Instead of playing all those Final Fantasy games imagine watching them as movies, accompanied by a grandiose orchestral score. A score not by famed film composers John Williams or James Horner, but the grand master of game music, Nobuo Uematsu. Well, my friends, it is finally here. Well at least the music part is here. The highly sophisticated music of FFVIII has been fleshed out even further by Mr. Uematsu and arranger Shiro Hamaguichi into a full, robust, orchestral score that leaves the original in the dust. There is nothing like the sound of a full string section, the emotive voice of a clarinet, or the graceful breath of a flute: all performed by an ensemble of first class musicians.

"The Dance of the Balamb-Fish" harkens back to the Strauss waltzes of 19th century Vienna. It is perhaps the most enjoyable track for this reason. "Balamb Garden-Ami" has a reminiscent and youthful tone, while "The Man with the Machine Gun" is pure pulsating percussive emotion mixed with brass and stings. We all know what an adept composer Mr. Uematsu is, but this recording really makes his work shine. A must purchase for all lovers of music.

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