Atlus

Game Music, Reviews

Odin’s Nine Strong Songs Return With Yggdra Union: The Soundtrack (Review)

October 14, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

Atlus has shifted their pre-order soundtrack promotions into high gear this season, starting with Yggdra Union for the PSP. We mentioned a couple months ago that those who pre-ordered Yggdra Union would receive a promotional soundtrack disc, and at last, here it is.

So what exactly do we have here? This disc features a selection of tracks from the original Yggdra Union on the GBA, revamped and upgraded for the PSP. I’m assuming that composers Shigeki Hayashi and Minako Adachi handled the arrangements (or conversions), as the disc doesn’t actually list any credits. Anyway, prepare for battle, and get ready to listen to a whole lot of high-energy music!

Read our full impressions after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

Yuzo Koshiro and Norihiko Hibino: Spinning A Tale With The Music of Etrian Odyssey

October 8, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

We’re celebrating a day of Etrian Odyssey with the release of the new Live Music by Piano and Strings: Sekaiju no MeiQ I & II Super Arrange Version today in Japan. Hopefully you’ve read our full review of the album, but we have even more in store for you on this joyous ocassion.

We’ve been able to get some words with Yuzo Koshiro and Norihiko Hibino about their respective roles as composer and arranger/producer of the music in the Etrian Odyssey series. We focus on the latest album, of course, but we also revisit some of the past arrangement albums and discuss the possbility of more collaborations in the future. We then talk about their upcoming performance at EXTRA – HYPER GAME MUSIC EVENT 2008, and talk about what’s next for each of them. Finally, as a treat for the fans, we have more photos and even some sheet music scans from the Piano and Strings recording sessions.

Will you be importing the Piano and Strings Super Arrange Version? Would you buy a music book full of sheet music for the album if it was released?

Read the full interview and enjoy the photos and sheet music scans after the jump. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Live Music by Piano and Strings: Sekaiju no MeiQ I & II Super Arrange Version (Review)

October 8, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

I think the title says it all.

It’s great to see the music in a game getting as much love as the music in Etrian Odyssey has. Not only do the official soundtracks contain both DS and PC-88 versions of the music, but there have been Super Arrange Version albums for each title, a Piano sketch version, and even a drama album in Japan. I hope this sets a precedent for Yuzo Koshiro, and hopefully we’ll see that Actraiser album that Hibino mentioned he’s interested in pursuing last month.

Aside from having a long title, Live Music by Piano and Strings: Sekaiju no MeiQ I & II Super Arrange Version is the first Etrian Odyssey arrange album to feature music from both titles in the series, and hopefully it’s not the last. Arranged entirely be Norihiko Hibino and performed by a small group of talented session artists, this album visits many of Koshiro’s memorable melodies in a soothing instrumental style with a bit of bossa nova.

Hit the jump to find out of this approach does justice to the music in the series, and for pictures of the recording session. (more…)
Game Music

Atlus Rolls Out the Spoils: Eternal Poison, Luminous Arc 2, and Persona 4 to Ship With Soundtrack CDs

September 17, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Atlus Rolls Out the Spoils: Eternal Poison, Luminous Arc 2, and Persona 4 to Ship With Soundtrack CDs Share this

Well, ’tis the season indeed. We mentioned a couple months ago that gamers pre-ordering Yggdra Union for the PSP would be rewarded with a bonus soundtrack CD. Well, Atlus has taken this awesome promotion a step further and will be shipping every copy of some of their upcoming titles with a soundtrack CD included in the box.

While Eternal Poison, Luminous Arc 2, and Persona 4 will each be shipped with additional music discs, don’t think they don’t want you to pre-order their games. Those who pre-order will be treated to massive art books (100 pages for Eternal Poison and Persona 4)! Be sure to get out there and pre-order these games that you’re likely going to want to buy anyway, and check out the official “Deluxe Set” website for more detials. Luminous Arc 2 is going to feature some awesome music, so be sure to watch for it.

Do you think including the soundtrack with the game is a better approach than distributing it as a pre-order bonus? Are you excited about the music in any of these three titles?

Hit the jump for the official press release. (more…)
Game Music

Atlus Shows U.S. Gamers Some Love With Yggdra Union Bonus Soundtrack

August 18, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Atlus Shows U.S. Gamers Some Love With Yggdra Union Bonus Soundtrack Share this

It’s great to see that Japanese gamers aren’t the only ones getting sweet pre-order bonuses these days. Atlus fans have likely been following Yggdra Union for the PSP, which is a remake of the strategy title by the same name that was released a couple years back on the GBA.

Not only will the PSP remake feature a completely upgraded soundtrack this time around, but those who pre-order the title at Gamestop before the September 18 release will be rewarded with a complete soundtrack album. Composers Shigeki Hayashi and Minako Adachi were responsible for the music in the GBA title and are expected to be involved with the PSP remake. It’s great to see Atlus on board with the game music!

Are you a fan of the original Yggdra Union? Are you looking forward to having the upgraded soundtrack CD in your collection?

[via Destructoid]
Game Music, Reviews

Etrian Odyssey II Secret Character Revealed: Tetsujin Masaharu Morimoto! (Review)

June 18, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

Okay, not really, but the recently released Sekaiju no MeiQ² *shoou no seihai* SUPER ARRANGE VERSION album does feature a track that sounds similar to the music used in the classic Japanese television show Iron Chef. Maybe the game will feature an Iron Chef-inspired cooking mini-game?

The album as a whole sports some impressive production values thanks to Norihiko Hibino and his company, GEM Impact, who contribute extensively to the track list alongside an all-star cast of composers who tackle Yuzo Koshiro’s original score for Etrian Odyssey II. Who are these culinary—I mean… musical masters, you may ask?

Find out after the jump! (more…)