Working with Final Fantasy is like "deciphering sacred texts," says veteran JRPG composer: "I feel my posture straighten every time I engage with Final Fantasy music"

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Yasunori Nishiki holds a lot of reverence for Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy X Switch
(Image credit: Square)

There's not much to say about Nobuo Uematsu's iconic Final Fantasy 7 music that hasn't already been said by people much more qualified than me, but veteran JRPG composer Yasunori Nishiki is in the unique position to offer genuinely novel insights.

Nishiki, primarily known as the main composer for Octopath Traveler, also handled various arrangements for Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth, including Rebirth's versions of One-Winged Angel and Hollow Skies, and he recently opened up to RPG Site about what it was like having a hand in adapting such a beloved score.

"Black coffee – especially unsweetened – is what I typically reach for whenever I'm buried in paperwork. On the other hand, a sweet latte usually means I'm gearing up to tackle a crucial battle theme, one I expect will be an uphill battle."

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

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