Category Archives: Video Game Soundtracks
Festive Videogame Music To Go With Your Holidays
Image Credit: Pakkun96 From Deviantart
Written By: Kirsten Grove White
Just in time for the holidays, we’ve got two festive remixes for you to enjoy.
First up is our more introspective piece, Carol of the Final Fantasy Belles, arranged by Jay Epperhart. I first ran across this arrangement many years ago, back when I was too unskilled to even play it. For that reason, I didn’t like it. I forgot about it for a few years, and then ran across it again when preparing a playlist of background music for when I had company this season. Giving it another listen (and another attempt at performing it), I can see now that it’s actually quite a sophisticated piece. Read the rest of this entry
Secret of Mana+ Retro Soundtrack Review
By: Kirsten Grove-White
Sometimes you don’t need an analysis.
Sometimes things just make you feel – and that’s all you really need.
This is the case for me with the Secret of Mana+ album recording that was recently linked to on Nubuwo. The album was originally released in October 1993 by Hiroki Kikuta, a few months after Secret of Mana released. It has recently been posted in its entirety on Nico Nico, so listeners can stream and enjoy it in full. Taken in the context that this recording is nearly twenty years old now, it has all the hallmarks of digital experimentation and would’ve been incredibly progressive for its time – just as the original music from the game itself was. Read the rest of this entry
Video Games Live Coming To Canada Later This Year
Much loved video game concert Video Games Live has announced their Canadian tour dates for later this year. Produced by industry veteran Tommy Tallarico (you might remember him from his days on Reviews on the Run and Electric Playground) the concert introduces the game industry to music lovers and to a younger generation. Performances are ususally held in front of hundreds to even thousands of people all over the world and can be enjoyed by the whole family.
And starting October 2012, Video Games Live will return to Canada for another tour that will feature music from Final Fantasy, Legend of Zelda, Warcraft, Diablo, Pokemon, Earthworm Jim, Mass Effect, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. (Imagine this: Skyrim theme in full orchestra mode, live. Video game music will never be the same after that.)
Check out the full Canadian Video Games Live tour dates after the break. Read the rest of this entry
Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony – Ballad of the Goddess (Skyward Sword)
Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony – Ballad of the Goddess (Skyward Sword)
By: Kirsten Grove-White
From January 23 until March 14, 2012 (that’s when the Zelda Symphony performs at the Orpheum Thetre in Vancouver BC, Canada), I’m going to be analyzing the various songs played by The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD once a week.
This final week, I’ll focus on the Ballad of the Goddess (from Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword).
I’m sure I’m the last person to point out that the basis for this theme is a retrograde of Zelda’s lullaby (proof: see video after the break.). Still, I think it’s pretty cool and it’s just a testament to Kondo’s composition skill that playing a melody he wrote backwards isn’t unsettling and full of intervals that don’t work. I haven’t heard much of Skyward Sword’s music and haven’t been able to analyze it for myself, but apparently it’s full of retrograde versions of classic themes, so keep an ear out for them as you play it. Read the rest of this entry
Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony – Twilight Princess Symphonic Movement
Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony – Twilight Princess Symphonic Movement
By: Kirsten Grove-White
From January 23 until March 14, 2012 (that’s when the Zelda Symphony performs at the Orpheum Thetre in Vancouver BC, Canada), I’m going to be analyzing the various songs played by The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD once a week.
This week, I’ll focus on the Twilight Princess Symphonic Movement.
Before anything else, let me say this: as a general rule, I dislike (that might be too weak a word) choirs with symphonies. They can easily become far too cheesy… and I’d rather not get my recommended daily dairy intake just from listening to a song.
Now, onto the piece. I really wish I could say I loved this, as Twilight Princess’ music was wonderful in parts (not so great in others; not a big fan of the tone clusters that were featured during many of the dramatic cinematics of the game. This is a tone cluster. As it stands, though, a lot of it is ripped straight from the game with very little rearranging and that honestly feels like a cop-out to me. Read the rest of this entry
Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony – Great Fairy’s Fountain Theme
Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony – Great Fairy’s Fountain Theme
By: Kirsten Grove-White
From January 23 until March 14, 2012 (that’s when the Zelda Symphony performs at the Orpheum Thetre in Vancouver BC, Canada), I’m going to be analyzing the various songs played by The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD once a week.
This week, I’ll focus on Great Fairy’s Fountain Theme.
This is another theme I was surprised to see on this album, but again, it’s one that’s been featured throughout the series. However, unlike the Kakariko Village track, I quite like it – it’s not too far of a departure from the original but it’s changed enough to be effective. I might also just prefer harp to French-style piano and flute, who knows. Read the rest of this entry
Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony – Gerudo Valley
Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony – Gerudo Valley
By: Kirsten Grove-White
From January 23 until March 14, 2012 (that’s when the Zelda Symphony performs at the Orpheum Thetre in Vancouver BC, Canada), I’m going to be analyzing the various songs played by The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD once a week.
This week, I’ll focus on Gerudo Valley.
I absolutely detested this the first time I heard it. I’m still not the biggest fan of it, but it’s growing on me the more I listen to it – it’s ridiculously far away from the original in feel, and I think that’s what draws me to it. That being said, this rendition still retains an exotic flair. The opening has a strong emphasis on beats 2 and 4, giving it a non-Western feel right off the bat. Syncopation in the marimba line later on add to that Latin feel. Read the rest of this entry
Final Fantasy VII and X Intertwined: How Much Longer
Final Fantasy VII and X Intertwined: How Much Longer
By: Kirsten Grove-White
This is honestly one of the most beautiful rearrangements of video game music I have ever heard. It’s an intricate, delicate, and introspective guitar rearrangement by Michael Lee (aka Hot Pocket on ocremix.org) of “On That Day, Five Years Ago…” from FFVII and “Suteki da ne” from FFX; two themes that I never would have imagined would go well together, but Michael meshes them masterfully. Read the rest of this entry
Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary – The Wind Waker Symphonic Movement
Legend Of Zelda 25th Anniversary – The Wind Waker Symphonic Movement
By: Kirsten Grove-White
From January 23 until March 14, 2012 (that’s when the Zelda Symphony performs at the Orpheum Thetre in Vancouver BC, Canada), I’m going to be analyzing the various songs played by The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD once a week.
This week, I’ll focus on The Wind Waker Symphonic Movement.
The music of Wind Waker is some of my favourite of the Legend of Zelda series. The soundtrack had a very different feel than all of the other games, and I enjoyed the folksy feel to it. The music gave the game a real flair, which is why I think it was so memorable – plus Wind Waker had some of first really programmatic music of the series. Read the rest of this entry
Video Game Soundtracks – Electronica At The Forefront
Video Game Soundtracks – Electronica At The Forefront
Written By: Boondocks
Often in video games visual graphics engines take the spotlight. Given the recent visual triumphs of Bethesda’s’ epic Skyrim it’s not hard to see why.
Stunning environments paired with impeccable storytelling can move imaginations- as well as the money from your wallet.
But what about our other senses? Read the rest of this entry
