Ask Hibino: Snake Eater, Etrian Odyssey, and a New Actraiser Arrange Album?!

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Well, we finally have the answers to our first round of “Ask Hibino ^[2],” the exclusive feature where you send Hibino-san your questions and he answers them for you right here on OSV. And yeah, I said answers, not answer! Hibino-san actually answered a handful of questions rather than just picking one this month, so be sure to tell him thank you in the comments!

Topics this month include the upcoming Live Music by Piano and Strings: Sekaiju no MeiQ I & II Super Arrange Version, his work on “Snake Eater” from Metal Gear Solid 3, his predictions for Zone of the Enders 3, his work on 1942: Joint Strike, and even the possibility of a new Actraiser arrange album (which is absolutely awesome). Be sure to send your questions to [email protected] ^[3], and we’ll be doing this again in about a month!

Would you buy a relaxing/chillout Actraiser arrange album? Is there another approach that you’d like to see Hibino and GEM Impact take with the series?

Read Hibino’s answers to this month’s “Ask Hibino” questions after the jump.

Don: You were responsible for the sound direction for both the Sekaiju no MeiQ and Sekaiju no MeiQ II Super Arrange Versions. There were noticeable differences between the two. The first arranged album was done by mainly by GEM Impact staff, with a few guest arrangers, while the second arrangement album featured many more popular composers/arrangers, such as Motoi Sakuraba and Kenichiro Fukui. Given the opportunity to do another arrangement album for a future Sekaiju no MeiQ game, what other popular composers would you consider contacting to help with the arranged album and why?

Hibino: We’re actually working on another arrangement album called Live Music by Piano and Strings: Sekaiju no MeiQ I & II Super Arrange Version, and I’m handling all of the arrangements myself. We’re aiming for a more relaxed acoustic style this time. We’ve finished recording already and it’s quite good! It’s out on October 8th, and I’m actually planning on using this same concept for a different game. (Hopefully Koshiro-san’s Actraiser… what do you think?)

Chris: I’d just like to say, thank you for the excellent work you’ve done. My specific question, however, is about a series on which you co-composed with a large number of other Konami staff members: Bokura no Taiyou/Boktai.

I very much enjoyed the music of the series, but to my knowledge, the only album release for it has been a pre-order bonus CD featuring the remastered(?) versions of a handful of songs used in promotional materials. Are you aware of there ever being any discussion at Konami about soundtrack releases for the game, or possibly even an arranged album? Does the large number of composers for the series cause complications with such a release, or is it that Konami simply doesn’t see the demand for such CDs? (Incidentally, if there was an arrange album, would you be interested in working on it?)

Thank you for whatever information you can provide!

Hibino: Well, actually I didn’t even know about the Boktai bonus soundtrack! Konami probably didn’t make a soundtrack because political matters tied it up. A Boktai arrange album may be cool! I should ask Konami if they are interested.

Dale: Does your music for 1942: Joint Strike pay any tribute to the original 1942 game? Did you ever play the original title?

Hibino: I didn’t have a chance to play the original arcade machine but I was given the audio from the original to check out. I investigated not only the original 1942, but also old shooters like Silver Gun. One of the main title songs uses the same melody from the original 1942.

Cedille: Who are your favorite artists except for those working on Konami games?

Hibino: Jazzanova, Secret Garden, Fat Boy Slim, Nicola Conte, Toots Thielemans, Marilyn Manson… whoever is going to the extreme is my favorite.

Idolores: Mr. Hibino, I would like to know if you are going to score the music for Zone of the Enders 3, if and/or when it is announced?

Hibino: I’m not sure if Konami will make another ZOE. Actually I’d rather work with some other developers if I can.

Robby: Just how involved were you with the song “Snake Eater?” This is without a doubt my favorite song of all time and I want to know what all you did with it, it’s origins, what you think of it, the singer, everything!

Hibino: Thanks! Basically I did everything regarding “Snake Eater” except the final orchestration. I composed this way before the MGS3 development started, and was actually not supposed to create this. There was another composer on board and I was simply in charge of direction. Mr. Kojima didn’t like any of the music being created, and I composed this myself as a substitute, and he really liked it! I made 2 remixes too: an E3 special version and Japanese lyrics version by Akiko Wada.

Hamu Sumo: Hibino-san, konnichiwa! Following is a standard question but always interesting: Do you have a creation (track or album) you’re especially proud of? If yes, why? Thank you for your time! Best wishes from Germany.

Hibino: Thanks! I’m quite satisfied with “Snake Eater” and all the MGS3 songs I did. Also, I’m proud of my solo album, “AKASHI.” In more recent times, the anime soundtrack for Blassreiter ^[4] is surely a landmark for me and GEM Impact, as well as the Ninja Blade ^[5] soundtrack which will be out in next February. I really like the ending theme for this game!

Thank you for your questions. I am looking forward to doing this again next month!