Editing Final Fantasy (section)

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of the Final Fantasy series}}
[[File:Nobuo uematsu 001.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Nobuo Uematsu]], primary composer for the series]]
''Final Fantasy'' games feature a variety of music, and frequently reuse themes. Most of the games open with a piece called "Prelude", which has evolved from a simple, 2-voice [[arpeggio]] in the early games to a complex, melodic arrangement in recent installments.<ref name="IGN-Evo"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/><ref name="FF-Retro-1"/> Victories in combat are often accompanied by a victory [[fanfare]], a theme that has become one of the most recognized pieces of music in the series. The basic theme that accompanies Chocobo appearances has been rearranged in a different musical style for most installments. Recurring secret bosses such as Gilgamesh are also used as opportunities to revive their musical themes.

A theme known as the "Final Fantasy Main Theme" or "[[March (music)|March]]", originally featured in the first game, often accompanies the ending credits.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/> Although [[leitmotif]]s are common in the more character-driven installments, theme music is typically reserved for main characters and recurring plot elements.<ref name="Edge177"/>

[[Nobuo Uematsu]] was the primary composer of the ''Final Fantasy'' series until his resignation from Square Enix in November 2004.<ref name="Edge177"/> Other notable composers who have worked on main entries in the series include [[Masashi Hamauzu]], [[Hitoshi Sakimoto]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Artist: 浜渦正志 |publisher=[[MusicBrainz]] |url=http://musicbrainz.org/artist/deff82b2-f269-47fc-b0bc-383a5c911acb.html |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505190515/http://musicbrainz.org/artist/deff82b2-f269-47fc-b0bc-383a5c911acb |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Artist: 崎元仁 |publisher=[[MusicBrainz]] |url=http://musicbrainz.org/artist/53a2cda4-31d0-405e-8a9d-5027c2479ebb.html |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505190631/http://musicbrainz.org/artist/53a2cda4-31d0-405e-8a9d-5027c2479ebb |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Yoko Shimomura]]. Uematsu was allowed to create much of the music with little direction from the production staff. Sakaguchi, however, would request pieces to fit specific game scenes including battles and exploring different areas of the game world.<ref name="1UP-DayWithUematsu">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3166165 |title=A Day in the Life of Final Fantasy's Nobuo Uematsu |website=[[1UP.com]] |first=James |last=Mielke |date=February 15, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501134825/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3166165 |archive-date=May 1, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Once a game's major scenarios were completed, Uematsu would begin writing the music based on the story, characters, and accompanying artwork. He started with a game's main theme, and developed other pieces to match its style. In creating character themes, Uematsu read the game's scenario to determine the characters' personality. He would also ask the scenario writer for more details to scenes he was unsure about.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/91770fed-1a80-4874-9f48-af88afab5fa4.htm | title = Nobuo Uematsu: The Man Behind The Music | first = Meagan | last = VanBurkleo | date = May 25, 2009 | magazine = [[Game Informer]] | access-date = August 4, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605074528/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/91770fed-1a80-4874-9f48-af88afab5fa4.htm | archive-date=June 5, 2009}}</ref> Technical limitations were prevalent in earlier games; Sakaguchi would sometimes instruct Uematsu to only use specific notes.<ref name="1UP-DayWithUematsu"/> It was not until ''Final Fantasy IV'' on the SNES that Uematsu was able to add more subtlety to the music.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveIV"/>