Main Finger's Videogame "Jam a Day" Blog

This blog in podcast form: Sound in Action: Episode 1

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:18:42 -0800

This blog in podcast form: Sound in Action: Episode 1:

I don’t really like the way tumblr is setup. For a long time I’ve been thinking of migrating this whole thing to Wordpress. But then, through some refocusing of my other projects, a new idea was born: to make a game music podcast.

What better way to find out about game music than by listening, right? Scheduling is still undecided, but I’m thinking of making this a biweekly thing. Essentially, I’ll play somewhere in the ballpark of 6 or 7 songs per episode and talk about what makes them and their soundtracks great.

I have a lot of theme episode ideas in the works, but it probably won’t exclusively be setup like that. This first episode focuses on some of my favorite game soundtracks of 2011 (which I also wrote about).

I’ve already received a lot of really positive feedback over twitter, facebook, skype and other sources. I’m quite pleased with the reactions thus far. So get listening, subscribe, and leave feedback. If you like what I’ve been doing here on tumblr, it’s basically the same idea except easier to consume since you can have it on in the background while doing other things. Hurray for podcasts!

Link: Sound in Action Episode 1

Jam of the Day: Wild Street (The King of Fighters XIII) Having...

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:46:00 -0800

Jam of the Day: Wild Street (The King of Fighters XIII)

Having just reviewed The King of Fighters XIII (and thus spent an entire weekend marathoning it), I couldn’t help but notice the game’s music. With games like Street Fighter IV mostly switching to hard hitting electronica (which I admittedly love in its own way), it’s nice to see The King of Fighters focus on very catchy melodies. Like the beautiful 2D art that stands out in this 3D-centric world, this soundtrack feels like it’s from a bygone era, and I mean this in the most positive way.

Of course, instrumentation and production is a bit more modern than its quarter eating predecessors, but the spirit of the arcade shines through brightly.

Listed KOFXIII Composers: Tetsuhiro Ogawa, Iku Mizutani, Toshihiko Hiraguchi, Tomonao Niiya, Makoto Suehiro, Tasuku Mizutani

Jam of the Day: Stalfos (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward...

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:20:42 -0800

Jam of the Day: Stalfos (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)

I’ve been diving into Skyward Sword a lot lately. The fact that it doesn’t use fully orchestrated music all the time makes it all the more powerful when it does. There is a lot to be said about the game’s clever use of layering elements to the situation, especially in dungeon music.

But one of the songs that really stuck out to me was the music that plays when you encounter Stalfos knights. It sounds downright evil, but a bit playful at the same time thanks to its rhythm. And since it comes practically out of nowhere to interrupt the more ambient location music, it perfectly plays into the surprise of suddenly being trapped in a room with a midboss. I can’t wait to hear what else the game has to offer.

While Hajime Wakai is in charge of the game’s music, series veteran Koji Kondo also contributed. However, I have yet to see any individual song credits.

Jam of the Day: White Devil by Rio Hamamoto (Ace Combat: Assault...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:48:31 -0700

Jam of the Day: White Devil by Rio Hamamoto (Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Limited Edition Music Soundtrack)

I haven’t really followed the music (or games for that matter) of the Ace Combat series. But after hearing the soundtrack to Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, I think I probably should.

Assault Horizon’s score has a very full sound that’s a hybrid of full orchestral performances, heavy metal, choral sections, and even bits of electronica and world music. This diverse set of elements works fantastic together and really took me by surprise.

No single song can capture all the OST has to offer, but “White Devil” is a great example of the orchestral and metal combination at play.

Composition & Performance: Rio Hamamoto
Orchestra Arrangement: Jonathan Sacks
Orchestra Performance: Northwest Sinfonia

Jam of the Day: Casino Night Remix by SEGA (Sonic Generations) I...

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:23:32 -0700

Jam of the Day: Casino Night Remix by SEGA (Sonic Generations)

I find myself actually looking forward to Sonic Generations. It’s a weird feeling. Colors was decent and the Generations demos seemed promising (minus a gripe or 2) despite my scrutinizing.

