Tales of Symphonia Chronicles (HD) 2014 PC/PS3

[Ayn]

Then again, there isn't much to say about Vesperia's soundtrack in general.

OH YES THERE IS.



And if you want an arrange. .

[Kohan]

OH YES THERE IS.

I wouldn't call a few songs "much," and I honestly wouldn't even call "Fury Sparks" very good. It's serviceable at best. It starts its cheesy build-up with a generic lumbering drum beat, and then brings in a synth guitar that sounds like it would fit right into the disposable intro of your average generic summer anime. Vesperia wasn't total aural trash, but it doesn't compare to its predecessors, and I honestly couldn't believe that Motoi Sakuraba composed its soundtrack while I was playing it. It never completely took me out of the game, but I was hugely disappointed by how phoned-in it sounded.

If the preceding paragraph didn't make it obvious, I'm a tremendous fan of Motoi Sakuraba. I have several of his solo piano albums, I'm very familiar with his game composing history, and I'm so Goddamn fucking psyched that he's composing the soundtrack for "Phantasy Star Nova" because he created this obscenely masterful cover of PSO's theme—fuck, I just don't even know what to do with myself. That's orgasm status in my book.

However, that just-linked song, while a cover, is important to point out, because it's Sakuraba at his best. It is brilliantly multi-layered and utterly fantastic. He's not just some random Joe with a synthesizer, but that's who you would think Vesperia's soundtrack was created by while listening to it. Sakuraba is so recognized for his electronica expertise that he contributed to an album that enshrined some of the best (and uniquely challenged them by restricting them to the FM synth module, too).

I sometimes wonder if he's simply tired of the Tales series. The lack of imagination in his compositions from Abyss onward have made me think so. I could be completely wrong, but that's how his disappointing recent work for it has made me feel. That, and it's plenty common for artists to have burn out when they're forced to work on the same thing for over a decade.

TL;DR: I talk shit on Sakuraba because I love him, and I know that he can do much, much better.

[darkepyon]

If the preceding paragraph didn't make it obvious, I'm a tremendous fan of Motoi Sakuraba. I have several of his solo piano albums, I'm very familiar with his game composing history, and I'm so Goddamn fucking psyched that he's composing the soundtrack for "Phantasy Star Nova" because he created this obscenely masterful cover of PSO's theme—fuck, I just don't even know what to do with myself. That's orgasm status in my book.

OMG! Mad feels!

Haven't been following PSNova that much, but that little tidbit has intrigued me.

[Charismatic]

I wouldn't call a few songs "much," and I honestly wouldn't even call "Fury Sparks" very good. It's serviceable at best. It starts its cheesy build-up with a generic lumbering drum beat, and then brings in a synth guitar that sounds like it would fit right into the disposable intro of your average generic summer anime. Vesperia wasn't total aural trash, but it doesn't compare to its predecessors, and I honestly couldn't believe that Motoi Sakuraba composed its soundtrack while I was playing it. It never completely took me out of the game, but I was hugely disappointed by how phoned-in it sounded.

If the preceding paragraph didn't make it obvious, I'm a tremendous fan of Motoi Sakuraba. I have several of his solo piano albums, I'm very familiar with his game composing history, and I'm so Goddamn fucking psyched that he's composing the soundtrack for "Phantasy Star Nova" because he created this obscenely masterful cover of PSO's theme—fuck, I just don't even know what to do with myself. That's orgasm status in my book.

However, that just-linked song, while a cover, is important to point out, because it's Sakuraba at his best. It is brilliantly multi-layered and utterly fantastic. He's not just some random Joe with a synthesizer, but that's who you would think Vesperia's soundtrack was created by while listening to it. Sakuraba is so recognized for his electronica expertise that he contributed to an album that enshrined some of the best (and uniquely challenged them by restricting them to the FM synth module, too).

I sometimes wonder if he's simply tired of the Tales series. The lack of imagination in his compositions from Abyss onward have made me think so. I could be completely wrong, but that's how his disappointing recent work for it has made me feel. That, and it's plenty common for artists to have burn out when they're forced to work on the same thing for over a decade.

TL;DR: I talk shit on Sakuraba because I love him, and I know that he can do much, much better.

Ah yes, now here's the stuff I can agree with you on.
Orgasm status indeed.

I think I need to make myself a Sakuraba playlist with stuff like Highbrow and that piano song from the Tales of Phantasia remake (I don't even know what it is called but I'm gonna find it.)
Vesperia's soundtrack was pretty weak and its certainly possible that he's tired of the Tales of series since he's done so many friggin' games in the series.
I hope if there is some sorta slump that he comes out of it since Vesperia and Graces were two of the most bland soundtracks in the series as far as I'm concerned. Both had some nice music here and there but it wasn't overall great.


@Ayn
I personally liked this a lot more than Fury Sparks.

[Ayn]

Hey, fuck you guys for hating on Fury sparks; it played during one of the best fights of the game.

