Super Mario Galaxy

Game Music

Cyber Week: Super Mario Galaxy Soundtrack with Black Wii Bundle

November 29, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

Anyone spot this? I was browsing sales for Cyber Monday which started last night, and I instantly noticed the cover of the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack in this black Wii bundle from Target. I didn’t believe my eyes and immediately clicked to see what was all included along with the system. There’s New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and various other peripherals, and indeed, the Gold Version of the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack which was only published in regions outside of North America as a Club Nintendo exclusive.

It’s pretty strange to see a soundtrack release included with a product from a major retailer, much less a Club Nintendo exclusive which Nintendo has generally been pretty protective about, not letting anyone other than those who dish out their hard-earned points get there hands on these items.

Are you surprised to see it here? Does this give you hope that you’ll someday see some rare Club Nintendo CD release included in some bundle a few years down the raod?
Featured, Game Music

Arrangers Speak Out On LEGENDS: Comments From The Staff

May 12, 2011 | Audun Sorlie | 6 Comments Share this

LEGENDS is now only a few weeks away and like the weather that is currently gracing the fine continent of Europe, things are heating up for the Nintendo based concert. Taking place in Stockholm on the 1st of June, LEGENDS will revisit the world of Nintendo’s vast music library, much like concert of 2010 before it, Symphonic Legends. However, this won’t be exactly the same concert as the German audience heard. LEGENDS will be an all new experience, showcasing all new arrangements with familiar tunes and motifs, and for the people who traveled to Cologne last year, the experience of LEGENDS will be just as exciting as it will for the all new ears in attendance.

To give the audience a bit of insight into what to expect and what goes into the process of arranging the legendary music, LEGENDS has for weeks posted updates from the arrangers Jonne Valtonen, Roger Wanamo and Masashi Hamauzu about their thoughts and feelings on the different pieces they are working on. With the final announcement posted, you can now read all the updates in English!

Read all the comments from the LEGENDS staff after the jump! (more…)
Featured, Game Music

Gift From Heaven: Symphonic Legends Report

September 30, 2010 | Audun Sorlie | 6 Comments Share this

September rolled around again and it was now time for me to begin my journey to Cologne once again, in what has become a new tradition to me over the last few years. A tradition that leaves me with more wonderful memories and heartfelt moments with each year that passes. Last year the German hot spot offered the world Symphonic Fantasies which celebrated 4 different franchises from game juggernaut Square Enix. The concert and its subsequent CD release was hailed worldwide as one of, if not the finest symphonic event ever dedicated to video games. With such praise and respect, the excitement when WDR announced they would be holding an event this year was astronomical. What would they be performing this year?

The answer turned out to be Nintendo. The kid inside me sprung into the air upon hearing this as the company and games that I grew up with would now be performed live by an orchestra, some games for the very first time. I loaded up my music player with Super Mario Bros, Super Metroid and Fabio’s After Dark poem CD, which was for reasons that may never be spoken of.

So join me as I travel back to one of the most beautiful cities in Europe for another unforgettable event! (more…)
Featured, Game Music

Nintendo Throws Us A One-Up: Super Mario Galaxy 2 Sound Team Interview

August 5, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | 7 Comments Share this

Yes, I know it took us awhile, but I’m really excited to let you all know that we have a follow-up to that Blast From The Past interview we published some time ago covering the original Super Mario Galaxy. We’ve been very fortunate to sneak some of Mahito Yokota, Koji Kondo, and Ryo Nagamatsu’s time away from their new projects to talk about their work on Super Mario Galaxy 2, which is surely one of the best soundtracks of the year.

We discuss the influence of Yoshi on the game’s score, each composer’s respective contributions, the retooling of music from the original Super Mario Galaxy, and the return of “Gusty Garden” as an anthem for the series. We also talk about some of our favorite tracks from the game, including “Yoster” and “Square Timber.”

Hit the jump for the interview! (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Super Mario Galaxy 2: An Interactive Aural Experience (Game Review)

June 13, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Super Mario Galaxy 2: An Interactive Aural Experience (Game Review) Share this

I can’t believe the release of Super Mario Galaxy 2 has already come and gone. I’ve been looking forward to it for such a long time, as the first game was my favorite game on the Wii, and I had high hopes for what composers Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo would cook up for this round.

I’m one of those people who avoids all trailers, videos, screenshots, and general information when it comes to games I’m really excited about, so I had no idea what to expect from SMG2 aside from Yoshi making an appearance. I’ll say that I was pleasantly surprised by the game, the music, and the use of audio even though, for the most part, it was more of the same that Nintendo established with the first game.

So, is Super Mario Galaxy 2 just a simple upgrade, or does it offer something entirely new that’s worth your attention? Find out in our review after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

Mario Galaxy Orchestra Returns to CD Via Club Nintendo Japan

May 27, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments Share this

Yes, it’s going to happen, but was there ever really any doubt? We’ve spotted a listing for the Super Mario Galaxy 2 Original Soundtrack on VGMdb, which is supported by the recent addition of the soundtrack to the Club Nintendo Japan website. Whereas the first game’s soundtrack was only available to Platinum Members in Japan, however, the Super Mario Galaxy 2 soundtrack will be available to all Club Nintendo members for 500 points, or 300 points for those who’ve purchased Super Mario Galaxy 2. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!

I’ve been playing through the game this week, and am liking what I’ve been hearing. I’ve yet to hear the arrangement of “Wind Garden” that I’m so much looking forward to, but I know it’s coming. Just as we suspected, there is a blend of orchestral and synth elements, just as with the first game. As to whether or not the two discs will be separated by orchestral and synth material is unknown, but it’s likely we’ll know soon as it’s available as of today in Japan.

Are you surprised by the announcement of this album? Will you be importing it from Japan?

[via VGMdb, translation by Chris Ling]
Game Music

A Blast From The Past: Koji Kondo and Mahito Yokota Talk Super Mario Galaxy

March 23, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on A Blast From The Past: Koji Kondo and Mahito Yokota Talk Super Mario Galaxy Share this

We’re back with another “Blast to the Past” interview where we’re spotlighting classic interviews that I conducted while writing for Music4Games. Since the website is no longer online, I thought it would be a shame to let these interviews slide into the void, so we’ve decided to give them new life here on OSV.

With Super Mario Galaxy 2 on the horizon, we thought it’d be appropriate to take a trip back to the release date of the original Super Mario Galaxy to see what Nintendo’s Koji Kondo and Mahito Yokota had to say about the game’s music. I hope we can get a repeat of this kind of interview for Super Mario Galaxy 2, but in the meantime, read what the two have to say about their inspirations, recording with a live orchestra, and about the soundtrack release that they skirted around and then went on to announce a full two weeks later (yes, I’m still bitter).

Good times. Check out this piece of history after the jump. (more…)