RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Music Reviews > Game Music Concert ~ The Best Selection
Reviewed by: Mithrandir
Before commenting anything, I'll just explain the origins of the OGC saga. It starts in 1991, when many VGM compositors have the idea of making a concert of VGM music with an orchestra. They decided to record it and publish it. Behind the orchestral arrangements, are some of the biggest names in the VGM industry. But enough explanations, let's start the review.
TRACK 1:
The theme from a game I've never played but that is very popular in Japan. The music is soft, expressing the beginning of a great adventure. The strings have the melody and sometimes trumpets enter to make it sound more adventurous.
TRACK 2:
Music from the sequel of Wizardry. It is quite soft and makes me think of old black and white movies. A soothing melody which represents the Inn from a calm and peaceful town. If you need something light and soft. This is the track.
TRACK 3:
A great minuet from one of the most popular games in Japan. For those who don't know, Koichi Sugiyama is the man behind the DQ music. He did music for movies and for television before getting recruited by someone at Enix. Being a compositor and having studied music, he is one of the biggest names in the VGM industry. This minuet is really a good piece of work. If you don't like classical music or derivatives from classical music, then you won't like this track.
TRACK 4:
I don't like this track because it is somewhat blend. It doesn't have any content. As in all the OGC, the tracks from Dragon Quest can be found on their respective Symphonic Suite.
TRACK 5:
The first game I ever played on a console. The arrangement is quite faithful to the original adding even more "movement". The track contains the main theme, the Water Theme, and the "Dungeon Theme". You will be nostalgic when you are going to hear this one.
TRACK 6:
The theme from Super Mario World. It's quite "jazzy" and you'll like this one for sure. It keeps a big band style. I was surprised by this track. Really...
TRACK 7:
The music from Hyrule Castle. Though it has been slowed down a bit, the result is good. Really good. I REALLY like this track. Oh and by the way, it says "Triforce of the Gods", that's how Japanese named “A Link to the past".
TRACK 8:
"WHAT? They did this one?! It's on the CD?!" This was my reaction when I saw the track. The theme starts with a motive that reminds me of Superman. And then, the main theme starts. The trumpets and the French horns are really effective on this track. Then, the main theme slows down to a slower part. The slower part consists of the main theme but slower and played by an oboe. Then again, the Main theme starts, to end with a solid ending.
TRACK 9:
A great march taken from a game I've never played. The track is so-so because it is the same motive repeating over and over.
TRACK 10:
This track makes me think of "Smeagol (Gollum)",the music composed by Joan de Meij inspired by The Lord of the Rings. If you never heard about it I suggest the CD recorded by the "Ensemble Vent et Percussion de Québec". But enough about that. The track is so-so. I often skip the track.
TRACK 11:
This track has an oriental influence but is too soft and slow. I skip it often.
TRACK 12:
This is something oriental. The beginning of the track is good and solid but then becomes blend and repetitive.
TRACK 13:
The Red Wings. This is a song I'll never forget. Taken from FF IV, the intro of the game was excellent with this music. Though I find it soft and not too representative of the original, the orchestral arrangement remains a success.
TRACK 14:
The Theme of Love is one of the classics of Nobuo Uematsu. The theme is played by an oboe. It's a beautiful song and the arrangement is good but I like the one he did on his vocal collection.
TRACK 15:
The ending sequence of the game. Originally 11 minutes long, it has been trimmed to a 7 minutes. A great orchestral arrangement. It is one of my favourites even if it is 7 minutes long. The tracks starts with the main theme played in solo by a flugelhorn. Then the whole orchestra enters. A good track.
TRACK 16:
After hearing the excellent Ending Theme, you might want to hear something good. "And then Into the Legend" IS "Something good". It starts with a fanfare of trumpets to move on with the slower part and then again, starts with the fanfare. A great track to end the CD.
OVERALL:
Since it has so many good music from good games. (FF IV, DQ, Zelda, etc.) It remains a good album. And also the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra plays so well. But since, others OGC albums have better tracks, I give it 83 out of 100. Personally, OGC 2 is my favourite even if I've never played half of the games on the album. But since you decide.... This is a rare album, just like the others OGC. The only way you can have it it's by looking in auction sites. But you better have some cash. It goes up to 200$ for the album....
