E3 2008

Game Music

E3 2008: Sonic Music in Samba de Amigo is Coolest Idea Ever

July 18, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on E3 2008: Sonic Music in Samba de Amigo is Coolest Idea Ever Share this

Hey now, I’m not saying it’s going to happen. However, I had the chance to play some Samba de Amigo yesterday and have to tell you it’s a lot of fun. Unfortunately the maraca peripherals that have been hinted at were not shown, but I still found myself fully enjoying the experience.

So why the talk of Sonic the Hedgehog? Well, Samba is going to be one of the first games on the Wii to feature downloadable content, so I naturally asked, “How about a SEGA classics pack?,” to which I received a brief pause before, “That’s a great idea! Doing this to Green Hill Zone or something like that… I’ll have to take this back to the team!” He was likely just humoring me, but we can keep dreaming, right? Keep your fingers crossed!

Anyway, you can read our impressions and find out a couple of the songs that will be in the game after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

E3 2008: Judgment of Ecclesia

July 17, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on E3 2008: Judgment of Ecclesia Share this E3 2008: Judgment of Ecclesia

“Do you like… Castlevania?” Yes, it’s Psycho Mantis again. While we just took a look at the E3 trailer for Castlevania Judgment yesterday, after getting some time with the game on the floor and speaking briefly with Igarashi, I have more details regarding both Judgment as well as Order of Ecclesia on the DS.

Iga offered an apology for not being able to name the composer(s) for Castlevania Judgment because, in fact, the audio is being outsourced. It’s not being handled by Yamane, but he assured me that there would be many familiar themes from the series. I noticed this first hand, as the match I played against a Konami rep featured the “Dracula’s Castle” track from Symphony on the Night. While it was difficult to hear through all the noise of the floor (thanks Rock Band!), the actual arrangement playing didn’t sound as lush as the original version of the song.

I also spent some time with Order of Ecclesia, which Igarashi noted will feature the music of series veteran Michiru Yamane. While I dug the majestic music that accompanied the introductory movie (which was absolutely gorgeous), the actual in-game music sounded similar to some of the uninspired stuff that we’ve been hearing from Yamane recently. They need to give her a break and let Koshiro take on more tunes!

What we heard on the E3 floor was only a fraction of the music that will be heard in each respective title, so I still have high hopes for the two. Do you think Konami will find a way to butcher even the classic Castelvania tunes that will find their way into Judgment? Should they give Yamane a break from the yearly Castlevania releases?
Chip Music, Game Music

E3 2008: Mega Man 9 Makes Dreams Come True

July 17, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on E3 2008: Mega Man 9 Makes Dreams Come True Share this

We posted the debut trailer for Mega Man 9 last week, and I was floored by how retromazing the music was. Well, when I hit the floor at E3, the first thing I did was run over to the Mega Man 9 setup as it’s my most anticipated title for this year. After spending nearly an hour with the demo’s two playable stages, I think I am completely satisfied… at least for now.

So what about the music? It’s everything you could have imagined from the previous trailer. While nobody at Capcom was able to give me the names of the composers working on the title, rest assured that I’ll be asking next week at Comic Con.

Check out our impressions of the game and the music after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

E3 2008: KORG DS-10 to Give Birth to New Music Scene

July 17, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments Share this

Mark my words. There are people out there stringing up lines of Gameboys to create of the craziest and most amazing music out there. I believe the KORG DS-10 takes this a step further. While it may not be as obscure as creating music with an original Gameboy, I think the novelty of a tool specifically created to turn the DS into a musical instrument will catch on among musically-inclined gamers.

We were able to catch an extensive demo of the software on the floor, and even got the opportunity to get our hands on it, and I’ll say right now that I’m going to be picking this one up on day one.

Hit the jump for impressions. (more…)
Game Music

E3 2008: I’m Going to Call It M4 (Major Minor’s Majestic March)

July 17, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

Music maestro Matsuura and artist Greenblat have done it again. While I can’t tell you this game is “like” Parappa the Rapper (the duo’s last title together), I will say that the game offers a pretty revolutionary and downright fun experience.

Players take control of a marching band conductor who leads his band through treacherous terrain to reach a fixed end point, collecting bonuses and recruiting band members along the way. It really is a hard game to describe, as there isn’t anything quite like it. In fact, I had the game explained to me several times by the developer, NanaOn-Sha, and still didn’t understand it until I played it today.

Hit the jump for full impressions. (more…)
Game Music

E3 2008: It’s the Beginning of a New and Excitingly Different Story

July 17, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on E3 2008: It’s the Beginning of a New and Excitingly Different Story Share this

Okay, it’s nearly impossible to hear anything out of the DS given the intensity of the noise on the show floor. Even with Dale’s $300 earbuds, I can barely hear the music in the game. From what I can hear, however, the music sounds pratically identical to its SNES counter-part, which was exactly what we expected after hearing Mitsuda’s comments about the title last week. The choir “ahs” in the battle track may be toned down a bit to sound a little less dated, but even this might simply be my ears playing tricks on me with all the background noise.

What I did find out, however, is that the “port” will feature a new dungeon, a multiplayer mode, and a completely new translation. The Square Enix reps stated that information about the title will be released via the new Square Enix members page that you can sign up for free on their website. I imagine this special treatment is a way of thanking the fans for their love of the title, which is likely why the game is being ported at all.

So, what are your thoughts about the lack of an enhanced score? Is this a classic that they shouldn’t screw around with?
Game Music

E3 2008: The Verdict On Castlevania Judgment?

July 17, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on E3 2008: The Verdict On Castlevania Judgment? Share this

Like it or not, a Castlevania fighting game is coming to a Wii near you this fall. I was excited to see the game on the E3 show floor this year, or should I say excited to hear it. Well, here’s a taste of the music from the official E3 trailer, and I must say that I am enjoying the tune that plays throughout.

It’s somewhat reminiscent of “Dracula’s Castle” from Symphony of the Night, although it admittedly lacks the epic rock flair, opting for a more catchy progression. I really dig the chorus section with its ascending and descending melody, ending each measure with synchronized bass drum, crash cymbal, bass, and belltone hits, lending the track a nice punch. I’ll be looking forward to what we hear out of Castlevania Judgement in the coming months.

Is it safe to assume this is Michiru Yamane’s work? What do you think about the music in the trailer?