SBPS-0067~75: Xenoblade 3 Original Soundtrack

[rheaost]

Looks like another person and I added the English tracklist around the same time... whoops! Which one do we keep?

[Rew]

I was the other one who made an English tracklist.

It looks like ours are identical except the four "Off-Seer" tracks (disc 2 track 18, disc 4 track 9, and disc 7 tracks 5 & 10) need a dash between "Off-Seer" and the character's name. The dash is present in the English translations on JASRAC and is represented by '~' in the Japanese titles.

Disc 5 track 4: "A Life Becomes Distant" needs to lose the 's' at the end of "Becomes" (i.e. it's like a shorter way of saying "a life which has become distant"), which is also how it's represented on JASRAC.

The final track title (disc 8, track 16) is the only one not found in JASRAC (bonus track perhaps?). "Noah and Mio - Two Melodies" is what I came up with from my meager translation skills. But if you feel that "Two People's Melodies" better expresses the original Japanese, we can go with that. (Personally I think that "Two Melodies" sounds better, but I'm far from an expert!)

[rheaost]

Ah, then I'll just delete mine and edit yours. I don't really know which would fit better for 8-16, I just got the translation from rtg142857 from the Xeno Series Wiki.

[rheaost]

How do I delete a tracklist? Or does a mod need to do it

[Rew]

I think only a mod can.

I went ahead and made the adjustments to make both tracklists identical, except for the track at the end. I'll let the powers-that-be decide between "Two Melodies" or "Two People's Melodies."

[Toad King]

This should be linked to the limited edition album since there's no bonus music on that one - https://vgmdb.net/album/127908

[Rew]

Originally Posted by Toad King

This should be linked to the limited edition album since there's no bonus music on that one - https://vgmdb.net/album/127908

How do you link albums? I don't think I've ever done that before. (Or is that something only mods can do?)

Also, I'm trying to create a page for the 20-CD Trinity Box. However, the site only lets me put in a maximum of 10 CDs. How do I create a page for an album with more than 10?

[Toad King]

Only staff and I think trusted editors can link albums, just leaving a message here for when one sees it.

Same for albums with huge media counts. They'll probably get that up over the next couple of days.

[Sherkel]

Finally it breaks out of the eternal flow!

All tracks played when fighting Moebius were merged into one? I'm surprised there's anything else on disc 2! Or the Interlink version and its variations are hidden under another title we didn't call right...the second is honestly more believable.

Immediate Threst was a typo...has a good ring to it either way. Speaking of ACE, where are the individual Kudo/Chico credits in the notes? They gave a lot of insight to the type of tracks each of them tackled.

Origin is one track, which probably leaves the third phase unused. As it was in the game, so no room to argue. Showdown With Z makes more sense as one track too, though the atmosphere in Act 1 is unbeatable!

Disc 9 ought to be from the story DLC coming in December. I'm hoping for a successor to One Who Bares Fangs at God. We did get one for Omen... What are you guys looking forward to?

[rheaost]

Originally Posted by Rew

I'll let the powers-that-be decide between "Two Melodies" or "Two People's Melodies."

I win! Haha, looking back, Two Melodies sounds better, but the original Japanese translates more as "Two People's Melodies".

Originally Posted by Sherkel

Or the Interlink version and its variations are hidden under another title we didn't call right...the second is honestly more believable.

All the names come from Jarsac though. The interlink versions strangely weren't in the Jarsac listings so you're probably right about it being a medley.

Originally Posted by Sherkel

Speaking of ACE, where are the individual Kudo/Chico credits in the notes? They gave a lot of insight to the type of tracks each of them tackled.

We'll probably have to wait until the booklet releases to see them. Once I get my hands on it I'll try to post scans!

Originally Posted by Sherkel

Origin is one track, which probably leaves the third phase unused. As it was in the game, so no room to argue.

I do hope they show up in the soundtrack... maybe in Disc 9? Or maybe they'll be repurposed for the story DLC...

Originally Posted by Sherkel

Disc 9 ought to be from the story DLC coming in December. I'm hoping for a successor to One Who Bares Fangs at God.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IO NEED THIS. Also it looks like the story DLC might be coming out sooner, since this soundtrack is releasing on July 29th!

[Sherkel]

Originally Posted by twiilit

All the names come from Jarsac though. The interlink versions strangely weren't in the Jarsac listings so you're probably right about it being a medley.

No matter how many times I look through the other track names I don't see any that fit with it... Guess a combination of gamerips will be the definitive way to listen to this one in the end.

