Xenosaga Episode III
 

Xenosaga Episode III [Also Sprach Zarathustra] Original Sound Best Tracks

Mark your calendars, July 12 is the date for what will probably be the last Xeno album we'll get our grubby hands on. Yuki Kaijura, is once again doing the OST, and from what I understand... she'll be the only person doing the OST unlike last time.

So, thoughts... speculations... worries?

Personally, that Best Tracks they threw in at the end of the album worries me. I do hate it when they leave soundtracks unfinished. Especially with Episode 2's soundtrack missing all of the in-game music.

Crap, I wanted more Hosoe.

Probably just another Movie Scene Soundtrack. Don't get me wrong, I love Kajiura's work, especially on Episode II's Soundtrack - I just hated to fact that Shinji Hosoe didn't release his tracks on a separate album (yet again, the strongest points of that game's audio was the battle musics, and space-time anomaly music.)

Kajiura - Put BATTLE MUSIC on this album!!!!

Like Kaleb, I'm also disappointed that Hosoe will not be returning to the fold. I was also pissed off that an official soundtrack was never released for the music he composed (thank god for game rippers, though). Despite that, I am happy to see that Kajiura will be back to score the music for what seems to be the final game of the series. Now, this time, she will be composing ALL the music, not just the cinematic tracks. The tag of "Best Tracks" also has me a worried and befuddled but I will still pick this album up. I loved the Xenosaga II MOVIE SCENE SOUNDTRACK, and if she brings more of that to the table, I'm all for it.

Only thing I find wrong with Kajiura is the fact that she neglects brass entirely. Only one piece in Xenosaga II had brass in it, the rest were strings, electronic instruments, piano, ethnic instruments, and vocals. Don't get me wrong, I loved the soundtrack, but I just wish she would include brass in the mix. Gradius V is a perfect example of orchestra/electronica fusion. Sakimoto used the ENTIRE orchestra, not just some of the instruments. So I hope that Kajiura goes with more a wider spectrum of instruments this time around.

I'm also quite concerned about the "Best Tracks" label and the implications of missing music. If not for the hard work of game rippers, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy Hosoe's contributions to Episode II.

One problem I have with Episode II at the moment is the rather contrasting styles of Kajiura and Hosoe. Both are good at what they do but there's not a tremendous amount of synergy, which is a waste. Could have been the different aspects of the game music they were working with but still... You could very easily tell that two very different people worked on the music. So perhaps with Kajiura working alone this time, the music might be more cohesive. That and Kajiura's music can be pretty thematic. It'd be interesting to hear what Kajiura has up her sleeves this time because I don't think I've heard her do any proper in-game music for towns, dungeons and such like. However, there's always the inevitable question of whether Episode III can match up with her phenomenal work on the hack//SIGN anime where Episode II fell a bit short...

On the flip-side, Hosoe did some very good dungeon themes so that will be missed. His battle themes weren't too shabby either. I wasn't exactly fond of some of his town themes. By themselves, they are alright but when taken together with the rest of Episode II's music, they can be quite awkward and out of place.

I thought Hosoe's work was far stronger than Kaijura's. I'm disappointed he won't be returning, and I hope Kaijura's work doesn't turn out like Mitsuda's did for Episode I. I was just so angered at Episode I's soundtrack. How can you be given the London Symphonic Orchestra and waste it?! Let's hope for some richer music this time around.

Which piece might this be?

I'm listening to Episode III's soundtrack right now and I personally feel a distinct change in style. It may or may not be distinct to some of you, but I think it's definitely there.

I actually very much miss Mitsuda's Episode I soundtrack. "Gnosis" is quite simply one of the most epic and powerful pieces of music I have ever heard in a video game and "The Resurrection" and "The Miracle" are breathtakingly beautiful.

While I like Kajiura's work on Episode II (the first seven tracks are just simply excellent to name a few), I feel that Kajiura never once came close to capturing the epic feel and raw power that Mitsuda did so well. I guess I wish that we had the opportunity to hear how Mitsuda might have further developed his Episode I score in a second installment.

