DISC 3
Disc3 1st track-3rd track commentary
================【DISC3】================
■1.Breakers on the Shore
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This track is from Fornstrand, a field part of the game.
Fornstrand has dark sky, wild terrain and many enemies in its field.
The music has slow but strongly steady rhythm with keeping the good balance of dark mood in the music. On the second half of the track, it has a sorrow feeling in the track when strings part kicks in. For me, the structure and the feel of the track work perfectly. I hope all of you would feel the same, too.
■2.Enter the Seven
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
This event is for the introduction of “Seven” who are my favorite characters in the game. By all means, “Seven” really are very cool characters. The music captures the evilness of “Seven” very cleverly.
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
Again, I love muscular body, on her stomach especially, of Roeas. This event shows the first introduction of “Seven”. I deliberately compose the music with the emphasis on Rhythm section and Brass section in order to emphasize the strong individuals of “Seven” characters.
■3.Life Without Remnants
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
From earlier period of the game development, the director of “Mr. Takai” suggested to us to have a 2 individual music for dependant on whether the world has remnant or not.
I have managed to capture the deep inside meaning of the existence of Remnant without sounding only sorrow and dry.
Also in my composition, I captured the message that why civilization dependent on Remnant, and why Remnant dependent on civilization.
DISC 3
Disc3 track4-track7 commentary
Good evening!
I have a technique that when I can get rid of boiled water to sink when I eat instant cup fried Chinese noodle. I pour boiled water so well that the sink does not go “bowink!”, because of the temperature difference between the sink and the water. I use my technique every time when I eat cup chow-mein! Whee!
Anyway, we will start from the commentary of the 4th track of Disc3 tonight.
I hope you enjoy the commentary.
■4.Hermeien's Ultimatum
■5.Accepting the Challenge
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
The event itself has a huge comparison with the 1st half of the event, being horribly bright, and the 2nd half of the event, being incredibly dark. I do not see it as a one whole event. LOL
The brief for this event is e word “Insanity”. The theme for this event shares the same theme as the track “Assembling the Puzzle”. This event particularly has its own madness and horrific mood in the event. In the 2nd half of the event, the event describes Hermeien`s madness rather well. It is so dark, indeed.
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
The character of Hermeien has become stronger and scarier than the past events. I think this event really reflect the difference of the characteristic of Hermeien very well as you can see.
The 2nd half of the event, I emphasized the darker mood in the music to capture a life and death battle between Hermeien character and the Lord Ghor who used to be a partner of Hermeien in the past.
■6.Press to Victory
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
The track used to be called ”The battle for “Seven”” among our development team.
This track is introduced in the game only when the player fights against “Seven” characters in the game.
I chose very effective approach to compose the music by using unison on the guitar tapping part and Arpeggio bass part during intro.
It works really great with the event especially when the camera panning on the beginning of the event. I think that the player would love each character of “Seven” who have an individual unique strength for each character.
■7.Turn the Tide
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This track is triggered when the player has an advantage with the moral gauge during their battle.
The track has up-tempo; hard rock style in its basis, the track also has a symphonic orchestral style as well in the track. I added Ducker Delay effect on the melody, which is played by the guitar part. I love guitar effect like that on my guitar part. LOL
The track runs very smoothly with the guitar riff after the 1st half of the track.
DISC 3
Disc3 track8th-track12th commentary
Good evening, this is Yagi, the event planner.
At last! The soundtrack has been released!
I have been listening to the soundtrack on everyday basis, honestly.
This soundtrack will certainly be the masterpiece in the game music world...
If some of you have not yet bought the soundtrack, I would recommend this awesome soundtrack!
Moving on, we will begin with our commentary for today, then.
Oh, almost forgot to mention about my progress of game playing since the last week!
Since the last week attempt of that the last boss battle, I still have not yet achieved to beat the last boss… how awful is this for the game developer`s point of view…
I am planning to complete “The Last Remnant” by the end of this year.
Wait a minute! We only have 2 weeks left for the new-year in 2009!? No way!
Mmm we might have to move on to our commentary session for today!
Let us begin!
■8.Unexpected Betrayal
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
I wanted to have a slightly different style of music for this particular event.
I tried to bring out the moment of indescribably dangerous situation by Mr. Seiko’s underscore for this event. Mr. Sekito, without any doubt, has composed the perfect music for this event. I am very impressed with this underscore from its coolness of the music.
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
The event goes quickly with panicky situation. The scene with explosions sound effect, for example, is taking the most of space in the mix. To avoid the interfering between the sound effect and music, I deliberately reduced the low frequency on the music for the mix.
■9.Out of Control
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
The track used to be called “The battle for THE REMNANT” among our development team.
The player can listen to the track when the player is in the battle mode with the Remnant, for example with Cyclopse.
The track has many selections of instruments of synthesizer part, guitar part, and symphonic orchestral part. The 2nd half of the track introduces the chaotic feeling in the track, which is produced by the guitar part, played on odd time signature, and strings part.
