The best classic game music and more
The game is a murder-mystery-themed (said to be inspired by the board game Clue) adventure/RPG with musical battles set in a parallel-universe Tokyo across different eras of history. It's due this summer. Director is Hiroki Chiba (Dirge of Cerberus scenario, FF7/8/10/Chrono Trigger/Cross event planning), producer is Yoshinori Kitase (FF7/8/10 director).
Interesting. I wonder if it will get a soundtrack release. It also makes me wonder how much of FFXIII's music is actually complete. According to interviews I've read about DQIX and FFXIII, SE's president has said they could release both this year.
There were a lot of confused and mistranslated reports about that interview. What he actually said was that SE didn't yet know whether or not FF13 would be released this year, but if they didn't it wouldn't be because of DQ9. Since they bought Taito to provide a steady stream of income, they don't really need to space out releases for financial purposes. Personally I don't expect FF13 until spring 2009, though.
Well, I have no doubts it would come out in 2009. I wholeheartedly expected Dragon Quest IX to come out first, personally.
Ah, well, I do think Dragon Quest IX will be out by holiday 2008. It'd be the perfect time to cash in on Japan's favorite RPG series.
Where did you get that information about the SE Mystery RPG? I'm curious!
It's in the new Famitsu. I have to say that while I enjoyed the Dirge soundtrack, a historical murder-mystery theme sounds like something that plays to Hamauzu's strengths much more. (He's said he found Dirge difficult because it didn't really fit his style).
Well, thanks for the news. Something else to keep an eye- AND ear - on. 
(He's said he found Dirge difficult because it didn't really fit his style).
That sounds about right. Thanks for the info! I can't wait until someone does a proper game rip this summer - or if Square gets around to releasing a soundtrack. It's been entirely too long since we've heard an OST from Hamauzu (Vielen Dank was nice, but generally more of the same).
Having gone to the updated Sigma Harmonics website and being floored by the music behind the page, I knew I just HAD to grab it and share it!
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=59IIFSZB
On of my fellow Hamauzites over at GamingForce commented on the FFX-like nature of the piece, and I concur...it's like a sad version of "Thunder Plains" got sprinkled with a bit of Dirge of Cerberus. It's hard for me to stop listening to it! 
Enjoy.
BTW, the thread over at GamingForce was about a Flash game Hamauzu scored called Oolong Tea Story. There's a rip available in there, too. Short but sweet little pieces.
http://www.gamingforce.org/forums/gener … oject.html
Oh yeah...there's also THIS:
http://www.gamingforce.org/forums/my-st … ste-d.html
Oh yeah...there's also THIS:
http://www.gamingforce.org/forums/my-st … ste-d.html
Can't see it - not everyone here is a member over there. 
What's that link to?
Oops, I keep forgetting that!
Well, it's THIS...a ZIP of all the ADX music files:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WFNVC2JE
I don't curse much, but..
MOTHER f---ing YES!!!!!!!!!!11!1! Thanks SquareTex!
The Sigma Harmonics SOUNDTRACK is great stuff; proof that S-E can still come out with great, original music.
Last Hamauzu soundtrack I heard, aside from Dirge of Cerberus, was Samurai Legend Musashi - an infinite favorite; glad to hear that Hamauzu carried over some of what he used in there to here, namely his love of violin.
I dig the almost Wintery dissonance and echoey effects applied in some of the pieces; reminds me of the FFX OST, as well as the RahXephon anime OST; the ticking clock motifs are a nice touch, too.
Also got some really good, aggressive dance beats in places.
I hope this's a good sign that Hamauzu's all prepped and ready for the score for FFXIII.
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Only one problem with the OST: Why so many short less-than-a-minute jingles?! You've an entire 72-78 minute disc to use! Why not USE that empty space?!
Sigma Harmonics is great stuff; proof that S-E can still come out with great, original stuff.
I assume you're talking strictly about the music here.
The game itself, although indeed original, is FAR from great.
The concept is great, but the execution leaves a LOT to be desired, rendering it into a process of repeating the same stuff over and over again, always in the same environments, to find clues that are very hard to spot.
Bernhardt wrote:Sigma Harmonics is great stuff; proof that S-E can still come out with great, original stuff.
I assume you're talking strictly about the music here.
The game itself, although indeed original, is FAR from great.The concept is great, but the execution leaves a LOT to be desired, rendering it into a process of repeating the same stuff over and over again, always in the same environments, to find clues that are very hard to spot.
Yes, I meant the soundtrack. It's late at night. I really ought to break from posting until I can start making sense. Namely until tomorrow morning.
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Is it my strange way of looking at things, or is "Words were Shaken" (Track 32) a direct, and shorter reprisal of "Rippling Dream" (Track 02)?
Is it my strange way of looking at things, or is "Words were Shaken" (Track 32) a direct, and shorter reprisal of "Rippling Dream" (Track 02)?
Pretty much. I'll totally agree with you that Musashiden II Blademaster was AWESOME and that it's good to see Masashi Hamauzu still keep up with his (pretty much) impeccable record.