But what I’m really looking forward to is the soundtrack. Well, maybe like one third of it anyway. What I’ve heard of the modern remixes of classic songs has been pretty great so far and Casino Night (which is technically DLC of some sort) is no exception. The spirit of the original is perfectly captured while adding plenty of wonderful little tangents. It’s a real pleasure to listen to. Unfortunately, I don’t know who to credit for the arrangement at this time. I’m sure the info will be readily available after the inevitable official OST.

Jam of the Day: Setting Sail, Coming Home (End Theme) by Darren...

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:27:27 -0700

Jam of the Day: Setting Sail, Coming Home (End Theme) by Darren Korb (Bastion Original Soundtrack)

A testament to the quality of the Bastion soundtrack is how many people who never normally talk about video game music were begging for an official OST. In any discussion of the game, the music was always brought up. That’s something that just doesn’t seem to happen outside of niche, game music enthusiasts.

“Setting Sail, Coming Home” combines two vocal tracks (“Build That Wall” and “Mother, I’m Here”) from some of the most powerful moments earlier in the game into something new for the ending theme. It works beautifully and still sends chills down my spine when I hear it.

The year’s not over yet, but at this point I still don’t think anything is standing in Bastion’s way for being my soundtrack of the year.

Buy this Soundtrack: Bandcamp

Jam of the Day: Rockman X Opening Stage by ROCK-MEN (We are...

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 17:54:22 -0700

Jam of the Day: Rockman X Opening Stage by ROCK-MEN (We are ROCK-MEN!)

You can’t swing a bat without hitting a thousand remixes from the original Mega Man series. Strangely enough, that isn’t the case with the offshoots. That’s a real shame since (for the most part) they have music that’s often just as good and occasionally better.

The first Mega Man X in particular is one of my all-time favorite soundtracks. It’s pretty rare that it gets any love in the remix scene, and when it does it’s almost exclusively Storm Eagle.

Fortunately, the ROCK-MEN gave Mega Man X the proper treatment with a couple tracks on their recently released We are ROCK-MEN album. Their take on the game’s opening stage is exactly what I wanted to hear. It takes the high energy of the source and adds some original flair without abandoning what made the song great in the first place. The entire album is great, so much so that I’d argue it might just be the best Mega Man album out there (and there are lot).

——————————————

Original Composition: Setsuo Yamamoto
Guitar & Arrangement: Masahiro Aoki
Bass: Yasumasa Kitagawa
Drums: Mitsuhiro Takano (Hokkyoku Men/ホッキョクメン)

The following may or may not apply to this track:
Keyboard: Azusa Kato (Guest Musician)
Guitar: Reo Uratani (Guest Musician)

Jam of the Day: Song of the Ancients / Devola ~ Song of the...

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:27:13 -0700

Jam of the Day: Song of the Ancients / Devola ~ Song of the Ancients / Popola by sasakure.UK (NieR Tribute Album -echo-)

I haven’t really had time to keep this blog active lately. Hopefully that will change again.

The NieR Tribute album just released this month and it has some truly great stuff on it. It shouldn’t really come as any surprise since the source material was already incredible. Still, tribute albums from various artists can be a gamble.

I always love when a remix completely changes the tone of a track and turns it into something new. It can be especially fascinating on vocal tracks like this one.

Jam of the Day: Stream of Lights by Hiroshi Okubo (RIDGE RACER...

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:58:00 -0700

Jam of the Day: Stream of Lights by Hiroshi Okubo (RIDGE RACER 3D direct audio)

I haven’t followed the Ridge Racer games very closely, but I almost always enjoy the soundtracks. They’re full of energetic, occasionally chaotic electronica that’s really fun to listen to both in and out of a race.

I did actually pick up Ridge Racer 3D when I first got my 3DS and Stream of Lights in particular really stood out to me as a fun song. Hiroshi Okubo does good work. If you ever get the chance, check out his music on the Nanosweep albums.

