Midweek Music Box: Mega Man 8 Soundtrack

Let me start by saying how weird it was (and still is quite frankly) to see a Mega Man game on a non-Nintendo system. Growing up I had it firmly ingrained in my mind that certain systems got certain games. Nintendo would always have Mario, and Sega would always have Sonic. Nintendo would always have Mega Man, and Sega would always have Toe Jam and Earl. But wait! Nintendo didn't always have Mega Man! My beloved Blue Bomber eventually made his way to the PlayStation! (Yes I know there were PC translations of the early games, but let us never speak of them again.)

When I got my hands on Mega Man 8, I wasn't sure how much I'd like it. I was fresh off the X series, and those were peak Mega Man in my mind. How could the PlayStation get the 8th installment of the original Mega Man? How could it possibly compare to the other Mega Man games? Well, I soon found out that when it came to music and sound design, they had nearly recaptured the spirit of Mega Man. 

I say nearly, because there are aspects of the sound design that just don't work and I find it a little jarring. I can't do this particular Midweek Music Box without mentioning the sound design of the game alongside the music as it plays such a huge factor to me in how the game goes, and the enjoyment of the in game music.  So without further adieu, let's get into the music and how awesome the music for Mega Man 8 really is.

For your listening enjoyment, here is the soundtrack in it's entirety, and I'll highlight some of the more noteworthy ones (IMHO of course):

Soundtrack:

Mega Man 8 OST

Boss Intro:

Such an awesome, quick track that gets you pumped, I devoted an entire Midweek Music Box to this track. The updated version works well to bring that pumped feeling back and it hits just the right nostalgia notes. It's one of the briefest tunes you'll hear, but it belongs up there with the basic Super Mario beat.

I can't find an individual track on YouTube of this one, but its within the OST linked above and is well worth a quick listen if for no other reason than to smile at the updated sound.

Grenade Man

Upbeat and determined sounding with a flare of those 16-bit sounds that we all have come to know and love, I like the Grenade Man soundtrack because it feels the most like what an upgraded version of the original Mega Man soundtracks would be like. I know on the Saturn they had a reprise of the Cutman and Woodman stages with their music, but I only experienced the PlayStation version when I first played this, and this stage is the one that still gets me feeling like I'm truly playing a Mega Man game, albeit an upgraded one.

Dr. Wiley Stage 1

Such dark and mysterious music, and yet still the fast-paced feel that we've come to expect from Mega Man. The low beats and robotic sounds not only make it really feel like you're a robot on the run with a mission, but make any task feel that much more important and pressing. There's something almost fast-jazz-esque about the pace of this track. I included a link to a 30 minute loop here as I feel that you could easily have this in the background as music to help you keep moving along with whatever task you might have before you.

Sound design:

And now for the bad. The very, very, oh-my-gosh-did-he-just-say-that very bad. It's so incongruous that it bears mentioning if only for the fact that it distracts so much from what otherwise is one of the better Mega Man soundtracks.

Voice Acting:

I think the following clip pretty much sums up the whole of the Mega Man 8 experience when it comes to the acting in the video clips:

Dr. Wowee is on the attack agwain!

From Dr. Light sounding like the offspring of Barbra Walters meets Vizzini from Princess Bride to Mega Man's annoying litte girl voice--there's so much to just hate about the voice acting in Mega Man 8. I like that they tried to include some of the cartoon and you get a nice montage of what happened in Mega Man's past... and that's where the clips should have ended. After that you get "treated" to various clips as the game progresses, and believe me, at times these feel like dog treats. Getting animated clips for any system, regardless of era, usually was and still feels like the reward it was meant to be. Not so in Mega Man 8's case. These clips were terribly acted and were some of the cringiest things you'll ever watch when it comes to games turned into cartoons. At least Legend of Zelda left us with the now meme-worthy, "Well excuuuuse me princess!"

Voice Dubbing:

Originally I was going to include this in within voice acting, but I thought it was worth mentioning in its own section because of how bad it was. I don't need Mega Man loudly exclaiming "Power Shot" every time he fires a powered shot. It gets so annoying so quickly that you almost don't want to bother firing your starter weapon just so you can spare yourself from hearing that. If only this was the only problem. When it comes to boss battles, they loudly exclaim something as you enter their lair and after you defeat them. However, more than half the time, I couldn't understand what the heck they were saying. I understand there were limitations at the time, but when the sound effects and music are fantastic and then...then you get a muffled mess for the big battle you just fought so hard to get to. It just kills the mood. Until I was able to search this out years later, I was convinced that either something was wrong with my hearing or that my TV's audio was going off. It seems though that most of the internet agrees that the audio clips here were just terrible.

