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Atlus Spoils Strike Again: Legacy of Ys Books I & II Gains A Level

January 29, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Atlus Spoils Strike Again: Legacy of Ys Books I & II Gains A Level Share this

Atlus has a history of treating its fans right with its spoils program. While there was a soundtrack release announced for those who pre-ordered Legacy of Ys: Books I & II, Atlus has instead opted to upgrade the packaging to “premium” status. What does that mean? Instead of having to pre-order the game to get the soundtrack disc, every unit that ships will come with the soundtrack album in the box, similar to what was done for Luminous Arc 2.

The down side? The game is delayed for two weeks. I suppose this may disappoint some fans who were looking forward to the game, but hey, for people like us, it makes buying two classic RPGs on one cartridge all that much more sweeter. I know people haven’t been mentioning names, but most know that Yuzo Koshiro worked on both of these titles.

Are you looking forward to the soundtrack album? Do you think the delay is a big deal?

[via Destructoid]
Game Music, Reviews

The Big Tease: Chrono Trigger Orchestra Extra Soundtrack (Review)

November 25, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 6 Comments Share this

Chrono Trigger music performed by an orchestra? We’ve been all over this pre-order bonus since it was announced for Japan and the United States a couple months back. It will finally be availble to fans in the US starting tomorow, so we thought we’d give you an advance preview of this little bonus disc with a lot of heart. While you’ll only find two tracks here, the music is both sweet and nostalgic to those who have played the game.

From our interview with Yasunori Mitsuda yesterday, we know that he had no hand in this album. Instead, Natsumi Kameoka handled the arrangements, and did a pretty good job of it. With only two tracks, Chrono Trigger Orchestra Extra Soundtrack gives you a taste of what’s possible while leaving you hungry for more.

Hear more about the individual tracks after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

Yasunori Mitsuda Talks Chrono Trigger: Mysteries Solved, Clarifications Made

November 24, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 14 Comments Share this

Chrono Trigger for the Nintendo DS is on the horizon, and while we’ve been talking about the Chrono Trigger Orchestra Extra Soundtracks pre-order bonus a whole lot, it’s about time we sit down with Yasunori Mitsuda himself regarding the title, its music, and of course the bonus CD.

I’ve always wanted to ask Mitusda about the close to 30 minutes of unused music that was unearthed from Chrono Trigger some years ago, and what better time than now with the new release? We’ve been fortunate enough to have Norihiko Hibino meet up with Mitsuda to ask him in person about these songs and their originals as well as other topics, such as his role on the DS remake and the possibility of arranged albums in the future.

Hit the jump for our interview with Yasunori Mitsuda. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Consolation Prize: The Order of Ecclesia US Pre-Order Disc (Review)

October 28, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 3 Comments Share this

Well, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia was released last week, and I must say that the game’s music is drastically different from anything we’ve heard in previous Castlevania titles. While Iga confirmed to us that Michiru Yamane was handling the game’s soundtrack, we’ve since learned that Yasuhiro Ichihashi also contributed to the score, although we don’t know who was responsible for which tracks thus far.

While we’re likely not going to be getting the awesome looking 2-disc soundtrack that was released with the game’s special edition set in Japan, Konami USA was kind enough to offer a consolation prize in the form of a music sampler for those who pre-ordered the game through Amazon, Gamestop, and Gamecrazy. The disc features 15 minutes of music, and despite the change in musical style this time around, I found myself enjoying what the disc has to offer.

Is this album a worthy consolation prize? Read our impressions after the jump. (more…)
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

Something Extra For Everyone: Chrono Trigger Orchestra Extra Soundtracks Spied at GameStop

September 29, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

While it was only a month ago that I was crying about the awesome looking Chrono Trigger Orchestra Extra Soundtracks pre-order bonus that appeared to be a Japanese exclusive, Square Enix has apparently heard my pleas and has decided to bring the promotional disc to the States as well. Some keen eyes have spotted the disc available to those who pre-order the game at GameStop prior to the game’s November 24, 2008 release date.

While details regarding the disc are still sparse, it will feature two tracks, including “Chrono Trigger ~Orchestral Version~,” and “Chrono Trigger Medley ~Orchestral Version~,” which contains some of my favorite tracks including “Magus Theme” and “Wind Scene.” As if you needed another reason to pre-order this game!

Are you excited about the Chrono Trigger Orchestra Extra Soundtracks disc? Any thoughts as to whether these are new arrangements or not?

[Thanks Pete!]
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…)