So, can anyone comment on Infinite Undiscovery's music now that the game is out?  I've heard that Sakuraba did the music of course and that at least some of the music features a live orchestra, but that's about it so far.  Is it worth preordering the soundtrack (http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-a5a … -2xmr.html) from Play-Asia?  Is there a lot of live orchestra throughout, or are we talking opening cinematic and end credits here?

I've not really checked the samples so far, but after plenty of tri-Ace and tri-Crescendo soundtracks where Sakuraba thoroughly features live strings and woodwinds, but synthesized brass sections (probably except for Star Ocean 3, which I'm not familiar with), I'd suspect this soundtrack is not so different from the previous efforts. I could be wrong though.

I read the IGN review and they wrote: "The music is a highlight, as there really isn't a bad piece that ever plays in the background. While the score won't be remembered among the greats in Square-Enix history, it's still very good."

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/902/902768p2.html

That does sound promising, but this is also coming from the same site that says the soundtrack to "The World Ends With You" rivals that of Zelda and Final Fantasy. Tread cautiously...

http://ds.ign.com/articles/867/867129p3.html

9.0 Sound
One of the best sound tracks on DS, rivaling the likes of Final Fantasy and Zelda. The mix of hip hop and techno sets the groundwork for the game’s mood.

It's also from the site that gave God Hand a 3.0 (no, I'm not letting that go anytime soon. God Hand rules!). Tread cautiously, indeed... and remember that what it comes to stuff you like, the most important critic is yourself.

This is definitely true. You know what you'll like. Odds are, if you like Sakuraba's orchestral sound, you'll most likely enjoy this. If you don't, you probably won't. If you are on the fence, it could go either way. The stuff I've heard via trailers and gameplay videos though, does sound promising.

the world ends with you does indeed rival all of zeldas music and most of final fantasy (except for the sakimoto composed ones)

I really liked the music sample for the first trailer. It featured some spiritual / exotic vocal chantings in addition to the standard orchestral pomp. However, I'm not really expecting something too different based on subsequent samples so I might give the soundtrack a miss to avoid overdosing on Sakuraba.

That's like saying Bionic Commando Rearmed rivals all of Mega Man music and most of Metal Gear (except the Gregson-Williams composed ones). Not my thoughts at all, but the comparisons are fruitless regardless.

It does kinda rival Zelda's music...the CDi games.

Those games actually have some pretty cool music at times.

i wasn't trying to ruffle any feathers with my comment (maaayyyybe), but apparently i did. i don't know, i honestly like the world ends with you ost more than all the zeldas and most of the ff games. i'm not one for the 'classics', especially stuff from the snes era and earlier. i guess by saying it 'rivals' zelda and ff implies that i place it on the same field, but i don't really. my mistake.

With the regard to the main question, the soundtrack features only live strings section (a flute and piano are also performed), not a full orchestra. 

By the way, I finally find out why I thought I heard the main theme before.

Infinite Undiscovery OST is a disappointment, and continues Sakuraba's fall from grace in my eyes. There is very little inspiration to be heard, sounds like Sakuraba has resorted to creating the most generic vaguely world music RPG soundtrack possible, with none of the character of the Golden Suns for example, nor their fantastically rousing battle themes. Some good tracks are still present, but they are lost in a sea of mediocrity. Where is the Sakuraba who had the cheek to arrange "Gourmet Race" as speed metal for Super Smash Bros. Brawl?

The sad thing is that Infinite Undiscovery still sounds worlds better than his work for Tales of Vesperia. The man has been on auto-pilot for years now.

Imagine my disappointment when I heard what the new VP sounded like and about 80% of it turned out to be rehashed from the original VP...but now done in oh so delicious DS synth. *groan*

But yeah...Heard about all I needed to from this one and I wasn't feeling it at all.

Agreed that this soundtrack doesn't do much new but I actually really enjoyed it. It was much more accessible to me than his work on Eternal Sonata and Valkyrie Profile 2 that literally took me weeks to get into. I think it's one of his more lyrical entries and does brassy better than his earlier works.

I'm not sure this is essentially a quality. It may (and I say *may*) denote a shallow work, although I personally don't see the difference with Eternal Sonata. Valkyrie Profile 2 was a bit different, and I agree with you that it takes weeks to get into this soundtrack. But you have to do the same as with all recent Sakuraba works (essentially since Baten Kaitos II): to sort out what's good and what's not.

I actually enjoyed this a whole lot.  Different approach from the traditional progressive rock that he usually does.  There were a lot of minimal instrumental tracks that I really dug.

Actually, that sounds more like the majority of his work since Star Ocean 3 to me. Good prog-rock from him seems to be the exception than the rule since then. His orchestral style doesn't stand out enough for my taste though (and when it does, it's because it sounds like something he did in the past).

Personally, I can't wait "weeks" to get into something anymore and I don't think it's a good trait at all to have to take weeks to find what's good or not. Especially in the case of Sakuraba, who mass-produces music like it's going out of style. Chances are good if I don't like it the first time or I'm indifferent, it goes bye-bye. I feel like my listening habits and overall selection have greatly improved since adopting this.

Yeah, I'll admit I skipped Star Ocean 3, so I wasn't aware they were stylistically similar.

I actually liked Infinite Undiscovery from the first time I listened, but I wasn't actively listening to it.  I had it on in the background, and kinda looked up from time to time in surprise when I heard some of the instrumental stuff.  I'll have to give it all a closer listen, but I was initially impressed, although three discs does already sound a bit excessive for the amount of material that I found myself noticing.

I too am not finding it very impressive (have only listened to disc 1 and half of disc 2 so far).  There have only been a small handful of tracks I've really enjoyed.  Star Ocean 3 really did seem to mark the downfall of Sakuraba.  The two Baten Kaitos soundtracks, especially the 2nd, are the only ones I've really enjoyed since prior to SO3.