Motoi Sakuraba

[Zeratul]

As one of the veterans of VGM composing, Mr. Sakuraba composes some of the most interesting, upbeat, and unpredictable music in the industry. So, what are some of your favorite Sakuraba songs and what do you enjoy most about his style?

Mine:

Shining the Holy Ark - Prelude ~ Lute from the Eclipse, To the End of the Horizon of Wind and Dust, Elegy of the Bewildered, Cermeony of Darkness ~ Part Two, Rhapsody of Repose

Star Ocean 2 - Pyroxene, KAMIKAZE, Dynamite, Heraldic Emblem, Field of Expel, Field of Nede, Sacred Song, Shower of Blossoms, Decisive Battle, Mission to Deep Space, Incarnation of the Devil, Beasts of Prey, Fight to the Last, Mighty Blow, Tangency Invade, Integral Body and Imperfect Soul

Valkyrie Profile - Epic Poem of Sacred Death, Valhalla, Take a Flight, Confidence of the Dominion, Hopeless Resoltion, At the Bottom of Hell is Distortion, Hard Chain Reaction, A Tense Atmosphere, An Inscription on a Tombstone, Systematic Enemy, A Clash of Personalities, Heads Magic Tales Curse, The Neverending Cycle of Reincarnation

Valkyrie Profile Arranged - Requiem of Predicament, Hopeless Resolution, At the Bottom of Hell is Distortion, Valhalla

[Karasuman]

To add some games/albums you haven't mentioned:

Star Ocean [Game Rip] - Tense Atmosphere, Calm Time, The Strong

Star Ocean 2 Arrange - Stab the Sword of Justice, Resolution ~ Pure a Stream, Integral Body and Imperfect Soul

Star Ocean: Blue Sphere (Arrange Disc) - Peace of Mind, A Heavy Heart, Hand to Hand, Legacy from the Past, Every Extremity is a Vice

Beyond the Beyond OGS - Land of Promise

Shining Force III - Force: To Arms!, Bulzome Rising, Tides of History

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Arrange - Devil Fusion Theme, Final Boss Theme

[Zeratul]

I have Shining Force 3 too and should probably listen to it again. I've always liked those songs you mentioned from it and would have included them if I weren't trying to finish that post as quickly as possible before I had to log off.

Shin Megamei Tensei looks interesting. What's it like Karasuman?

[Karasuman]

Odd. But perhaps that's to be expected. Half the tracks (six out of twelve) were arranged by Sakuraba, but none of them composed by him, so they're a bit different from his normal style. They're split pretty evenly between rock, techno and synth-orchestral (i.e. two of each) so there's a decent amount of variety there.

[Zeratul]

I just discovered a sound test rip to one of the most unique PSX RPGs, Tales of Destiny, and it actually had some really cool music by Motoi Sakuraba.

Right now, "Betrayal" is one of my favorites with its excellent piano and synth melody.

[Capcom Guitar]

Motoi Sakuraba, don't forget, also did music for Sega Genesis Wolfteam games like Arcus Odyssey, El Viento, Granada, Earnest Evans & Sol-Feace...just to name a few - those soundtracks are awesome. Those great drum beats are real catchy, and the clapping effects with the music...great composer, yes indeed.

[Rince]

His extensive use of voice/chorals is my favorite, because it never gets annoying and always fits the music. I like his use of beats and drums also, just hearing "Fighting the Shadowy Gods" from Valkyrie Profile Arranged gives me the shivers. I can't wait for Star Ocean III to arrive.

[Pez]

Sol-Feace yeah heh! Along with his earlier Sega stuff, I'd have to say the best I've heard from Motoi Sakuraba comes from the SFC titles Tales of Phantasia, the first Star Ocean and Tenshi no Uta.

I think he wrote the score for Golden Sun as well, which wasn't bad either.