Secret of Mana

• Game Music

  Secret of Mana Remake Original Soundtrack Released by Square-Enix

  February 22, 2018 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Secret of Mana Remake Original Soundtrack Released by Square-Enix Share this Secret of Mana Remake Original Soundtrack Released by Square-Enix

  

  Love it or hate it, with the recent release of the 2.5D high-def remake of the classic SNES JRPG, Secret of Mana (aka: Seiken Densetsu 2), Square-Enix has saw fit to release the soundtrack to the updated version of the game as well. The Secret of Mana (HD) Original Soundtrack (I’m calling it “HD” to separate it from the original SNES soundtrack) features the songs of the original game, composed by Hiroki Kikuta, all covered with more orchestral tones to invoke a sense of the grandiose that the game tries to convey in this updated version of the game.

  Featuring 53 track that cover over three hours of music, the new soundtrack stands on its own merits and offers a different take on the classic music of the game. Whether your a fan of the chiptunes of old or appreciate new takes on beloved VGM, the soundtrack pays proper tribute to it’s roots.

  The Secret of Mana (HD) Original Soundtrack is currently available for digital download on iTunes and Amazon. A 3-disc CD release of the soundtrack is available now for pre-order on Amazon with a shipping date of March 2nd. You can preview the music on the Square-Enix website.

• Experimental, Indie Music

  Switched on SNES Returns with more Zelda Tapes, Secret of Mana Teaser

  December 15, 2017 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on Switched on SNES Returns with more Zelda Tapes, Secret of Mana Teaser Share this Switched on SNES Returns with more Zelda Tapes, Secret of Mana Teaser

  

  If you missed grabbing a cassette copy of Switched on SNES’s analog synth rendition of A Link to the Past, they’ve got a little Christmas miracle for you. There are only 100 cassettes up for sale after filling the second round of pre-orders so if Zelda, synths, or cassettes fit the bill for you or someone on your shopping list, hop to it!

  Alongside the new cassettes, Switched on SNES has released a preview track from their next album that focuses on another beloved SNES RPG, Secret of Mana. I wasn’t sure how Hiroki Kikuta’s score would sound with the analog synth treatment but “Into the Thick of It” definitely benefits from the extra boost of melancholy that the Switched On SNES style brings. Check it out, grab a tape of Zelda, and look for the Secret of Mana album to hit Bandcamp in January.

• Experimental, Indie Music

  Switched on SNES: A Link to the Past Cassettes & New Album Announced

  August 30, 2017 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on Switched on SNES: A Link to the Past Cassettes & New Album Announced Share this Switched on SNES: A Link to the Past Cassettes & New Album Announced

  

  Back in late Spring the initial run of Switched on SNES: A Link to the Past on cassette sold out pretty quickly. The selection of classic Zelda themes rearranged for analog synthesizers is still available on Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube but for those who missed the physical offering there is once again hope.

  Pre-orders are up now for the second, limited edition run of 300 cassette tapes to be shipped out this Fall. The $10 purchase gets you the gold label cassette with a uniquely colored liner as well as a digital copy of the next Switched on SNES release featuring Secret of Mana.

  Surprise, the next Switched on SNES release is Secret of Mana! We’ll be sure to let you know when that new release is out.

• Doujin, Game Music

  Prescription for Sleep: Lullabies of Mana Arranged Album Released

  December 2, 2015 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Prescription for Sleep: Lullabies of Mana Arranged Album Released Share this Prescription for Sleep: Lullabies of Mana Arranged Album Released

  

  If you’re looking for a holiday gift for the Secret of Mana fan in your life, here’s something to surprise them with this season. Prescription for Sleep: Lullabies of Mana is the newest of the Prescription for Sleep game music series, derived from the original game soundtrack composed by Hiroki Kikuta and arranged by Metal Gear Solid composer Norihiko Hibino.

  “Our first two Prescription for Sleep albums featured a variety of tracks from across all videogames, and were a great introduction to our healing game music concept. But with the third album, I wanted to try something different. I had been constantly tempted to pick tracks from Secret of Mana for our first two compilations, mainly because the music is so soothing in its original form, so I thought the next evolution of the series would be an entire album dedicated to one game.” – Jayson Napolitano; Scarlet Moon Records

  The 12-track album is fully licensed and available now on Loudr. Those who purchase the album will also receive GENTLE LOVE’s tribute to late Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata titled Prescription for Peace: A Tribute to the Departed at no charge, and discounts applied to the other Prescription for Sleep albums.

