The Black Mages 2

[tanisthalon]

I noticed the other day that The Black Mages 2 had been released. Has anybody heard anything of it? Is it any good?
I have the first which is barely average in my opinion. I preferred the original scores to the rock versions.


* Yep and so would I ;), even though I dont really rate the first one - I need it.

[eViL bAz]

Tanis the only thing that I know is that I want it in my collection :D hehehehe

[Kilu]

The first one was a huge disappointement to me. Calling those songs rock versions is a bit farfecthed as far as I can see. The arrangement was too minimal and synths sucked ass. Replacing the lead melody instrument with lead guitar is pretty lame.

As for the second one... I hope it doesn't suck as much as the first did. Since the first I have lowered my expectations a lot, so hopefully I'll be positively surprised by it.

So yeah, haven't heard it yet, but probably will soon.

[tanisthalon]

If you do get to hear it please keep us informed ;).
I too also hope it is better than the first, as it cannot be much worse lol.

[bjp4444]

just thought you all should know, i was reading on another board that someone had heard a couple of tracks from this album. they claimed that the synth was practically non-existant, and that the guitar was better. if they are even half-right, then i would say it's an improvement.


go pistons!
-bjp

[tanisthalon]

My interest deepens ;).

[Kilu]

Well, I still haven't heard any. And will only believe my own ears after hearing it. The definition of non-existant synth and more guitar can vary from person to person. Also, if t here is no synth, what would Uematsu play, being a keyboardist and all.

[bjp4444]

you, my friend, are brilliant, i forgot about Uematsu and the keyboard. i haven't heard it either, so i cannot either confirm or deny anything said on other boards. technically, there could be a TON of synth ( i certainly hope not though, it's too grinding on my ears after a while). i was only trying to give a prelim report. hopefully, we will have more concrete details soon.

go pistons!
-bjp

[Kilu]

Oh btw. Just noticed something earlier today when browsing through Chudah Corner's release date list... According to it Black Mages 2 is due to release 22nd of December. Same release date is provided in cocoebiz. That is, tomorrow.

So this piece of information kind of puts things into new light for me. As in, no wonder I haven't heard it yet, as it has not been released yet?


Also, about the synths. It appears that Uematsu doesn't play synths. Only organs. Kenichiro Fukui is the synth man.

[eViL bAz]

I know that the Black Mage OST was not that good but it feel different for what we always heard in the others OST I really like the arrange of the DANCING MAD but like you said it wasn't a rock album but instead we have a mid-good Arrange OST 8cuz for me the best arrange album its CREID from Yasunori Mitsuda) but I really enjoy it well Like BJP Said Thats my 2 Cents hehehe

[tanisthalon]

The original reference to it been released was obviously incorrect, I just repeated what I had read. Thanks for putting me right. Anyways, now we just need to wait for someone to get there hands on it so we can all decide ;).

[eViL bAz]

22 of december thats in 2 days I will look forward to listen it hehehe

[bjp4444]

i would continue to tell you that it's just my .02$, but i spent it, so i can't

go pistons!
-bjp

[Kilu]

I'm quite sure I'll get my hands on that Black Mages 2 album pretty soon. I'd say that I have heard it by the end of the year atleast. More than probably a bit sooner.

[tanisthalon]

With bated breath, I await silently. Warm saliva, dribbling uncontrollably from my mouth. I quickly wipe away the viscous fluid with the back of my right hand.
Dentists, huh, hate going! look forward to hearing what you say of it (when you get your little mitts on it) and the day we all get a listen ;).

[tanisthalon]

Final Fantasy, The Black Mages 2 - The Skies Above!!!
It is available at www.ffhybrid.net. Its either very busy or they are still setting the sever up. If anyone gets it before I do, let the rest of us know :).
If I get it I will upload to Casinoplayer and Hardhouse, that way everyone can get a hold of it ;).

[eViL bAz]

And me toooooooooooooooo PLZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!! ;)

[hardhouse]

I have already Black mage 2 on my server so everyone can grab it :)

[tanisthalon]

Heh, you're the man :).

[eViL bAz]

WWWHHHAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LIKE TANIS SAYYYYS!!!
you're the man :)

[Zeugma 440]

*bows* Thumbs up for hardhouse !!!!! :shades:

[Kilu]

What kind of rip are we talking about. I'd rather wait for #gamemp3s :dance:

[Zeugma 440]

This one is a flawless 192 kbps rip.

I've just finished listening to it... it is somehow what I was expecting : three good tracks, a surprising one, and an average rest that doesn't satisfy me.

For example, they hold the notes wayyy too long in the first track : it doesn't sound like a battle scene anymore but like some kind of rock concert with all these synth and guitar solos :wonder:

I think they try to perform with a Deep Purple-like style, but it's either not appropriate (Hunter's Chance), or it has rythmical flaws (The Rocking Grounds). IMO, only Sakuraba can make something good using 80's rock.



Now for what I enjoyed :D :

The Man with the Machine Gun : I like the rythm on this one. What's more, it's the first time I've ever heard this theme played well with guitar :spin:

Maybe I'm a Lion :Yay ! Heavy stuff :evillaugh: Good from the beginning till the end !!

