While we will avoid major spoilers for the game, please be advised that there will be some discussion about this new expansion’s details below. In order to examine these themes, we’ll be delving a bit into the Shadowbringers expansion. This soundtrack represents a new height for the series: from hauntingly desperate boss and dungeon themes, to uplifting composition for the friends we meet along the way. Not only can we feel the emotions through Soken-san’s composition, we can also hear the major evolution he has undergone as a composer and artist as he experiments with different techniques. This expansion has the most heart-wrenching twists and turns, with some of the darkest subject matter we’ve experienced and all of this can be felt through its music. Shadowbringers’ music is unlike anything the game has experienced before with its darker melodies and instrumental choices. None of the monumental turning points in this expansion would carry nearly as much weight without this newly-evolved sound. Soken-san has perfectly translated Shadowbringers’ subject matter and themes into an emotionally-charged soundtrack that completes the game. To say that it’s a quality soundtrack would be an understatement. Composer Masayoshi Soken has been with the title since the beginning and has composed a number of themes that are arguably some of Final Fantasy’s greatest hits, but none of us were ready for the musical smack-down he would deliver with this expansion.
It seems the long-running MMO has hit a major stride with its latest expansion: Shadowbringers. Coming from A Realm Reborn’s humble beginnings, Final Fantasy XIV has grown exponentially over the years in both users and content. I’ll let you all finish, but Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers deserves the most props for its soundtrack this year, and we’re about to show you why. Checking the Score is a feature about video game music, composers, musicians and tools of the trade.