Starting in June 2019, the United States was blessed with the announcement that the soundtracks to every mainline (and some side) Final Fantasy games were being brought to Spotify. This meant jamming to our favorite battle theme as we speed down the highway or swaying to something more soothing while gazing at the stars.
The ’90s video game scene was defined by none other than the PS1. Its graphical capabilities enabled a new perspective to storytelling, more durable controls, and monumental instrumentation. Final Fantasy VII was no stranger to any of those.
Here are the 10 best Final Fantasy 7 songs ranked by Spotify listens.
10 Mako Reactor: 256,150
Starting off this list is a track that is equal parts threatening and urgent. There’s no sort of upscaling. Its pace remains consistent throughout the duration. Not only is this one of the first tracks you hear in the game, but it is also one of the first tracks on the Spotify soundtrack. Final Fantasy VII’s brand of distinctly dark music starts and continues from here.
Besides all the doom and gloom, it does give you a sense that you’re making progress. Somehow, you’re going to make it through, and there’s an end in sight.
9 Tifa’s Theme: 323,060
Whereas the last track would have had anyone shaking in their boots, Tifa’s Theme is one that might bring a tear to your eye. It gives you a bit of insight into Tifa’s character, imbuing you with a healthy dose of melancholic empathy. It’s a track that fights for the idea that video game characters are people, and they feel just as much pain as we do too.
Tifa is a sweetheart, her strength is unmatched, but she bundles these emotions inside in place of others feeling their best. Her characterization is why so many people respect and love her to this day.
8 Anxiety: 326,101
Can you feel something is amiss? Something subtly offputting, something, dare I say, anxiety-inducing? This track does not strike you in a way some video game soundtracks will try to approach anxiety. It’s a slow crawl, and there are a few discordant moments where the harmony does not form a cohesive composition - something the wrong composer would screw up indefinitely.
What Nobuo Uematsu does is leave you isolated, which is some people’s worst fear. If you feel imbalanced or desolate by the end of the track, then he’s done his job well.
7 Opening Bombing Mission: 410,083
Of course, this one had to be higher up on the list. Being in the first area of the game and the 2nd song on the soundtrack, this composition holds quite a bit of significance beyond the realm of Final Fantasy VII. First of all, Guard Scorpion is one of the most iconic bosses in gaming history and secondly, the trumpet beat just sticks in your head like hot glue. It is rapid and reminds you that what you have in front of you is an epidemic.
If you solve it, great! You’re home free. But you were never really in any danger in the first place, now were you?
6 The Prelude: 505,522
This epic, opening track is one that Final Fantasy fans will recognize. Since the beginning, this has defined our adventure and brought us into each new world. There are small changes, little “a-ha” moments that make each iteration stand out from the rest. It’s beautiful enough to make anyone cry, but remember the good times we had along the way.
“The Prelude” is a song to endure all ages, withstand through all fantasies until we reach the true Final Fantasy in our own lives. That’s all we can ever hope and dream for.
5 Aerith’s Theme: 544,743
To know one’s fate is to understand how to live one’s life to the fullest. When the player knows something terrible will happen, they’ll likely try anything in their power to stop it from happening. In Aerith’s case, there’s not much you can do except watch it unfold in front of you.
Aerith, like Tifa, is also praised for being an amazing character, met with a tragic fate. The numbers show: she has half a million plays honoring her as a character. With this remake, it will allow players to fall in love with her again.
4 One-Winged Angel: 637, 133
Prepare for an ungodly, cruel, and unforgiving boss battle. You’ve made it this far, congrats. This is unlike any boss you’ve seen before, and with the added layer of vocals, you really feel as if you’re experiencing something spiritual. The abstractness of the background reflects the void for which nothing seems to exist.
Don’t get too intimidated by this combination of factors. As soon as you start feeling haughty, Sepiroth’s got you right where he wants you. Play your cards right, pray for a minimal amount of Supernovas, and you might come out victorious.
3 JENOVA: 646,776
This is a relatively chill track to play over a slumbering, disturbed blue alien lady who’s trying to kill you. In her true form, she morphs into a jagged coral-Esque monster that gets stranger the more you fight it. Each of the three battles presents a new challenge: the elements, laser beams, and tentacle slaps. You’re dead wrong if you go in thinking that your last strategy will work for its current form.
In this case, the music isn’t the thing that overwhelms and consumes you. The battle speaks for itself and doesn’t need any sort of heightening.
2 Let the Battles Begin: 900,059
You’re not going to be able to get this one out of your head. As you roam, as you fight, and as you train, there’s no escaping its grasp. When you hear the first seconds of the song and the screen starts to shift, it’s beyond exhilarating. You could be fighting the wimpiest enemy, but the music could make it seem like you’re battling a behemoth. Its got a simple beat that is strong enough to keep you grounded, especially if you need the EXP. So run at your own risk.
1 Fight On!: 917,338
At number one, we have something energetic and aggressive. Complete with a full-bands worth of instruments and a space-age type feel, the title “Fight On!” fits perfectly with what it’s egging you on to do. In a game like Final Fantasy VII, you have little time to think and even less time to act. Is there anything, then, that we should be waiting for?
No, the reason is not strong enough. Go out there and fight like a genuine renegade rebel, and make sure you win too.
NEXT: 10 Things Everyone Completely Missed In the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Demo On Ps4
