DISC 2
Disc2 track01- track04 commentary
Good evening guys,
This is Sekito.
I feel that I am over the moon, after I brought my own brand-new Mac book at home!
Anyway, today I will introduce you, the rookie of the sound department, the wizard of the sound, Mr Nakashima.
Let us begin!
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【Mr. Nakashima comments;】
Good evening.
I am a rookie of the sound department, the wizard of the sound, Mr Nakashima.
Recently a small alley cat appeared all in sudden in my neighborhood.
Everyday, I feed this cute alley cat with such a small figure with my sorrow, by buying food from convenience store.
As I was looking at this cutie while the cat was having its dinner in one go, I suddenly thought of that maybe this alley cat looks like a ,,, . Torgal from “THE LAST REMNANT”!
Oh, Yep!
From now on, I will call him, “Tuna”! Now, his name became “TUNA”
End.
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【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This is such a heart warming story from Mr, Nakashima.
But considering the name “TUNA”… mmm.
Today, we will begin the commentary for Disc2, starting with the track“The Heavens` Majesty”.
[Disc 2]
■1. The Heavens` Majesty
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
The track is from a city part of the game when the player enters the city called “Elysion”. Elysion is one the biggest city out of 2 other cities in “THE LAST REMNANT”, accordingly.
The story involves around the city of Elysion as a center of its own role.
Despite Rush matures dramatically through meeting important characters as the story goes, Rush who was born in an island of Yulum does not yet know anything about Elysion.
I wrote the track, starting with a fairly big intro with my intention for the player who would be experiencing a great first impression with surprises when enters Elysion, parallel to what would Rush be experience for the first time of entering Elysion.
The 2nd half of the track has riff that describing the feeling for the ending of the travel.
I hope I have made the intention clear enough for the track as well on the composition.
■2. Gateway to the West
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
The track is also from a city part of the game when the player goes into the city of Balterossa. The city is known as a trading city with economically highly growing, and the city is surrounded by desert. I wrote the track to describe the liveliness of the city of Balterossa by writing uplifting track.
■3.The Seat of Vulcan
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This track is also from a city part of the game for the city of Royotia. Royotia is a city for miner and there are a quite few industrial buildings in the city. As you can see the city in the game, there are not that many people in the city.
I wrote the track with no obvious melody to intensify the mood of the city being industrial and primitive in a way. Also I wrote a simple and flat rhythm pattern and chord sequences for the theme.
■4.Swirling Sands
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
The track is from a field part of the game including The Great Sand Sea.
The Great Sand Sea has a very few trees surviving that surrounded by a massive deserted land with a great clear sky in such a severe environment. There are also many enemies out in the desert as well. So that the player has be cautious at all time when you are on the quest.
On the 1st part of the track, I wrote a simple riff based track. As a comparison, I wrote the acoustic guitar part, accompanied by melody of sitar on the 2nd part of the track.
DISC 2
Disc2 track05- track09 commentary
Good evening, everyone. Yamanaka is here.
The sample of the soundtrack “THE LAST REMNANT” finally arrived!
I realize that the release date is getting closer by looking at those samples.
Mr. Sekito is almost crying by looking at those CDs!
Marushi Akio has a big smile in his face with those CDs!
And a great image of a great remnant on 3CDs!
Marushi Akio explained me with all his enthusiasm about this image,
Today, we will start from the commentary of the 5th Track of Disc2 of the soundtrack.
■5. Free and Easy
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
The track is from a city part of the game when the player enters the city of Baaluk.
Baaluk places utmost point of the world of “THE LAST REMNANT”, with an essence of good-all countryside city/town. I wish I were visiting Baaluk and forgetting about a time going by, with a cup of tea in one hand.
■6. The Conqueror`s Message
■7. Something About that Guy
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
This event includes marching out the army of the conqueror in the street of Elysion.
I tried not to go nearer to the “A typical marching army theme” for this composition as you hear a lot of the time it in the commercial media. But I needed an essence of marching army for the music none the less. LOL
This event particularly, I think that the purpose of the event is only a full focus on Roeas character who is looking great in the event. Not to worry even if there is an old guy with red coat appeared in the event. LOL
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
I love the muscular belly of Madam Roeas. LOL
I particularly like the scene of that muscular body on focus, even though Roeas gives big speech scarily to the people with an attitude in the event. The balance of Castanea character who is the biggest mercenary out of the army and Roeas visually is quite amusing but it makes perfect sense to me.
I concentrated on writing the scene of after the army left from the city to emphasize a suggestion of how Rush would be coping the situation from now on.