Originally Posted by twiilit

I do hope they show up in the soundtrack... maybe in Disc 9? Or maybe they'll be repurposed for the story DLC...

Going to Origin isn't out of the question seeing as we'll have a Consul as a party member. Unused tracks appearing in later works is every VGM lover's fantasy though, so it's probably wishful thinking. :P

Originally Posted by twiilit

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IO NEED THIS. Also it looks like the story DLC might be coming out sooner, since this soundtrack is releasing on July 29th!

I didn't notice the release date! Man, this game eats deadlines for breakfast!

[Rew]

What's puzzling to me is how otherwise comprehensive JASRAC is for the music in this game--which includes all the short jingles as well as the various pieces to the dynamic tracks, yet completely lacks the "Moebius Battle-Interlink" theme (though I would guess that the official soundtrack will include it as part of a medley under the main "Moebius Battle" track).

Does anyone have any idea as to why this particular song was left off JASRAC?

[Mentalo]

Originally Posted by Sherkel

Origin is one track, which probably leaves the third phase unused. As it was in the game, so no room to argue.

Judging by this Mitsuda crossfade video for Xenoblade 3, the "unused" version of Origin is included.

And it wasn't exactly unused in-game: there is ONE dialogue at the begining of Origin (2:26:09 on this video) where it plays. You can hear small details exclusive to this version of the song and if you let the dialogue in pause, you can even hear the electric guitar, drums, etc (I did it in my playthrough).
But it's kind of stupid that it only play on this instance...

[Sherkel]

Originally Posted by Rew

What's puzzling to me is how otherwise comprehensive JASRAC is for the music in this game--which includes all the short jingles as well as the various pieces to the dynamic tracks, yet completely lacks the "Moebius Battle-Interlink" theme (though I would guess that the official soundtrack will include it as part of a medley under the main "Moebius Battle" track).

Does anyone have any idea as to why this particular song was left off JASRAC?

At this point I'm out of reasons to tell myself they weren't just merged into one. If you throw some drumstrike at the very beginning of Interlink you could have a seamless mix of both (even if this was a noble attempt), but they're both SO GOOD to playspam on their own and both utterly eclipse the rest of the soundtrack that I just don't like the idea.

Originally Posted by Mentalo

Judging by this Mitsuda crossfade video for Xenoblade 3, the "unused" version of Origin is included.

And it wasn't exactly unused in-game: there is ONE dialogue at the begining of Origin (2:26:09 on this video) where it plays. You can hear small details exclusive to this version of the song and if you let the dialogue in pause, you can even hear the electric guitar, drums, etc (I did it in my playthrough).
But it's kind of stupid that it only play on this instance...

I stand corrected! And I stand corrected! Gotta say, for how high the quality bar for the music was, the implementation badly needed a lot of QC. *tries to ignore full Chain Attack gauge*

[rheaost]

The official name for the bonus track came out: "Noah and Mio - Our Melody".

[Mac_Tear]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFlf_S5Woug

While the first section features the "New Battle!!!" theme for this upcoming DLC, the second portion of the trailer has a brandnew song, which seems to be another collaboration between Mitsuda and Joanne Hogg (Xenogears/Xenosaga)! I knew these vocals sounded familiar, until a user mentioned her name on Facebook, and I realized - it's definitely her! What and interesting choice there. So good to see her back after all these years!

[Sherkel]

The Future Redeemed battle theme was love at first sight. Don't even get me started on the trailer! I have a bad feeling this soundtrack is going to be missing most of the tracks I enjoyed from the main game (by way of skipping straight to their "final stages")...but at least more callbacks to early Xeno can only be a good thing!

[Eidolon2010]

Originally Posted by Mac_Tear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFlf_S5Woug

While the first section features the "New Battle!!!" theme for this upcoming DLC, the second portion of the trailer has a brandnew song, which seems to be another collaboration between Mitsuda and Joanne Hogg (Xenogears/Xenosaga)! I knew these vocals sounded familiar, until a user mentioned her name on Facebook, and I realized - it's definitely her! What and interesting choice there. So good to see her back after all these years!

Spoiler:

You were right ^^

[Mac_Tear]

Originally Posted by Eidolon2010

Spoiler:

You were right ^^

Amazing. I will listen to that piece once I finished the DLC, but for now I can say that Monolith made a nice decision here to bring Joanne Hogg back. From what I've heard her voice didn't change at all, bringing back so many memories from 20 years ago, where she first sang "Small Two of Pieces" for Xenogears, later "Pain" for Xenosaga Episode I and now the circle closes with the ending theme of the Xenoblade series, like the game's symbolic Ouroboros. Coindicence? I think not. But this again proves how much I love Mitsuda and his musical touch. He did some minor projects the recent years, but I'm so glad he went back to full speed thanks to the Xenoblade series, especially 2 and 3.

