Samurai Spirits 4 Arrange Sound Trax

I could barely read the title, I'd never heard of the game, and I had no idea what to expect. So why did I buy it? Three reasons, really: 1) it said "arrange" on the cover, 2) I didn't have to order it, 3) it's gamemusic that was available where I live. I was not disappointed.

This CD is rather exciting, actually. It is rife with fairly fast, hard-rockin' tracks, as well as slower, morose ones as well. The fast tracks have mostly electric guitar that is accompanied by a Japanese flute. In fact, this flute is in almost *every* track. It's pretty good, actually, and suits the music that it's played to. I guess the style would best be described as traditional Japanese (updated for modern times, of course). It's not quite like the music from other fighting games like Street Fighter, King of Fighters, or Virtua Fighter, which are "Americanized" (for lack of a better word). Some North American audiences may not appreciate it as much, such as younger listeners or those with less refined musical tastes (again, for lack of better terms).

The drama tracks are just that - drama tracks. Some are abnormally long (one is over seven minutes!), but most are around four minutes or so each. They have little or no music, but not bad sound effects. One (track 9) has a *wicked* battle in it, with clashing swords, sounds of blood spattering, and the screams of the dying. Pretty cool! For the most part, however, they're all just talking. It would be nice to know more Japanese and listen to these, because it seems like there's a good story here.