I Got Lost in Kingdom Hearts, Now I'm Found in Kingdom Hearts II
Written: Oct 19 '07 (Updated Oct 19 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Just as in the sequel, the score got better as well
Cons: The lame Disney "world" themes
The Bottom Line: I got a fever, and the only prescription is more piano.
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| staceums's Full Review: Kingdom Hearts v.2 by Original Soundtrack |
Like a drug addict, I came back for more as soon as the Kingdom Hearts II soundtrack came out. Why, do you ask? The last Kingdom Hearts soundtrack was only half good. Half of it was crap. Why would I waste my time on another video game soundtrack? Odds are it’d be the exact same, if not worse, as the other one. Well, part of me was curious. The other part of me liked the Kingdom Hearts II video game a lot better than Kingdom Hearts, and the battle sequences literally sounded a lot more intriguing due to the improved music.
As I said before in my Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack opinion, the developers had to bring a Final Fantasy genre together with Disney characters, therefore integrating the two drastically different music types and making it sound like a worthy score without butchering the originality of either. To make a long story short, they did one hell of a job. Again.
Just like the first Kingdom Hearts soundtrack, most of the music is dominated by electronic keyboard and artificial choir, but that didn’t stop me. Most of the music sounds genuine and if anything, more realistic-sounding than its previous installment. To my utter delight, almost every song has piano in it, and most of the tracks are dominated by piano or piano solos. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I love love LOVE piano. I think it is one of the most beautiful-sounding instruments on the planet and it can compliment any type of song anywhere in the world, so when I played the game, I was completely hooked (plot-wise and music-wise, since both essentially go hand in hand).
Unfortunately (but as expected), there’s the "junk" tracks that nobody would ever listen to. Example? Well, all that nonsense with Ariel and Sebastian was just about enough to make my ears bleed. The tracks "Space Paranoids" and "Byte Bashing" were annoying enough in the game, but to listen to them on their own is just too much. However, the blow is softened a little by the fact that most of the tracks are improved copies of the previous versions (since some worlds are re-visited in the sequel, the developers didn't feel like changing the theme songs, and a few on the list might be familiar). Most of the lameness factor has dropped drastically since Kingdom Hearts and we don't hear as much "honky-tonk" piano, goofy-sounding oboe, or bouncy, bubbly, chipper music. The junky, lame-o Disney tracks add up to about 35 total that I wouldn’t listen to, which is surprisingly less than half of the overall soundtrack. There are more tracks in Kingdom Hearts II than in Kingdom Hearts, surpassing the previous soundtrack of 75 songs with 89 songs. C’mon. You’re bound to like at least one out of eighty-nine.
Also, like any video game score, there’s always going to be the few random tracks that don’t necessarily sound like crap, but they don’t add up to anything when you put it in your CD player, either. It might have some sort of impact or effect while playing the game, but listening to it alone can be just plain blah. An unfortunate trait in the Kingdom Hearts II soundtrack is that each track is pretty short. Unlike its predecessor, of which its songs were at least twice as long, Kingdom Hearts II tends to give out tiny snippets of each song instead, prompting me to hit the "repeat" button over and over. That can get a bit annoying.
Without further ado, listed below are the tracks that span two discs of the Kingdom Hearts II soundtrack. Again, I didn’t get into the specifics of every single track, but have commented on the noteworthy songs (and not-so-noteworthy).
* = annoying as hell
[Disc 1]
1. Dearly Beloved (2:22) - The same introduction as before, reminiscent of the first installment of Kingdom Hearts, but with a pinch of strings this time to add drama
2. Passion, performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (3:41) - A little introduction that acts as a trailer, foreshadowing the battles ahead, as lonely strings eventually give way to snare drums (our favorite battle accessory), trumpets, a few bell tolls, and more forceful violins.
3. Sanctuary, performed by Hikaru Utada (4:16) - Hikaru Utada comes back to bless us with her voice in Kingdom Hearts II, and this time "Sanctuary" sounds even catchier than "Simple and Clean." The score sticks to its unique techno introduction with steady beats and electric guitar strumming away in the background as Hikaru hums and sings, the occasional echo or random phrase quietly chanted in between verses.
4. Lazy Afternoons (1:40)
5. Sinister Sundown (1:14)
6. The Escapade (1:17)*
7. Dive into the Heart – Destati (1:49) - Oh, we’ve heard this one before. As the game’s been updated, so has the music. Even though the choir is still very much artificial, for some reason the song sounds even more dramatic than the original. Perhaps it’s the lone, dark piano chords in the background? "Dive into the Heart" is a slow introduction of the darkness in the game.
