the music still is being played in concerts for people to get those great memories back when playing the game. I am sure I will :)... GO CLOUD!!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

FF7 is certainly NOT overrated, people who think so have NOT played the game and so do NOT understand/know the deeper meaning of the story. Liking the other FF games above 7 is something else. Also, FF7 has the only unique concept where the music still is being played in concerts for people to get those great memories back when playing the game. I am sure I will :)... GO CLOUD!!

Except I have played FF7. What's so special about it that sets it apart from the other FF games? The characters are 2-D cardboard cut outs with little character development and next to no interaction and the plot is the usual 'let's save the world' type of the thing with the usual anime tropes. Not saying FF9's story is amazingly unique, but the way it's presented is leagues ahead of the muddled mess that is FF7. Not to mention the fact that the characers in 9 are actually fully fleshed out and interact with each other in a way that's believable. 9 is the only FF game where I felt transported to another world, and this is coming from someone that also enjoyed 7 and 8 as a child. I'll give you the music, the FF7 soundtrack is good, but even then I think 8's is better.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You are comparing old games layout and features with new developed games. That is REALLY narrow minded. Of course you get a different look at it then. And I don't think you have played FF7, 'Let's save the world' is not the plot there. And when you understand the story, it's obviously not a muddled mess. Most of this interaction, characters and story line is later on based on new FF games. It's great that you find other FF games better, probably the latest is the best? That's got 3D and comes very close to real characters.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

You are comparing old games layout and features with new developed games. That is REALLY narrow minded. Of course you get a different look at it then. And I don't think you have played FF7, 'Let's save the world' is not the plot there. And when you understand the story, it's obviously not a muddled mess. Most of this interaction, characters and story line is later on based on new FF games. It's great that you find other FF games better, probably the latest is the best? That's got 3D and comes very close to real characters.

I think the one who's narrow minded is you, assuming that because I say don't like FF7, that means I must not have played it. What? Trust me, I've played FF7 more than once, (I was a massive JRPG fan in my early teens) and it doesn't hold up at all today. FF9 came out four years after 7, they were both developed for the same system and the features and layout and gameplay is similar in both games, the main difference is FF9 happens to be good while 7 isn't. And you're wrong about the 'latest is best' assumption, FF10 is one of my least favourite games ever, I even prefer 7. And the less said about 13, the better.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

cool down, people. it´s taste. something like that is hard to compare on an objective base.

While I love FF7 and for me it stays the greatest of the FF games, I have to admit that I stopped playing after 9 and only tried my hands on X-2. the fact that people are willing to still play and listen and talk about this game is justification enough for a concert. and god is my witness, if I were in Japan I´d drag my sorry ass to this concert.

it´s great to see them honoring a fan favorite like this. might it be streamed or available for download?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

All these pre-stories and after stories that came out for FF7 were just cash grab. Still say FF7 is the most over rated, lackluster story, shallow mellow dramatic characters that just wallow in their own depression the entire story and probably one of the most limp wristed main characters of any FF game.

How about a remake of FF6 or FF4? IMO those are the two best installments in the entire series along with Tactics.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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