How is “Game Over” from “Final Fantasy I” able to evoke a sense of losing and game being over using a generic descending-fifths sequence?

In this Not-How-To anti-tutorial, I compose game music (map theme) inspired by the “Wrong-Note” prelude, as I wrote & videoed in The “Wrong-Note” Prelude of Final Fantasy I (1987 NES). After the arpeggios there’s an ascending-fifths (aka “mountain”) sequence and a classic ii-V-(I reinterpreted as III) turnaround. I recommend skipping with the use of timestamps, unless the composing process itself interests you or maybe viewing in the background.

The very original NES prelude way back in 1987 from Final Fantasy I behaves differently from the ones to follow, as we’ll se Nobuo himself demonstrating. I hear a swirling kaleidoscope in the inverted arpeggios, so I cover them with the guitar. Let’s peek into the colored glass and some untapped game music potential.

Let’s Play Final Fantasy I - with Guitar! “Prelude” (NES Version specifically) and “Game Over” for starters. Konsta Airisto’s mage art captures nicely the hidden music theory wizardries in the game’s soundtrack. I now explain the journey that awaits us (EP and Album to come).

“Eponymous:” an almost unlikely combination of electronica and mellow guitars.

To the Land of No Return: A postlude that opens with a minor romanesca and reflects on the opening track.

When Shadows Take Over: the final “let’s explore dark, minor modal mixture” of this album.

Goblins Lurking in the Darkness: the most blatant dungeon synth parody of this album.

Angels Carried Me Away: choral style improvisation with the guitar = PITA.

Crystalline Chaotic Caves: textural exploration, F.Sor etouffez, perhaps a dungeon synth parody or a game cave theme.