■8. The Binding
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
This event shows a glance of unbreakable power of the conqueror against people.
The brief for the music was that music with unpredictable horrific feeling and the effect on stimulating anxiety. The underscoring was so brilliant that the actual event finished with an impressive and dynamic impact in the end.
【Mr.Sekito comments;】
The conqueror is indeed an exceptional who can bound the ark remnant.
I wrote the track using unusual scale for describing the spooky, suspicious feeling in the track. I also wrote the track unresolved, to leave unsettling mood in the track.
■9. Arcane Mysteries
【Mr.Sekito comments;】
This track is from the hidden part of the dungeon in the game. Although this hidden part exists in 2 places, the music is only 1 version as the 2 places are essentially the exactly the same world. I hope that I have written the track that has mysterious feeling in the track to fit exactly with the concept of this world.
END
Translation: Atsushi Suganuma
DISC 2
Disc2 track10- track13 commentary!
Good evening. This is Sekito.
Today, I slipped from the stairs in this rainy day. Then I have managed to spin myself with kicking a pot of my plant on the floor that has a picture of ducks.
Today, we will introduce you, a guy from the sound department who came back from UK, the brave heart, Mr. Suganuma.
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【Mr. Suganuma comments;】
Good evening, guys. Suganuma is here.
The soundtrack is without a doubt the super duper heavy rock influenced music.
I would like all of you to recommend this particular track for tonight, as follows…
Disc1 “The Bonds of Friendship”!!!!!
The track really is a comparison to the tracks of heavily distorted guitar orientated, up-tempo, uplifting music during a battle in the game.
For instance, imagine that you 2 friends that hate each other would have to stay in the 1 small room together… If you ever play this particular track while they are staying in the room, the result is very obvious. They will most likely to be a best friend ever for the rest of their lives, only by listening to the track in the same room!!!
It is that strong influencing!
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【Mr. Sekito commented; 】
Wow, you talk the talk, Mr. Suganuma. Peace!
We will move on the commentary of 10th track of Disc2!
■10. Memories Regained
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
My brief for the music was that the emphasis on confusion and mysteriousness for the composition. The musical box-like instrument reminds me of horror movies. The track does describe the mysterious mood for the event rather well.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
I personally think that the event has several hidden messages. I hope everyone will find those messages as well. For the music, I emphasized on those hidden messages that this event has towards the player. I assume that the scene shows its own depth of whole story off and on, especially the scene where it shows the conversation of Rush and Marina in his childhood.
■11. Family
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
As you can imagine from the title of the track, the concept is to show the bond of Sykes` family. The father “John Sykes” really is a great father figure that it is becoming so rare for general household in recent years.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
I feel a bond of affection of Sykes`s family when the father John looks at his family photo in the beginning of the event.
This track is a different variation of the theme of Yullum Island. Although they are at stake of war, I deliberately wrote with slow tempo to emphasize on the moment of reunion of Rush and John. Mr. Yagi gave me an idea for this track also. He really does have a great sense in screen play.
■12. Ancient Magicks
■13. The Curse
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
This event is for showing how obscene and disgusting Wagram character really is for the player.
I would love the player to think “What a jerk” for Wagram character.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
This track is also a different version of the theme of Wagram. I tried to achieve the becoming less in the mix to emphasis deeper voice of the dialog of Wagram in the mix. With my intention, I tried to write the track in a very simple form.
DISC 2
Disc2 track14- track17 commentary!
Good evening.
This is Sekito.
I have been too busy writing on my new year card for 2009 lately.
I did not notice that I had already written with the letter, saying,
“Happy New Year! 2008!” on 70 of my new year card for 2009.
Oops!
Anyway, Today`s guest for the comment is…
The love in his word of wisdom, “Takamori Saigo” of Shinjuku, Mr. Onishi!
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【Mr. Onishi comments; 】
Hello, “Takamori Saigo” of Shinjuku, I am Onishi.
The weather has gone very cold recently. How is everyone?
I imagine that some of you have been busy playing “THE LAST REMNANT”, of course!
I am recommending you the great, “THE LAST REMNANT” soundtrack for you!
It will be no mistake of buying the soundtrack as you will be enthusiastic by only listening to the music! Especially the 26th track of “Reversal!” on Disc1 is the best! !
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【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Oh no, It looks like that he might be the one that got really enthusiastic of all. But I appreciate your promotion of the soundtrack, though!
This blog may be becoming only for the promotion purposes itself…LOL
Today, we will start from 14th track of Disc2. Have a great time!