So, a bittersweet "thank you", Monolith Soft, for giving us pleasant days with your beautiful games.

[Sherkel]

As an Abounnasr fan you won't be disappointed! Ha!!
I love the way she uses the orchestra like an expanded SNES.

[rheaost]

To anyone who owns the OST... how's the Moebius theme? Does it include all four versions? (Phase 1, Phase 2, Action Climax, Sad Climax)

[Sherkel]

Disc 9
Composer:
Mariam Abounnasr (7~10)

Really!! Well, bravo! Here's to a successful solo career!

Wondering about the multi-segment tracks as well. Moebius Battle at 8:31 might even include the unused "field theme". Noah and N is exactly the length I hoped it would be, but I'd still need to hear the transition to believe it. Considering the way the final boss theme got butchered, I'm assuming Origin spans Phase 2 and the unused phase.

Here's the spreadsheet with credits for the ACE tracks in case it hasn't been posted.

[yindesu]

Surprisingly, the digital composer credits are more specific than "ACE(工藤ともり、CHiCO)".

[Eidolon2010]

Companies credited as arrangers for Kunigo tracks ? Ugh... But the distinction between Kudo and CHiCO is nice ^^ (That matches what JASRAC posted last year ?)

[maina]

I had a quick listen to the hires version of both Moebius battle themes. They are as expected both identical aside the added flutes. The unused moebius theme was used to connect phase 1 and 2, and they have used the climax of Moebius Battle/M. The ending is the normal one from the regular version but with an added choir transition.

I have to say that the transitions are rather very abrupt...

[Mac_Tear]

Originally Posted by maina

I had a quick listen to the hires version of both Moebius battle themes. They are as expected both identical aside the added flutes. The unused moebius theme was used to connect phase 1 and 2, and they have used the climax of Moebius Battle/M. The ending is the normal one from the regular version but with an added choir transition.

I have to say that the transitions are rather very abrupt...

I agree. In some way I like this kind of extended version or as I would call it - "Moebis Battle (ACE Megamix)", but for my personal taste I would rather have two separate tracks here - one for the first phase and one for the second phase. Same with Moebius M. And yes, some transitions are rather abrupt, especially the one from phase 1 to the unused section. I think its meant for a build up and for a short break from the action, but still I heard better transitions made by fans on YT.

What triggers me most is that they didn't use the original action climax towards the end! I heard it a lot in the game before the boss went down and the track went from a tense into a heroic mode when the party was about to win. This climax is beautiful as well, but it's weird that they put it on the two Moebius battle themes, instead of only the M version, which would make both themes quite unique.

[Sherkel]

Originally Posted by maina

I had a quick listen to the hires version of both Moebius battle themes. They are as expected both identical aside the added flutes.

But they weren't...

Originally Posted by Mac_Tear

And yes, some transitions are rather abrupt, especially the one from phase 1 to the unused section. I think its meant for a build up and for a short break from the action, but still I heard better transitions made by fans on YT.

Damn, and I didn't even think those were good enough. Guess I'll either make my own privately or stick to separate tracks as I have been the past year.

Thanks for clearing that up.

E: I noticed today that this soundtrack was available digitally and won't be asking any more about how the splices sound.

[maina]

Originally Posted by Sherkel

But they weren't...

The track length were the same hence my remark. So yes they are identical in terms of structure on the OST.

[Sherkel]

Originally Posted by maina

The track length were the same hence my remark. So yes they are identical in terms of structure on the OST.

Gotcha, heard it just now and I know exactly what you mean. Strange is all, not that it's your fault or anything!

[Rew]

Having now listened to some of the album myself, definitely put me in the camp of those wishing they'd split "Moebius Battle" into two separate tracks. The transition from the regular Moebius battle theme to the interlinked Moebius battle theme is so abrupt and awkward that I don't see why they didn't split them. (Or maybe the point was for both tracks to be... interlinked? Hoho--I'll see myself out now.)

I actually like the regular Moebius theme much better than the interlinked version, so having them both together in an unnecessarily huge 8-minute track (ditto the M version with its beautiful flute accompaniment) is going to mess up my playlist cultivation.