RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Music Reviews > Ogre: Grand Repeat
Reviewed by: Zeugma 440
For its re-release on PlayStation, Ogre Battle (originally from Super Nintendo) has been granted a new soundtrack, almost entirely remade by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata (Final Fantasy Tactics).
The Orchestral Touch
In the tradition of game music symphonic suites, Ogre Battle: Grand Repeat exclusively features classical instruments. The meaning of "Grand Repeat" becomes obvious once you have listened to the first tune: Overture - Neo Overture. There, the opening theme of Ogre Battle enters a new dimension when performed by a real orchestra and choir. The main theme is repeated with beautiful variations, gaining each time more power and heroism. Finally, the whole orchestra joins the melody to perform a magnificent ending. Several other tracks like Fight it Out or Passing Moment are closer to the usual RPG music style. Thus, the orchestration makes them all the more attractive.
The Atmospheric Touch
Two tracks stand out of the others for being less intense and more intriguing. However, they successfully contribute to the balance of the album. In Vendetta, a kind of tension sets up progressively, illustrating the title of the track: here we are not provided with grand epic action, but with isolated skirmishes, quickly settled as if the main perpetrator was an assassin trying not to be spotted. The other track, Grand Repeat II - Fog of Phantom, is even stranger: in the beginning, a background timpani pulse and a tinkle bell create a gloomy and unreal atmosphere. Then, the track turns into another genre with the arrival of a choir: the final sequence sounds more like an ancient pagan ceremony.
The Epic Touch
Last but not least, most of the tunes from the album do not come from the original Ogre Battle SNES soundtrack: they have been composed by H. Sakimoto and M. Iwata, the talented duo at the origin of the famous Final Fantasy Tactics soundtrack. Their epic style is very present on several tracks like Chivalry and Savagery, where strings and brass relay each other to play a suspenseful piece of music punctuated in some parts with a triumphal theme. The appearance of a splendid orchestration of Thunder (the most famous theme of the SNES version) is also a very good surprise inside this album. Passing Moment and Fortune Teller II finally calm down the atmosphere. These two noteworthy pieces of music constitute a peaceful epilogue to this soundtrack.
On the whole, Ogre Battle: Grand Repeat is a well-balanced and cleverly orchestrated game music album. From a personal point of view, I'm used to thinking about it as the album which starts with one of my favourite orchestral arrangements ever: Overture - Neo Overture. All the elements are here to grant this album an excellent rating!
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| Album Information | Reviewer Rank |
|---|---|
|
Ogre: Grand Repeat Published by: DATAM Polystar Release Date: October 25th 1996 Composed by: Hitoshi Sakimoto, Masaharu Iwata Arranged by: Masatsugu Shinozaki 1 Disc, 10 Tracks Catalog: DPCX-5081 |
98 |
Reviewed by: Zeugma 440
For its re-release on PlayStation, Ogre Battle (originally from Super Nintendo) has been granted a new soundtrack, almost entirely remade by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata (Final Fantasy Tactics).
The Orchestral Touch
In the tradition of game music symphonic suites, Ogre Battle: Grand Repeat exclusively features classical instruments. The meaning of "Grand Repeat" becomes obvious once you have listened to the first tune: Overture - Neo Overture. There, the opening theme of Ogre Battle enters a new dimension when performed by a real orchestra and choir. The main theme is repeated with beautiful variations, gaining each time more power and heroism. Finally, the whole orchestra joins the melody to perform a magnificent ending. Several other tracks like Fight it Out or Passing Moment are closer to the usual RPG music style. Thus, the orchestration makes them all the more attractive.
The Atmospheric Touch
Two tracks stand out of the others for being less intense and more intriguing. However, they successfully contribute to the balance of the album. In Vendetta, a kind of tension sets up progressively, illustrating the title of the track: here we are not provided with grand epic action, but with isolated skirmishes, quickly settled as if the main perpetrator was an assassin trying not to be spotted. The other track, Grand Repeat II - Fog of Phantom, is even stranger: in the beginning, a background timpani pulse and a tinkle bell create a gloomy and unreal atmosphere. Then, the track turns into another genre with the arrival of a choir: the final sequence sounds more like an ancient pagan ceremony.
The Epic Touch
Last but not least, most of the tunes from the album do not come from the original Ogre Battle SNES soundtrack: they have been composed by H. Sakimoto and M. Iwata, the talented duo at the origin of the famous Final Fantasy Tactics soundtrack. Their epic style is very present on several tracks like Chivalry and Savagery, where strings and brass relay each other to play a suspenseful piece of music punctuated in some parts with a triumphal theme. The appearance of a splendid orchestration of Thunder (the most famous theme of the SNES version) is also a very good surprise inside this album. Passing Moment and Fortune Teller II finally calm down the atmosphere. These two noteworthy pieces of music constitute a peaceful epilogue to this soundtrack.
On the whole, Ogre Battle: Grand Repeat is a well-balanced and cleverly orchestrated game music album. From a personal point of view, I'm used to thinking about it as the album which starts with one of my favourite orchestral arrangements ever: Overture - Neo Overture. All the elements are here to grant this album an excellent rating!
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