Searching for Friends – FINAL FANTASY VI

About game/music

This is “Searching for Friends” from RPG “FINAL FANTASY VI”(1994 SNES), developed and published by Square.
This is composed by Nobuo Uematsu.

The story is about a rebel army fighting against domination by an overwhelmingly powerful empire and trying to break the empire’s control.
The gameplay has the following characteristics;

  • Active Time Battle (ATB) system: Combat is turn-based, but characters can act after a certain amount of time. This system speeds up the tempo of battle and requires players to make quick decisions, thus adding tension to the battle.
  • The “magicite” system: characters learn magic and special abilities by equipping themselves with magicites. This system allows for more freedom to choose different magic and skills as the character grows, increasing strategy.

This song is used in the world map after a certain event in the late part of the story.

Analyzing

Intro

  • Dorian mode is used to avoid making the atmosphere too dark.
  • Tonic Pedal
    • The base is fixed to I.
    • The sound is controlled and stable, and has a bit of complexity. There is a suppressed elation.
    • other example are below.

bar 11

  • IV or IV7 in minor key (other TABs include this chord progression)
    • 6th of the minor scale is raised a semitone. This means it’s temporarily in Dorian mode.
    • It would be like drying out a damp darkness.
    • examples;
      • Lost PaintingsCastlevania Symphony of the Night
      • LancerDELTARUNE Chapter 1
      • Mother – OutroENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights
      • Battlefield – Death’s CrossroadEtrian Odyssey NEXUS
      • Tumult – Twilight of All LifeEtrian Odyssey NEXUS
      • Tearing Through Heaven (Rain) – Fire Emblem: Three Houses
      • Dragon ValleyFreedom Planet 2
      • Sight of silenceGURUMIN
      • RustbloodHIVESWAP: Act 1
      • Fatal Blooms in Moonlight – Kirby: Triple Deluxe
      • Combat Evaluation Program – Kirby: Planet Robobot
      • Northeast Frost Street – Kirby and the Forgotten Land
      • Angela Boss– Library Of Ruina
      • Theme1Limbus Company
      • Gravity Beetbood stage – Mega Man X3
      • Boss Battle – Miitopia
      • Sootopolis CityPokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Seafolk Village – Pokémon Sun/Moon
      • Sonia’s Theme – Pokémon Sword/Shield
      • Marnie’s Theme – Pokémon Sword/Shield
      • Aquarium Park Act 1SONIC COLORS
      • Bowser’s Lava Lake Keep – Super Mario 3D World
      • Tomboyish Girl in Love – 東方紅魔郷 ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.
      • Shanghai Scarlet Teahouse ~ Chinese Tea – 東方紅魔郷 ~ the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil.
      • Diao Ye Zong (withered leaf) – 東方妖々夢 ~ Perfect Cherry Blossom.
      • Phantom Ensemble – 東方妖々夢 ~ Perfect Cherry Blossom.
      • Mysterious Mountain – 東方風神録 ~ Mountain of Faith.
      • Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion – 東方地霊殿 ~ Subterranean Animism.
      • Faraway Voyage of 380,000 Kilometers – 東方紺珠伝 ~ Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom.

bar 13~14

  • Picardy 3rd
    • The third degree of the chord tone has been raised a semitone, changing the i to an I.
    • While anticipating the dark atmosphere created by the minor chord, the major chord betray it and create a bright atmosphere like sunlight between clouds.
    • example;

bar 15~18

  • IV-V-iii-vi in major key, or bVI-bVII-v-i in minor key (other TABs include this)
    • Very popular chord progression in Japan, called “王道進行”. It means “popular” or “typical”.
    • examples (IV-V-iii-vi) ;
      • Re-Tail – Animal Crossing: New Leaf
      • Continent (Sakura)Crystarise
      • Dogcheck – DELTARUNE Chapter 1
      • Melodies Of Life~Final FantasyFINAL FANTASY IX
      • Phoenix HighwayFreedom Planet 2
      • Rainbow Resort – Kirby’s Adventure
      • Ripple Field 1 – Kirby’s Dream Land 3
      • Grass Land – Kirby’s Epic Yarn
      • Apt.102 – Kirby’s Epic Yarn
      • Abandoned Beach – Kirby and the Forgotten Land
      • A Home For Flowers (Empty)OMORI
      • Raise the HoofPocket Card Jockey
      • Jazz Racing JamPocket Card Jockey
      • Road to TriumphPocket Card Jockey
      • Slateport CityPokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Route 104Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Rustboro CityPokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Hearthome CityPokémon Diamond/Pearl
      • Route 203Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
      • National Park – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
      • Cianwood City – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
      • Route 26 – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
      • Accumula Town – Pokémon Black/White
      • Route 2 – Pokémon Black/White
      • Lacunosa Town – Pokémon Black/White
      • Floccesy Town – Pokémon Black2/White2
      • Castelia City – Pokémon Black2/White2
      • Battle! (Island Kahuna) – Pokémon Sun/Moon
      • Route 10 on Ula’ula Island – Pokémon Sun/Moon
      • Wedgehurst – Pokémon Sword/Shield
      • Battle! (Hop) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
      • Wyndon – Pokémon Sword/Shield
      • Cobalt Coastlands – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
      • The Veil of NightProfessor Layton And The Curious Village
      • Purity of your smile – Ragnarok Online
      • Seaside HillSonic Heroes
      • Dear My FriendSonic Unleashed
      • End Of The SummerSonic Runners
      • Guest Book – Tomodachi Life
      • ShopUNDERTALE
      • Oh! One True LoveUNDERTALE
    • examples (bVI-bVII-v-i) ;
      • Searching for FriendsFINAL FANTASY VI
      • Blooming VillainPersona 5
      • Full Moon Full LifePersona 3 Reload
      • Battle! (Rival) – Pokémon Black2/White2
      • The Battle at the Summit! – Pokémon Sun/Moon
      • Battle! (Ultra Necrozma) – Pokémon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
      • Battle! (Bede) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
      • Battle! (Battle Tower) – Pokémon Sword/Shield
      • Battle! (Arven) – Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
      • Battle! (Zero Lab) – Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
      • Magical Snow DaySonic Runners
      • Desire Drive – 東方神霊廟 ~ Ten Desires.
      • Illusionary White Traveler – 東方天空璋 ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons.
      • The Great Fantastic Underground Railway Network – 東方虹龍洞 ~ Unconnected Marketeers.