Terra Battle EP
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Album Title: Terra Battle |
| Record Label: Mistwalker |
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| Catalog No.: N/A |
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| Release Date: March 30, 2015 |
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| Purchase: Download at iTunes |
Overview
With the recent prevalence of mobile games, both in the Western and Eastern markets, more and more Triple-A game developers are setting their sights on this lucrative and ever-expanding market. One such example is the recently released iOS and Android game, Terra Battle, developed by Mistwalker, with Mr. Hironobu Sakaguchi at the helm. Terra Battle is a free to play tile-based tactical RPG, and has been well received by its players. As with the majority of Mistwalker’s productions, Nobuo Uematsu has composed and produced the music for the game, resulting in a very short EP album available for download.
Body
“Terra Battle,” the main theme, is the stand-out track on this EP, and is a great addition to Uematsu’s library of compositions. Featuring a slow build up with Taiko-drum instrumentation, and some sweeping chords before leading into the main melody, the track really pays off when the melody kicks into high gear a few minutes in. It stands out as a great contemporary theme from Uematsu, possessing a modern sound, while still containing the romanticism that he is known for. While some of the instruments, particularly the strings sound a bit too artificial, this doesn’t detract from the composition on display here in the slightest.
“Day of Reckoning” also stands out, with what appears to be a rock-oriented boss theme. Partially reminiscent of other boss themes that Uematsu has worked on, “Day of Reckoning” is a great jam session that incorporates the “Terra Battle” theme in a satisfying and cohesive way. The EP also includes two more battle themes: “In the Heat of Battle” and “Fortune Favors the Valliant.” They’re both good, though sometimes the more electronic/organ-like sounds clash a bit with the orchestrated instruments. They fit in well with the EP however, featuring a more frantic-sound on “In the Heat of Battle,” and a victorious, Spanish like flair in “Fortune Favors the Valliant.”
Lastly, perhaps the most interesting sounding track here is “Beyond the Horizon,” a clam sounding theme that combines a synth-choir, a digitized singer, along with a very modern-sounding hip-hop beat. It works for the most part, though some of the more electronic elements still clash somewhat.
Summary
As an EP to Terra Battle, Nobuo Uematsu’s compositions sound fresh, and all fit within this new game. However, I’d like to see more of a complete album in the future, especially due to the incentives that Mistwalker has placed in the game itself. As more people have downloaded the game, new compositions by Uematsu have been added. Additionally, Kenji Ito, Yoko Shimomura, and Yasunori Mitsuda have all contributed a song each to the game, making a complete soundtrack an exciting prospect indeed. In either case, this short EP is certainly worth the download for fans of Nobuo Uematsu and Terra Battle. For everyone else, there’s just not that much here to explore. Here’s hoping we see a complete release in the near future!
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
3.5
Posted on May 9, 2015 by Julius Acero. Last modified on May 9, 2015.
About the Author
Julius Acero I recently graduated with a BA in Cinema & Media Arts from Biola University in LA, and am currently attempting to break into the film and television industries. I grew up listening to and learning from classical music and famous film scores, and absolutely fell in love with the orchestra at a young age. When I was 10, I began playing Nintendo games and became enamored with the music from Super Smash Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and the Mario series, just to name a few. Now, I continue to follow scores and composers, both eastern and western, and am continually surprised by the power and emotions behind their works. Above all, I am blessed to be part of such a creative community, and hope to further hone my own skills through this wonderful art form!
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Nice review! I was surprised they published this right as new material was being added. Totally agreed a complete soundtrack is needed once development is complete.