■10.Beat the Odds
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
This track is for when the player is in crisis during the battle.
The timpani part is played during the intro. I chose a symphonic approach to the music for the track. The player might not be able to recognize about the fact that the track has an intensity movement on the 2nd half of the track.
This track is meant to yell out the player during the battle which is being in crisis.
■11.The Bitter End
■12.My Liege, My Enemy
DISC 3
Disc3 track13th-track16th commentary
Hello, this is Sekito.
Recently, I am realizing the end of year is coming closer clearly when I notice the freezing cold weather in the mornings and the evenings.
On the day like this, I feel awkward to get out of bed. I thought of bright idea that I set my alarm on my alarm clock to 18min ahead, my cell phone to 12 min ahead, and my clock in the room to 23min ahead.
This way, those alarms would go off for me in the different timing that would make me worry to know about the exact time of the day! LOL
I do not know about you, but this works perfectly for me! LOL
Anyway, we have this “Return of Sekito Clinic” for only 3 days left! Today, we will comment from Disc3 13th track” Wheat From Chaff” today.
Let us begin!
■13.Wheat From Chaff
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
This event shows heart warming human-drama in the story. Some of you might think that the behavior of the lord Ghor does not make any sense in the event…
No, No! that is the true man`s behavior! LOL
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This music is a different variation of the theme for the conqueror, which I particularly
Composed the music for this event.
The characteristic of this event is that the event describes the mind of complicated conflict in each character. The event has very dramatic moments in every scene.
■14.Through the Tulgey Wood
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This track is from Tulgey Wood, a field part of the game.
I think that the track is written to capture mysterious and magical feeling inside of the foggy deep forest.
■15.Unconditional Trust
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
Although the length of this event is very short, the event delivers the feeling of brotherhood between Rush and Irina. The event will warm up players` heart.
【Mr. .Sekito comments;】
In this event, the behavior of Irina character is indeed very effective, and it really is heard warming story is said in this event.
■16.Echoes of the Past
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This track is from the city that is shown in the 2nd half of the game.
For the instrumentation, I used the acoustic guitar for the melody part in order to capture the beautiful landscape of the city.
DISC 3
Disc3 track17-track21 commentary
Hello, everyone. This is Yamanaka.
“Return of Sekito Clinic” has only 2 days left of its commentary session!
In the beginning, I was worried whether this blog lasts more than 1 month or not.
But now this blog contains vast amount of text and it has been updated everyday!
Today's guest for the commentary is the producer of “THE LAST REMNANT” who leads whole “THE LAST REMNANT” development team, Mr. Ueda!
Thanks
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Hello everybody.
And hello to “Return of Sekito Clinic” blog, This is Ueda.
It has been about a month since the release of the game “THE LAST REMNANT”.
I assume that some of you have already completed the game. But if some of you on this blog have not yet played the game, I would love for you to play the game during new-year holiday period.
I think I have done enough of promotion for the game for now LOL
I will now tell you about our history of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
It was 2 years ago when the game development had not reached the point where the game was not so much in the shape in playable from. The intriguing battle system that “THE LAST REMNANT” is known for was still under the development at the time.
The team produced the demo movie which is to share the complete production image with our development team. Our aim was to acknowledge our battle system to the rest of team who still had little knowledge about the battle system.
For the demo movie production, we required the 3 different tracks for the battle, which changes around 3 different tracks depending on the player's moral gauge.
Some of you may have already known about this, but “THE LAST REMNANT” has its unique battle system that music changes dependent on the advantages of the battle situation. We sent your requirement to Mr. Sekito to compose different music for our unique battle system. The finished tracks from Mr. Sekito was those 3 tracks of
“Sword Sparks”, “Beat the Odds”, and “Reversal!”
Those 3 outstanding tracks for the battle system made a huge contribution for completing the production of the demo movie, and the demo movie motivated our team to create further greater game development.
And 2 years after when I watch the demo movie again, I still feel that what we had achieved on this demo movie is fully reflected on the finished product of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
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【Mr. Yamanaka comments;】
When the music changes during the battle, I always get goose skin, especially when the player is predominant in the battle!
At that time, I remember that Mr. Sekito and I used to think the amount of tracks for the battle was so enormous that would overwhelm us.
But it has now all became good memory! LOL
We will start from 17th track on Disc3 for our commentary session.
■17.Final Decision
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
I would love for all of you to feel the important relationship between the characters, and the maturity of Rush, David, and among other characters through the story by playing this event.
For the player who has been playing the game until this event, you would get emotionally involved with the story of this event. The event would definitely make you cry!
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
For the 1st half of the music for this event, I deliberately wrote quite subtle music in order for the player to concentrate on great dialog in each scene.
For the 2nd half of the music on the other hand, I think that I have composed music very successfully that intensify the emotional momentum to follow the story of the event.