The Skies Above : The big suprise of the album (hence its title :b).
When I heard the vocal part for the first time, I thought it was lame but after two listenings, it really started to appeal to me :)

Blue Blast - Winning the Rainbow : An original creation from the Black Mages. Not bad, since it doesn't claim to be an arrangment of anything :evilgrin:



So, what's your opinion on it, RPGamers ? ;)

[Kilu]

This one is a flawless 192 kbps rip.
How do you know it's flawless if you don't own the original album :ponder:

I prefer #gamemp3s APS anyway.

[eViL bAz]

Hi I Hear The Album and enjoy every Track in the album, has good arrange of the original but I have some doubts in some of the tracks:

The Skies Above: I like the goood arrange that they made with the song, the unforgotable Intro of FFX to Zanarkand, but when I heard the vocals I really didn't get it, I know that they was trying something like Pavarotti and Friends but mmmmm...... well It has good arrangement :D

Otherworld: THis song was My favorite song in FFX cuz it was the first Rock Song in a FF (well that it heards like a rock heheheh) but this one has middle arrangments the singer has no feeling in her voice and I dont know I better heard FFX Otherworld :)

MY FAVORITE:

Maybe Im A lion: Excellent arrangment they knew their mistakes in his prior album and make the correction and all this effort it hears in this Song, I must tell you the truth, I dont like this song in the FFVIII OST but know O.O it one of my favorites.

About the other songs theyre really good when I hear it I remember of the excellent work of Motoi Sakuraba with the arrangements I recomend this CD or MP3 Album hehehehehe http://www.rpgamers.info/images/smilies/dance.gif

[tanisthalon]

I had a quick listen to it yesterday. Its not that bad, definately an improvement in a lot of ways. Not a big rock fan myself, but I am open to different styles. Hell who'd have thought a few months ago i would love symphony/orchestral music :confused:

[eViL bAz]

hehehehehe My brothers say the same to me "Hey are u listen that thing plz listen some other thing cuz u r getting older" :( but i know that its not true or ............(music of mystery) hehehe

[Zeugma 440]

Kilu> When saying flawless I mean that there's no glitches or anything that has disturbed my ears during my listenings. I dunno about the audio loss when compared to the original, but it is OK for me :p

eViL bAz> lol, getting older... I'd say that when "switching" to the orchestral genre we reach another level of listening.
Without lyrics we really have to pay attention to the the tune itself, and the way it is interpretated (instruments or samples, way of playing, arrangment...).

When writing reviews on VGM albums I've realized many things about instrumental music, and now when I happen to hear what's aired on the radio I can't help analyzing the instrumental part of the song.... and most of the time it's rather weak :(

Oh well, if that means I'm getting older, then so be it : it's something to be proud of :shades:

[eViL bAz]

yup youre right WE ARREEE PPRROOOUUDD OFFF BBEEEEENNNNN OLDER, hehehehe I love to listen the music and guessing which instrument are playing in that momnet and things like that http://www.rpgamers.info/images/smilies/blink.gif

[tanisthalon]

Old is a state of mind and like a good wine we age well i.e. the older we get the better we become :).

[eViL bAz]

harharharharhttp://www.rpgamers.info/images/smilies/pirate.gif yeah I agree with youhttp://www.rpgamers.info/images/smilies/wacky.gif Im a good wine 1981 harvest the best in the east of where i live hehehehehehe http://www.rpgamers.info/images/smilies/dance.gif

UPDATE: !!!LETS CHANGE THIS THREAD TO "DID YOU FEEL OLDER?" HEHEHEHEHE http://www.rpgamers.info/images/smilies/wacky.gifhttp://www.rpgamers.info/images/smilies/finger.gif

[tanisthalon]

'73 takes me into the 4th decade of life ;).

[eViL bAz]

heheheheheh hey thats not fair but im from west continent good quality hehehehe

[daniel]

I'm a bit late with this but I agree with below, I did however love the first album.

Otherworld was better on FFX thanks largely to the singer but it still wasn;t that good on this album. I hated Maybe I'm a Lion on FF8 but on this album it is much better :)

Overall a nice album

[eViL bAz]

Its a good one I still hear it and I dont get tired of it good Album

[Flyn]

I haven't listened to it yet, hope it's cool :)

[Astrolounge]

Old is a state of mind and like a good wine we age well i.e. the older we get the better we become :).
Unlike cheese which, like women, gets shaper with age...

[tanisthalon]

Yes but with a very good cheese you also have a nice bottle of red ;). I might be the only one that knows this :(.

[eViL bAz]

lol I think so lol

[Kilu]

I almost forgot to post in here. I got my ripfrom gamemp3s some days ago, and :( I'm not impressed. It's better than the first one, but really boring. It's so-so album. I would only recommend it to the fans of Uematsu, and that's it.

[eViL bAz]

Well everyone has different points of views and opinion I repect yours :)

[kaserdan]

Nowhere near the goodness of the first set.
Still, it's not bad either.

[Jalk]

I've found it a little boring, I must say. Still, some of the tracks are really intersting, Matoya's cave mainly.