Ira and Drew discuss the music of Final Fantasy V. Featuring a few standout classics from Dear Friends to Home Sweet Home to Battle on the Big Bridge, and some timeless melodies found in Music Box, Lenna's Theme, and Tenderness in the Air, is this one of Nobuo Uematsu's greatest achievements?

First, we have to give credit to the incredible talent that turned Yoshitaka Amano art into gorgeous pixels, Kazuko Shibuya. Then we dive into one of the best and most customizable JRPG systems in history.

We take a look at the character archetypes for Krile and ExDeath and defeat the odd villain in the final battle. The conversation then moves to the ultimate legacy of a game that is brimming with charm and has scores of fans but is still not considered (by consensus) among the best in the franchise.

We continue our conversation on Final Fantasy V. The ties to the rest of the franchise grow deeper and more interesting, the plot of ExDeath is revealed, and noble sacrifices are made including the death of a beloved main character.

We start on the plot, themes, and characters of Final Fantasy V. In a brighter story with a bit more humor, whimsy, and color, we are introduced to Bartz, Lenna, Galuf, and Faris and once again set out on a magical adventure to understand the power of the crystals and uncover a deeper plot at work.

We review the history, impact, and legacy of Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. A lost game in the series, it has an awesome soundtrack but mostly did not hit with fans.

Ira and Drew rank their Top 10 Cids. Plus, what makes a great Cid? Why did the Final Fantasy creators decide that they needed this type of character? What does he represent? And must there be a Cid?

We review the impact and legacy of Final Fantasy IV as a piece of art. We examine the big themes and characters one last time then dive into it's social commentary, industry impact, craft, and discuss how it stacks up with other Final Fantasy games.

From the stellar battle music to the unmistakable Celtic influence, to enduring character themes and a first foray into electronic/industrial tones, this soundtrack from Nobuo Uematsu stands as a masterpiece 27 years after it's release. W/ excerpts from Celtic Moon.

The invention of the active time battle system is one of the more intriguing moments in franchise history while almost all of the FFIV character designs have stood the test of time. We embark on a space whale and journey through a world of watercolor and ephemeral melancholy.