Unpacking

Featured, Game Music

OSVchannel: Tactics Ogre Let Us Cling Together Looks Quite Lovely!

November 2, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | 3 Comments Share this

We’re back with another OSVchannel update. This time, we’re taking a look at the soundtrack to the PSP remake of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. The four disc soundtrack is being released by Square Enix on November 10, 2010, so we have quite an advanced preview of what to expect from the album next week.

As I mention in the video, I wasn’t planning on doing a feature on this until I actually opened it. I think you’ll be surprised by what’s exactly inside. I’m very impressed with the packaging, and the music is some classic Sakimoto/Iwata material as well. Also, for those of you out there who want to update VGMdb with the arranger/composer info, I’ve included a scan of the back cover just for you.

Check that after the jump, and let us know what you think of the album’s packaging and interesting bonus disc. Will you be picking this up next week? (more…)
Featured, Game Music

OSVchannel: Final Fantasy XIV Soundtrack Unpacking Video

September 21, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | 7 Comments Share this

We’ve got a special treat for you today. While the Final Fantasy XIV Battle Tracks and Field Tracks albums that Patrick posted about last month will not be released until September 29, 2010 in Japan, we have them here for you now, and believe you’ll be surprised by what’s contained within. The two discs feature only a taste of what Nobuo Uematsu has created for the game, but Square Enix has certainly gone all out to make these “mini” soundtracks stand out on the store shelf. I don’t want to spoil too much, so feel free to take a peak at the above video to find out what to expect when these soundtracks hit you doorstep next week.

Oh, and I wanted to note the change in format. I loved Patrick’s table-top videos so much that I decided to go this route as well. Let me know if this works better than my poorly-lit office, and if the trade-off of not having music in the background is worth the better view.

We’ll have a review of both discs in the coming days, so keep checking back, and be sure to let us know what you think of Square Enix’s radical approach to the packaging for these Final Fantasy XIV soundtrack discs.
Game Music

OSVchannel: Final Fantasy XIII Limited Edition Unpacking Video

February 9, 2010 | Patrick Gann | 2 Comments Share this

The post right below this is Jayson opening up the standard edition OST for Final Fantasy XIII (SQEX-10183~86). The above video is the unpacking of the limited edition (SQEX-10178~82), from yours truly. It’s my debut to YouTube!

This version has a fifth disc, a larger box, and a larger book. There aren’t a lot of differences. But I end up finding a lot to say anyway, rambling for a good seven minutes about what’s on the soundtrack. I even editorialize about the nature of limited editions. So check out the video, and enjoy!
Game Music

OSVchannel: Final Fantasy XIII Standard Edition Unpacking Video

February 9, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on OSVchannel: Final Fantasy XIII Standard Edition Unpacking Video Share this

We’re back with another OSVchannel unpacking video, this time of one of the most anticipated soundtracks of the year. Yes, Final Fantasy XIII. Square Enix generally takes special care with the packaging of their Final Fantasy soundtracks, and this is no exception. We have our hands on the standard edition here, although we intend to provide a look into the limited edition in the near future.

From the brilliant artwork that covers nearly every inch of the packaging to the lengthy and thorough booklet containing liner notes and a crazy long list of performer credits, to the outstanding music (watch for our review tomorrow), Final Fantasy XIII stands on par with some of the best Final Fantasy scores that have ever been created. Check out the above video and find out what you can expect from the standard edition.

Do you have plans to pick up the Final Fantasy XIII soundtrack before it’s released in March, or are you waiting until after you play the game? Does it look like Square Enix came through on the packaging?
Game Music

OSVchannel: Bayonetta’s 5-Disc Soundtrack Unpacking Video

November 12, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

Here we are again, this time with an unpacking video of the 5-disc Bayonetta soundtrack. It’s a pretty nice one, complete with a leather-bound case and individual slim jewel cases for each disc. It’s definitely a soundtrack to consider picking up from Japan, as it’s likely to sell out.

A few things about the video, though. First, I actually recorded this last week, before the soundtrack was released in Japan, and only a little after the game was released in Japan, so sorry for the delay. I was having technical issues getting the video on to YouTube. The other thing is towards the end where I mention Don’s comments about “dirty jazz,” when he actually said “smokey jazz.” My bad!

Anyway, enjoy, and let us know what you think of these kinds of videos and the Bayonetta soundtrack in particular.
Game Music

OSVchannel: Go Retro As We Unwrap The The Final Fantasy Gaiden -Four Warriors of Light- Original Soundtrack

November 3, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

Well, I admit I wasn’t staying on top of the game or the soundtrack for Final Fantasy Gaiden -Four Warriors of Light-, but the Square Enix Music Sampler CD Vol. 4 that we reviewed a few weeks ago changed that. I’ve been looking forward to Naoshi Mizuta’s retro soundtrack ever since, and the release date is right around the corner in Japan.

We got our hands on the soundtrack several days ahead of the Japanese release date, and I thought it’d be fun to go through the packaging and artwork on our OSVchannel on YouTube. To clear up the Japanese and US release dates that I was unsure about in the video, the game was released on 10/29/09 in Japan, while there is no US release date announced at this time. The soundtrack is due out on 11/04/09 in Japan, and it’s truly some great stuff. Probably my favorite from Mizuta yet.

Join us for our brief unwrapping adventure of the game’s soundtrack and tell us if you like this sort of content on OSV and whether or not you’ll be picking up the Final Fantasy Gaiden -Four Warriors of Light- Original Soundtrack when it’s released.
Game Music

OSVchannel: Unpacking the 21-Disc Behemoth That is the SaGa Premium Box

August 25, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 5 Comments Share this

So, it’s finally here. We mentioned this massive 20 CD + 1 DVD SaGa collection some months ago, and even talked to Square Enix’s Music Licensing Division Manager and Promotions Manager about the set, but we now have it in our hands a full day ahead of the Japanese release. I thought some of you out there who are considering purchasing the box, or have already placed your orders may be interested in checking out what’s inside, so we’ve gone ahead and done just that.

This thing is massive. And the “assembly required” thing I mention in the video? It will take you a good half-hour, and I still don’t know if I put it together correctly. When it’s done, however, it’s quite a stunning sight to behold. Oh, and the music is awesome too! I’ve been digging the Gameboy SaGa titles (they were my most anticipated soundtracks of the set), and am looking forward to digging into the rest of the material in the coming days. Watch for our review!

Is this unpacking video at all entertaining to you? If it’s something you find interesting, we can pursue stuff like this more often in the future. Anyway, I can’t imagine Square Enix is making very many of these, so get one while you can!