Actually, DJMAX Technika had me at hello. The first Technika soundtrack was probably my favorite to date, and we’ve covered a lot of DJMAX over the years. The unique blend of K-pop, electronic music, and contributions from Korean composers ESTi, Nauts, Diny, and Shinji Hosoe made for a unique experience that ranks among my favorites in the rhythm game genre.
DJMAX Technika 3 was recently released (it was actually at MAGFest X, but due to the line that persisted even at 4:00 AM, I never got to play it), and the limited edition soundtrack enjoyed a general release in North America as well as Japan and Korea. While it’s sold out now, I still wanted to delve in and give my impressions.
Does it live up to the DJMAX name, or is this franchise getting stale? Find out in our review after the jump. (more…)
Have I mentioned that I love what Korean game developers have done with the audio in their games over the years? I admit I didn’t know much about Rusty Hearts prior to checking it out at Anime Expo 2011 this past weekend, but I’m definitely a whole lot more interested after what I saw and heard.
So, what is Rusty Hearts? It’s a free-to-play beat ‘em up MMO title developed by Korean-based Stairway Games, and in addition to featuring some impressive anime-inspired visuals, it also sports some pretty amazing music. One of the game’s producers was on-site to show off one of the game’s new characters, the half-vampire Frantz. I explored a dark Gothic-style town that acts as one of the game’s central hubs where I heard some moody acoustic guitar and concert piano work that reminded me of a dark, loungey version of Granado Espada.
Upon entering the wine cellar, one of the game’s opening dungeons, I bashed through enemies with special attacks using both the computer keyboard and an Xbox 360 controller. The producer noted that Rusty Hearts draws on titles like Devil May Cry, Final Fight, and even Castlevania as influences, and I definitely picked up on the Castlevania influence in the music department. While the looping track was short, I was loving the electric guitar work and overall Gothic rock style of the track.
While we only heard two tracks in the demo, I’m looking forward to hearing more and finding out who’s doing the music. Perfect World is opening up a closed beta, so head over to their website and sign up. We’ll have more on this game soon, so check out the above trailer and let us know what you think.
Remember our coverage of BAR OASIS, the drink-mixing girl-wooing iPhone game from Korea? It was my personal pick for indie game soundtrack of the year last year, with jazzy music composed by Korean composer Nauts.
While there isn’t really anything new in terms of music, the development team behind BAR OASIS has disbanded and the soundtrack is now being offered by a newly formed company, Corners Studio. The soundtrack is once again available internationally, and at a new reduced price of $4.99, while the game is available for $1.99 in North America as well as Japan and Korea, two areas that did not previously get the opportunity to enjoy the game. There’s also a ‘lite’ version of the app to try for free, so check out the game and its music. It’s some seriously good stuff.
Did you happen to check out BAR OASIS last year? What did you think of the last track on the album, “Ultra Sexy (Sexy Ver.)?”
In case you haven’t heard the news, Korean MMORPG TalesWeaver is finally coming to the United States. With its highly stylized graphics that are reminiscent of Ragnarok Online, and an amazing pop-oriented soundtrack composed by ESTi, Nauts, and JIMMie, a few of us here at OSV were ecstatic when we heard the news.
While ESTi and Nauts have since moved on, JeeHoon “JIMMie” Park has remained on the team handling all of the music for “Episode 2,” the latest update to the game. We’ve fortunately been given some time to speak with him about his work on the game, his background in the game industry, and his musical influences, which include numerous Japanese and Western composers.
Finally, the day we’ve all been waiting for! Well, at least some of us. The original Granado Espada soundtrack is one of my favorites of all time as you can probably tell from our Soundtrack of the Month article, but I admit I was a bit disappointed by the licensed music featured on Volume 2. Hanbit and IMC Games have fortunately corrected this with the release of the Granado Espada Renaissance Special Limited Edition Original Soundtrack Volume 3 (yes, quite a mouthful).
You saw our unboxing video last week and already know that there are two variations in the packaging, but join us as we dig into the 3-disc collection. Is it worth the wait, and will you be able to get your hands on it? Find out in our review after the jump. (more…)
From Patrick’s positive review of DJMAX Portable 3, we already know that Korean game music maestros ESTi and Nauts are not involved with this title, but that doesn’t mean that other familiar names don’t surface. Time and time again we’ve been impressed by what Pentavision and PM Studios have been able to accomplish this series not only through their games, but through the amazing production values associated with their soundtracks.
It wasn’t too long ago that we checked out DJMAX Technika 2, and it should come as no surprise that a number of tracks from that game are found here, but there’s also an entire disc of new material from artists including NieN, Makou, Planetboom, XeoN, Mr. Funky, and my personal favorite, 3rd Coast. Most interesting of all, however, is the fact that these artists jump into genres that they’re not necessarily known for from their past work on the series.
Find out what I mean in our review after the jump. (more…)
It’s a big season for rhythm games: DJ Hero 2 and Rock Band 3 are on the horizon. But for me, one of the most exciting titles is also the least talked about: DJMax Portable 3.
