CoN 25th Anniversary: 1997-2022
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R1: #6 To Zanarkand (FF10) v. #11 Ending Theme (FF10)

 
Which song is your favorite?
At Zanarkand [ 5 ]  [45.45%]
Ending Theme [ 6 ]  [54.55%]
Total Votes: 11
  
Posted: 6th November 2017 19:35

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Another early-round in-game matchup, this one takes the very beginning of Final Fantasy X and pits it against the very end. At Zanarkand (also known as To Zanarkand) starts the game off with a real feeling of sadness that the player won't really figure out until the end, with an instantly-recognizable melody. This song devoured the competition in 2010 until barely losing out to Terra's Theme in the semifinal round.

The Ending Theme for Final Fantasy X incorporates previous themes with its own melodies, a pattern familiar to players of prior games in the series. Of course, that means that At Zanarkand appears here as well, making this a very unique matchup in which a song is essentially battling itself for a chance to move on.
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Posted: 6th November 2017 19:37

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Listen Here!
At Zanarkand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqznFlBtnG8
Ending Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YpBqHy-9cQ

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Posted: 10th November 2017 15:35

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The At Zanarkand version seems simpler and more intimate. I prefer that.

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Posted: 11th November 2017 03:49

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Magitek Soldier
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This was a no-brainer for me since At Zanarkand is the song that got me hooked on Final Fantasy music in the first place.

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Posted: 11th November 2017 05:46

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As a piece of music, To Zanarkand is distinctive and memorable (though for me, mainly because of its resemblance to "Makenai ai ga kitto aru", the opening theme of Rockman X4). I've always felt the loop is a bit underwhelming, though it works.

The Ending Theme, on the other hand, includes a variety of other musical material, which I don't recognize because I haven't played FFX, and then has To Zanarkand again, except in an orchestrated version. Then it has a second section which seems separate. Between these two, I think I should probably pick the Ending Theme, because it's like "Crono & Marle ~ Far Off Promise" vs. "Epilogue ~To Good Friends~"; the latter is the orchestrated version of the first, and contains more material. Though I'm not sure to what extent I should judge the Ending Theme on having a second bit that sounds a bit out-of-place musically but is almost certainly there because of the structure of the game's epilogue.

I think I'm going to go with not judging it by that, and vote for the Ending Theme.

It's less directly charismatic, but I trust people to take the time to actually listen through and be taken on its journey. And it's a more interesting journey than the albeit iconic "To Zanarkand".

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Posted: 11th November 2017 19:46

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This one is a real doozie. I've realised also that several of these match-ups are made trickier to evaluate due to Distant Worlds orchestrations - for example, this version of At Zanarkand is from the game, and is pure, but far less orchestral than how it appears in Ending Theme. However, the DW version is both pure and a richer orchestral sound, and would beat either of these tracks in an instant.

In short, very difficult to pick!

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