■14. The Marshalls
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
This track is a different variation of the track “Home”. The harp part of the track describes sorrow but warm hearted “Marina” very well. Originally, the music should only have sorrowful mood in the track. But with this variation, the music really works with the dialog very effectively.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
I wrote the variation of the theme of Yullum Island with a replacing of harp part.
In the event, I feel the agony in her dialog. The track was written with expressing sorrow but warm and emotional feeling in the track. I could not have written this track without the direction and a wise idea of the arrangement from Mr. Yagi.
■15. Limberlost
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
This track is from Crookfen, a field part of the game. The main impression of the music is created by acoustic guitar arpeggio part. Flute part of the melody phrase n the middle of the track changes to the accompaniment of bright organ part in the structure of the track. Whole mood of the track is uplifting for the player to play the game.
■16. In the Shadow of the Dragon
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
This track is from Nagapur, one of the biggest cities in the world of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
Nagapur has an enormous dragon which supposed to protect the city and remains as a guardian of the city.
The lord of Nagapur is a villain indeed.
I wrote this track with more force driven approach for describing a intense feeling in the track.
■17. The Crumbling Fortress
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
The track is from Ghor Castle, a city part of the game.
Ghor Castle is a territory of Nagapur initially.
The music is written for bringing out the image of rusty old Ghor Castle, which still remains its own dignity from prosperous years.
DISC 2
Disc2 track18- track24 commentary!
Hello, I am a Yagi, the planner.
In the past few days, I suddenly had an urge of seeing the ending of “THE LAST REMNANT”. Then as I started playing the game, for no reason, I suddenly could not compete with the last boss of the game in Disc1!?!?!
Huh? What is happening?
I did not have a hard time when I played on my test playing before, though.
How did I do that?
So far, I have just lost 5 times in a low… I must beat the last boss for this time!
Anyway, I will move on to the commentary session.
I have my personal great memories for the tracks for today`s commentary, actually.
I would love everyone to have a listen to those tracks.
■18. Old Traditions, New Methods
【Mr. Sekito comments 】
This track is from a town of Melphina, a city part of the game.
Melphina is an ordinary town that surrounded by a beautiful nature with forests.
I decided to use the acoustic guitar part and xylophone part for the track to describe the city with peaceful nature of trees and river. I wrote the track also with a slightly different approach to the previous tracks for a city part of the track for the composition.
■19. Unrelenting Advance
■20. Fallen
【Mr. Yagi comments】
First of all, My hat’s off for to Mr. Sekito’s composition for this event.
The music does not seem to be cliché of the battle track in games, rather, the music was written for underscoring this event especially.
In fact, this event includes a key element for a turning point for story.
I remember that I and Mr. Sekito did have spent a huge amount of time and effort for getting the right brief especially for this event. e.g. Music cue for the event.
I still feel really emotionally stunned, every time when I listen to the track “Fallen”.
【Mr. Sekito comments 】
During the event, there is so much going on with the scene of confused civilian, the scene of major war etc. For the music, I especially concentrated on describing an agony of civilian and allies, anger towards unbeaten power of the conqueror, and emotional in tense moment of characters.
■21. Catafalque
■22. A Son`s Lose
■23. Vows Renewed
【Mr. Yagi comments】
The music for this event really captures the feeling of desperation and fear after a number of tragic incidents happened in previous events. And the music also captures the rise of hope that made by the particular character, appearing on this story.
This event begins with following the story that previous event suggested before.
I have had a hard time coming up with the right idea for the following previous event to this event musically. As Mr. Sekito comments as follows, the music interprets the event very successfully. I highly recommend the player to enjoy this event.
【Mr. Sekito comments 】
Transition from the despair to the hope brings people altogether in this event.
The music for this particular event is very memorable since the pre production of the music. This event is one of my unforgettable event scenes, personally.
■24. Everflow (Music: Yamanaka)
【Mr. Yamanaka comments 】
The track is from The Aqueducts, a dungeon part of the track.
The dungeon itself seems really humid that it could instantly make things moss-grown.
I wrote the track to capture this humid dungeon exactly by putting musical part of slow filtering effect.
DISC 2
Disc2 track25- track28 commentary!
Good evening. This is Sekito.
I questioned myself for whether or not I should put eggs in my fridge.
After putting eggs in my fridge, I realized that eggs were actually boiled eggs(Japanese one that you don’t put them in the fridge at all.)
I made a pan cake out of them after all, though.
Anyway, Tonight, we have a final guest from our sound department.
I am introducing the king of Akihabara, Mr. Uchimura!