• Game Music, Indie Music

  Hiroki Kikuta Pairs with Indie Games Pixel Noir and Indivisible

  October 8, 2015 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Hiroki Kikuta Pairs with Indie Games Pixel Noir and Indivisible Share this Hiroki Kikuta Pairs with Indie Games Pixel Noir and Indivisible

  

  Let it never be lamented that the beloved composers of our childhood fade into obscurity with the modern age of gaming. Having not too long ago been slated to work on Unraveled: Tale of the Shipbreakers Daughter, Secret of Mana composer Hiroki Kikuta is now attached to two other promising indie games currently in fund-raising mode.

  The first is PIXEL NOIR, where Kikuta will be working alongside the game’s audio composer Kunal Majmudar to help shape the sound of the gritty RPG.”

  Kikuta-san has been an inspiration to me throughout my life. From the first few notes of ‘Fear of the Heavens’ and watching the birds fly past the Mana Tree, I knew I was playing something truly special with Secret of Mana. I’m left completely breathless at this opportunity to work with one of my heroes.”  – Kunal Majmudar

  “When I was first approached by the team at SWDTech Games, I was deeply impressed by the unique world and vision that they shared in creating PIXEL NOIR. My mind immediately began racing as to how PIXEL NOIR might sound, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with their talented team!” –Hiroki Kikuta

  PIXEL NOIR has currently been funded on their Kickstarter, but is seeking stretch funding in order to hit additional goals for added content.

  Kikuta’s other project that is still seeking base funding is Indivisible by Lab Zero (Skullgirls). Also an RPG of the fantasy genre in the vein of Valkyrie Profile with Asian mythos tied in, Indivisible will see Kikuta helm its entire soundtrack.
  

  Indivisible is currently seeking the hefty sum of $1.5M base funding with over a month to go. You can check out the entire game’s information on their IndieGogo page.

  Source: SDWtechgames; IndieGogo

• Game Music

  Listen to Samples of the Secret/Legend of Mana Arrangement Album PROMISE

  September 29, 2015 | Ryan Paquet | 4 Comments Share this Listen to Samples of the Secret/Legend of Mana Arrangement Album PROMISE

  

  Another highly anticipated album, Seiken Densetsu/Legend of Mana Arrangement Album: Promise featuring arrangements of music by Yoko Shimomura will be released on September 30, 2015.

  Square Enix Music  has posted samples of all the albums 12 tracks which you can listen to here.  The translated English track list is as follows:

  01	Hometown of Domina
  02	To the Sea
  03	Polpota Harbor
  04	Legend of Mana
  05	Picturesque Landscape
  06	Traveler’s Road
  07	Singing Wind, Journey’s Path
  08	Tango Appassionata – As the Heart Wills
  09	Such Cruel Fate
  10	Seven Shades of Life – Bejeweled City in Ruins
  11	Nostalgic Song Reprise – Finale
  12	Song of MANA

  
  From what I’ve heard of the samples, the majority of the music has a soul bossa nova sound to it.  The album is available for pre-order from Square Enix Music.  Is this an album you’re looking forward to?

  Source: http://www.square-enix.co.jp

• Game Music

  “Unraveled” Indie RPG Back on Kickstarter with Kikuta & North

  May 5, 2015 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on “Unraveled” Indie RPG Back on Kickstarter with Kikuta & North Share this “Unraveled” Indie RPG Back on Kickstarter with Kikuta & North

  

  The indie game by RosePortal Games, Unraveled: Tale of the Shipbreaker’s Daughter has returned to Kickstarter after not meeting its initial campaign goal in its first round of crowdfunding.

  So how is this new campaign different from the first failed attempt? Well, now there is a playable demo that is available for download to get first-hand experience with how the game will play if funded and completed. The game has been Greenlit for Steam, so you know that if funded, it will appear there for purchase/download. A big change is that composer Dale North (Dragon Fantasy Book II) and veteran legend Hiroki Kikuta (Secret of Mana) will now be a partial of the initial funding for the game, where in the previous incarnation of the campaign they would only be a part of the game if stretch goals were met. Kikuta-san himself is creating the game’s main theme

  The game is currently seeking $15,000 to fund the base game, with over $3K of that having already been met, and might be worth a second look to any fans of North’s and Kikuta’s music who might have been hesitant to throw money at the first time around. If nothing else, the game is sure to hit some emotional notes for sure. (Pun sort of intended!)

  Unraveled: Tale of the Shipbreaker’s Daughter – Kickstarter

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