8. Fragments of Sorrow (1:16) - We’ve also heard this one. Strings and trumpets pick up the beat as the chorus belts out latin in the background and we’re reminded of another dark beginning...
9. Tension Rising (1:34) - A newer battle theme that includes a high-pitched organ, some electronic keyboard-based strings, a few chimes, and some strong piano in the background. No battle theme is complete without the snare drums, either.
10. Kairi (0:54)
11. Missing You (1:53) – a lone piano solo with a melancholy tune
12. The 13th Struggle (1:44) - Battle sequence! More organs, electronic strings, and a beautiful piano solo.
13. Roxas (1:18)
14. Sora (1:29)
15. The Afternoon Streets (1:36)
16. Working Together (1:30)
17. Friends in My Heart (1:01)
18. Magical Mystery (0:52)
19. A Twinkle in the Sky (0:57)
20. Reviving Hollow Bastion (2:08) - This track keeps the original “Hollow Bastion” theme, but it’s changed up a bit. It starts off a little bit more cheerful but the overall song is still dramatic and mysterious. The second time around, it’s slower and has an extra organ or two.
21. Scherzo di Notte (1:19) - Same theme, but the song loses its strings and gains a full-fledged piano. The entire song is performed as a piano solo, save for a few strings. I like it even better than the original.
22. Laughter and Merriment (1:06)*
23. Desire for All That is Lost (1:26) - A favorite of mine. Another battle theme with the usual drums, but this time it picks up with dramatic strings assisted with a hint of xylophone, and not to mention an awesome high-speed piano solo!!!
24. Organization XIII (1:22) - Jeez, all these guys want is a heart. Or two. Or a billion. This track contains a slow-paced, gorgeous, sinister-sounding piano solo, accompanied by a soft choir.
25. Gearing Up (0:58)*
26. Shipmeisters’ Shanty (2:00)*
27. Blast Off! (0:39)*
28. Asteroid Attack (1:16)*
29. Crossing the Finish Line (0:41)*
30. Waltz of the Diamond (1:07)
31. Dance of the Darling (1:04)
32. Hesitation (1:10)
33. Dance to the Death (1:47)
34. Beauty and the Beast (0:46) - Yeah, an original, but it’s only forty-six seconds. Lame.
35. The Home of Dragons (1:32)
36. Fields of Honor (1:16)
37. Apprehension (1:17)
38. Vim and Vigor (1:28) - Sounds a lot like a Final Fantasy boss battle
39. Cloudchasers (1:39)*
40. Olympus Coliseum (1:39)
41. The Underworld (1:23)
42. What Lies Beneath (1:29)
43. Villains of a Sort (0:53)
44. Rowdy Rumble (1:32)
45. Mickey Mouse Club (1:15) - M, I, C...K, E, Y...M-O-U-S-E! Sorry.
46. A Walk in Andante (0:55)
47. Monochrome Dreams (1:04)*
48. Old Friends, Old Rivals (0:56)
49. Floating in Bliss (1:31)
50. Winnie the Pooh (1:38)
51. Bounce-o-rama (Speedy Version) (1:39)*
[Disc 2]
1. Isn’t it Lovely? (1:42)
2. Let’s Sing and Dance! (0:30) - Let’s not.
3. Swim This Way (2:21)* - Holy crap, you have GOT to be kidding me.
4. Part of Your World (1:47) - Wow, they’ve put an original Disney song in there.
5. Under the Sea (2:05) - Another one! They’re on a roll.
6. Ursula’s Revenge (2:15)* - Aaaand they ruined it.
7. A New Day is Dawning (2:09)* - *eyeball twitch* Although it’s funny hearing Donald Duck singing in Japanese.
8. Nights of the Cursed (1:56)
9. He’s a Pirate (1:29) - Omigoodness, an original song from the Pirates of the Caribbean score!
10. The Corrupted (1:21)
11. Hazardous Highway (1:12)
12. A Day in Agrabah (1:51)
13. Arabian Dream (1:35)
14. This is Halloween (1:26)
15. Spooks of Halloween Town (1:20)
16. Adventures in the Savannah (1:49)
17. Savannah Pride (1:20)
18. The Encounter (1:49)
19. Space Paranoids (1:42)*
20. Byte Bashing (1:20)*
21. Sinister Shadows (1:12) – Another battle theme, accompanied by deep piano, strings, and snare drums. I just love the piano in it, but there is also an electronic string solo with the assistance of an occasional xylophone.
22. The 13th Dilemma (1:59) – Another favorite of mine. More intense battle sequences with the backup of a choir, snare drums, oboe, organ, a few trumpets, and overpowering piano. There’s also a piano solo.
