Masashi Hamauzu

Game Music, Reviews

THE ALLIANCE ALIVE Original Soundtrack (Review)

March 27, 2018 | Harry Gill | Comments Off on THE ALLIANCE ALIVE Original Soundtrack (Review) Share this

Last year, Hamauzu composed another soundtrack to an RPG – this time, called The Alliance Alive. The game contains the same development team as those who were behind The Legend of Legacy, which Hamauzu also composed for.

For the Legend of Legacy, Hamauzu used his distinct impressionist style throughout – which ended up being mostly percussion-heavy and ambient music. Not that it was at a fault though, since it was done rather well, and there were a few killer tracks on there such as “Double Dimension Battle”.

Can the soundtrack to Alliance Alive compare? Let’s find out.

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Doujin, Game Music

Final Fantasy X Gets Massive Arrangement Album From Materia Collective

August 21, 2017 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Final Fantasy X Gets Massive Arrangement Album From Materia Collective Share this

Video game music publisher Materia Collective have gone above and beyond with the release of their massive, 100-track Final Fantasy X album, SPIRA.

Spread across two 50-track volumes titled Besaid Mix and Zanarkand Mix, SPIRA covers a huge variety of styles such as orchestral, electronic, and rock along with Bollywood, disco, gypsy punk, folk and irreverent chocobo choir from a large cast of musical talent includes Horizon Zero Dawn vocalist Julie Elven, composer Dale North, Pokémon Reorchestrated arranger Braxton Burks, the Triforce Quartet, and many others.

The Final Fantasy X soundtrack already contains a lot of variations on a few common themes.We wanted to create a listening experience where it didn’t feel like you’re listening to ‘Hymn of the Fayths’ 20 times in a row, so all of our artists aimed to do something new on their track. For example, some artists arranged in an unfamiliar style, while others incorporated unique instrumentation. As a result, both SPIRA albums re-frame the classic themes from Final Fantasy X with a fresh perspective. – Joe Chen & Emily McMillan, Project Organizers

<a href="http://materiacollective.bandcamp.com/album/spira-music-from-final-fantasy-x-besaid-mix">SPIRA: Music from Final Fantasy X – Besaid Mix by Jordan Chin</a>
<a href="http://materiacollective.bandcamp.com/album/spira-music-from-final-fantasy-x-zanarkand-mix-2">SPIRA: Music from Final Fantasy X – Zanarkand Mix by Sauraen, Triforce Quartet, Andrew Filipski, Sean Schafianski</a>

SPIRA: Music from Final Fantasy X is fully licensed and available today on Bandcamp for $12 apiece for both the Besaid Mix and Zanarkand Mix.
Events, Game Music

Dreams of Zanarkand – Final Fantasy X Concert In Germany This October

September 14, 2016 | Brenna Wilkes | 2 Comments Share this

Fans of Final Fantasy X will be getting treated to a special concert in Cologne, Germany on Oct 8, 2016. “Dreams of Zanarkand – Final Fantasy X” will be performed by the WDR Orchestra, who also did all the “Symphonic” Game Music Concerts 2008-2011 by Thomas Böcker, with piano performed by Benyamin Nuss and arrangements created by Masashi Hamauzu, who composed on Final Fantasy X with Nobuo Uematsu, and Benyamin Nuss.

“Dreams of Zanarkand” marks the first time a video game music concert in Europe has been dedicated to solely one game. Events of the game will be narrated by Maxi Gstettenbauer, a comedian and game tester. If you speak German, you can find out more information on the event’s Facebook Page, as well as purchase tickets for the October 8th showing.
Game Music, Japanese

World of Final Fantasy Collector’s Edition Pre-Order Available Now

July 26, 2016 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on World of Final Fantasy Collector’s Edition Pre-Order Available Now Share this

That a new Final Fantasy game is going to release in a sprawling Collector’s Edition with a soundtrack sampler is no surprise. We’ve known for a while that World of Final Fantasy — the action/RPG mashup of Final Fantasy fan service and monster raising — would have its own limited edition bundle but Square Enix has finally announced the wallet-busting details.

Exclusively available from the Square Enix Online Store, the $120 Collector’s Edition features an elaborate pop-up book style package that includes the PlayStation exclusive game on disc, an 80-page hardback art book, three figurines and, of course, the Selections from Grymoire album. The tracklist hasn’t been revealed yet but details surrounding the music are slowly getting out there ahead of the October 25th release.

In an interview with Nova Crystalis, composer Masashi Hamauzu talks about creating the score and mentions that around 50 songs comprise the full soundtrack. With the game mashing up fan favorites like Squall and Lightning it’s no surprise that Hamauzu had the chance to create new arrangements of classic themes to accompany his original compositions. Guest composers and collaborators will also be involved but the only one Hamauzu has mentioned is German pianist, Benyamin Nuss. Nuss is no stranger to Final Fantasy having performed in both Distant Worlds and Symphonic Fantasies concerts as well as releasing his own tribute album, Plays Nobuo Uematsu.

If $120 is a little steep or if you just can’t wait to hear more from the game you can check out several preview tracks from YouTube user MasashiHamauzuFan. And don’t miss a fresh new trailer for the game up above. Are you planning on picking up this ridiculous Collector’s Edition or aiming for the more sensible $60 Limited Edition? Let us know in the comments.
Game Music, Japanese, Reviews

The Legend Of Legacy Original Soundtrack (Review)

November 26, 2015 | Sebastian Urrea | Comments Off on The Legend Of Legacy Original Soundtrack (Review) Share this

The Legend of Legacy Original Soundtrack

The Legend of Legacy is one the recent JRPG offerings available on the Nintendo 3DS. Released in January 2015 in Japan and just last month in North America, it’s touted as being the spiritual successor to the SaGa series. The soundtrack was composed by Masashi Hamauzu, and fans of his music will be happy to hear that this soundtrack comes with all of his usual flair and style.

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Game Music

As I Say Goodbye: Final Symphony Report

June 3, 2013 | Audun Sorlie | 3 Comments Share this As I Say Goodbye: Final Symphony Report

Throughout the years that I have written here, the one thing that became synonymous with my entries onto Original Sound Version was my many reports from concerts across Europe, most notably the productions of the German company Merregnon Studios. As we all develop and grow older, our time and place in life changes and as such, my time at Original Sound Version came to a close with new opportunities a few years ago. However, I never said my good bye to this little place which I called home and cherished, never tipped my hat to those who read my reports and reviews with great enthusiasm and support. So today, I say my good bye with a show that fittingly ended a great era, yet sparks new life into the world of orchestrated video game music.

I say good bye with Final Symphony. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Battle of the Genres? Battle SQ (Review)

October 16, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 3 Comments Share this

Purchase Battle SQ (LE): CDJapan | Play-Asia
Purchase Battle SQ (Standard): CDJapan | Play-Asia

Though a somewhat lesser “controversial” album than Secret of Mana Genesis, this summer SQ release saw both high praise and heavy criticism thrown upon it.

What’s the deal? What expectations weren’t met? And to what extent is the encroaching fad of modulated bass (dubstep) dominating this album?

For answers to those questions and more, I humbly give you my take on the July 2012 release “Battle SQ” from Square Enix. (more…)