When Square Enix unveiled the sprawling, seven-disc Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack—supplemented by an additional bonus disc for the limited edition—the sheer scale of the release was enough to leave even the most ardent franchise loyalist breathless. It was a comprehensive musical monument to one of the most anticipated titles in gaming history. However, just months later, the company surprised the industry again with Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack PLUS, a four-disc supplemental collection. While the tradition of "PLUS" albums has existed in the Final Fantasy canon for years, the sheer volume of this addition raises significant questions about the nature of game audio preservation, the limits of listener endurance, and the difference between "completeness" and "content bloat." The Chronology of an Unexpected Expansion The journey of Final Fantasy VII Remake’s music began with the massive initial release, which aimed to capture the reimagined soundscape crafted by a team led by Masashi Hamauzu and Mitsuto Suzuki, who were tasked with balancing the heavy burden of Nobuo Uematsu’s iconic 1997 legacy with the needs of a modern, cinematic narrative. Shortly after the debut of that primary soundtrack, the announcement of the PLUS collection arrived as a niche offering. Historically, these supplemental albums serve a specific, utilitarian purpose: they are repositories for the "missing pieces"—prototypes, alternate-language vocal tracks, and incidental cutscene audio that didn’t make the cut for the curated listening experience of the original soundtrack. While collectors traditionally flock to these releases to fill gaps in their digital libraries, the Remake PLUS album pushes this model to an extreme. By adding four more discs to an already gargantuan foundation, Square Enix has effectively created an "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink" archive that tests the limits of standalone enjoyability. Supporting Data: Assessing the Compositional Value To evaluate the PLUS album, one must look at the nature of its contents. The collection suffers from a high ratio of "functional" music—tracks designed specifically to facilitate seamless transitions in-game rather than to exist as independent compositions. The Problem of Micro-Tracks A significant portion of these four discs consists of tracks clocking in at roughly one minute. These compositions are frequently stripped of melodic complexity to ensure they do not clash with the game’s voice-over work. Pieces such as "First Contact," "Rude Arrives," and "Escaping the Sewers" are undeniably effective at building tension within the context of a high-octane scene, but stripped of that interactive, visual framework, they feel anemic. Atmospheric Oppression The listening experience is further hampered by a lack of tonal variety. Both the original Remake Soundtrack and this PLUS volume lean heavily into a dark, oppressive, and industrial atmosphere. While this is narratively appropriate for the grim, Mako-choked streets of Midgar, it makes for a grueling, one-note experience when consumed in long-form. Tracks like "Hojo’s Laboratory" and "Confronting Jenova" feature jarring shifts in energy that work in the moment but feel fragmented and exhausting when heard as part of an album playback. The Diamonds in the Rough Despite the preponderance of filler, there are moments of genuine brilliance. The PLUS album shines when it moves away from high-stakes action and into intimate arrangement. The Aerith Variations: Perhaps the most compelling reason to engage with this collection is its treatment of "Aerith’s Theme." Tracks like "The Cetra" represent a sophisticated piece of musical storytelling, where unsettling harmonies build and threaten to consume the central melody. It is a masterful exercise in tension and release. Emotional Depth: "Tifa’s Tears" and "Bitter Memory" (a delicate take on "Dear to the Heart") provide necessary emotional palate cleansers. Audacious Sound Design: The track "Emergency Stairwell" deserves recognition for its bold, if divisive, design. By utilizing abrupt resets and heavy, distorted audio layers, it captures the psychological fraying of the characters during the Shinra Building escape. It is a rare instance where the "filler" content actually enhances the narrative experience through experimental sound. Official Responses and Industry Context Square Enix has largely positioned the PLUS album as a comprehensive, "essential" release for those who wish to own the complete sound of Remake. However, the company has not addressed the criticism that the collection remains incomplete. Even with the addition of these four discs, there are still musical fragments from the game that remain unreleased, leading to a strange middle ground: the album is too voluminous for the casual listener, yet arguably still incomplete for the obsessive completionist. In the broader context of the video game music industry, this release highlights a growing trend: the commodification of game assets. As digital storage costs plummet, companies are increasingly willing to release every scrap of audio created during the development process. While this is a boon for preservationists, it risks diluting the "brand" of the soundtrack, moving away from the idea of an album as an artistic statement and toward the idea of a database of audio files. Implications for Future Releases The Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack PLUS serves as a cautionary tale for the industry regarding the "law of diminishing returns." The "Filler" Threshold The primary implication for future releases is the need for more rigorous curation. The PLUS album contains dozens of battle tracks that offer only negligible differences from their counterparts on the main soundtrack. For example, "Ghoulish Symphony" is essentially "Ghoul" with a longer atmospheric introduction, and "Midgar Expressway – Long ver" offers only minor adjustments that would likely pass unnoticed by anyone but the most dedicated sound engineer. When "new" content is indistinguishable from the "old" content, the value proposition to the consumer collapses. The Collector’s Dilemma The physical edition of the PLUS set is notable for its sparse presentation. It offers little in the way of liner notes, interviews, or conceptual insights that might justify its existence as a premium physical product. For the average player, this creates a sense of disappointment. The music is well-produced—the fidelity is excellent—but the experience of the album is lacking. The Future of "PLUS" Albums Square Enix and other major publishers must decide what they want these albums to be. If they are intended for the general public, they must be pruned of the one-minute cutscene incidental tracks. If they are intended for the academic or archival community, they should be presented as such, perhaps with more detailed technical documentation. As it stands, PLUS sits uncomfortably between these two poles. Conclusion: A Verdict on Redundancy Ultimately, the Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack PLUS is a collection defined by its redundancy. While it contains beautiful arrangements—particularly those exploring the softer, character-driven themes—these moments are buried under a mountain of short, functional, and repetitive tracks that lack the melodic weight to stand on their own. For the vast majority of fans, the original seven-disc Remake soundtrack is more than sufficient. It captures the spirit, the energy, and the emotional core of the game with far greater focus. The PLUS collection, while a testament to the sheer volume of work poured into the game’s audio department, serves as a reminder that more is not always better. Unless one is a completist of the highest order, the best way to enjoy the music of Final Fantasy VII Remake is to stick to the core release and treat these "PLUS" tracks as exactly what they are: the background noise of development, rather than the finished product of artistry. The PLUS album is a fascinating look into the process, but as an album, it remains a difficult, disjointed, and ultimately non-essential listening experience. Post navigation Neon Shadows and Hazy Memories: An In-Depth Look at the Atmospheric World of Tokyo Stories
