Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes Original Soundtrack
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Album Title: Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes Original Soundtrack |
| Record Label: Scitron Digital Contents |
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| Catalog No.: SCDC-00589 |
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| Release Date: November 21, 2007 |
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| Purchase: Buy at CDJapan |
Overview
Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes was an enhanced version of Sengoku Basara 2, featuring mutliplayer gameplay, new characters, and an enhanced soundtrack. The team of T’s Music, including Masayoshi Ishi and Rei Kondoh, reunited to create over 30 new pieces for the game in a range of emotions and styles. These tracks were presented on a separate soundtrack in 2007.
Body
The opening theme for “Heroes” continues the series’ transition towards more accessible sounds. The track shares the militaristic and courageous influence of “Inspiration” from Sengoku Basara 2, but is considerably lighter in both melody and texture. It’s refreshing how Rei Kondoh deviates from the series’ dense sound here to offer warm piano and string parts. More heroic textures are captured in preparation themes such as “Rivalry of Local Warlords” and “On the Verge of Battle”, all of which synchronise motivating melodies with military motifs. While not remarkable in themselves, in a wider sense they’re a welcome shift from the occasionally tired sound of the franchise.
“Breaking Through Takeda’s Front Line” further reflects the renewed sound of the series. Whereas previous scores focused on dark rock-orchestral fusions, this track is pumped with entrancing beats and motivating beats. “A Hero’s Victorious Return” will also put a smile on most listener’s faces, though sometimes sounds contrived due to its weaker melody. The lighter sound of the soundtrack is further reflected with one of the few reprises on the soundtrack, “Yukimura Sanada’s Theme”, with its flute lead and electronic beats. It still captures the intensity of the hack-n-slash action, but is somehow uplifting and endearing too. The contrasting original themes for Kotaro Fuuma and Yoshimoto Imagawa are also highlights with their punchy melodies and beats.
That said, not all the music in the soundtrack is light. Reminiscent of Rei Kondoh’s work on Okamiden, “Demons Raining Down from Heaven” is one of the series’ most beautiful tracks. The piano and strings once again return here, but portray much more melancholy figures within a sea of reverb. “Awakening” starts with a segment that emphasizes the beauty of traditional Japanese instruments and then moves into a suspenseful score featuring ominous chorus, organ, and guitars. It’s by far the soundtrack’s most breathtaking themes, capturing a sense of desperation when all has turned bitter. Also affecting is “The Sixth Great Devil King”, which portrays the mystery and might of the antagonist with a somewhat clichéd combination of suspended strings and blistering guitars.
Despite these exceptional highs, a lot of the soundtrack is weaker than the main game. “Riled Up! Takedo Dojo” and “The Battle of Komaki-Nagakute” are reminiscent of the tracks on the first game with their fusions of rock and orchestra; the textures created by these tracks is ideal for portraying the action, but the repetitive development and unattractive leads are a major turn-off. Written like a wrestler anthem, “The Masked Man of Fire” is ideal for portraying an iconic character entering the scene. However, the entrance of the sampled horn melody at the centre of the track is bound to alienate most listeners, given it sounds so out-of-place. Another incohesive track is “The Battle of Daibutsuden Lit Ablaze”, which shifts in a dramatic but bizarre manner between contemporary riffs to entirely symphonic segments.
Summary
Like many extension soundtracks, Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes polarises the Sengoku Basara experience with some of the most motivating and uplifting tracks in the series, yet also some of the most dark and melancholy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come together well as a collective whole due to its inconsistent quality and styles, as well as lack of binding material. The individual tracks are a good supplement to Sengoku Basara 2‘s, but the soundtrack probably isn’t worthwhile as a whole.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
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Posted on August 1, 2012 by Harris Iqbal. Last modified on August 1, 2012.
About the Author
Harris Iqbal Lover of games and humble listener of music, not to mention A HUGE FAN. I love anything that has memorable melodies in it, or a good story to tell. Also... huge horror fan... HUGE! So, Silent Hill is the best Survival Horror game ever... NO DEBATE! Anyways, the previous version of this site was where I first got my writing start in 2009, with the help of Chris Greening. Now, with around 5 years of experience writing for various websites, I plan to give you some really kickass articles!
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