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| Album Information | Reviewer Rank |
|---|---|
|
Game Music Concert ~ The Best Selection Published by: Warner Music Japan Release Date: November 18th 1991 Composed by: Kentaro Haneda, Koichi Sugiyama, Koji Kondo, Kazuo Sawa, Dave Hanlon, Peter Molyneux, Yoko Kanno, Minoru Mukaiya, Nobuo Uematsu Arranged by: Kentaro Haneda, Koichi Sugiyama, Yoko Kanno, Nobuo Kurita, Toshiyuki Watanabe, Motoaki Takenouchi, Hayato Matsuo, Kosuke Onozaki, Katsuhisa Hattori 1 Disc, 16 Tracks Catalog: WPCL-560 |
83 |
Reviewed by: Mithrandir
Before commenting anything, I'll just explain the origins of the OGC saga. It starts in 1991, when many VGM compositors have the idea of making a concert of VGM music with an orchestra. They decided to record it and publish it. Behind the orchestral arrangements, are some of the biggest names in the VGM industry. But enough explanations, let's start the review.
TRACK 1:
The theme from a game I've never played but that is very popular in Japan. The music is soft, expressing the beginning of a great adventure. The strings have the melody and sometimes trumpets enter to make it sound more adventurous.
TRACK 2:
Music from the sequel of Wizardry. It is quite soft and makes me think of old black and white movies. A soothing melody which represents the Inn from a calm and peaceful town. If you need something light and soft. This is the track.
TRACK 3:
A great minuet from one of the most popular games in Japan. For those who don't know, Koichi Sugiyama is the man behind the DQ music. He did music for movies and for television before getting recruited by someone at Enix. Being a compositor and having studied music, he is one of the biggest names in the VGM industry. This minuet is really a good piece of work. If you don't like classical music or derivatives from classical music, then you won't like this track.
TRACK 4:
I don't like this track because it is somewhat blend. It doesn't have any content. As in all the OGC, the tracks from Dragon Quest can be found on their respective Symphonic Suite.
TRACK 5:
The first game I ever played on a console. The arrangement is quite faithful to the original adding even more "movement". The track contains the main theme, the Water Theme, and the "Dungeon Theme". You will be nostalgic when you are going to hear this one.
TRACK 6:
The theme from Super Mario World. It's quite "jazzy" and you'll like this one for sure. It keeps a big band style. I was surprised by this track. Really...
TRACK 7:
The music from Hyrule Castle. Though it has been slowed down a bit, the result is good. Really good. I REALLY like this track. Oh and by the way, it says "Triforce of the Gods", that's how Japanese named “A Link to the past".
TRACK 8:
"WHAT? They did this one?! It's on the CD?!" This was my reaction when I saw the track. The theme starts with a motive that reminds me of Superman. And then, the main theme starts. The trumpets and the French horns are really effective on this track. Then, the main theme slows down to a slower part. The slower part consists of the main theme but slower and played by an oboe. Then again, the Main theme starts, to end with a solid ending.
TRACK 9:
A great march taken from a game I've never played. The track is so-so because it is the same motive repeating over and over.
TRACK 10:
This track makes me think of "Smeagol (Gollum)",the music composed by Joan de Meij inspired by The Lord of the Rings. If you never heard about it I suggest the CD recorded by the "Ensemble Vent et Percussion de Québec". But enough about that. The track is so-so. I often skip the track.
TRACK 11:
This track has an oriental influence but is too soft and slow. I skip it often.
TRACK 12:
This is something oriental. The beginning of the track is good and solid but then becomes blend and repetitive.
TRACK 13:
The Red Wings. This is a song I'll never forget. Taken from FF IV, the intro of the game was excellent with this music. Though I find it soft and not too representative of the original, the orchestral arrangement remains a success.
TRACK 14:
The Theme of Love is one of the classics of Nobuo Uematsu. The theme is played by an oboe. It's a beautiful song and the arrangement is good but I like the one he did on his vocal collection.
TRACK 15:
The ending sequence of the game. Originally 11 minutes long, it has been trimmed to a 7 minutes. A great orchestral arrangement. It is one of my favourites even if it is 7 minutes long. The tracks starts with the main theme played in solo by a flugelhorn. Then the whole orchestra enters. A good track.
TRACK 16:
After hearing the excellent Ending Theme, you might want to hear something good. "And then Into the Legend" IS "Something good". It starts with a fanfare of trumpets to move on with the slower part and then again, starts with the fanfare. A great track to end the CD.
OVERALL:
Since it has so many good music from good games. (FF IV, DQ, Zelda, etc.) It remains a good album. And also the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra plays so well. But since, others OGC albums have better tracks, I give it 83 out of 100. Personally, OGC 2 is my favourite even if I've never played half of the games on the album. But since you decide.... This is a rare album, just like the others OGC. The only way you can have it it's by looking in auction sites. But you better have some cash. It goes up to 200$ for the album....
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