If anything, this one has made me even moreexcited for Final Fantasy XIII.
Loved this album, I still can't believe this is DS synth. Sigma seems like a mix of SaGa Frontier II, Musashiden 2, and Unlimited Saga. After Dirge I was ready to write off Hamauzu and then he composes this and pulls me back in
Also not to derail the topic too far but here's a question to those of you who have heard this and Soma Bringer. Is my album reaction above what I could expect from Soma? I've hated everything Mitsuda has done since Xenosaga 1 but I do remember quite a few people saying how great Soma was (saying it was a return to his older works). I am considering purchasing it. Just recently bought the premium soundtrack sampler from VGMworld to see what it sounds like.
Loved this album, I still can't believe this is DS synth. Sigma seems like a mix of SaGa Frontier II, Musashiden 2, and Unlimited Saga. After Dirge I was ready to write off Hamauzu and then he composes this and pulls me back in
I don't think it's straight up DS synth. The album info shows some live instruments, so my guess is that this is the original sound before being compressed or reformatted or sliced & diced or whatever it is people do to get good sounding music to sound tinny on the DS.
Also not to derail the topic too far but here's a question to those of you who have heard this and Soma Bringer. Is my album reaction above what I could expect from Soma? I've hated everything Mitsuda has done since Xenosaga 1 but I do remember quite a few people saying how great Soma was (saying it was a return to his older works). I am considering purchasing it. Just recently bought the premium soundtrack sampler from VGMworld to see what it sounds like.
Probably, if you like older style Mitsuda. It reminds me of a blend between Tsugunai, Xenogears and Chrono Cross with some lighter influences from his newer works (but not much). It's DS sound but it sounds incredible for what it is. If you were let down by Armodyne you'll probably enjoy Soma much more.
I don't think it's straight up DS synth. The album info shows some live instruments, so my guess is that this is the original sound before being compressed or reformatted or sliced & diced or whatever it is people do to get good sounding music to sound tinny on the DS.
Sorry that is what I meant. Just a poor choice of words. DS sound, perhaps?
Probably, if you like older style Mitsuda. It reminds me of a blend between Tsugunai, Xenogears and Chrono Cross with some lighter influences from his newer works (but not much). It's DS sound but it sounds incredible for what it is. If you were let down by Armodyne you'll probably enjoy Soma much more.
I'm sold on it then. I've tried numerous times to listen to stuff like Armodyne but no matter what I try I just cannot get into it. I never get that "Aha" or "OMG" moment from them.
Well the album is a fair amount different from the rip with extended tracks and maybe a little remastering. But for the most part, I'm really impressed with the job synthesizer operator, arranger, and co-producer Mitsuto Suzuki did. Some of the most dynamic DS work I've heard.
Also not to derail the topic too far but here's a question to those of you who have heard this and Soma Bringer. Is my album reaction above what I could expect from Soma? I've hated everything Mitsuda has done since Xenosaga 1 but I do remember quite a few people saying how great Soma was (saying it was a return to his older works). I am considering purchasing it. Just recently bought the premium soundtrack sampler from VGMworld to see what it sounds like.
En mon opinion, Soma Bringer reminds me of Legend of Mana, or a Yoko Shimomura score in general, more than it does a Yasunori Mitsuda soundtrack; granted, there are still nuances of Mitsuda still in there, but not as much as any of his past soundtracks; I'm about ready to go out on a limb and say it's really NOT like any of his past works.
En mon opinion, Soma Bringer reminds me of Legend of Mana, or a Yoko Shimomura score in general, more than it does a Yasunori Mitsuda soundtrack; granted, there are still nuances of Mitsuda still in there, but not as much as any of his past soundtracks; I'm about ready to go out on a limb and say it's really NOT like any of his past works.
I can see some LoM comparisons, but some of these tracks sound ripped right from the same pattern that Tsugunai was crafted from. The chord progressions, melodies and even song structure is very much classic Mitsuda.
Bernhardt wrote:En mon opinion, Soma Bringer reminds me of Legend of Mana, or a Yoko Shimomura score in general, more than it does a Yasunori Mitsuda soundtrack; granted, there are still nuances of Mitsuda still in there, but not as much as any of his past soundtracks; I'm about ready to go out on a limb and say it's really NOT like any of his past works.
I can see some LoM comparisons, but some of these tracks sound ripped right from the same pattern that Tsugunai was crafted from. The chord progressions, melodies and even song structure is very much classic Mitsuda.
Eh, I'll run some comparisons; but can we at least agree that Sigma Harmonics actually had a tasteful ending vocal song?
I can see some LoM comparisons, but some of these tracks sound ripped right from the same pattern that Tsugunai was crafted from. The chord progressions, melodies and even song structure is very much classic Mitsuda.
I've sampled the first disc and I have to agree. Reminds me of Chrono Trigger more than anything so far (and that's a VERY good thing!). Light years ahead of Armodyne, in any case. I might be picking this one up soon enough.