E3

Game Music

Naughty Dog and Mondo Announce Release of Last of Us Part II LP

June 13, 2018 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Naughty Dog and Mondo Announce Release of Last of Us Part II LP Share this

Let it not be said that hype from E3 doesn’t spur reaction. Hot off the heels of their press conference at the electronics show going on now, developer Naughty Dog has teamed up with Mondo Records to release an LP of the music from their upcoming game, The Last of Us Part II.

With the game’s composer Gustavo Santaolalla playing the opening to the preview at E3, the game showcased the grittiness of the continuation of the action survival game, complete with somber banjo accompaniment. This will be one part of the vinyl released by Mondo, titled “The Last Of Us (Cycles)” along with side A track “Little Sadie” – Performed by Crooked Still. The vinyl with be released in two different versions; the standard black and blue swirl that is on pre-order now, and a limited edition red and black marble that is exclusive to the Playstation store at E3 for attendees.

You can pre-order the blue and black version on for $15 on Mondo’s website.
Events, Game Music

My TOP 10 Anticipated Game Soundtracks Post E3 2015: PART ONE

June 17, 2015 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on My TOP 10 Anticipated Game Soundtracks Post E3 2015: PART ONE Share this

All of the big presentations at E3 have now been completed, and here on Original Sound Version I have compiled a list of my top ten most anticipated soundtracks to the games that are coming soon.

The games showcased this during this year’s conference were impressive, and some long overdue. I have not made the jump to a next-generation console and what I saw this week have made the decision much easier. Come read about the first five games I think will deliver the best soundtracks and share your thoughts about the games that did not make my list and come back tomorrow for the final five.

(more…)
Game Music

E3 2012: Lots of Good Music Stuff Was There

June 12, 2012 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

Okay, so OSV wasn’t out in full force at E3 this year, and that’s mainly because I was covering the event for Destructoid! I did see and hear a lot of great things, so I wanted to give a run-down of coverage I did over on Destructoid for you to check out:

Unchained Blades impressions
Orgarhythm impressions
Oscar Araujo confirmed for Castlevania titles
Halo 4 sounds like Metroid
You’re probably saying Theatrhythm wrong
Stuff at Turtle Beach

The main thing, though, is my E3-centric installment of The Sound Card covering the top ten soundtracks we heard at E3. I get to dig more into what I heard with titles including Unchained Blades, Halo 4, Pikmin 3, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Code of Princess.

Feel free to chime in about your favorite musical moments from E3. There was lots of great music to be heard in the E3 debut and gameplay trailers, so let us know what you’re looking forward to most.
Game Music

E3 2011: Nano Assault Composer Revealed, CD in the Works

June 27, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 5 Comments Share this

One of the biggest surprised for me at E3 came from Majeco’s booth. I had never got to try my hands at Shin’en’s Nanostray or Nanostray 2 although I was already interested in checking them out, and when I saw Nano Assault for the 3DS sitting there at the Majesco booth I just couldn’t help myself. I was flying and shooting in some very non-traditional and all 3-dimensional stages which covered everything from stages that resembled planetoids from Super Mario Galaxy where you flew around their surfaces searching for objectives, to a cool tunnel stage where I was flying into the screen. Theses levels wouldn’t be nearly as powerful without the 3D functionality of the 3DS.

While playing, however, I noticed some pretty cool drum ‘n’ bass music in the background. I immediately asked the Majesco staff person next to me, who happened to be the game’s leader tester, about the game’s music. As it turns out, Shin’en staff member Martin Schioeler is responsible for the music (and has worked on the music for several other Shin’en titles). I was told that Schioeler is a new presence on the Nano team, however, as studio president Manfred Linzner actually composed the scores for the two Nanostray games. Even more, the studio is also working on a special soundtrack album featuring music from Nanostray, Nanostray 2, and Nano Assault to release alongside Nano Assault on both iTunes and CDBaby.

I was excited by what I heard, so definitely keep an eye on this game. We’ll keep you posted on details regarding the soundtrack disc as well.

Were you a fan of any of Linzner’s work on the Nanostray or IRIDION series? Are you looking forward to Nano Assault?
Featured, Game Music

E3 2011: A Word With Final Fantasy XIII-2 Director Motomu Toriyama

June 23, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

We were fortunate enough at E3 this year to sit down with Final Fantasy XIII-2 director Motomu Toriyama to ask him some questions about the game’s music. While we had a similar opportunity at GDC 2010 to discuss the original Final Fantasy XIII, it was still interesting to witness Toriyama’s surprise that people actually care about the music and sound design in the game projects he oversees.

We get some interesting tidbits, including the fact that other composers will be contributing to Final Fantasy XIII-2’s soundtrack, the general approach they’re taking with the game’s score, and just how elusive Masashi Hamauzu has been since his departure from Square Enix.

Hit the jump for our brief interview with Motomu Toriyama. (more…)
Game Music

E3 2011: Nintendo’s Got Game (Booth Audio Impressions)

June 20, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on E3 2011: Nintendo’s Got Game (Booth Audio Impressions) Share this

Nintendo had a lot of stuff to show off this year. In addition to a new console announcement, there were a ton of games to play and hear on both the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii. We spent time with many of the games to catch a peek at what we can expect to hear from these games over the next year, and have posted many of the official E3 2011 trailers on our OSVchannel for your listening pleasure as well.

The games we checked out include Super Mario, Mario Kart, and Paper Mario on the 3DS as well as Rhythm Heaven, Kirby, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword on the Wii.

Join us after the jump for a crash course through the Nintendo booth this year. (more…)
Game Music

E3 2011: SEGA’s Anarchy Reigns… Well, Reigns

June 17, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on E3 2011: SEGA’s Anarchy Reigns… Well, Reigns Share this

I had high expectations for Anarchy Reigns. MadWorld featured an amazing and innovative soundtrack, featuring Japanese composer Naoto Tanaka paired with a number of hip hop artists. We already knew that my favorite of these artists, Sick YG, was on board for the game, but I wasn’t sure if we’d be getting more of the same.

The E3 floor demo we saw allowed for up to four players to enter into an all-out brawl, smashing one another with special moves and berserker attacks. I had a lot of fun with it even though I ended up losing, but I think what I enjoyed most was the music. While the hip hop influence was still present, I heard mostly electronic sounds in the style of drum ‘n’ bass with a bombardment of percussion that really built up the action. It seemed to be more instrumental the sense that most of the tracks I heard didn’t feature vocals.

I was informed by one of the producers who was on hand, however, that there will indeed be that same hip hop influence present in the game, although it won’t be exclusively a hip hop soundtrack. Still, I liked what I heard, and certainly want some more.

What did you think of the MadWorld soundtrack? Do you think it would have cheapened it to have gone and done the same thing with the Anarchy Reigns soundtrack?