Sound in Games: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

I truly do love Zelda games – they are the perfect blend of adventure, storytelling, solid gameplay, and some really cool mechanics of play. However, there are some truly great Zelda games, and a few that are more like “Ehhh, that was alright.”

Phantom Hourglass is one of those “Ehhh”s. It’s not that they are broken or anything, but it plays just as well as any other Zelda that it doesn’t do anything to blow your mind. The same idea, then, can be said about its music. It’s not terrible music, but it’s nothing to write home to. In either case, there are a few tracks that I think deserve a special mention.

This game plays as a sequel of sorts to Wind Waker – you play as Link after he decides to join Tetra in exploring the sea and finding treasure. However, you and Tetra get caught by the Ghost Ship, and it is up to you to rescue her. Standard stuff.

Because of this connection, the game makes it clear not by its graphical style, but by its main theme. Check this out:

It is very, very similar to Wind Waker’s sea exploration theme. They share the same opening chords, albeit in different keys and different tunes. But essentially, they carry the same spirit of adventure and the high seas.

I find, though, that Phantom Hourglass seems to feature the percussion a little bit more than Wind Waker. It might just be because that I was using earphones to listen to the game, but I had that feeling. In either case, this is one of my other favourite themes in this game – it is always heard when the Great She-Pirate, Jolene, catches you in her sights.

This is also a really neat “remix” of sorts for the main theme of Zelda – which was strangely absent for most of the game! Hearing it for the credits roll in this game really made it stand out and special.

And finally, just one more track. This is the track for Oshus, the man who serves as your father figure for much of the game. He has a rather lovely theme played on the harp and flute, with its tune and chord progression invoking a sort of melancholy and wisdom in his character.

And there you are! A pretty neat DS game with some really fun mechanics, some nice tunes, and clever bits that make use of the DS hardware.  

I will hopefully catch you next week with another Sound in Games! I have a few ideas and games that I’d like to share with you. Let’s hope the essays will hold off for a bit…

-FoA

GOOD DAY.

WE HAVE OUTLIVED THE APOCALYPSE HUZZAH

Now to real news.

I will be away the next few weeks or so to go spend time with my darling in the States – I’ll probably be posting something eventually, but don’t expect anything drastic.

What IS drastic, however, is the fact that our band ERTYFE has officially completed recording for the album!!!! (squeeee) We’re going to be sending out the music to a few record companies, so keep your fingers crossed. In the meantime, expect some updates regarding videos on YouTube, and a few recordings up on SoundCloud.

And yeah! Have a great one you guys. I’ll see you in 2013!

-FoA

Sound in Games: Liberation Maiden

This is going to be a bit of a short post, since I’m pretty busy writing two 8-10 page papers about various music related topics.

However, I am loving this game’s soundtrack too hard to not mention it during this week.

The game is called Liberation Maiden.

In order for Japan to gain independence from the evil Dominion, they decided to restructure their government policy, doing away with a Prime Minister and creating a President. However, when the President of New Japan is assassinated, the people of Japan decide that the next best thing is to let the late President’s daughter, Shoko Ozora, become the second President of New Japan (even though she’s just a high school student).

As such, she gets to pilot a giant mech to liberate her country from the Dominion.

I love Suda51. He has such a weird knack for crazy-ass story ideas.

In addition, he has a great touch for knowing what makes great music. He wrote the lyrics for two songs in this game – the first level boss theme, and the final level boss theme. Both are brilliant, but the final level boss theme is simply genius.

Yes, it’s Jpop. But listen to the chord progressions! G minor, to Bb minor, then to an epic C minor section. I love the manic pacing of this song. Brilliant touches of synths and a blood-pumping rhythm, with a fantastic slow section; not to mention the fact that Suda51 wrote the lyrics of this song.

…Yeah, I have no idea what she’s singing about. BUT IT SOUNDS GENIUS.

Pick this game up, guys. It’s a short ride, but my goodness is it fun.

-FoA

Toronto Gamercamp 2012!

If you guys are in Toronto, and are going to check out Gamercamp, make sure you check out Game for the Blind by Francesco Ciarlandini!

He’s not only an amazing friend of mine, but he has a pretty crazy project; a project that might (?) change who gets to play games forever.

 

…Plus, my music is in it.

Have a great one!

-FoA

Little Musics Here and There.

I got the permission to show you guys some of the music I was working on. : O

It’s all 8-bit! And cool!

It’s all the sexiness of Gravity Garden but done retro. And it’s sweet.

 

Have fun guys.

THERE WILL BE A SOUND IN GAMES THIS WEEK I PROMISE!!!

-FoA