Hey all, as mentioned in another thread, I've kinda missed writing reviews for video game music soundtracks, so I decided to start up here. To start off with, I figured I might as well start with the game I've currently been plastered to for the last six weeks: Persona 3.
I've heard lots of good things about the music in the Shin Megami Tensei titles, but this game is my first exposure to it. I was surprised to learn that the soundtrack has a combination of electronica and J-pop all over it, as I usually associate these styles less with "good" and more with "aspirin." Yet, I decided to listen to it with an open mind, and shockingly found it to be pretty good. Well, not bad anyway.
The soundtrack is set up between two discs in pretty much chronological order except for a few of your standard reoccurring event tracks that are cleverly scattered here and there across both discs.
The reason I want to say the soundtrack is pretty good and not just "not bad" is because of the game's main theme. "Subete No Hito No Tamashii," or as is much easier to say, the Velvet Room Theme, is amazing in all of its incarnations. The original is a very simple, yet very effective melody featuring vocals, piano, and strings. The simplicity of it helps it attain the soothing yet mysterious atmosphere the tune is trying to portray. I'm not that great at judging vocals, but my girlfriend is and she tells me they're exceptional, so take her word for it.
Other arrangements of the theme featured include a battle-type arrangement (don't quote me on that, I'm only in mid-November) that incorporate some very rhythmic-heavy guitar and piano harmonies with the vocal sections of the original. Finally, there is a jazzy remix featured as a bonus track in all it's syncopated glory.
As mentioned before, the game features mostly electronica mixed with either standard orchestral and rock fare, or J-pop arrangements. The former usually works, such as the classic "time to panic" melody that is "Shato U," or one of the only battle themes in the game that isn't completely forgettable, "Master of Shadow." Sometimes, though, the added electronica can ruin what would otherwise be a great piece of music, like the awkward random melody spasms of "Basement."
On rare occasions, the J-pop thing actually works with the anime-style of the game, such as the catchy ending theme, "Kimi No Kikou" (Though if you've heard any peppy J-pop song, you've heard this one). Mostly, though, the pieces are just kind of there, without standing out as particularly good or bad. Except for two pieces, the final battle theme which I'll discuss later, and "Changing Seasons," which features a loud, headache-inducing, repetitive-as-all-hell intro, followed by a creepy vocalist whispering (not singing) French lyrics. Yeah, big "what the hell were they thinking?" with that one.
Let's talk about the main dungeon theme, shall we? The idea here was brilliant, take a basic melody, and build on it as you progress up the tower. Unfortunately, where the idea was brilliant the execution was not. The basic melody that was used as a foundation was as bland as techno can possibly be, which by techno standards is pretty damn bland if you ask me. Then each addition to this "tune" is very miniscule, sometimes being so subtle it's hard to notice any difference at all.
The most disappointing track on this soundtrack, though, was the final battle theme. The track is a hip-hop/rap remix of the latter-half of the intro track, "Burn My Dread." The problem with that is hip-hop does not make an epic final battle. I would much rather fight to the hard rock that is the original part of the first track this battle theme was taken from. Instead we're left with a repetitive, bland, and sobering melody that blends in too well with the other battle themes.
All in all, this soundtrack was not as stellar as I had been told it was, but perhaps my distaste for electronica, techno, and R&B sways my opinion more than I care to admit.It's worth a listen, though, if you're into that kind of thing. Of course the main theme is certainly something anyone who appreciates good video game music should check out.
I've heard lots of good things about the music in the Shin Megami Tensei titles, but this game is my first exposure to it. I was surprised to learn that the soundtrack has a combination of electronica and J-pop all over it, as I usually associate these styles less with "good" and more with "aspirin." Yet, I decided to listen to it with an open mind, and shockingly found it to be pretty good. Well, not bad anyway.
The soundtrack is set up between two discs in pretty much chronological order except for a few of your standard reoccurring event tracks that are cleverly scattered here and there across both discs.
The reason I want to say the soundtrack is pretty good and not just "not bad" is because of the game's main theme. "Subete No Hito No Tamashii," or as is much easier to say, the Velvet Room Theme, is amazing in all of its incarnations. The original is a very simple, yet very effective melody featuring vocals, piano, and strings. The simplicity of it helps it attain the soothing yet mysterious atmosphere the tune is trying to portray. I'm not that great at judging vocals, but my girlfriend is and she tells me they're exceptional, so take her word for it.
Other arrangements of the theme featured include a battle-type arrangement (don't quote me on that, I'm only in mid-November) that incorporate some very rhythmic-heavy guitar and piano harmonies with the vocal sections of the original. Finally, there is a jazzy remix featured as a bonus track in all it's syncopated glory.
As mentioned before, the game features mostly electronica mixed with either standard orchestral and rock fare, or J-pop arrangements. The former usually works, such as the classic "time to panic" melody that is "Shato U," or one of the only battle themes in the game that isn't completely forgettable, "Master of Shadow." Sometimes, though, the added electronica can ruin what would otherwise be a great piece of music, like the awkward random melody spasms of "Basement."
On rare occasions, the J-pop thing actually works with the anime-style of the game, such as the catchy ending theme, "Kimi No Kikou" (Though if you've heard any peppy J-pop song, you've heard this one). Mostly, though, the pieces are just kind of there, without standing out as particularly good or bad. Except for two pieces, the final battle theme which I'll discuss later, and "Changing Seasons," which features a loud, headache-inducing, repetitive-as-all-hell intro, followed by a creepy vocalist whispering (not singing) French lyrics. Yeah, big "what the hell were they thinking?" with that one.
Let's talk about the main dungeon theme, shall we? The idea here was brilliant, take a basic melody, and build on it as you progress up the tower. Unfortunately, where the idea was brilliant the execution was not. The basic melody that was used as a foundation was as bland as techno can possibly be, which by techno standards is pretty damn bland if you ask me. Then each addition to this "tune" is very miniscule, sometimes being so subtle it's hard to notice any difference at all.
The most disappointing track on this soundtrack, though, was the final battle theme. The track is a hip-hop/rap remix of the latter-half of the intro track, "Burn My Dread." The problem with that is hip-hop does not make an epic final battle. I would much rather fight to the hard rock that is the original part of the first track this battle theme was taken from. Instead we're left with a repetitive, bland, and sobering melody that blends in too well with the other battle themes.
All in all, this soundtrack was not as stellar as I had been told it was, but perhaps my distaste for electronica, techno, and R&B sways my opinion more than I care to admit.It's worth a listen, though, if you're into that kind of thing. Of course the main theme is certainly something anyone who appreciates good video game music should check out.