Final Thoughts

Now, the flaws I pointed out here don't necessarily detract from my ability to enjoy the soundtrack or the game in their own rights, but it does make me hesitant to keep the volume up when playing the actual game. It's a shame really because the music and sound effects in the Mega Man games are some of the best out there in gamer-dom. Sometimes though, it's hard to separate the good and the bad. But that doesn't mean the soundtrack itself isn't worth a listen to, or maybe even a rip on to your iPod.

Midweek Music Box: The Bard's Tale (2005)

The So-Called"Hero"

Normally with Midweek Music Box, I like to do a bit of analysis on the music and why I think it works (or doesn't work) so well.  However, with the 2004 iteration of The Bard's Tale I just wanted to do a little trip down memory lane.  At the time when this game came out, I was uncertain about how well I'd like it.  I had just finished Baldur's Gate and was enjoying the style of the game, but wanted something a bit lighter in spirit. What I was expecting from Bard's Tale was a Baldur's Gate clone with a few goofy jokes here and there to break things up and give the game a bit of humor. So when the opening strands played as I started the game, it seemed like typical medieval period music with lute and flute and an occasional simple drum.  Little did I know that the simple tune actually had lyrics funny and dark--but we'll get to that later.

"The Bard's Tale Main Theme"

So as I played, one of the first things that happened was the typical "go in to the inn and fight off a cellar full of rats" fare. Only, it seemed that the patrons were singing....

"Beer, Beer, Beer..."

There was a happy bouncing ball which made it so I could even sing along should I choose to do so. Of course it was a delight just to follow along with the song and drunken revelry. It was a fun twist on the genre, and helped set the tone of the game. I thought that was it for the singing and it was just a fun little thing to highlight the different nature of the game. How glad was I that this wasn't the only song of the game.  A short while later while fighting a forest, I got to see an idiot trying to be a "chosen one" take arrow to the head. The cut scene was funny enough with the would-be-hero dying like an idiot, but that was just the beginning:

"Bad Luck to be You (part 1)"

The oompa loompas themselves couldn't have done a better job, or made me laugh harder, or have a song quite as memorable. I was laughing, and delighted because I realized that the game was likely littered with these gems, and it was. Hours of gameplay, countless "Bad Luck to Be You" songs, and hundreds of snarky comments later I finally came to a village overrun by vikings ready to sing about the fame of the Bard and the "help" he gave them:

"Here's to the Bard"

It was laugh-out-loud funny, the simple song at the beginning took on an all new meaning. I'd already been enjoying the songs along the way, and if I hadn't already thought that these songs would stick with me for years, this one sealed the deal. I don't know why this one in particular grabbed me, maybe because it, like many of the songs are just so darn perfect both in humor, tone, and composition.

Of course it's well worth playing through the game itself, even if it inevitably falls to the tropes it tries to lampoon, but the real gold, the real treasure come from the music and lyrics co-written by Tommy Tallarico, Clint Bajakian, and Jared Emerson-Johnson. The music is well worth a download to your ipod or other musical device, at least, it's worth it if you enjoy a good laugh. 

Midweek Music Box: Katamari Damacy Main Theme

Na Naaaa Na Na Na Na Na Na

I want to start this Midweek Music Box by say Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Naaaaaaaaah! Does it count as a Prince reference seeing as you play as the little Prince? No, well, it's the best I got.

Katamari Damacy has a simple, pleasant tune that comes on as soon as you load up game ...and dang it if it doesn't just catch your ears in an instant without ever letting go. I think it ranks up there in my top five tunes that get stuck in my head after hearing only a few notes. Seriously, this thing has Ducktales theme song type quality to it......

Okay, now that you're done singing the Ducktales theme to yourself and done thinking of how life is like a hurricane, here in, Duckberg; get the ol' ear canal ready for more tunes it won't be able to shake:

Did I mention Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah....

Who would ever have thought a game with simple polygon graphics, bright colors, and easy-going gameplay would carry within it one of the most memorable and catchy game tunes of the last 20 years? I know that may seem like a bold statement, but for me it that simple, almost intro is as catchy as the Mario Theme.  