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【Mr. Uchimura comments; 】
Hi all, Uchimura is here. I love all the maids in Akihabara by the way!
Is n`t tonight rather cold?
Recently, I have just been to **id pub in Ikebukuro!
The place was packed with girls in costume, I was loving that place!
I would love to sit on the bar counter for next time! LOL
I have been busy watching latest anime and hanging out in **id café in Akihabara…
Every time when I visit Akihabara, I see many Torgal-like girls, only ears that are look-alike though. LOL
Sorry I got carried away with talking my personal favourites… LOL
By the way, has everyone complete “The Last Remnant” yet?
It might be a little hard to complete as the game contains so many missions and playable tasks, etc.
Also, the soundtrack of “The Last Remnant” ! It is so great!
I got given the sample of the soundtrack with the autograph of Mr. Sekito and Mr. Yamanaka!!!!!
The best present ever!
Thank you so much!
You guys take care now and try not to catch a cold!
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【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Did he only talk about himself? Or did n`t he?? LOL
Tonight, we will begin with the commentary on 25th track of Disc 2.
I hope that you will have a great time.
■25. Assembling the Puzzle
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
The brief for this event is “Insanity”.
At a glance, the character seems to come across as a foolish character. But the character actually veils fearful, dreadful characteristic behind itself. The music brings out the factor of this event very well. Human beings can be grim and horrible, indeed.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
I deliberately wrote the music to describe the feeling of comical and glamorous, which relatively with the dreadful characteristic in the event. I tried to capture the characterictic from the 2nd half of the event when the character gives a big speech especially, in the music. I feel that I succeeded my intention towards the music for this event.
■26. The Gates of Hell
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Among our development team, our team members used to call the name of this particular battle” The battle of monster with magic square”.
I wrote this track for the battle that related to the story about Wagram.
The intro of the track starts off with heavily distorted guitar riff. The track was written intentionally for stimulating the emotion of the player of the game. The track also has a mellow melodic section structurally to achieve my intention toward the track, rather than having a heavy distorted guitar riff all the way through the track.
■27.A Sister`s Faith
■28.The Price of Arrogance
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
This event describes the maturity of Irina throughout a course of the story of the game.
I always think to notice the bravery of Irena`s Character despite of her age, being 14 years old. As opposed to the character of Irena, the character of Wilfred Hermeien seems to me….I am speechless. LOL
But I personally like the character, like Wilfred, to have a nasty role in the game.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
The character of Wilfred Hermeien seems to make his role very well in the event.
The role of sub character nasty “Wilfred Hermeien” works perfectly with the role of Rush character even though Rush does not do any particular expression to confront with Wilfred character in the event.
DISC 2
Disc2 track29- track32 commentary!
Good evening, This is Yamanaka.
It is a day before the release date for the soundtrack!
For this special day, we have a great guest for our interview.
The guest is Mr. Naora, the art director/ art producer of “THE LAST REMNANT”!
He was kind enough to have us for our interview tonight despite of his busy schedule.
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Good evening, This is Naora, everyone.
I just feel bad for everyone that I have given the sample of the soundtrack before its release.
As I have been listening to the soundtrack while at work, I just find it difficult to concentrate on my work as I am listening to the soundtrack…
My “moral gauge” is always at the top notch while I listen to the soundtrack.
Also, when I listen to the soundtrack, the music does not only get all my attention.
The music really brings out all my memory of the time that we had during the game development.
While the production for promotion video was under development,
I had mistaken the music, which is supposed to be the theme of David Nassau, as the theme for “THE LAST REMNANT” when I first heard the music.
I suggested Mr. Sekito, saying,
“If it is possible, would the theme of David Nassau be changed to the theme for “THE LAST REMNANT”??
Mr. Sekito replied,
“OK, but the music was meant to be the theme for David Nassau…”
I suggested again, to Mr. Sekito, saying,
“Yeah, but the music captures the characteristic of the “THE LAST REMNANT” brilliantly.
And it also intensifies the emotion in the game.”
Mr. Sekito replied,
“Absolutely! But the music was really meant to be the theme for David Nassau, though”
We used to have the conversation just like above for 3 times at the time! But in fact, we had that actual conversation 2 years ago.
Now it becomes all in the memory of good all days.
A few weeks ago, our development team had a little game-ending viewing gathering for ourselves.
I almost had tears in my eyes when I listen to the music for the ending of the game while we had a viewing gathering.
At the gathering, I could not pass my message to Mr. Sekito who could not attend the viewing for his rehearsal for the live concert.
I would like to send my message to Mr. Sekito on this blog, as I missed the opportunity last time.
