ATLUS-HA-02-001: Shin Megami Tensei NINE PREMIUM SOUND TRAX

[Redfield]

I'm not sure if this belongs on the album page, so I'm posting this here, for anyone that's interested.

These are the tracks that are arranges of Tsukasa Masuko's work from the first two Shin Megami Tensei games: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 19, 22, 27, 28, hidden portion of 30.

[MiLO]

Added a Release Price and a Publisher.

I tried to figure out if this album was a bonus enclosure with a certain version of the game, and I think it was included with the first press of the regular edition.

Shin Megami Tensei NINE Standalone Version (Regular Edition)
真・女神転生 NINE スタンドアローン版(通常版)
Release date: 12/05/02
Retail price: 8,190 JPY
Catalog number: M90-00001
http://www.atlusnet.jp/catalog_nw/d1_det_97.html

This is the one to most likely have the soundtrack CD.
Some websites name it as Standalone Version while others have "Limited Edition" next to it. But this (Limited Edition) thing doesn't mean anything, there is no difference between Standalone Version and Limited Edition, it's the same catalog number, the same packaging. Maybe they referred to this release as Limited Edition because there were not so many copies manufactured, since they had plans to update the game into MMORPG and make a more broad release of Shin Megami Tensei Nine (Network Pack), which turned out to be canceled.

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Shin Megami Tensei NINE Deluxe Pack
真・女神転生 NINE スタンドアローン版 (DXパック)
Release date: 12/05/02
Retail price: 13,440 JPY
Catalog number: M90-00003
http://www.atlusnet.jp/catalog_nw/d1_det_98.html

One thing for sure is that the soundtrack disc was not a part of the contents in the box.
Here are two un-boxing videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_i9A314SgI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL10PO1qkds

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Shin Megami Tensei Nine (Platinum Collection)
真・女神転生 NINE プラチナコレクション
Release date: 10/23/03
Retail price: 2,940 JPY
Catalog number: Y64-00001
http://www.atlusnet.jp/catalog_nw/d1_det_112.html

This version was released almost a year later and obviously was not bundled with the soundtrack.

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And a couple other minor notes:

1) Correction for English tracklist. In Shin Megami Tensei Sound Collection Track 31 吉祥寺 is from SMT:NINE, translated as Kichijoji.

In Shin Megami Tensei NINE PREMIUM SOUND TRAX Track 08,10 are 吉祥寺1,2 translated as Kichijouji 1,2.
So Kichijoji vs Kichijouji.

Since Japanese spelling is the same, the English translation should probably be the same too.
I'm no expert so someone else can decide which one is the correct one.

2) There's a hidden track which is part of track 30. It starts playing after 5 minutes of silence, at 8:52.

[Phonograph]

Originally Posted by MiLO

...

Shin Megami Tensei NINE Standalone Version (Limited Edition)
真・女神転生 NINE スタンドアローン版(通常版)

...

Regular Edition, not Limited Edition

[MiLO]

What the... both Google and Bing Translator say it's Limited Edition.

[Strife]

Originally Posted by MiLO

Shin Megami Tensei NINE Deluxe Pack
真・女神転生 NINE スタンドアローン版 (DXパック)
Release date: 12/05/02
Retail price: 13,440 JPY
Catalog number: M90-00003
http://www.atlusnet.jp/catalog_nw/d1_det_98.html

One thing for sure is that the soundtrack disc was not a part of the contents in the box.
Here are two un-boxing videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_i9A314SgI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL10PO1qkds

----------------------------

I bought the Deluxe Pack brand new a few years back, so I can tell you the CD did come included inside the box. Well mine did anyhow.

This sticker mentions it: http://i.imgur.com/n2qYC.jpg

[CHz]

Originally Posted by MiLO

What the... both Google and Bing Translator say it's Limited Edition.

You should probably stop using those then! Phono is correct.

Usually the phrase you'll see for limited edition is genteiban (限定版).

[MiLO]

Originally Posted by Strife

I bought the Deluxe Pack brand new a few years back, so I can tell you the CD did come included inside the box. Well mine did anyhow.

This sticker mentions it: http://i.imgur.com/n2qYC.jpg

Ok, fair enough. I guess the CD was included inside the first print of Deluxe Edition as well.
One of the customer reviews at amazon.co.jp (posted on 2002/12/7) said that their pack came without CD, so I assumed that at least it wasn't meant to be a part of inner contents.

Originally Posted by CHz

You should probably stop using those then! Phono is correct.

Usually the phrase you'll see for limited edition is genteiban (限定版).

I didn't say he was wrong. I know his translations are usually pretty accurate.
It was just a little surprising that 2 most commonly used online translators got it both wrong.

[DanteLectro]

Originally Posted by Redfield

I'm not sure if this belongs on the album page, so I'm posting this here, for anyone that's interested.

These are the tracks that are arranges of Tsukasa Masuko's work from the first two Shin Megami Tensei games: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 19, 22, 27, 28, hidden portion of 30.

I'm listening to the album now and recognizing a bunch of melodies. I'd like to add those details to the album notes. Could you please help out and provide more info? (Original title of those tracks, where they appeared first, original composer [if not all Masuko].)

[Aifread]

They're all from SMT1 by Tsukasa Masuko, and they're more or less what you'd expect them to be. Original track titles from VICL-40046~7:

1. Title
2. Dream
5. Boss
6. Shop
7. Mansion of Heresy
10. Kichijoji
19. Shopping Arcade
22. Law
27. Shibuya
28. Mansion of the Four Heavenly Kings
30. Battle

[DanteLectro]

I've also identified track 12 (from SMT2).
I feel like I've heard track 21 before somewhere else, but can't identify it. Please give it a listen.

[Aifread]

Track 12 has a similar style to "3D: Center" from SMT2, but it's not the same melody line. I don't recognize track 21.

[Dag]

I'd say M12 is based (arranged) on 3D: Center, just that it's closer to the PSX version (also by Kurokawa), since the original is pretty simplistic.

As for 21 it sounds vaguely like SMT1 game over, though different.

[DanteLectro]

Dag is correct.

'3D: Center' in SMT2 for the SNES (game released in March 1994) was composed by Tsukasa Masuko (see PCCG-00261). It's a simple baseline with chords, not much of a melody but recognizable.
Then he arranged it and added a piano melody for the SNES version of SMT If (SRIN-1131. Game released in October 1994).

@Aifread:
Listen to '3D: Center' from SRIN-1131 (1.19 is the SNES version, 2.19 is the PS1 version) from the 49 second mark (pay attention to the piano melody). Then listen to track 12 Harajuku from this release also from the 49 second mark (piano again). Exact same melody.

The other tracks we identified earlier are not just lifted "from SMT1", they're based on those, they're arrangements. That's why I phrased it the way I did in the notes.

[Aifread]

Ah, sorry. Wasn't familiar with the PS1 versions. Should probably credit Masaki Kurokawa for that extra piano melody then

[Dag]

Re: M12 / 3D:Center. Turns out the extended version first appears in SNES SMT if... (rather than PS1 SMT2), that according to SRIN-1131 was arranged by Tsukasa Masuko. Whew.

[Aifread]

Ah, that figures. Masuko added other additional sections to his SMT1/2 tracks for that game, like Shibuya from SMT1 and 3D: Makai from SMT2.

[DanteLectro]

I've updated my #13 post to reflect Dag's info from his #15 post.

Apparently there have been multiple arrangements of many tracks for various subsequent games after SMT 1 & 2.
Of '3D: Center' specifically, some by original composer Tsukasa Masuko, some by Masaki Kurokawa (for this album, it seems).