That being said, I agree that Hosoe's style was just way too different from Kajiura's. Neither composer's contributions seemed to form a cohesive whole and that may been part of the reason that my overall impression of Episode II's soundtrack after playing through the entire game was only decent.

Today's the day! Anyone get it yet? :D

Got in on order - 1st press even. I've just got some stuff on order that hasn't been released yet, so I'm debating splitting it up into a couple orders so I can get it sooner.

If I do it now, that'll time it about right with getting the game and DVD. ^^;;

(Importing is fun!)

There are also at least two rips of it on Tokyo Toshokan, one in VBR mp3 and one in APE. I haven't had time to sit down and really listen to it yet, but after a quick sampling, it seems that at least some of the in-game music is included. At the very least, I've identified disc 1, track 8 ("Rolling Down the U.M.N.") as the dungeon theme from the demo. On the other hand, I don't think the battle and boss themes from the demo are on the OST, so we may only be getting dungeon music. Still, some in-game is better than no in-game, and I'm sure someone will do a rip of the missing in-game music once the US version comes out.

From the few tracks I've listened to so far, I agree with Hiro. This does sound distinctly different from Ep. II and other Kajiura albums. To be more specific, it sounds darker and more subdued to me, which is fitting I suppose given the serious issues that come up in this installment (not to mention, the end of the series itself). I'm not sure I like it yet, but I need to listen to more before I make a real judgement.

..... err... mind to give us that link on sendspace please?

Wow...

I've been listening to a bit of this soundtrack so far, and I have to say... Kajiura's style really has come a long way from Episode II. So far, at track 10 there aren't any techno downbeats, there's a lot of sort of dark ambiance, and an almost Mitsuda-esque vibe to some of the tracks.

I'm absolutely loving this so far. Track 11, "on our ways" is awesome with the percussion, little electric pulses, and the english horn solo.

I believe it will be truly wonderful, considering Ep. 2:s OST. Kajiura has climbed high on my favorite composer list since I listened to Xenosaga 2:s OST. Great thread, great music, great series =)

I really thought the overall quality of the music in the series was in a declining spiral from Xenogears forward. I liked some of the tracks in the II game, but for the most part thought the music as a whole wasn't as good.

After listening to the III OST... Wow... Kajiura has indeed matured a great deal. I simply love her sound in this one. The darker themes are slower and more mood driven and the heroic themes are less comic... Listening to this one is a true joy.

I just hope the game is better. ;) That's a different topic though.

I really was impressed with the Episode III Best tracks. I think it is a step back toward the original style of Xenogear's music, and a step in the right direction. Xenosaga episode 1 featured almost no music in dungeons, which really ruined the feel of the game. Xenosaga II featured music in dungeons and towns but none of it was inthe style of Xenogears at all, or the music from the movie scenes. Instead it was very "happy go lucky computer beep music". Don't get me wrong, some of it was ok but most of the music that wasn't story or cut scene musdic ended up in this style.

In episode III we seem to have some music named after areas like "limestone cave" and so forth. The music does not contrast in style from the everything else, it fits well. It is also, for the most part all performed by live musicians. This is a huge plus in my book. Even the UMN music. Live musicians playing the jazz track that accompanies what I am guessing is the surfing of the UMN network. So far I am impressed. I just hope there is more to be released later and they don't cheat us of the rest of the music in the game like in Episode II.

edited for spoilers

Favourite tracks

Fallout
We Have to Believe in something
Promised Pain
Battle for your Soul
Godsibb

Off the top of my head - there are others ^^
Love this soundtrack, even though it is missing tracks. I hope there will be a full soundtrack, but I personally doubt it after Xenosaga 2. I can't get enough of the vocals she uses in her tracks (in all her work)

Fion and Eri Itoh have simply amazing voices - especially in accordance to her work. I hope that Kajiura does more VGM work in the future

Out of curiosity, is the final battle track on the soundtrack?

Yes. The final battle theme is

many thanks

Really? That track is smack dab in the middle of the 1st disc, not to mention the music featured in one of the trailers :eyebrow:

I have just seen a video on youtube - it is the last battle and trailer music ^^