23. Showdown at Hollow Bastion (0:48) – A short little tune, but this one’s orchestrated. It’s dramatic with sharp, short string sequences and rolling drums. The music speeds up and gets louder as the choir chimes in, and then the music comes to a screeching halt. Suspenseful, no?
24. One-Winged Angel (2:12) – This time they did it right. The original theme of Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII is revealed.
25. Battleship Bravery (1:42)
26. Sacred Moon (2:06) - Yet another favorite of mine; a high-pitched choir rings out and soft harp strings are plucked as the introduction to this world theme, giving it a sinister feel. The percussion chimes in and so does a deep woodwind, and then the piano beautifully completes the rest of the puzzle as it joins the tune as the dominant instrument. The whole song is a mysterious enigma.
27. Deep Drive (1:38) - The angst-filled half of "Sacred Moon." Piano still dominates the theme, but now it’s faster-paced and drums quickly snap and beat together as a soft chorus in the background parallels the piano’s tune. If "Sacred Moon" had a fight scene, "Deep Drive" is the music that goes with it.
28. Riku (1:16) - Mainly strings and piano in this short song. A very beautiful tune with a sad, independent feel. At long last, Riku has finally been found.
29. Courage (0:53)
30. Disappeared (2:22) - Only one word could describe this song – bazaar. The keys of the piano seem to be hit out of order in a dark tone, as choir voices sing different, low tunes out of succession and the whole thing seems to be out of harmony, giving it a creepy aura. There is a short sequence in the song that has relatively stable composition, but it only lasts for a few seconds.
31. A Fight to the Death (2:04) - More piano in the introduction to this song, which picks up afterwards into strings, trumpet, snare drums, and a soft chorus. The piano does not relent, however, and the faster the song goes, the faster the piano solos burst out. This song definitely emphasizes struggle.
32. Darkness of the Unknown (4:36) - One of the final battle scenes, compiled with different electronic keyboard sounds, a choir humming and chanting in the background, sinister organs, a dramatic piano solo, a dramatic string solo, and then repeat it all over again. With the melancholy chorus in the background, you’d think someone’s gonna die.
33. Passion (after the battle), performed by Hikaru Utada (5:59) - A slower version of the introductory techno theme, mainly held up by piano and Hikaru’s voice. As the beginning "Sanctuary" was fast-paced and fun, "Passion (after the battle)" is quiet, soft, and slow, emanating a sad ambiance from it (even though the ending was happy).
34. Fantasia alla Marcia for piano, chorus, and orchestra, performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (7:45) - My ultimate favorite!!! Like any good ending, the Kingdom Hearts II finale doesn’t disappoint. The ending credits is one of the most beautiful-sounding parts of the game. A real orchestra lets loose as the "anthem" theme begins first, when Mickey finally comes home. At 2:06, a solo piano rings out with the assistance of a choir, adding a gorgeous, light-will-prevail feel, ending it with happiness and freedom. The piano makes its finale and then cuts short into a more dramatic, trumpet-blaring tune at 3:00. The chorus erupts and chants latin as drums beat loudly into a battle-reminiscent sequence, almost sounding like a movie trailer. Flutes ring out and the choir is brought to the crescendo, the piano once again dominating the music and jamming its chords into the song. It is brought back into a solo at 4:10 with the strings fleeting in and out of the song. The piano slows down a bit with the chorus and repeats the original theme of Kingdom Hearts, and the song sounds as if it’s almost over at 5:10 with a few final drum beats and trumpets trailing off. The strings softly and quietly take over again, however, with one last repeat of the "anthem" theme. Regal horns trumpet softly and soft snare drums beat to the tune as it prepares itself for the closing credits. The finale grows loud and proud as the chorus chimes in happily when drums and cymbals crash, one last time.
35. Destiny Islands (1:10)
36. Hand in Hand (0:40)
37. Sunset Horizons (1:30) - The mysterious, sinister hidden ending (and theme). Who is that silhouette?
38. Dearly Beloved (reprise) (1:28)
Overall: I’m not disappointed one bit. I like the score even better than the first soundtrack, mostly because of the dominating piano throughout the CD. I think the music has a beautiful feel to it, but I just wish the tracks were longer. The longest-spanning track in the set is #34 on Disc 2, which literally sounds like a trailer theme. If you’re into video game score, and if you like the Kingdom Hearts installments, pick this soundtrack up and give it a listen.
This review was submitted in support of the fight against breast cancer.
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Exercising
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Epinions.com ID:
staceums
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Member: Stacey
Location: St. Louis, MO
Reviews written: 60
Trusted by: 18 members
About Me:
I'm officially a doctor. And unemployed. Awesome.
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