Joshua Kaufman (kaufmajs@EMAIL.UC.EDU)
Sun, 6 Jun 1999 09:28:51 -0700
X-Sender: kaufmajs@email.uc.edu X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 4.0.1 Message-ID: <199906061317.JAA22207@newman.bch.uc.edu> Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 09:28:51 -0700 From: Joshua Kaufman <kaufmajs@EMAIL.UC.EDU> Subject: Re: Just got the ST OST...At 06:51 PM 6/5/99 -0500, you wrote: Well, you're comments m,ade me feel a bit better...I' >Joshua, > >> ...and I'm somewhat disappointed. Disc 2 is great, with the music from the >> original game, which as usual sounds better on CD than on my 13 inch TV. >> The opening and ending themes aren't there (unless they are hidden, >> haven;'t checked), but it's not that big a deal as they are on the Song >> Collections, which I also got. Also the character themes, aren't which I >> would have liked. >> What gets me is disc 1. I was really excited about some >> orchestrations....but there's only like 5 tracks of any length! Most of the >> others are just either 10-15 seconds or 50-60 seconds, and they all the >> same with only slight variances. > >> Also, one of the tracks is just an >> instrumental version of Sakura's song (from the song collection). I would >> have much rather wanted one of the battle musics instead of that. > >This album doesn't duplicate any of the vocal pieces from Sakura Taisen >(those are in the Vocal Collection). What's on those CDs is exactly what's >in the game that represents the instrumental soundtrack, and it features all >the orchestrations (disc 1) and game music (disc 2). So, you mean they are orchestrated in the game too? I guess I never noticed that. What really bugs me about it is that because the orchestrations are mostly little short pieces (fanfares, whatever), and ones taht are all similar, it makes listening to the CD annoying. I would have much rather seen them interspersed with the synthesized music. Well, I guess that's what Mp3s are good for... And as far as the character themes, they ARE in the game as game music, so why not add them? > >> The extra program is pretty useless to me, as I can't read Japanese very >> well, but the pictures are nice, but there are some quicktimes of the CG >> FMVs from the game in high res (not sure if they are accessible from the >> program or not). > >The multimedia program hardly requires any knowledge of Japanese at all, and >is a great little collection. One of my favorite "bonuses". Well, not to look at the pictures, no, but to read the descriptions. > >> In fact, it seems as if the only reason for the arranged >> music was to accompany the program, and it seems like a very shabby way to >> jack up the price so much. >> >> My main beef is that I payed $40 for it (at Anime Nation, if you are >> wondering) and got really only one CD plus a bit more. > >That's not unreasonable for a Japanese CD, especially a 2 CD set! I recall >that's about what it cost (at favorable conversion) when it first came out. If you looked through any of the Game Music retailers, you'd see $40 IS quite high. Before shipping, Xenogears (a FULL 2 Cd set) was $32. I got FF8 for $35, which is 45 CDs. In fact, the only 2 CD set I've seen for more (that I've payed attention to) was Genso Suikoden, and that was only one retailer. > >This is actually one of the best collections, and I was thrilled with it >when I got it on its initial release, and still love it
. More power to you :) > >If you'd like to hear some of the game music themes that aren't orchestrated >(including "Ganbare! Teikoku Kagekidan", the most recognizable battle theme) >in fully orchestrated versions with complete length, you need to get the >Sakura Taisen OAV Soundtrack album. Hmm....maybe eventually I will, if it's still available. I have many other CDs to buy first though... -Joshua