Arcade

Game Music

Composer Yuzo Koshiro Joins Retro-Inspired ”198X” Campaign

May 18, 2018 | Brenna Wilkes | 1 Comment Share this

It’s always nice when game composers from your childhood are still being brought onto indie projects for new game music. Take Yuzo Koshiro, who is the legendary composer of classic games such as Streets of Rage, Actraiser and Revenge of Shinobi, who has been brought onto the Kickstarter campaign for the retro arcade game 198X. Koshiro is still such a household name in retro-style game music that his legacy can only enhance an already interesting-looking game.

“He’s been hailed as ‘the greatest game-music composer of the 16-bit era’ and ‘the king of FM synthesis chiptune music’.

Creating a new game inspired by the 16-bit classics, and having the one and only Yuzo Koshiro compose the music, is literally a dream come true.” – Tobias Bjarneby, director of ”198X” at Hi-Bit Studios

All tracks by Yuzo Koshiro will also be included in the 198X digital soundtrack, as well as the previous limited edition vinyl record included in the Vinyl Pack. You can check out more about 198X on the campaign’s Kickstarter Page.
Game Music, Japanese

Dissidia – Final Fantasy Arcade Soundtrack Coming in April

March 7, 2016 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Dissidia – Final Fantasy Arcade Soundtrack Coming in April Share this

Fans of the Final Fantasy spin-off Dissidia fighting game will be getting the soundtrack to both versions of the arcade game, according to Square Enix’s website, on April 27th.

The Dissidia Final Fantasy Arcade Soundtrack album will feature original compositions from the brawling game, as well as a slew of arranged pieces from several Final Fantasy games, all done by Takeharu Ishimoto, Tsuyoshi Sekito, and Keiji Kawamori (Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy). The soundtrack will be on sale on Square Enix’s store, Amazon Japan and the Sony music shop, all for around 2,800 yen ($24.65 USD). You can also pre-order on YesAsia.

Check out the Dissidia website for more information.
Game Music, Reviews

SEGA Music With Heart: SEGA System 16 Vol. 2 (Review)

October 10, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on SEGA Music With Heart: SEGA System 16 Vol. 2 (Review) Share this

Okay, so we thought the SEGA System 16 Volume 1 album was pretty super. SEGA really knows how to treat its fans with albums like this, and having loved Volume 1 so much, I had high hopes for Volume 2 which was released earlier this year.

So, does it live up to expectations? There aren’t as many familiar titles that I was drawn to upon looking at the games included, but trust me when I say that this collection contains more than just a few surprises.

Hit the jump for our review. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

A Sakimoto to the Past: Soukyugurentai (Terra Diver) Soundtrack (Review)

April 13, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on A Sakimoto to the Past: Soukyugurentai (Terra Diver) Soundtrack (Review) Share this

My first experience with Hitoshi Sakimoto was back in the late 1990s with Final Fantasy Tactics. Yeah, I didn’t play Ogre Battle or Tactics Ogre, both of which were released before then, so let’s say to this day that I still have a lot of catching up to do. Through Basiscape Records, Sakimoto has made that task a lot easier by re-releasing the soundtrack to his 1996 arcade/Sega Saturn title Terra Diver (Soukyugurentai).

Get ready to take a trip back in time to when Sakimoto was mainly concerned with electronic soundtracks. To this day, Sakimoto still thinks of himself as an electronic composer despite the fact that many of his recent games have featured sweeping orchestral scores, so this is a rare treat to get another chance to hear some of his early game music.

Hit the jump for our review. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

DJMAX TECHNIKA 2 Signature Collection: Round Two… FIGHT! (Review)

June 25, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on DJMAX TECHNIKA 2 Signature Collection: Round Two… FIGHT! (Review) Share this

So much DJMAX lately! Let that be an indication to you that it’s good stuff. We recently posted the trailer for DJMAX Portable 3, which is due out later this year, and it was just two nights ago that we highlighted DJMAX contributor Nauts’s work on BAR OASIS. It’s a good time for game music from Korea.

You may recall us mentioning the DJMAX TECHNIKA 2 Signature Collection a couple months ago, and I’ve been looking forward to checking it out ever since I laid eyes on it. The original DJMAX TECHNIKA is not only an amazing game (I’m lucky enough to have machine at a local arcade here in San Diego), but the pop and electronic-oriented soundtrack was one of my favorites of 2008. However, after being slightly disappointed with the DJMAX Trilogy Soundtrack, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

So, does DJMAX TECHNIKA 2 do the franchise justice, or does it disappoint? Find out in our review after the jump. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Zuntata RayForces Its Way Into My Ears (Review)

June 23, 2010 | CF | 3 Comments Share this

RayForce, known as Layer Section to some of us, Gunlock to others, and Galactic Attack to yet more, is an arcade title released in 1994. What made it special was a two-layered approach, requiring one to keep track of the ground and the air.

I suppose you’re here to read about the music, though. Hit the jump to check it out.
(more…)
Game Music

Hopefully Not The Final Time: Final Fight Double Impact Gets Merch!

April 11, 2010 | Audun Sorlie | 4 Comments Share this

For everyone who has grown up with a big brother, I am sure you’re all all to familiar with the ancient law that requires them to beat you up all through your childhood. It seemed like every day you would trigger something in them that just made them wanna punch you, right in the face. Luckily for me, my brother managed to steer his lust of sibling violence to video games, and most of my young days was spent next to my brother playing the different fighting games he would pick up. Among one of my best memories in life, is standing next to him on a crate playing Final Fight in the arcades.

Fast forward 20 years, we’re now in the couch, several pounds heavier and with peach fuzz beards playing the same game as it is released on XBLA under the title Final Fight: Double Impact. As a series almost forgotten by Capcom, it never really got a big line of merchandise outside of a few CDs and a crossover episode on the Street Fighter Saturday morning show. But now Capcom has been sending out a press kit with loads of Final Fight related swag including t-shirts, hairspray and a tape with arrangements done for the XBLA release by Simon Viklund, who also worked on Bionic Commando: Rearmed!

I need to get my hands on this baby!