VG Frequency

Eleven years ago, Akihiko Mori passed away from cancer. Even though his last work was in 1996, he to this day stands as one of my favorite VGM composers of all time.

Works featured in this post:

• Gokinjo Bouken Tai (SNES)
• Kidou Senshi Z Gundam: Away to the Newtype (SNES)
• Mystic Ark (SNES)
• Shien’s Revenge (SNES)
• Wonder Project J: Mechanical Boy Pino (SNES)
• Wonder Project J2: Josette of Corlo Forest (SNES)

full list of works

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Mori worked at a company called Mint, which did sound development for video games. Thus, in addition to composing for some games, he also adapted music for the SNES sound driver developed by Mint. Two such games, Bounty Sword and Lennus II: Fuuin no Shito (Lennus II: Apostles of the Seals, Japan-only sequel to Paladin’s Quest), were composed by veteran game and anime composer Kouhei Tanaka, and actually have rather decent orchestral soundtracks. The over fourteen minute staff roll from Lennus II is particularly impressive.

But I guess maybe I should go on with Mori’s own compositions?

“Land Exploration”
Kidou Senshi Z Gundam: Away to the Newtype (SNES)

“bon voyage! ~ Come On! To the Skies! Medley”
arranged from Wonder Project J2: Josette of Corlo Forest (N64)

“Mountain”
Gokinjo Bouken Tai (SNES)

I could devote an entire post just to Gokinjo Bouken Tai’s soundtrack, one of the very best the SNES has to offer, but I’ll limit myself to one more track. Mori’s battle themes stand out to me as some of the best done by any composer, with the normal battle theme from GBT leading them all with its jazz stylings and madcap energy.

“Battle”
Gokinjo Bouken Tai (SNES)

“Bad Dream”
Shien’s Revenge (SNES)
co-composed with Tsukushi Sasaki

Overall, Mori’s battle theme work shines brightest in Mystic Ark, the Japan-only sequel to The 7th Saga. Mystic Ark is one of three games Mori composed to receive a soundtrack release, but unfortunately the album is marred by a defect, a hiss in the left channel audio.

“Hey! Don’t Attack Me!”
Mystic Ark (SNES)

“Your Fighting Eyes Are Always Beautiful”
Mystic Ark (SNES)

“Are You the True Form of Darkness?”
Mystic Ark (SNES)

I suppose it’s rather cliché to leave the ending themes for last, but this is a post in memory of one of my all-time favorites, so I’m going to get as sappy as I want to.

“Ending”
Shien’s Revenge (SNES)
co-composed with Tsukushi Sasaki

“Ending”
Wonder Project J: Mechanical Boy Pino (SNES)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 am and is filed under Composer Spotlight, Composers, Game Soundtracks, Games, Publishers & Developers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.