Ryu ga Gotoku: Kenzan OST

Being picky can be dangerous for oneself.  When I like something, I tend to block out its anything similar.  That thinking is wrong.  Since I am attached to a particular thing, eventually and naturally, I'm going to get bored of it.  I have made a home for something, but there is a need to go out and experience something new.  

The reason for my monologue should be found relative in this paragraph.  Now, having played Sega/Nintendo's F-Zero GX and being exposed to its exhilarating soundtrack, I was glad to be introduced to a new musician.  Even though just about every track can be set on replay, it was time to explore something new.  Like what I had done with Soul Calibur's main composer, Nakatsuru, I will do the same here.  

Hidenori Shoji is the reason for my purchase here.  Only listening to his racing themes, did not prepare me for what was available here.  It was hard for me to skim through.  I was about put this up for sale, but I'm glad to stick it out.  Meanwhile, the supporting composers are Hiroyoshi Kato, Hideki Sakamoto, Keisuke Ito, and Yuri Fukuda.  

Ryua Ga Gotoku: Kenzan 

Released: March 5, 2008

Published by: Wave MasterCatalog: HCV-0381

CD Tracks

01 Roar of Ryu the Elder
02 Mourning
03 Shame
04 Danger
05 Mirroring Oneself
06 Mark That Drifts
07 Water & Melon
08 Non Blade Sword
09 TAKUMI
10 Blood Maker
11 The Leading Role
12 Brand-new Japanesque
13 dive to the mess
14 Dance Music from Ancient Japan
15 100 Execution
16 Immorality
17 Dull Color Fangs
18 For Will
19 Sneakin' Drive
20 baile con la mariposa
21 Swordplay
22 The Melody Played by a Patriot
23 Gion's Bowling
24 Playing in the Tatami Room
25 Thistle Shop
26 Dreaming Shop
27 Masochism
28 TSU-N-DE-Receive You
29 Platonic Love?
30 Demand The M-Shape
31 Ultimate Worldly Desires-feat.Tears Of Father- 

I'll start with the opening track and the smallest contributors.  Shoji's opener is very atmospheric.  Similar to his menu themes for GX.  It is chilling entry,  that soon sets on fire with the following tracks.  Jumping to the last track, composed by Yuri Fukuda and arranged by Hiroyoshi Kato.  Not what I would expect coming from a game set in feudal Japan.  It's a very upbeat, funky, dance, trance, techno,  Kidz Bop kind of tune.  I'm liking just by listening to it for this review.  However, it is more appropriate for a dance competition.  

Tracks 27-31, by Kato-san, are basically similar to each other.   Masochism, though same music as Tears of Father, is infused with the ambience of Shoji's opener.   The last tracks don't stray to from typical club music.   I don't find them particularly important, or belonging.  

Keisuke Ito does well in taking us back in time with ethnic Asian string arrangement in Thistle Shop.  Very laid back and soothing for the first minute, though he falters a little bit after.  Kato also plays with the fiddle in track 24, but Keisuke had more flavor.  Instead of striking the strings, Ito sweeps in with violins in Dreaming Shop.  The titles alone help make it easy to take in the music.  This track does not connect so much, and barely gets the feeling of dreaming across.  Maybe its for the best that he did not get any more tracks in.  

The real and best music lies within the rest of the tracks.  Mourning and Shame are handled by both Sakamoto and Kato.  The sound affects in Mourning can be creepy, and some ethnic sounds thrown in there.  Enough to twist reality, as if watching Serial Experiment Lain.  A minute into the piece is accompanied by a taunting beat and thicker bass.  Shame uses the previous creepy sounds, only with percussion, and the percussion can be frightening as well.  

Hideki Sakamoto goes alone in Danger.  This piece starts with shocking and electrifying percussion, alongside tense strings.  The strike of the thunderous gong and drums is what really attracts me.  Sakamoto's best, I must say.  In the Leading Role, we get some tribal beat and vocals.  Reminiscent of Crash Bandicoot themes.  The flute and woodwork are played out nicely with the tribal chants.  Water & Melon begins with unique funky guitar and gets some acceptable arrangements with electronic guitar.  Just about a minute in, Sakamoto starts rocking out the piece good.  For what little he has offered, he's doing as good as Shoji.