“Mr. Sekito, would you still think changing the theme of David Nassau to the theme for “THE LAST REMNANT”??” LOL
Well, I would love all the game player and listener to enjoy listening to the soundtrack!
Also please have great fun playing “THE LAST REMNANT”!
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I clearly remember that particular conversation between Mr. Sekito and Mr. Naora in the beginning of the development.
Where this commentary leads to us??
Who will we be introducing for the next interviews in the next few weeks?!?
As well as we think about those matters, we will also begin with the commentary of 29th track of Disc2.
■29.Reunited at Last
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
The brief for this event is the word ”Famiy”. For the music, we had a briefing to compose a different variation of the track “Home”,
The outcome with this variation is brilliant and very impressive.
I was impressed with the fact that the event really stands out with this variation of the music.
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
The event itself has a very short length of all.
I personally feel relieved that the event shows the brotherhood of Rush and Irena in the distruction during war period.
I composed to vary the track from the theme of peaceful life Sykes family in Yullum Island.
■30.Echoing Hallways（music：Yamanaka）
【Mr. Yamanaka comments; 】
The track is from Nagapur, in the part of hallway or the foyer of Nagapur.
The track in fact includes the melody from the track “Dark Secrets”.
It is not a problem whether or not the track is using the melody from the different track.
■31.Rewriting the Rules
■32.The Second Awakening
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
From this event on, there would be many important scenes in terms of the story in the game.
We continued to put our idea into one place by redoing demos many times.
We concentrated on covering that what are the specific feel for the music, how much should the music be involved in each scene, how we achieve to intensify the momentum with the consideration of the story in the actual event.
The number of meeting that we have had was enormous. I think the number of our meeting for this event was the biggest out of all events in the game.
I really hope that the player would have a great time on enjoying this event.
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
I did rewriting the music over and over again for this particular track.
The music cue for the breakbeat and the orchestral strings works perfectly with a huge effect from great dialog.
I introduced the main theme for the scene where Rush fight back the conqueror with full of anger.
DISC 2
Disc2 track33-track 36 commentary.
Recently, I found a strange tape with the sticker, said that “song for love, by T. Sekito”, while I was tidy up my desk.
As I was giggling about a success of finding this tape, thinking that “This must be some kind of mistake!?” Mr. Yamanaka, who was accidentally walking through the room, caught me at the exact moment.
The photo here
Today, it is finally the release date for the soundtrack of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
This exclusive blog continues only until a week from Today. I will do my best till then!
Well, today`s guest on this blog is…
The busiest man of the team, the director of “THE LAST REMNANT”, Mr. Takai!!!
Let us begin!
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Good evening!
I am Takai, the director of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
Has everyone had a great time playing “THE LAST REMNANT”?
The game itself contains quite large amount of data, I think.
I hope everyone is reaching towards the end of the game.
I imagine that the player has found many great tracks of Mr. Seiko’s music in the game.
I am extremely happy with the music that Mr. Sekito has composed and I am very thankful to his work. Especially he has managed to compose many tracks for the battle.
As I look back, it was 3 years ago when the producer told me that who would like to use for our composer for the game. I remember that I told him with my instant answer, saying that” Mr. Sekito!” at the time.
I still think that I made my decision truly right.
Looking back, as well as it seems like a good old days, I really do not feel that it seem like the end of the development. Rather, all the staff seems to be busy working.
Well, they really are working their heads off, intensely to be exact.
I would not feel to stop them working though.
All the staff, including me, we are constantly working at various things for our game development.
I am very confident to say that after new-year, we will be able to give some great news for everyone.
Best regards
The director Takai
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That's right! It really is a great memory looking back our time.
We will start with the commentary of 33th track of Disc 2.
■33.Gwayn's Bellow
■34.The Remnant of Fear
■35.Marion's Blessing
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
This event describes the existence of massive power of Remnant itself. I wanted to deliver the message that the world exists in such a fragile balance even if the world seems perfectly in peace. I hope the player would be able to read my message from seeing this event.
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This event is one of the most important events for the story of “THE LAST REMNANT”
■36.Whispers of the Ancients（music：Yamanaka）
【Mr. Yamanaka comments;】
This track is for a dungeon of ancient ruins. I composed with the approach of symphonic orchestration as oppose to the other music from dungeon part of the game.
I tried to capture the theme of ancient atmosphere by adding thumping drums, like an avalanche.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Since today is a very special day of the release date for the soundtrack,
We will introduce the commentary of Disc 3 as well!!!
Please hold tight for the next commentary.
