|
Thus I come to another auditory stimulation day for the Editorials, and all who have an inkling to hear choice musical bits from assorted RPGs both poorly and less-poorly known are invited to delve deeply. As has thrice happened, I must issue a double caveat: listening to the music is the sole point of this piece and accomplishing this without a bit of time and bandwidth to spare will be impossible. So here we go!
Today begins with a title for the SNES that was remade for Saturn, both times being denied English release: FEDA. Hidehiko Enemoto is credited with the soundtrack, and here is one of the rather interesting battle themes of the game, sounding more like a sing-a-long: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/5060/33 Another interesting battle theme is found here http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/5060/29, with the whistle being quite nice to hear. Heard only towards the end, this tune http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/5060/41 is certainly frantic. I would be more specific with my descriptions of events ongoing when these tracks play, but very little of FEDA's music is limited to any one scene.
The Dreamcast had some good RPGs, and some bad ones. Time Stalkers/ Climax Landers I would not judge worthy of most players' time - but it has some beyond decent music. Lady's theme, in its town-visiting rendition, http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1583/21 sounds rather whimsical and quite pleasant. Pyra's theme (again for town visitation) http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1583/24 is cheerful, upbeat and soothing. Though the happier music is more prominent, dungeon music is not absent: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1583/35 is an ethereal, eerie piece from the final dungeon of the game. For a slice of the bizarre, http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1583/31 what sounds like a synthesized calliope is heard in the house of Noiman the quest-granting rabbit. Hiroshi Kondo, Michihiro Nomura, Yasutaka Hatade and 'Chamy' are credited with this soundtrack.
Making a return appearance to universal fanfare (shut up, peanut gallery!) is Toshiyuki Sasagawa's compositional talent on Tengai Makyou The Apocalypse IV. The Pop-up Dungeon found in a Pop-up Book in Salt Lake City has a creepy melody reminiscent of a horror movie: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/6603/84. For an atypical vehicular travel piece, http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/6603/40 listening to the music heard while piloting the SashimiMarine, Sukiyaki Tank and Tempura Fly (which combine into Geisha Robo) should suffice in its bouncy march madness. For the showdown in Tombstone at the OK Corrall, http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/6603/51 this piece conjures stereotypical Western images very easily. And for one of the greatest boss fight music compositions ever, turn here; http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/6603/93. Think of a cocktail waitress-lookalike idol singer attacking with Endless Love, a pig-woman eating a pork roast while proclaiming 'Happy Hour', fighting a Hollywood Tycoon attacking with 'The End', and TV Man attacking with both the Telebeam and News Flash, to get some idea of the madness seen while fighting these bosses.
Another return appearance, for Bo & M. Nakagaki's Phantasy Star IV work today, http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/712/41 offers a nicely psychedelic soundscape for The Edge at the end of the game. http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/712/27 is played for just two bosses during the game and definitely conveys their intimidating power. 'Her Last Breath' http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/712/19 features instrumentation that I presume to be xylophone, though the Genesis synth makes it hard to tell. Whatever it is, the melancholy portrayed should be obvious.
Dragon Force was given some very nice compositions by Tatsuyuki Maeda, though the battles are and should be the highlight of a tactical title such as this. When playing as Junon, the world map's music is this http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/2987/8 with some of the most relaxing strings I can remember hearing. Playing as Gongos takes the emphasis to the percussion http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/2987/20 for a tune that is befitting of his jungle origin. Leon, the king trained as a hand-to-hand-combat proficient monk, has a world map tune with vibes and horns: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/2987/5 And for a genuine battle theme, this seldom-heard piece for combat with Madruk's apostles will do in delivering a minimalist sound that reminds me of the Halloween theme: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/2987/22
Dragon Force II received no US release thanks to the Saturn's death in America, and its music is different from the first thanks to a composer change. Hayato Matsuo did some good work on it though, such as this very military march-esque piece for Fandaria's world map: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1130/10 Unlike the first game, each country has its own out-of-battle music now, and Tradnor's is reminiscent of 18th century chamber music: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1130/31 Each nation also has its own battle music now, with Highland http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1130/9 and Tristan http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1130/41 possessing nicely urgent and intense pieces.
More Shining Force III? To any except Motoi Sakuraba dislikers, this is a good notion. Three heroes, and they each have their own theme starting with Synbios http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1780/14 and a rousing fanfare. Medion's theme is an interestingly modulated twist on the military rhythm http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1780/26. Julian gets http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1780/69, somehow different from any other march-like track I've encountered, partially thanks to some hyperactive strings. And to close out the SFIII for today, a non-character theme: http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1780/5 is heard in only two places during the game and is meant to convey serenity. This the track succeeds at.
What Sakura Wars track shall conclude the rush today? The opening theme to the first two games that made appearances in the third and fourth deserves a shot. http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/1436/5 This is a good song, and dissension will not be accepted.
|
RSS feed
iTunes