Game Music...



New Japan Philharmonic - Smashing... live!

Computer game music is getting more and more sophisticated as game consoles get more powerful, but in the West the music has still not reached the same status that is given to Film soundstracks. However in Japan videogames are treated with a lot more respect, as evidenced by this CD. It's a recording of a live concert by the New Japan Philharmonic orchestra, who may be more used to Schostakovich and Mozart, tackling the soundtrack of Super Smash Brothers Melee. This is a very silly beat-em up game, with character's straight out of Nintendo's most famous franchises: Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Donkey Kong, Link, Princess Zelda... they are in it, and they all have there own distinctive signature tunes. Back to the CD - it's pretty good: the theme to the Zelda games is just made for a full on orchestra, but it's quite suprising how well the various versions of the Super Mario theme. Anyway, if you're interested its currently being given away with this month's edition of the official Nintendo magazine.