It gets you in the groove, relaxes the mood, and generally sells the overall lax-attitude gameplay that's in store for the player. It doesn't get you hyped-up or  over-excited, but it does interested you as soon as you hear it. What game would dare to not have a bold and bombastic tune at its intro? Who would have thought rolling a giant ball around and trying to gather everything from push pins, to people, to continents would provide hours and hours of joy? Certainly not me. In fact when a couple of friends of mine introduced me to the game, I was skeptical when they explained the concept. Why should I pay any attention to the little green man with the funny shaped head? Well, as soon as the first few "Nah Nah Nah's" started, I couldn't help but both smile, and get the tune forever stuck in my head. 

Sometimes soundtracks try too hard, you know what I mean? Like they bring out the biggest of kettle drums, and the most brooding of tunes to convey mood, but it ends up sounding like every other "edgy" soundtrack out there. We get it, you're the soundtrack for a gritty, dark and mysterious FPS that's a "Totally unique experience," now off to the corner with all the others. But the main tune, and in fact all the tunes of Katamari Damacy, are crushingly pleasant and happy-go-lucky. They fit the goofy tone and actions of the "King of the Universe" and his son's mission to roll things up to recreate the galaxy so well, that anything other than the aggressive cheerfulness would do a disservice to the gameplay.  Take Cherry Blossom Color Season (Cherry Tree Times) for example:

Cherry Tree Times

Sooooo cute sounding. So peppy!  So much happiness. Soooo what are they saying? I don't know and don't care, it's cute and pretty and just so cheerful and chibi you can practically taste the quirkiness. 

And how about that pepped up version of the Nah Nah Nah song?

Okay, enough of that.  I'll finish up this review by sharing the lyrics from the song, beyond the Na Na Na'ing:

Katamari on the Rocks

Gaaaaaaah!!! What about the rhythm and pepped-up drum make this so irrepressibly cute? Why can't I help but smile?  Well, I have no idea what they're saying here either, but I am filled with much smiles while doing the rolling. I'll leave off with a copy of the lyrics for this final song so you can sing-a-long...should you so wish....

Na na na...

Don't worry, do your best
Picnic kibun, feel so good
Suteki na afternoon
Furachi na midnight yeah

Katamete korogasu I love you, itsudemo smile for you
Kimi dake ni love moon hey so! Ganbaranakucha
Compression, compression

Osoroi no t-shirts
Teami no muffler nado
Heart-warming mejiro oshi
Hitare etsu! Say goodbye (bye-bye)

Minna katamete shimaimashou, funpatsu shichaimasu
Konna hi wa utte odorou, shuuyaku wa boku da kedo
It's my way, it's my way

*Na na na na na na na na na katamari damashi
Na na na na na na na na na katamari damashi
Na na na na na na na na na katamari damashi
Na na na na na na na na na katamari damashi

Peace na kibun, yoishirete
Kagayaki heaven akogarete
Sutekisa sono atama
Mou omatsuri sawagisa

Sou suru koto ga marude biku bang, anata iro ni somemasu
Nani ka to riyuu o mitsukete wa, party ga shi ta no desu
Katamatte katamatte

* repeat x 2

Midweek Music Box: Guitar Hero (Ziggy Stardust)

Did he play guitar?

You step before the audience, guitar in hand, ready to rock. You're Axel Steel, you're Judy Nails, or maybe to fit the glam rock mood you pick Izzy Sparks.  The drummer starts a familiar beat, your fingers are in position, and suddenly you are no longer merely playing glorified style of the classic memory game Simon--you are a rock god! Or rather, a "Guitar Hero....

cue the music...

Okay, so maybe it's sometimes a little hard to get into that sort of mood every time you play the original Guitar Hero for Playstation 2--but that doesn't mean you don't feel extra cool if you manage to pull off a song on expert. For me, one of the first songs I was able to accomplish on the most difficult settings was David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust."  This isn't really a brag as it was less about "how well I played" as it was about the song being something you just could lose yourself in.
 Speaking of songs, here is, "Ziggy Stardust":

Yeah, it's not the version from the game, but when talking about one of the most iconic songs from one as accomplished as the late, great David Bowie, nothing but the original will do.  It's funny, when picking songs for the Midweek Music Box, I tend to prefer songs and music that were composed as original soundtracks for the game itself; unless of course the music fits exceptionally well with the game.  So yeah, part of me picked this because of David Bowie's passing, but I think I would have picked this song on down the line without the music world's loss--no that's not right--with the world's loss of this legend.