Kato gets solo and serious in Swordplay.  Like Sakamoto's Leading role, but without the tribal chants.  The beat is heavy with the drums, but then stops at about a minute for the emotional side.  For about 20 seconds, it feels like being in a war film,  and soon the percussion picks back up, keeping the melancholic melody.   Marking the Drifts is similar, but only consists of percussion and flute.  I guess I have my blogging efforts to thank for the chance to listen to others voices.

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/07/ryuu_ga_gotoku_kenzan_interview.php

Above is a link to an interview with all the composers involved on this soundtrack compilation.  How they decided not to have the sound restrained to the games setting.  Personally, I would have liked Shoji to have challenged himself and the sound team to be restricted.  Even so, it is good to read while listening to the soundtrack.  

Mirroring Oneself sets itself well in the time era of the game.  Ethnic Japanese strings, flute and drums slowly calm the mind, for what is about to come from Shoji.  He starts building slow with Non Blade Sword.  Moving rhythm and beat, with a touch of jingle bells.  Takumi picks up further, with the heavier percussion of the previous and haunting keys, synthesized sound.  Hints of the tribal Indian chants occur, adding the overall atmosphere of this collection of music.  

Then the majority of Shoji's work consists of pump and drive metal.  Brand-new Japanesque is a funky jazz version of Blood maker, filled with spanish flare and guitar rhythm.  Dull Colored Fang follows in the shame fashion as the previously mentioned.  Electronic bleeps and bloops are just the rage in these tracks.  Baile con la Mariiposa differentiates by use of spanish guitar.  Flamenco is influenced well in this track.   Dance Music from Ancient Japan takes from Hiroyoshi's dance mania tracks, but stays true to the games theme with tribal chants and a more appropriate beat.  With all of the above mentioned, it does not stray to far from the racing genre.  

Diving further into Hidenori's electronic heavy music, we get 100 Execution, a gritty piece that does well for a couple listens.  Immortality has a very interesting beat, opening up with some hindu chants and soon paired with electronic vocals throughout the track.  Freakishly opening with odd guitars fading in, dive to the mess offers some more dark and fast paced music.  Sneakin drive opens with the fiddle, but soon is overloaded with ripping guitars and bass.  Even with guitars, this piece's overall decibels are among the lowest on the cd.  That is not a bad thing at all, as it gives room for the brain to breath.  For the last thirty seconds, the track slows down considerably.  Gion's bowling, is a rather simple track, giving the player the ability to focus on the game at hand.  Not worth getting attached to though.

For Will and the Melody Played by a Patriot are among Hidenori Shoji's best.  His emotions come out high and are well spoken in these two pieces.  The drums work alongside well with the brass and violins, in For Will.  Patriot, however, is the real gem, as percussion rolls in heavily, followed by sweeping strings, and fade in loud brass.  Then back to a solo percussion, followed by more powerful arrangement of the strings and brass.  It is evenly balanced with a beat and a melody.  

Package:3/10

This album's presentation is weak.  Cover is accurately designed, but it is very basic.  Does not scream, "Come and listen to me!!!"  The insert is only a pamphlet, as it consists just track names and the front/back covers.  Though the back(scanned below) is very attractive, and who can resist anything dragon related.  No interviews, commentary, staff input, etc to read off of.  It's just strictly music.  If I played the game, maybe that wouldn't matter to me.  

Thankfully, my purchase didn't turn out to be a waste at all.  Only a couple of tracks are not memorable, and at most, a third of the collection is passable for the ears.  Strong and enjoyable efforts from the supporting musicians, that I look forward opening my ears to again.  Sakamoto and Kato's style's helped make me appreciate Shoji's even more.  The entire sound team had created a CD filled with hip moving rhythm.  Sakamoto's classical style was most fitting for the games setting, unlike Kato's trance beats.  They did a nice job together, but it was Shoji's tracks alone that had the most juice.  He had everything the other composers had, but with a soul.  

Album:B+

Fire Emblem- Path of Radiance Ch. 6&7

Since there is not much left at serenesforest.net and I'm too lazy to go through the game, I might as well just finish what is available.  Shall we get through this...

Ch. 6: A Brief Diversion- This chapter begins with the world view and narration.  The first thing pointed out is that the continent of Tellius is blessed by the goddess.  Again, nothing more then just blessings from our omnipotent character.  Also informing us on Gallia, a home to the half-man/beast.  Crimea has been friendly in helping in decreasing the prejudice between the races.  Which makes Elincia's quest more believable. 

