Hunk of the year Shota Nakama has been busy arranging game music far and wide with his Berklee-based VGO, or Video Game Orchestra. The VGO had a successful concert last December featuring Wataru Hokoyama as a special guest which you may have caught online, as it was broadcasted live around the world. Over the course of March, the VGO has posted a number of videos featuring their new arrangements.
These arrangements include God of War, Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy IV. The “Radical Dreamers” quintet version sounds quite amazing if I may say so. I can’t really recall VGO ever disappointing, so feel free to head over to their YouTube channel to check them out.
Here’s a direct link to their God of War: “The End Begins to Rock” and their Final Fantasy VII “Suite” (Part 1) (Part 2).
Tags: Arrangements, Orchestral, Orchestras, Shota Nakama, VGO, Video Game Orchestra, Videos, YouTube
I really appreciate these! The audio quality for the streamed December concert was a bit off at times (especially with the balance between orchestra and rock elements) so….yeah, thanks!
That aside, I really like VGO’s ‘standard’ lineup and approach. Like certain of my other favourite orchestras, it appears to be primarily talented students, which lends them a passion not always found in the larger-scale, franchise-style ‘VGL’ and ‘Play!’ performances. Had I been able to attend this, I am almost sure it’d be one of my favourite game concert experiences.
Even with the poorer sound quality of the stream, the December 2009 Berkeley concert with Hokoyama was a delight to listen to — I think their FF VII medley was the best FF medley I’ve ever heard (which might seem odd, given it was only one game of a potential 13+, but it was just that well arranged and performed).
Again, glad to have a higher-quality version of those tunes. Maybe they should consider a CD release. If they get it out on time and with at least above-average sound quality, they’d automatically qualify for best live VGM concert cd…
EDIT POST WATCH: Daaaaaamn I have never seen so many smiles in an orchestra during a performance. Also — major thumbs up to the blonde clarinet player bangin’ her head off during Saranitatakaumonotachi/Those Who Fight Further/Still More Fighting and God of War.
Oh, and talk about iconic moments: during the FF medley, I saw the back of one of the stands, and it had ‘B11’ on it in white paint, like it was out of a classroom. Strangely touching.
VGO is doing lots of stuff lately, but not on the West coast! I’ll have to see them some day.