That said I do agree that ToV's soundtrack was serviceable -- I do remember playing through it and thinking "well, the music is..fitting?". I think the hard part was that none of the regular battle themes really stood out to me the way that Abyss's did.

On the topic of Chronicles -- they changed the opening theme to Dawn of the New World slightly: Same lyrics, but the BGM sounds different. I dunno, I like it slightly better than the original one.



Also neat that they have both versions of Symphonia's opening.

[Kohan]

Ah yes, now here's the stuff I can agree with you on.
Orgasm status indeed.

I would be willing to call a truce and just talk to you about this from now on. It is definitely something we do agree on.

Hey, fuck you guys for hating on Fury sparks; it played during one of the best fights of the game.

I never said I hated the fight—my love for Vesperia is undying. As you agreed, the soundtrack was "serviceable"—as such, the song, though, just services the scene rather than elevating it.

EDIT: Showing the scene some love.



I think the opener to Symphonia 2 is harmless enough. It's not bad. I would have to do a serious comparison to notice what you've mentioned, but that's only because I haven't listened to it much.

[Ayn]

I was just messing with you about the Vesperia music in general, since as you mentioned, I do agree with you.

I'm torn between saying if Fury Sparks elevates the scene or services it. Since I'm not sure if it's been 'ok, this track really does stand out to me, finally, in a game where the music felt.. just fitting', or just Yuri and Flynn's banter during the fight.

On the note of similar fights, though, "Meaning of Birth" from Abyss (the last Luke/Asch fight) was pretty awesome.

The name of the ToS2 song is "Three Legged Race" by Misono. Too lazy to link it (well technically, can't right now), so give it a look up.

[Kohan]

I was just messing with you about the Vesperia music in general, since as you mentioned, I do agree with you.

I'm torn between saying if Fury Sparks elevates the scene or services it. Since I'm not sure if it's been 'ok, this track really does stand out to me, finally, in a game where the music felt.. just fitting', or just Yuri and Flynn's banter during the fight.

Their banter is so good. Such a spectacular moment.

Also, since I've been given license to do this:



(I believe Motoo Fujiwara deserves full credit for that song, though.)

[Ayn]

Everlasting Battle, or whatever the song they played during the cameo battle was pretty awesome. Took a listen or two for me to realize "Oh wow, they're including various battle themes within it".

[Qeomash]

Still one of my favorite battle songs from the game:


And probably my favorite out of battle song:


Which was remixed:

[Ratatapa]

I don't remember this game beeing hard... or i'm just bad


i'm lv 19 at the Temple of Wind and I keep dying on the boss right ofter the Seal boss (playing hard)

[Charismatic]

you probably didn't play on hard, it can be pretty rough on hard lol
I actually died to Whip Master x2 (but I've also been avoiding most battles too)

[Ratatapa]

you probably didn't play on hard, it can be pretty rough on hard lol
I actually died to Whip Master x2 (but I've also been avoiding most battles too)

Whip master Whitney on si Thatcher already?

[Scythiroth]

Got the game yesterday, just the standard one, and it feels incredibly cheap that it comes with no manual/booklet. >.> I never read through them usually, but I'm just used to it being there.

[Mina]

more companies are removing that booklet, I do appreciate it when they at least include a digital one.

few years from now the kids won't even know what you're talking about Syaoran.

[Lonely]

Wanted to remind everyone that there is a sale going on PSN that ends Tuesday I believe. 20$ for non PSN+ subscribers and 10$ for PSN+ subscribers.

It's my first time playing this game and i've just made it to the second part (battle music changed) and so far it's beating the shit out of Xillia in all regards.

[Charismatic]

Why say all regards when we all know you only mean story?

Graphics, combat, camera control and all sorts of other things are definitely worse in Symphonia.

[Insanecyclone]

Legendia looked like ass too

[Lonely]

Why say all regards when we all know you only mean story?

Graphics, combat, camera control and all sorts of other things are definitely worse in Symphonia.

Well no shit graphics are better in Xillia, that goes without saying though the backgrounds and character models still have a lot of charm. The combat at this point is much better than it was in Xillia, Xillia at this point was slow, clunky, and boring thankfully that started to change halfway through the second part iirc, Symphonia is a bit clunky but it doesn't feel slow and its definitely not boring, there's a lot more strategy involved due to restricted movement and less streamroll. I don't have any complaints about the camera at all. The cast is all superior, the game isn't linear and has a awesome world map, shops don't have that lame upgrade system, and the dungeons and puzzles make this game a lot more enjoyable.

Xillia wasn't awful but it is incredibly "meh", after a certain point I got tired of it and only played just so I could beat it and be done with it.

I don't really want to get into a tales music war but c'mon.

Spoiler: show

[Charismatic]

Its all just opinions and everything but I don't see how one could claim that Xillia's combat is worse than Symphonia's. I will admit I didn't gain true appreciation for it til I started a solo run.

Playing with a single character lets you get so much out of the game. This video is one of my favorites to show off both how solo play works and how awesome Leia is.