


Uematsu considers it reasonable to have character themes if each character has a "highlight" in the game, but he found Final Fantasy VIII only focused on Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly as a couple, resulting in the "Eyes on Me" theme. The absence of character themes was due to him finding those of Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VII ineffective. He asserts that expressing the emotions he desires is more important than improving skills: "I think it will be a shame if we won't be able to cry as we play our own game". Uematsu enjoys writing lyrical pieces, but tries not to be genre-specific. He could not express a character's emotions solely with plot, instead using images of appearance and attire-"It's important to know when their emotions are at their height, but it usually takes until a month before release for them to finish the ending dialog.!" In response to a question by IGN music stating that the music of Final Fantasy VIII was very dark and perhaps influenced by the plot of the game, Uematsu stated "the atmosphere of music varies depending on story line, of course, but it's also my intention to put various types of music into one game". Uematsu wrote notes based on character designs and screenplays, creating a general picture of the pieces' moods. In regard to Final Fantasy VIII, Uematsu did not prefer to use multiple sources to find MIDI instruments-"I could be coming up with a great melody in the very moment"-instead using a Roland SC-88 synthesizer for the entire score.

Nobuo Uematsu's usual influences include Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Simon and Garfunkel, and Elton John.
