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Game Music

MIRACULOUS RETURN: Alex Kidd Complete Album Review!

October 19, 2009 | Audun Sorlie | 180 Comments Share this

As a kid, I had a SEGA Master System, but I didn’t own any game cartridges of any kind for it. That was no problem, however! You see, back then, SEGA decided to release the console with a game built into the system. That’s right, if you turned the console on with no game in the cartridge slot, it would automatically boot up Alex Kidd in Miracle World, one of my favorite SEGA titles to this day.

In late August, Wave Master released the ALEX KIDD COMPLETE ALBUM exclusively at Comiket 76, and OSV was lucky enough to get a copy.

Get ready to step back in time and read about our thoughts on the album! (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Two Classics, One Package: Sword of Vermilion / Rent-a-Hero! (Review)

October 12, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments Share this

I’ve always loved Sword of Vermilion. In one of OSV’s introductory posts, I used the game’s title screen as a play on Uematsu’s Lord of Vermilion score, but it’s a huge pleasure to finally be able to write about the music of Sword of Vermilion. SEGA has been spoiling fans recently with its Sound Shock Series, tackling franchises like Daytona USA, Fantasy Zone, and two standalone games with this album, Sword of Vermilion and Rent-a-Hero.

Interestingly, despite the difference in game genres, they sound strikingly alike thanks to similar sound sets and the same composer, hiro (Hiroshi Kawaguchi), working on both titles. But don’t think you’re just getting a dump of the music from these Genesis titles; there are also some added bonuses on the album.

Take a trip back in time to see what Nintendon’t after the jump! (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

Wave Master Surprise: Alex Kidd Complete Album Announced!

August 10, 2009 | Audun Sorlie | 5 Comments Share this

Hot on the heals of the announcement of Wave Master’s Shinobi Complete Works CD, they have now also announced a complete collection of for Alex Kidd series! Alex Kidd was Sega’s mascot during the Master System era, and for many a glorious early memory of their humble gaming beginnings.

While no tracklist has been revealed at this time, the album name would suggest that every game is included. There are a total of 6 Alex Kidd games, and he was also featured in some cameos in different games, the latest being Segagaga on the Dreamcast. You can also expect some arrangements, as our great friend Takenobu Mitusyoshi has been mentioned to be on this album!

What other Sega classics would you like to see getting the collection treatment from Wave Master?

[via Carl Laron’s Twitter feed]
Game Music, Reviews

From Loud 2 Low Too: A “Too” Disc Marvel (Review)

July 8, 2009 | Audun Sorlie | 2 Comments Share this

From Loud 2 Low may not be a very familiar name to many game music fans, but for Takenobu Mitsuyoshi fans, it is basically the holy grail of his CD releases. From Loud 2 Low was released in November of 2003, and was only released in a very limited number via SEGADirect, Sega’s Japan-only web shop. Because of these circumstances, the album was very obscure and hard to get, and importers had to resort to middleman services in order to get it.

From Loud 2 Low is a collection of Mitsuyoshi’s best works in game music, and contains the main themes for many well-known games such as DAYTONA USA, Shenmue, Virtua Fighter 2 and Burning Rangers. It is a blend of vocal and instrumental works; also, it contains 2 all new originals, “Night in H.A.P.” and “I feel so good…” The CD does a brilliant job showcasing Mitsuyoshi’s talents as a vocalist as well as a composer, and for fans who only are familiar with his work on DAYTONA USA, this is a real eye opener to his actual skills.

Now, six years later, Mitsuyoshi announced he would release From Loud 2 Low Too, a follow-up of his collected works. As more details unfolded, it was revealed to be a two disc release, with the first From Loud 2 Low (excluding a few instrumental tracks) on the first disc. The second CD is a collection of ballads, again revealing a rather underrated side of Mitsuyoshi’s talent.

After the jump, our full review of From Loud 2 Low Too. (more…)
Game Music

Sneaking up on us like a Ninja: SHINOBI MUSIC COLLECTION announced!

June 29, 2009 | Audun Sorlie | 4 Comments Share this

Shinobi fans, you better get ready for this one.

Wave-Master has just recently announced it will release LEGEND OF JOE MUSASHI ~SHINOBI MUSIC COLLECTION~. It will include many soundtracks never before released in CD form, such as Shadow Dancer, Cyber Shinobi and Alex Kidd in Shinobi World.

Yuzo Koshiro is responsible for many of the Shinobi soundtracks, and that alone should justify a purchase for any VGM collector. For some reason, it seems Richard Jacques’s Shinobi Legions soundtrack was left out however, which was released as Shinobi X in Japan. Wave-Master also cut some western talent off Daytona USA’s collection box in April, but if it is based on the same issues, is hard to say.

The set will be 4 discs and goes for 5040 JPY. You can be sure I will be running down to the post office in my white pj’s with my white dog Poochie tagging along to pick this one up. Actually now that i think about that, I only own a pair of pink pj’s…
Game Music, Reviews

Face to Faith: Sonic and the Black Knight Vocal Trax (Review)

May 13, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Face to Faith: Sonic and the Black Knight Vocal Trax (Review) Share this

A Sonic vocal album… normally I wouldn’t be thrilled about this one, but after checking out the Sonic and the Black Knight soundtrack, I was willing to give it a shot. While I’ve never been fond of the majority of vocal tracks in Sonic games of the past, as I found them to be way too over-the-top and cheesy for my tastes, this one actually got me.

Why? Well, for starters, I think this album takes itself a lot more seriously than previous efforts. I’ve actually come to like Crush 40, the band who performs Jun Senoue’s vocal compositions here, so I suppose that helps to. So, join Crush 40 and a number of other performers as they take you through the vocal tracks of Sonic and the Black Knight as well as a few unexpected bonuses.

Read our review of Face to Faith: Sonic and the Black Knight Vocal Trax after the jump. (more…)