Final Fantasy XI Online "Batallia Ruins" 4:11

We've been getting epic and intense these last several ReMixes, so now it's time for something completely different! Ringing in his 25th OC ReMix, French ReMixer Bluelighter combines a pair of Final Fantasy XI sources in a forceful yet relaxing session on the keys!

"Here is a piano arrangement of "Batallia Downs" and "Rabao" from FFXI and one extension, with some jazzy sonorities. I'm a big fan of Mizuta's work on this universe. After some tests on "Batallia's" theme, I thought I could get something interesting. "Rabao" marries well with "Batallia", by similar harmony and rhythm. So, I've integrated some elements of this theme.

Overall, the arrangement came naturally. The main difficulty was to find the good tempo. Indeed, first half with "Batallia" was thought much slower, and "Rabao" faster. I've reduced the difference to the minimum, but I've kept a minor variation of tempo at the transition.

I'm not accustomed to play in this style; this arrangement was fun to make. :)"

Bluelighter's arrangement breakdown's available in the MP3 comments, but we'll distill it by saying it's mostly "Batallia" with a detour to "Rabao" before we're halfway through. Judge prophetik music hailed Bluelighter's steady stream of highlights:

"fun, light, shuffle to start. really nice use of dynamics to focus the ear on the 'different' instruments. the melody of both of these tracks has a lot of sustains, and you do a nice job translating a sustained element to a decaying one in the piano. [...] 1:15's little sparkling descending line is really nice. 1:23's a nice contrast to the opening voicings of the chords, richer and fuller as you get farther down the keys.

rabao's quicker approach has more life to it - stronger left hand, and the melody line is jauntier as well. i think it's a nice play off the difference of the two originals and how they approached similar ideas. 2:35's a nice transition back into battalia at 2:45. i loved the harmonized melody here too - again, a great job translating a more sustained melody to that of a hammered instrument. lovely arpeggiated chord at 3:20.

3:23's lush instrumentation is a great contrast to the earlier section, just beautiful work there. back to the opening shuffle as an outro, with a quirky little final chord to finish it.

slam dunk as expected. exceptional use of the different themes to make a unified whole."

Cohesive as always, then-judge Flexstyle also affirmed "the arrangement is thoroughly enjoyable, moving forward with purpose, yet never losing sight of the original source". Bluelighter breaks new ground with his performance styles with this quaint, cozy, and classy transformation of themes from the most commercially successful game in the Final Fantasy series!