It is a seductive synthesis of atmosphere and melody, of Western and Eastern RPG music sensibilities working in tandem.Įach one of the four regions in Nova Chrysalia has a distinct flavor and thematic presentation, but the music still feels cohesive. Unlike Final Fantasy XIII-2’s soundtrack, which was excellent but decidedly eclectic, the music for Lightning Returns retains a unified vision of a world that is at once pre- and post-apocalyptic. With these qualities clearly in mind, veteran Square Enix composers Hamauzu, Mizuta, and Suzuki have created a complex and pervasively melancholy musical climax befitting the final chapter of the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy. The game’s setting, Nova Chrysalia, is a world steeped in darkness and divinity alike, birthed from Chaos and doomed to an imminent end. Her involuntary journey across time, space, and worlds has at last reached its end with the release of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Shackled by capricious gods and forced to play puppet in their schemes, Lightning is a woman whose entire adult life has been a battle against an unjust fate. 03 – Lightning’s Theme – A Distant Glimmer –ġ1 – The Song of the Savior – The Chosen One –ġ2 – The Song of the Savior – Grand Finale –