■18.Labyrinth（music：Yamanaka）
【Mr. Yamanaka comments;】
The track is from a dungeon part of the game called “Siebenbur”
As well as the track “Dark Secrets”, the feeling of the track interprets the eerie and horrific feeling in the dungeon of Siebenbur. Those feeling is emphasized in the track by, I think, solid snare sound in the rhythm part of the track.
I hope you would enjoy the track for your quest in Siebenbur.
■19.One Step（music：Yamanaka）
【Mr. Yamanaka comments;】
The track is from the last part of dungeon in the game. Sacred place of this last dungeon matches so well with this track that has chaotic feeling in the track.
The guitar part of the intro is played by Mr. Sekito. This distinctive driven sounding guitar part emphasizes roughness in the track. I processed he guitar riff with sampled electric guitar and Mr. Sekito`s electric guitar recording.
■20.The Warden and the Activator
■21.Time for Release
【Mr. Yagi comments; 】
This events follows Rush characters and the others who is facing for their last battle.
Does he unveil his character as “Evil”, or?!
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This event really makes the player tensed up as the story face towards its last battle.
DISC 3
Disc3 22nd track-27tht track commentary
Good evening!
From 20th Nov, the release date of “THE LAST REMNANT”, simultaneously we started this blog with the limited period of 4 weeks. We had sustained updating almost everyday for this blog, and today is the final day for this blog.
During 4 weeks period, we have had 2-30,000 hits of viewing for this blog.
I appreciate all of you who have been reading this blog, and I feel grateful for having a success on this blog. I would like to thank all of you.
Well, we would like to finish this glorious final day for this blog with the interview from the executive producer of “THE LAST REMNANT”, Mr., Kawazu!
He was kindly enough to give us an opportunity for our interview with him.
Thank you
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Good evening, this is Kawazu.
It has been almost a month since the release for the game “THE LAST REMNANT”.
Has everyone understand the meaning of the word “THE LAST REMNANT”?
In fact, the title “THE LAST REMNANT” is fully related to the scenario of the game which I think is an unusual for the game title for the recent SQUARE-ENIX games.
I have also been enjoying playing “THE LAST REMNANT” as we speak. My plan is to play the game with no attendance on unnecessary “quest” playing, and no relying on infantry of Athlum.
But I have to admit that my plan was reckless and I am now overwhelmed by the power of the army of conqueror.
I am impressed with such an enormous amount of tracks on the soundtrack.
I wonder if I can actually hear all the tracks from the soundtrack during the game play…
As I listen to the music on the soundtrack, it really brings out awful memories from the game play. The memories that when I went into the battle, thinking that I was fighting against just a small fish. But during the battle, the music was somehow different from normal battle. As I was thinking that “there is something wrong here!?”, the next thing I saw on the screen was that the word “Terminated” ,then soon after the word ”game over”, and a few minutes later, I ended up watching the game title screen for over and over again …Let us forget the past like that.
While the game was under development, I was playing the minimum volume for sound.
I could not appreciate stunning sound production that our sound department has created for the game. Now as I am playing the finished product of the game, I enjoy the game with the maximum volume for the sound!
Both battle and event scene is 3 times better and more enjoyable with this great music.
I am thinking to enjoy the soundtrack while I am driving a car.
I hope that everyone would enjoy and have a great fun by listening the soundtrack!
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Well, the final day for our commentary session begins with 22nd track of Disc 3.
Let us begin!
■22.Nisus
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
Each phrase of the music create very lyrical mood in the event. The player would appreciate the scenario that describes the beginning of the time and end of the time in the world of “THE LAST REMNANT”. I would recommend for you to see the world view of “THE LAST REMNANT” through listening to this particular underscore.
■23.Schismogenesis
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
The music progresses from very subtle movement to stormy, furious movement in the music. The music captures the anger, agony, and compassion and some kind of generosity feeling of the characters. You would feel despair of the future when you come across with this event.
■24.The Final Sacrifice
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
I would rather not to comment of this piece, as I might spoil the meaning of this event.
I highly recommend the player to think and see through the event what the characters sacrifices themselves for, what are the consequences for their act, and what is the cause and effect from their act.
■25.Journey's End
【Mr. Yagi comments;】
I think nobody could decide whether each character`s act is a judicious or foolish.
Yet, I think that sometimes characters need to face the consequences and take some responsibility in some situations.
I, as lead event planner of “THE LAST REMNANT”, would feel extremely lucky if the player could feel and consider the importance and sacrifices that they made by seeing each character in the event.
■26.Finale
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
For this composition, I composed several variations of themes for each character, written as medley, by following the progression of the scenario of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
You might be able to recapture the memories of your own adventure in the game by listening to this medley. I would love the player to enjoy the moment of your achievement during the game play by listening to this medley.
■27.Overture: TGS 2007 Mix
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
This music was written when we produced the promotion movie for Tokyo Game Show in 2007. I am personally very happy with the outcome of the perfect production and its coolness.
What is THE REMNANT? What the future of the character “The conqueror”, “Rush”, “David”, and “Irina” awaits?
I really hope that the player would enjoy playing the game and find those answers.
