Onimusha 2: Orchestra Album (Video Game Score)

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Video Game music is now in all forms and sounds, from the simple and irritating Game Boy bleeps to the more electronic ambient underscore of various strategic games to the more orchestral rousing form, whether or not using the actual music of the films they are based upon (Lord of the Rings), or the music covering the same themes but in a new package (Enter the Matrix), or basically the music written specifically for the game and newly developed in an orchestral performance. Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny (an action adventure game with many battles and enemies) is such an example of how to do it right and good. The composer of the music is Taro Iwashiro, a name we simply don't accustom with anything we know but people who played the game or simply heard this music will realize that the man obviously has a knack for it, because this Orchestral Album promises so much more then the ambient music or the much debated bleeps from the old era of video gaming. There is a depth to the music and performances and it overall stays pleasant, interesting and lovely, with various tracks shining more then other ones. The score first of all captures 60 minutes and a little more of playing time and is performed and distributed in vibrant sound quality, so that the music itself is there to please you. The score first of all starts with the best track 'Chapter I: Truth of Brave', bringing the main theme behind classical string lines at first before a more pounding performance leads way to great use of added electronic beats and a nice string finish. Basically, this track presents itself like a suite and puts everything in the right place and therefore is more then suited for the opener of this video game score.

And so it continues, some light suspension with a same returning sub theme creates 'Chapter II: Truth of Evil', 'Chapter III: Truth of Resolution' has soft but beautiful Japanese flute performances resembling those of The Lion King with some added mystifying female vocals and 'Chapter IV: Truth of Edge' brings even some ethnic instruments with a more attacking theme to present its style ala The Last Samurai, so admirers beware because its good but it repeats itself a bit too much in the track. 'Chapter VI: Truth of Lure' has some soothing piano and harp at display while 'Chapter VIII: Truth of Vice' easily could come out of Daylight of Randy Edelman, with its exact tension building (though strangely the theme was performed with strings in the previous track), of course then Sly Stallone would have been a samurai warrior so that isn't right. And more small resemblances since 'Chapter IX: Truth of Desire' has somewhat Beyond Rangoon in it, with the piano and soft mysterious mood and the flute themes which bring back the memories good enough. You see, Hans Zimmer gets a small talk in it and even Edelman, which means Iwashiro brings back the perfect mix between strong orchestral presence and added electronic bounce. The playful 'Chapter X: Truth of Cynicism' is a break from the rest with a light comical edge (though nice theme) and 'Chapter XI: Truth of War' is a compilation of the music covering the movie scenes and is more what you heard during this score, with some light action music, main theme statements and some piano at the end. The end is for 'Chapter XIII: Truth of Brave' and returns the main theme in concert like form, with the beat and the bells and the strings so that everything is rounded out well. Altogether, perhaps a bit too much in the same style (because of the exactness of the themes), Onimusha 2 is still a fine listen because of the various highlights, nice overall structure and therefore a score that truly deserves the word background listen but with the effect of rising when it needs to. And another prove that this score is simply more of the orchestral great music that precedes the games these days.

\ตตต1/2/

Tracks

Single Disc

1. Chapter I: Truth Of Brave (6.09) Excellent Track

2. Chapter II: Truth Of Evil (4.39)

3. Chapter III: Truth Of Resolution (5.05) Excellent Track

4. Chapter IV: Truth Of Edge (4.24)

5. Chapter V: Truth Of Loyalty (4.58)

6. Chapter VI: Truth Of Lure (4.20)

7. Chapter VII: Truth Of Guile (5.06)

8. Chapter VIII: Truth Of Vice (4.12)

9. Chapter IX: Truth Of Desire (4.58)

10. Chapter X: Truth Of Cynicism (3.26)

11. Chapter XI: Truth Of War (8.35)

12. Chapter XII: Truth Of Fate (5.02)

13. Chapter XIII: Truth Of Brave (4.41) Excellent Track

Total Length: 66.07

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