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• Game Music, Reviews

  This is Hell: Shadows of the Damned Promotional Soundtrack (Review)

  June 18, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on This is Hell: Shadows of the Damned Promotional Soundtrack (Review) Share this This is Hell: Shadows of the Damned Promotional Soundtrack (Review)

  

  When Akira Yamaoka left Konami for Grasshopper Manufacture last year, everyone wondered what Yamaoka’s unique outlook on music as a sound design element would mean for Grasshopper Manufacture’s characteristically unique projects. While Yamaoka did contribute a couple tracks to No More Heroes 2 under a pseudonym, Shadows of the Damned, Grasshopper Manufacture’s new collaboration with EA Games is Yamaoka’s first full score with the company.

  With that in mind, when it was announced that fans who pre-ordered Shadows of the Damned would receive a download code for a 12-track promotional soundtrack, I was even more interested. What would it offer, and would it live up to Yamaoka’s name, which has been extensively used to promote the title?

  Find out in our review after the jump. (more…)

• Game Music, Reviews

  It’s Coming Right For Us: SimAnimals Original Videogame Score (Review)

  January 21, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this It’s Coming Right For Us: SimAnimals Original Videogame Score (Review)

  

  Yep, SimAnimals. Looks horrible, doesn’t it? I thought the same thing, but the music actually took me by surprise. Composed by Winifred Phillips, who you may remember from our coverage of SPEED RACER: The Videogame, and produced by Winnie Waldron, I think you’ll find these animals to be quite delicious.

  I can’t imagine you’d guess from the cover, but the music here is actually quite mature. Atmospheric in nature, I was often reminded of Joe Hisaishi and even Hiroki Kikuta when listening to this score. I’m serious! I didn’t realize that Phillips was such a diverse artist.

  Hit the jump to find out what I mean. (more…)

• Game Music

  Interview with Moon Composer Gareth Vilday, A Man With Great Taste And A Cool Name

  January 8, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 6 Comments Share this Interview with Moon Composer Gareth Vilday, A Man With Great Taste And A Cool Name

  

  You likely haven’t heard of Gareth Vilday, but hopefully that will change with the release of Moon on the DS. We’ve posted about the music featured in the title’s trailers, and the blend of ambient and 80s synth pop really impressed me. Even more? Vilday is a Jean Michel-Jarre fan, so he’s automatically cool in my book.

  With Moon due out this month, and approximatley 45 minutes of music to be heard, we’ll know soon if the rest of the score lives up to what we heard in the trailers. Until then, check out our interview with Gareth Vilday about his inspirations and newfound career in game music. Sounds like he’s found himself in a pretty sweet situation if you ask me!

  Hit the jump for our interview from the moon. (more…)

• Game Music

  Soundtrack of the Month 01/2009: King’s Field original besttrack

  January 5, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 6 Comments Share this Soundtrack of the Month 01/2009: King’s Field original besttrack

  

  Oops, off to a bad start for the New Year. Completely forgot about Soundtrack of the Month! Well, sorry to those of you who expect consistency out of a group of unorganized slackers. I figured I’d pull out one of my favorite albums this month, and it’s an obscure one. Interestingly, I’ve always been a fan of this cult hit series, and when a soundtrack was released, I was unable to import it because I didn’t have a credit card (I was 16 years old)! Fortunately, Carl Larson came to my rescue and bought it for me after I mailed him cash. Good times!

  So, the music. Koji Endo at Soundkids is credited as the composer, and he’s even still around as a jazz guitarist and film composer. You’d never know it, as the music for King’s Field is all new age and Baroque in approach, but it’s damn good. Another interesting story is that this is the first album I ever reviewed! If you’re feeling particularly bored, you can head over to Chudah’s Corner and read my first review which won me second place in a review-writing contest.

  But if you have to pick one, I recommend reading my new-and-improved Soundtrack of the Month write-up after the jump! (more…)

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