Opening scene has our heroes in the humid forest, discussing the ugly beast of Gallia.  Ike is oblivious to the racism.  Soren and Shinon explain the different races.  Soren provides the proper term for the sub-humans, called Laguz. 

Meanwhile, at the enemies group, Petrine is happy to get confirmation of Ena's prediction.  Petrine says that her demotion as a tactician was by a little girl.  I'm confused by that reference. They plan to catch the prey.

In the forest, the mercenaries discuss their best plan of action against their pursuers.  Soren, their tactician, is very keen.  Splitting from the main group, the fighters will hold of the attack, and the rest carry the princess to Gallia.  Gatrie, Shinon, and Greil are the fighters.  After the split, they find Soren's prediction correct, as the enemy was waiting for them.  Elincia wants to lend her sword, but Ike denies her help. 

The gang make it across the borders, but Ike and main force leave Elincia, Mist, and Rolf to head the palace.  Elincia hands Rhys a mend staff.  Soren believes it best to go back east on the bridge again to aid the others. 

Not much information to gather in this chapter.  I completed an actual summary of it's events though.  Disappointing.

Ch. 7:Shades of Evil- Titania leads the group to an abandoned castle where she thought she'd seen a figure.  It turned out to be Daein soldiers.  Mia, a swordfighter hired into the Crimean ranks, looks for and finds Ike.  Greil saved her from going to the Daein prison camps.  Petrine, of the Four Riders, comes in surprised the mercenaries are holding.  Surprised even further to find that the princess has made it past her troops.  Greil comes in to talk smack at Petrine.  Greil takes Petrine out for battle, while her troops block off the mercenaries.

After the battle, the Greil Mercenaries find Greil to be tiring Petrine.  Then more reinforcements come to Petrine's aid.  As she orders her soldiers to attack, Gallian beasts quickly dispatches the Daein forces.  Petrine refuses to back down, for fear of the king.  The Black Knight comes in to relieve her.  Then there is stare down, specifically at Greil, and the knight walks out.  Elincia came along with the Gallians, as she requested them to aid Ike.  Ike uses the racist term and Ranulf fights back.  Ike apologizes for the wrong term and Ranulf pauses in shock from Ike's manners.  Ranulf tells the group that Daein has conquered Crimea.  They quickly get along and exchange pleasantries.  They plan to take the princess to see the king of Galia, but the mercenaries head to an old fortress there for Ranulf can't take in too many foreigners.

That night, Ike catches his father leaving.  They have a long chat about the mercenary life, Ike's mother, yada-yada.  Then Greil orders Ike to go back to the castle and we get our first Fire Emblem cinematics.  Greil vs. the Black Knight.  Duh-da-da-da-duh-dum...!!!!

So, General Gawain, former Four Rider, is Greil, and he wielded swords.  A lot of development in a few sentences.  Greil, in his dying words, says he won't say no more than he threw "it" away.  Gotta love these terrible plot devices.  The movie itself killed me with those cheap lines.  At least, the cel shaded graphics were rendered quite beautifully.  Voice work is rather nice, of course, nothing fascinating is offered.  The Black Knight sounds like a robot, a gay robot at that.  "Ssssssooo... You ttthhhhhhhinkk you can fffffight.?"

The king of beasts shows to stop the knights threats against Greils children.  I don't know if the Black Knight is faking his fear of him.  The knight retreats, and Ike carries him in the rain back to the castle.  Greil mumbles to Ike to forget about revenge and to go with the king, and dies.  Sniff....

Okay, so there are some good details in that last chapter.  Sorry I couldn't get any pictures in.  You'll be seeing the game text, but at least you wouldn't be just seeing my text.  At least there is a cheesy movie included for the last part.  Next chapter is going to be a long one. 

Fire Emblem- Path of Radiance Prologue-Ch.5

This will be fun.  I will be reviewing the script to the game.  The game has been reviewed already, but now I want to talk about the story.  Thanks to http://www.serenesforest.net/ I can read the script without actually going through the hassle of uploading the disc into my wii.  Which would have me getting a vaccum cleaner in order to remove all the dust.  Serenes forest has uploaded up till Chp. 9, but I do have a file for Ch. 10.  Though it won't be a while before I review it. Anyway, don't read this post for there are SPOILERS!!!!!! 

Prologue:Mercenaries- is just your typical story setter.  Characters are introduced.  Not much information to gain.  There are no lines for me to grab, but after the training sequence, we see the story begin.  Moving on.

