Rumor: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 nearing final stages of development

[Metallox]

AngryLittleAlchemist said:

Metallox said:

I'd agree if we were only talking about battle themes, and also the main and ending tracks, but I've always felt other songs from 2 are amazing standouts, especially the area ones. Uraya's day theme, Alba Cavanich's night, Spirit Crucible Elpys, the LEFTHERIA themes, godammit. The Leftheria songs are among my favorite video game pieces, period. Walking With You and its instrumental version, Desolation, are beautiful, too. So are various of the tracks that play just before the ending (no, not talking about One Last You). Those are memorable to me than the vast majority of the original's soundtrack, even though I do concede that it has the most bangers. Even Riki's theme is cool. 

I think both have area themes that aren't as good as their battle themes, from what I remember. I think they get a bit formulaic. It's been longer since I've played 2 for example, but when I played 1 I remember finding the dynamic of the day and night themes a bit generic. The night them was always just a slower version of the day theme, with a relaxed atmosphere and usually some kind of piano. Again, the themes were good themselves, but they suffered from being part of a formula. I think the areas themes can be a good example of how something simply being "beautiful" or "epic" isn't always as important as being interesting and intriguing. 

That being said, I feel like Gaur Plains, Sword Valley, and especially Satorl Marsh daytime (super underrated) are better than any of the area themes in 2. Again, from what I can remember. 

I like Satorl Marsh daytime a lot more than its counterpart, it's my favorite track from 1, I'll say. 

If the themes are good but they suffer from being in a formula, isn't the original guilty of the same thing, then? Gaur Plains is just like you say, and the dynamic with Satorl Marsh was just inverted, though both songs seem different, that I admit, which is exactly what happens with Sword Valley as well. However, many of the overworld themes nonetheless still function a lot like the other two games. That makes me think you still judge the tracks a lot based on their individual merits, and not exclusively or primarily on how unique they make the soundtrack as a whole. Your last sentence in your first paragraph makes me think I could be misunderstanding somewhere, but I'm not sure.