Hi guys,
how was your week? It seemed like good manners to ask about you guys, before ranting on about my life. :)
Anyway, I just finished Yakuza: Dead Souls (or Ryu ga Gotoku: Of the End in Japan). For the most part, it was exactly what I expected it to be. It's a lot of fun, Yakuza style. Like most gamers, I'd rather see a Shenmue sequel, but until then, Dead Souls has been a nice filler. I expected a bit more story-wise, though.
Me being a composer, I pay extra attention to games' soundtracks. While Shemue's soundtrack was amazing and created true atmosphere, Yakuza's soundtracks have always been way too arcade-y for my tastes. It's all about the (presence lacking) guitars and Tekken-ish drum loops. I guess it fits the arcade style gameplay, but to really get drawn into a game's vibe, I think a soundtrack needs to be a bit more mature than this. Yakuza's oozing Japan, but soundtrack-wise, it would do well to borrow a bit from Hollywood.
I'd still recommend this game, though. Can't wait to play Yakuza 5 when it comes out!
On a different note, I've quit composing for Pokemon Origins. I contacted lead-developer TheRedGuy about rearranging some old Pokemon songs, but due to a busy schedule, I was forced to prioritize. It's a project with great ambition and potential, though. The team's aiming to remake the original Red and Blue Pokemon games in 3d. Judging from their videos and screenshots, I'd say they captured the style the game needs. Two remixes of mine have been uploaded on the game's profile, so be sure to check them out and track the game!
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more updates! :)
Ronnie Scholtes
Title screen theme - Mod DB
