16 Facts About Noriko Matsueda

Noriko Matsueda is a Japanese former video game composer.

Noriko Matsueda is best known for her work on the Front Mission series, The Bouncer, and Final Fantasy X-2.

Noriko Matsueda graduated from the Tokyo Conservatoire Shobi, where she met Eguchi.

Noriko Matsueda joined Square in 1994, where she created music for nine games.

Noriko Matsueda's last credited work was Final Fantasy X-2s piano arrangement album, Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collection from 2004, after which she decided to leave the company alongside Eguchi.

Noriko Matsueda composed mostly jazz music for the scores she worked on.

Noriko Matsueda received a scholarship in music at the age of three and went on to study the piano and electronic organ.

Noriko Matsueda took various composition and performance courses at the Tokyo Conservatoire Shobi, where she met long-term collaborator Takahito Eguchi.

Noriko Matsueda joined Square in 1994, where her first assignment was to score the 1995 title Front Mission alongside Yoko Shimomura.

Noriko Matsueda subsequently contributed the track "Boss Battle 1" to Chrono Trigger, arranged by Nobuo Uematsu.

Noriko Matsueda was responsible for all the music except the battle, opening, and ending themes.

Noriko Matsueda reunited with Eguchi to create the soundtrack to Final Fantasy X-2 in 2003, with Matsueda contributing most of the setting themes.

Noriko Matsueda is noted for her jazzy style, which she often incorporated into the soundtracks she worked on; she touched on genres like jazz fusion, lounge, and ambient.

Noriko Matsueda has said that the best qualities of a composer are their curiosity and sensitivity, and that watching many things, listening, touching, and feeling are important factors in composition.

Noriko Matsueda cites George Gershwin, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Igor Stravinsky, and Gustav Mahler as musical influences.

Noriko Matsueda has stated that she makes the music thinking about the goal of the sounds for the game and its total balance.