Ninjas

Game Music

Shinobi 3D Featuring Music by Norihiko Hibino

December 15, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Shinobi 3D Featuring Music by Norihiko Hibino Share this

I didn’t think much when I saw an entry for the Shinobi 3D soundtrack pop up on VGMdb, but when I saw that Norihiko Hibino was listed as the composer, I was immediately interested. I half jokingly shot off an email to ask Hibino if he was tapped to work on the game due to his work on Ninja Blade, and he confirmed that he not only was doing the score, but was indeed brought on because they enjoyed his work on Ninja Blade. I say half jokingly because even though the game didn’t do so well, the soundtrack was pretty amazing.

A 32-track soundtrack is due out in January containing the game’s soundtrack along with a remix and concept piece. Given Hibino’s relationship with Yuzo Koshiro, and Koshiro’s name recognition with Shinobi, maybe we’ll see the two team up for a Super Arrange Version album? We can only hope!

Let us know if you’re looking forward to this one after hearing this news.
Game Music, Reviews

Back When Ninja Gaiden Was Good: Ninja Gaiden Steel Dragon / Beat Blade (Review)

February 16, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

Yeah, I said it. I’m not very fond of the Ninja Gaiden reboots that have hit the Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles, and am still in love with the original trilogy that was released on the NES. Not only did the originals have frustratingly difficult level designs that were a lot of fun to master (with the horrible camera issues plaguing the recent releases not being a factor), but the music was absolutely stellar.

As it turns out, Japanese doujin circle earth Japan SOFT feels the same way, as they’ve decided to pay homage to the first game in the series with a fantastically produced arrange album covering some of the game’s most memorable themes. I thought it was time we finally get around to reviewing the album after it’s nomination for best doujin album of 2010 in our OSVOSTOTY 2010 Awards, so if you had no idea what this was before, you’re about to find out!

Hit the jump for a return to the “good stuff” in our review of Ninja Gaiden Steel Dragon / Beat Blade. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

This Soundtrack Will Cut You: Legend of Joe Musashi: SHINOBI Music Collection (Review)

October 5, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

So, I’m a bad man. The only Shinobi game I’ve ever played is the original one on the Game Gear. Amazing game. Got all the way to the end and couldn’t figure out the crazy puzzle that was the last level. Anyway, the music was pretty cool, but I’ve always heard that the Genesis titles had the best music, and I sort of just figured I’d never know because it was too late to go back and “catch up.”

SEGA, however, had other plans, and released the super snazzy Legend of Joe Musashi: SHINOBI Music Collection, the latest entry into SEGA’s retromazing series of classic game soundtracks. I’d compare this one to the Fantasy Star box that we reviewed last month, as you’re going to find 4-discs with different versions of some of the same scores here, but yeah, I can’t believe I missed out on this series. To make an excuse, I didn’t own a Genesis until very late in the game, as I was mainly (and still am) a Nintendo guy!

Anyway, prepare to get sliced in our review of the SHINOBI Music Collection after the jump! (more…)
Game Music

GEM Impact and The Outer Rim Take on the Ninjas: Ninja Blade Original Soundtrack (Reviews)

February 18, 2009 | Tommy Ciulla | 5 Comments Share this

I’m an honest guy, so let me just tell you something right up front before we get into this album – up until recently, I wasn’t a huge Norihiko Hibino fan. I was familiar with his work on the Zone of the Enders and Metal Gear Solid series and appreciated whatever music of his I had heard in-game, but until I had the pleasure of checking out The Outer Rim album I was merely a spectator to his work. As I listened to the spacious jazz of The Outer Rim my curiosity was piqued and I became more eager to learn more about Hibino and his musician friends at GEM Impact.

A couple of weeks ago I heard the Ninja Blade Main Theme and was completely floored. Where had I been while Hibino and the GEM Impact team were making such great music? As I thought about it, songs like “Yell ‘Dead Cell'” and “Twilight Sniping” from MGS2 came rushing back to the forefront of my memory and I realized that I had been here all along, and as such I had lots of music to search out and enjoy. And the first album up? The Ninja Blade Original Soundtrack, composed by Hibino and the rest of the GEM Impact team. And, believe you me, this is an excellent soundtrack.

Join me after the jump as I pull my head out of the sand and take a closer look at the Ninja Blade Original Soundtrack. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Long Album Titles Strike Back: Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Limited Edition Soundtrack (Review)

November 19, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 7 Comments Share this

What a surprise! Namco Bandai has been doing right by game music fans lately with the recent soundtrack disc included with the Tales of Vesperia Limited Edition and now the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Limited Edition on the PlayStation 3. This limited edition version not only comes with a soundtrack disc featuring 18 pieces of music from the game, but also a limited-print laser art cell and a Naruto trading card, all snuggled tightly in a collectible tin case.

The game itself does prove to be fun as well as artistically beautiful, but I’m sure you want to know if the soundtrack album and other goodies are worth the additional $10. The album features about 40 minutes of rock music with Asian influences from composer Yasunori Ebina, who seems to be involved with the anime series as opposed to past Naruto games, and it actually makes for an interesting listen.

Check out our impressions after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

Ninja Blade Website Has the Goods: Main Theme Sample

September 4, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Ninja Blade Website Has the Goods: Main Theme Sample Share this

Yeah, after all my gushing about the Ninja Blade main theme earlier this week, you were probably curious how it could possibly be so good. Well, it’s not the entire eight-minute long epic, but there’s an edited version of the track on the official Ninja Blade website.

What are you waiting for? Get over there and listen so I can talk you through it.

It basically takes you through all the high points that I mentioned in our preview article, starting with Norihiko Hibino on saxophone. It then moves into some stealth ninja action, followed by some deadly ninja action. Why are ninjas so cool? It ends with an epic string progression, which should have you salivating and dying to hear more. Is that about right?

Are you as impressed as I am with the main theme? Are you looking forward to a soundtrack release for this game?
Game Music

First Impressions of GEM Impact’s Score for Ninja Blade on the Xbox 360

September 1, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 8 Comments Share this

So, you may or may not know by now that Ninja Blade has been announced for the Xbox 360. Developed by FromSoftware (creators of the awesome King’s Field series… oh, and Armored Core), and published by Microsoft, this action game looks and sounds like it’s going to be a huge hit. The title of this post says it all in terms of who’s handling the music, and the team at FromSoftware, who Hibino has had a strong relationship with over the years, is very excited to announce GEM Impact’s involvement with the game’s audio.

Well, the game isn’t due out until 2009, but we’ve been given a special sneak-peak at Ninja Blade’s score, and we’re here to tell you it’s amazing. With all the members at GEM Impact contributing, I think this is the best work the team has produced to date, combining the heavy electronic and orchestral sounds that the studio has been known for on the Metal Gear Solid series along with the Eastern stylings of the ninja. It’s definitely an emotionally charged listening experience, and I personally can’t wait to see how the music enhances the gaming experience.

Hit the jump for a preview of the main theme from Ninja Blade as well as comments from Norihiko Hibino regarding GEM Impact’s contributions to the upcoming title. (more…)