Last year I discussed at length DJMax Fever, which was a combo title of Portable 1 and 2 localized for North America. This PSP rhythm game, developed by Korean studio Pentavision, has some of the best music and most challenging rhythmic patterns you’ll find for a handheld. It’s one thing to sit around playing top 40 pop-rock hits in your living room. It’s another thing entirely to keep up with frantic techno or chill with some J-pop (and K-pop) while inputting complex combinations.
DJMP3 has a new set of songs (over 30 new tracks), a couple new modes of play, and some “hidden” difficulty. To find out what I mean by this, follow along after the jump! (more…)
Before you get too excited, this is not an interview with the game’s team of composers. We’ve already featured interviews with Osamu Kubota, S.F.A., and TaQ about the game, but this interview focuses on the actual sound team in Korea who coordinated the project. At the time this interview was conducted, I had listened, reviewedh, and had fallen in love with the Granado Espada soundtrack, and there were whispers that a Volume 2 album was in the works. We all know how that turned out.
With Volume 3 on the horizon, and Granado Espada being our Soundtrack of the Month, I thought it would be a good time to get this interview back online. I admit the team was rather vague on most points, but there are still a few interesting tidbits tucked away within. Oh, and in case you have no idea what “Sword of the New World” is, it’s the name that Granado Espada was released under in the West.
This one has certainly been a long time coming. Granado Espada Original Sound Track Volume 1 is an interesting release for a number of reasons, and is quite special to me in that it was the first album I reviewed for Music4Games. I admit I’m using some of that writeup as my basis for this review, but it’s crazy how much has happened since 2006 that I’ve been able to expound upon!
What has happened, you ask? Well, just here on OSV, we’ve interviewed composer Osamu Kubota on two separate occasions about his work on the title, introduced fans to Korean composer Sevin, founding member of S.F.A. and former member of soundTeMP, talked to TaQ about his sole contribution to the game, uncovered the fact that all soundTeMP tracks on this album were actually written by Jinbae “ESTi” Park, and even reviewed the Granada Espada Original Sound Track Volume 2 digital release from Streamline Records. Yeah, a lot of stuff, and what better time to have Granado Espada as our soundtrack of the month than with the announcement that a proper Volume 3 is now on its way!
Hit the jump to find out why you need to hunt this one down. (more…)
We mentioned the iPhone/iPod Touch app BAR OASIS a few weeks back. For those who are too lazy to go check that post, it’s basically a touch and tilt story-based adventure about mixing drinks. Aside from it looking great and being an incredible deal at $0.99, it also features some amazing music composed by Mr. Nauts from Korea.
What we have here is more than 35 minutes of original music with some high production values, which is pretty amazing for a downloadable title for mobile devices. There’s everything here from upbeat jazz themes to emotional cues to ultra sexy tracks that are definitely not safe for work!
Did that last one catch your attention? Read more in our review of the BAR OASIS soundtrack after the jump. (more…)
So much DJMAX lately! Let that be an indication to you that it’s good stuff. We recently posted the trailer for DJMAX Portable 3, which is due out later this year, and it was just two nights ago that we highlighted DJMAX contributor Nauts’s work on BAR OASIS. It’s a good time for game music from Korea.
You may recall us mentioning the DJMAX TECHNIKA 2 Signature Collection a couple months ago, and I’ve been looking forward to checking it out ever since I laid eyes on it. The original DJMAX TECHNIKA is not only an amazing game (I’m lucky enough to have machine at a local arcade here in San Diego), but the pop and electronic-oriented soundtrack was one of my favorites of 2008. However, after being slightly disappointed with the DJMAX Trilogy Soundtrack, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
So, does DJMAX TECHNIKA 2 do the franchise justice, or does it disappoint? Find out in our review after the jump. (more…)
Have I ever mentioned that I’m completely obsessed with game music from Korea? From Ragnarok Online, TalesWeaver, and La Tale to the DJMAXfranchise, I can’t get enough of this stuff. In fact, Patrick Gann and I first got acquainted because we were looking for ways to reach out to composers in Korea about the amazing music they were writing. If you somehow haven’t delved into what’s going on over there, we’ve just caught wind of a cheap and entertaining way to get introduced.
BAR OASIS is an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch title developed by Korean-based Aurora Games that puts you behind the bar mixing drinks by performing various touch and tilt-based gameplay techniques to progress through a story with the game’s “engaging” characters. It not only features some impressive anime-esque visuals, but it also sports 12 new songs created specifically for the game by TalesWeaver and DJMAX contributor Nauts. All of this, and it’s only $0.99! If that isn’t enough to entice you, just look at the freakishly large breasts and suggestive wink on that “engaging” female character above.
If you happen to check it out (and you should!), let us know what you think of the music. Are with with most of the reviewers on iTunes in thinking that they could have easily sold this app for $2.99?