There are plenty of fantastic tunes on Guitar Hero that you can experience and play-along-to from Motorhead's "Ace of Spades" to Black Sabbath's "Iron Man." I love playing along to those while trying to to get the timing just right in an attempt to achieve the best score possible.  It is a game after all.  But there's just something magical about getting to jam along to "Ziggy Stardust." And you are jamming along not just losing yourself in the gameplay, but losing yourself in the music. At least I tend to lose myself in it.  Something about that song in particular makes me feel that much closer to actually being able to play guitar. It becomes less about getting a high score than it does about doing the song justice. 

Yes, in the end I'm no more close to playing guitar than the game Simon is to beeping and booping out a classical tune or a chart-topping hit.  Something about a Bowie tune though, playing it, hearing it, being a part of it...I think that "Ziggy Stardust"provides the feel the team at Harmonix was looking for when they first developed the game.  That feeling of you not just goofing around with an odd controller, but really getting to be in the shoes of legendary bands--or an artist like Bowie.

I wish I had some really awesome way of wrapping up this Midweek Music Box. Some great analogy, or a good quote with some verisimilitude on the life of David Bowie. Truthfully though, I just can't think of the right thing to say, and it would likely come across as either cheap or forced. It's hard losing a legend like David Bowie. We always joke about "rock gods" or the "immortal artist" and the like...but man this just plain hurts. Surprisingly more than expected. You kinda figured David Bowie would just keep going and going. It's hard to believe he was just as mortal as the rest of us. I guess though he gains immortality through his music. Best to just close with a collection of my favorite Bowie songs and remember that Ziggy did indeed play guitar.

"Down in the Underground"

"Changes"

"Space Oddity"

"Under Pressure"

"Heroes"

"The Man Who Sold the World"

"Lazarus"

May you rest in peace Mr. Bowie. Thanks for the music. Thanks for the artistry. Thanks most of all for giving so much of yourself into your craft right up to the end and leaving us as any good artist does...just wanting a little more.

Midweek Music Box: Kingdom Hearts 2 (Passion)

Even today the concept of merging Final Fantasy and Disney characters sounds bizarre and a tad goofy--no pun intended.  When Kingdom Hearts was first announced for the Playstation 2 I expected it to end up in the dustbin of history and was half certain we would end up talking about it years later as one of the dumbest game ideas ever...

But surprisingly,the whole thing works, in fact, it was fantastic.

In that weird and wonderful way many of the Magic Kingdom's projects seem to go, the fusion of Disney characters and Final Fantasy ones not only works but seems a natural fit.  Truthfully, I never expected to like this series as much as I did, much less fall in love with it.  Yet here I am, wanting to spend a little time praising the music from the sequel, Kingdom Hearts 2.

 "Passion" or "Sanctuary" as we call it here in the states, by Hikaru Utada brings a synthesizer J-Pop feel to the soundtrack giving the game an oddly ethereal sounding theme song.  Funny enough, just like the odd fusion of the of Disney and Square works, so does this infusion of Japanese pop music. There a dozens of surprisingly satisfying little touches throughout the song, here are a few that I enjoy in particular.

Set to cut scenes, the music starts the game, and I love that about it.  Making use of reversed audio, the background beat of the song mixed with electric guitar riffs and synthesizer padding helps the music set an adventurous tone for the game.  It doesn't do it using orchestral music or something that feels vaguely reminiscent of the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" theme, but in a way that still fresh to this day.  Another key moment in the song that always gets me is the bridge mid-way through.  I like the driving beat you get during the sequence where Sora, Donald, and Goofy run up the spiral staircase from Chain of Memories flashback.  It not only serves the cut scene well, but it keeps the tune from growing stale.  The swooning vocals never feel overdone nor do they painfully remind me of many tunes that try, even to this day, to find ways to imitate Celine Dion's vocals from the infamous "My Heart Will Go On," song.

To this day "Passion/Sanctuary" remains one of my favorite video game songs.  I love hearing not only the video game version of this, but the original Japanese version as well.  Instrumental versions of this song have played a key role during my marathon story writing sessions, and in general it transports me back to where I was in life when Kingdom Hearts came out nearly a decade ago.  I've included links to both the intro video and the Japanese language version of this song.  I know that some have called this song a "phony music track" that has "tricked" you into thinking it's good.  I to heck with that.  For me it has always been a great single and always will be.  I will likely go on about some of the other music at another time, but for now, here are the tracks:

"Game Version"

"Japanese Language (and video) Version"