Jam of the Day: Norfair (Brawl Version) by Yuzo Koshiro (Super...

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:17:39 -0700

Jam of the Day: Norfair (Brawl Version) by Yuzo Koshiro (Super Smash Bros. Brawl Soundtrack)

I’ve been writing a lot about Metroid music this week. Not just here, but in a long form piece I wrote on the series’ music as well. But hey, somebody’s gotta celebrate Metroid’s 25th anniversary if Nintendo won’t.

This remix comes from the Brawl soundtrack courtesy of Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage, Actraiser). Norfair’s theme in the original Metroid has always been a strange tune. Koshiro’s take on it does a good job of modernizing it without losing the original weirdness of Hirokazu Tanaka’s version. Yet another great arrangement from the Brawl soundtrack.

Jam of the Day: Super Metroid performed by the Tokyo Symphony...

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 20:20:14 -0700

Jam of the Day: Super Metroid performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (Game Music Concert 4 ~ Live Best Collection)

This is probably one of the earliest arrangements of game music I heard. From the fourth Game Music Concert album, this eight minute Super Metroid medley was arranged by Toshihiko Sahash, conducted by Kosuke Onozak, and performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. It’s worth every minute of your time.

Jam of the Day: Magma / Ice Spawn Boss Theme by Lawrence...

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:49:02 -0700

Jam of the Day: Magma / Ice Spawn Boss Theme by Lawrence Schwedler and James Phillipsen (Metroid Prime Hunters Soundtrack)

I’m really not crazy about Metroid Prime Hunters. Between the overly FPS feel and the constant boss fights with stationary pillars, I found it a hard game to love. However, some of its music kind of fascinates me.

It isn’t that it’s especially remarkable, but that some of it is so different from what you’d typically hear in a Metroid game. This is mostly found in the drum tracks, which seem to take inspiration from more popular electronica styles. In fact, this theme in particular almost seems like it could be a song by The Prodigy.

Jam of the Day: Full of Life by Protricity (Relics of the Chozo:...

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:18:48 -0700

Jam of the Day: Full of Life by Protricity (Relics of the Chozo: A Super Metroid Musical Collaboration)

I’ve decided to feature more Metroid music this week since the 25th anniversary just happened.

Relics of the Chozo was the very first full album put out by OverClocked ReMix back in 2003. I was very excited when it came out. Albums covering an entire game’s soundtrack were not common in North America at the time. To make things even better, the tracks flowed into each other giving the album a very cohesive feel.

Full of Life is one of those arrangements that perfectly captures the spirit of the original. You could argue its lack of ambition, but sometimes I enjoy a good “update” style of remix. It would fit along seamlessly in an HD version of Super Metroid. Speaking of which, somebody should make that.

Jam of the Day: Phendrana Drifts performed by Metroid Metal...

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 12:27:10 -0700

Jam of the Day: Phendrana Drifts performed by Metroid Metal (Varia Suite)

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Metroid. Metroid has always been one of my favorite game series of all time. I still consider Super Metroid to be the greatest game ever made and Metroid Prime isn’t far behind. Other M certainly was a mixed bag, but hopefully the series will continue on strong.

It’s been a great 25 years. Here’s to 25 more!

Buy Varia Suite

Jam of the Day: A Violent Encounter ~Battle With the Colossus~...

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:36:34 -0700

Jam of the Day: A Violent Encounter ~Battle With the Colossus~ by Kow Otani (Wander and the Colossus Original Soundtrack: Roar of the Earth)

Though I didn’t know it at the time, I was first introduced to Kow Otani’s music in Gundam Wing and the 90’s Gamera movies. But it wasn’t until a decade later while hearing his Shadow of the Colossus score that I really took notice.

One of the things I love about the SotC soundtrack is that every Colossus has its own unique theme. I had a really hard time picking just one of them to share because they’re all so enjoyable. It was the bits of chorus sprinkled throughout that really sold me on choosing A Violent Encounter. This game could not have a more fitting soundtrack. I can’t wait to play the upcoming HD version.

