Mega Man Arrange Version Special CD Vol. 1
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Album Title: Mega Man Arrange Version Special CD Vol. 1 |
| Record Label: Capcom |
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| Catalog No.: CAPCOM-003 |
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| Release Date: January 1, 1992 |
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| Purchase: Buy Used Copy |
Overview
This album could be considered the first official Mega Man / Mega Man themed arranged album. Arranged by Alph-Lyla, Capcom’s in-house sound team, there are a multitude of styles present in the brief but satisfying Vol. 1. How do these arrangements treat the originals?
Body
On this album, the listener will be exposed to a variety of styles. A Latin flavored arrangement, a soft and serene arrangement, something that sounds like a fusion of jazz, rock, and synthesizers, a primarily rock focused arrangement, and an arrangement with progressive rock, classical, and jazz influences will be heard. If you’re a fan of variety, this is definitely for you. Unlike later arrangements of the series, doujin and official alike, each track is arranged in a way that fits the original theme perfectly. On the whole, I think this album is spectacular.
Cutman’s stage theme is brought to life in “Red Hot Paradise”. With the aforementioned latin flavor, there is a heavy focus on brass, piano, and xylophone. “The Ending Battle” is an arrangement of Mega Man 2 Ending theme. It’s a very soft arrangement with focus on synthesizers and piano. “Spark of Sorcery” is an excellent translation of Sparkman’s stage. Focusing on synthesizers and piano in the early sections, throw in a random guitar solo, and you definitely have a winner.
Skullman’s arrangement, “Soldier of the Underworld,” is by far my favorite arrangement on this album. To me, this is what Tohru Iwao’s Mega Man 1 ~ 6 Rock Arrange Ver. should have sounded like. While there is a nice mixture of synth and rock elements, the electric guitar sections accent the original melody very nicely. “Strange Stone Puppet,” the arrangement belonging to Stoneman, is also quite good. The focus of jazz elements, combined with an unexpected violin solo. There are even sections that have a very prog-rock sound to them.
Summary
In the end, I recommend this album if you can find it. Each arrangement fits the original perfectly, and offers a very diverse array of styles. In fact, if I could find this, I’d buy it just for the Skullman Stage arrangement. To me, between Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, it is the hands-down best track that featured an arrangement. I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who would dislike this album.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
4.5
Posted on August 1, 2012 by Don Kotowski. Last modified on August 1, 2012.
About the Author
Don Kotowski Currently residing in Philadelphia. I spend my days working in vaccine characterization and dedicate some of my spare time in the evening to the vast world of video game music, both reviewing soundtracks as well as maintaining relationships with composers overseas in Europe and in Japan.
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