Ch. 1:The Battle Begins- I actually like the opening scene.  Characters are firm, such as, Greil and Titania, while Ike and others are getting into shape.  A bunch more yak-yak, but important thing said here is by Titania.  She was cut off from giving us info on Ike's father.  Next chapter.

Ch. 2: Rescue- More typical plots.  Kids get stolen and the bandits run amuck.  This is the first time the Goddess has been mentioned.  Although, nothing else is relative at this point. 

Ch. 3: Pirates Aground- More useless text.  Nasir first appears here, watching.  Didn't catch that through the game.  Marcia comes in looking for her troublesome brother.  Titinia mentions Greil out in other matters, sounds like he's a politician.  The mayor of the town our mercenaries save, says that they belong in higher affairs, like the Crimean army.  The gang agrees in more or less rebellious thoughts, especially Shinon and Gatrie.  Things are starting to pick up.

Ch. 4 Roadside Battle- A note about Soren, he has been with another mercenary group.  It might be important later.  Crimea and Daein have begun warring.  Soren just got in and already giving most of the story details.  The two countries above have never been friendly.  Daein's king is treacherous.  Crimea's kings brother sent out the army to defend.  Soren leaves them, to come tell the tale.  The Greil Mercenaries may be for hire, but this affects them.  Since they are mainly hired by the Royal Crimeans, it is in their best interest to aid them. 

Soren lays it down harsh, but he's right.  No pay, no play.  He already expects Crimea to have lost.  Titania gives us the linneage of Crimea.  King Ramon and his brother Duke Renning.  Soren gives us Daein's King, Ashnard.  Saying that Daein is just superior. 

Greil puts Ike in charge for the scouting of Crimea's capital, Melior.  Shinon is in rebellion about it, but is silenced.  Before they leave, Mist gives Ike the Regal Blade, from their father.  Then he has leadership issues, and a talk with Rhys. 

On the trail to Melior, they spot fallen Daien soldiers, possibly from one of the Imperial Guards.  Soren brings it down from not King Ramon nor his brother.  For Renning needs to lead the last standing soldier.  Someone else in the court, could have run over the Daiens.  The investigation is interrupted with Daien soldiers surrounding them.  When Titinia faces the boss, she mentions she left the Crimean army years before.  After the skirmish, they find a women, named Elincia.  Soren wanted to leave her their. 

Ch. 5 Flight-Elincia wakes up.  Yay!  Yada yada, yada... They go through introductions.  Somehow they get done with greetings and on with the plot.  Greil asks her if she has any ties with the royal family, since she was found on the site of the battle, but no reply.  She then blurts out, her name and lineage as the daughter of King Ramon, Elincia Ridell Crimea.  The only shocker to Greil is that he didn't know Ramon had children.  Though it is true that she has been kept secret, to keep from a blood feud.  She then tells us that her parents are dead, and her uncle is still fighting Daien.  Her parents were slain by Ashnard.  She fled, or was heading to Gallia on his orders.  Galia's king Caineghis would provide safety.  Each house was told of her existence for such a circumstance.  Elincia lays out her request to be escorted to Galia.  Titinia is reminiscing, and Ike asks if its from the days as a Crimean knight.  She asks him how he knew that. She remembers Elincia baring resemblance to the king and queen.  What confirms that she is the princess, is Daein troops outside demanding her.  So the group chooses to take her, for the heightening of their name.  Greil sends Titania, Gatrie, and Shinon to survey the road for advances of the enemy, while he and Rhys clean the library of important documents.  The rest burns.  Elincia helps pack and opens up even more.  She has learned all forms of manner in hiding, such as, cleaning, cooking, swordplay.  Interesting details.  Mist shows her the medallion.  It used to be her mother's.  There is a light emanating from it.  Mist tells that it only starting glowing a while back.  Possibly, before Daein's invasion. 

Meanwhile, the enemy is predicting Elincia's movement.  Petrine, the fiery general, and Ena, an advisor of some sort, pinpoint her heading to Gallia.  Petrine plans to capture Elincia herself. 

Ok, I think that is enough for today.  I'm sorry I don't have any scans available.  I wasn't even playing.  This script was provided by http://www.serenesforest.net/  It's not complete.  Next week I will finish what they got.  I didn't think that soon in the chapters would I be getting plot to write about.  Hope this was organized for you.