Jam of the Day: The Night Before the Decisive Battle by ACE+...

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:43:01 -0700

Jam of the Day: The Night Before the Decisive Battle by ACE+ (Xenoblade Original Soundtrack)

I gave in and imported Xenoblade from Europe. Of course, it isn’t quite out yet. I really look forward to experiencing the game’s music in context. I am a big fan of the Xenoblade soundtrack. I’d go so far as to say it’s one of the best RPG soundtracks I’ve heard in years.

Last time I featured one of the rock tracks. This time, I’d like to highlight one of the more moving themes in the game. It feels weird to highlight 2 songs without getting into any of the Yoko Shimomura pieces, but ACE+ (Tomori Kudo, CHiCO and Kenji Hiramatsu) did such an outstanding job that I felt like highlighting their work again.

Jam of the Day: Heavenly Flight by Koichi Sugiyama (Symphonic...

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:19:36 -0700

Jam of the Day: Heavenly Flight by Koichi Sugiyama (Symphonic Suite Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King)

One of the things that really sucked me into Dragon Quest VIII was the live orchestral performances recorded for the soundtrack. It wasn’t until later that I discovered the original Japanese version used sequenced music like the past games. I’m so grateful that they went the extra mile in bringing over an enhanced version for North America.

The orchestral score combined with the 1-to-1 scale world map gave Dragon Quest VIII an incredibly grandiose feeling. This melody appeared in the series before VIII, but flying through the sky with this rendition of the music in-game really left a memorable impression on me. I really hope they do an orchestral score in-game for Dragon Quest X.

Jam of the Day: Untitled Track (Final Fantasy...

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:01:00 -0700

Jam of the Day: Untitled Track (Final Fantasy XIII-2)

There’s a lot of uncertainty in today’s post, but after hearing it I just had to share. This track was posted by XIII-2 Synth Programmer Keiji Kawamorion on the Square-Enix Music Blog. While he mentions everybody involved in the performance, I haven’t been able to confirm the composer. Masashi Hamauzu is the game’s main composer, but I didn’t see him referenced in the post. I am told this will be a battle theme for a Bahamut fight, but I haven’t seen that confirmed through official channels either.

If this is an indication of what Final Fantasy XIII-2’s soundtrack will be like, I am on board. I love to see a series branch out to other musical styles when it works. Coincidentally, I was just thinking about that while listening to the Crystal Bearers soundtrack earlier today.

Performance Credits:
Guitar: “Mr. Shigekazu” (I’m assuming Shigekazu Kamaki)
Bass: Kentaro Nakao
Drums: Takashi Kashiwakura
Violin: Mr. Hiroshi Manabe
Piano: Takuro IGA
Engineer: Mr. Seigo Sugai

Jam of the Day: Shotgun Kiss (Vegas Palace) by Hidenori Shoji...

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:33:39 -0700

Jam of the Day: Shotgun Kiss (Vegas Palace) by Hidenori Shoji (F-ZERO GX/AX Original Soundtracks)

The F-Zero GX/AX Soundtrack might not be as melodically driven as the previous games, but Hidenori Shoji (known for the Yakuza series) really excels at what he does. His music has that electronica feel that fits so well into futuristic racers, but he combines it with a variety of other genres to make it really stand out. While most songs have tinges of rock accompanying punchy beats, Shotgun Kiss throws a little jazzy vibe into the mix creating something really memorable.

Jam of the Day: Southern Face Shrine by Kazumi Totaka, Kozue...

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:43:43 -0700

Jam of the Day: Southern Face Shrine by Kazumi Totaka, Kozue Ishikawa and/or Minako Hamano (The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening)

There are very few video game songs that have managed to creep me out as much as the Southern Face Shrine from Link’s Awakening. It always amazed me that the song could evoke such an incredibly effective eerie feeling with the limited sound capabilities of the Game Boy hardware. Even today, the song is still haunting.