Contra 4 Original Soundtrack

Who's the composer again?

Yes, completely awesome.  As a long time friend of Jake's, I'm really happy for him, as this is a project come true for him.  We actually published a news item announcing him as the composer with a quote from him which was quite nice:

http://www.music4games.net/News_Display.aspx?id=649

He's done a lot of other stuff, including Scurge: Hive, which had great music, and Juka and the Monophonic Menace.  Should definitely check those out, as there is a Scurge: Hive rip out there.

Funny enough, I ran into Jake just last weekend, as his band, Smash Bros. played the FFXI Fan Festival.  There should be a writeup of the show coming soon, but yeah, loved the game's music at E For All, and am looking forward to hearing it in the game if I can ever beat the first level.

I'm just beginning to get into the game, but the music definitely sounds great in both composition and quality, really great to hear such good stuff coming out of DS. Loud, rocking and developed, I think it'll take some time to really dig into these tracks.

Arcubalis wrote:

http://www.music4games.net/News_Display.aspx?id=649

Even cooler still, I grabbed the attention of WayForward's Matt Bozon, and he graciously sent me virt's audition track.  It's a high-powered arrangement of the original Jungle that isn't featured in the game, though a condensed version of it is used for the official Contra 4 website.  Matt got the OK from Konami and gave me permission to share it:

Contra4_Virt-Original-Jungle:
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/angie_liu … mp;.view=l

I love these guys.  Really.  ^_^

It's actually scary how much of the original music (via the remixes) I recognize.

As for the new stuff, it's very solid. "Jungle 1" is especially catchy. New, and yet unmistakably Contra-esque.

Thanks a bunch...Getting now, will spend a good portion of tomorrow listening. The music for Level 4 is really useful in maintaining my sanity...It rocks. Now I get to sample the other five levels I'm starting to think I'll never get to. ;p

Man, this is pretty great stuff.

"Ocean" reminds me of some game series, but I can't for the life of me think what it is. Megaman X? Right at '34 and onward for a bit it sounds so damn familiar. I should know what that sounds like, and I'm sure it's not previous Contra games...

Ugh, what is it? Is anyone else getting this feeling? I want to say it's an action game series, but I guess it could be an action RPG or something....but I have no idea. It almost seems vaguely NON-ish, but I don't think I'm thinking of Gunstar....am I? No, too much obvious guitar...

Man, like I said, this is great. I have no real ties with any Contra music other than that of Contra III, and this entire score makes me feel nostalgic.

That's a great recording. Thank you very much, Angela!

brandonk wrote:

Do we have a mouse fart's chance of getting an arranged CD from a Japanese group?  American composed, and Japanese arranged..THAT would be a first.

Stranger things have happened, though virt has told me that there aren't even plans for an official OST release yet.  C'mon Konami, do it!

I recall Konami's Tomm Hulett saying in an interview that he would love to see cover artists doing Contra 4.  Already I'm pining for a balls-to-the-walls rockin' arrangement of Jungle 1 and Harbor -- and I'd want virt himself to do it.  :D

I really liked the end theme.

I absolutely love the music for this game.  It fits the atmosphere so well, and what can I say other than it's definitely Contra.  Playing games like this always puts me in a good mood (well, for the most part -- This game is frustrating haha, but I love it), and the music makes it a great experience.

There is one thing I've been wondering about one of the songs, though.  I was browsing trailers on youtube before I got the game, and there was one song that really caught my interest.  However, a different version was put into the game.  I wonder if the version of the "Ocean" theme that is in the youtube video is out there somewhere.  I was kind of disappointed when I found out there is a different version in the game, but it's still a great song and it sounds almost the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4rNq_0l … re=related

Kaleb.G wrote:

TrueUltimaX wrote:

There is one thing I've been wondering about one of the songs, though.  I was browsing trailers on youtube before I got the game, and there was one song that really caught my interest.  However, a different version was put into the game.  I wonder if the version of the "Ocean" theme that is in the youtube video is out there somewhere.  I was kind of disappointed when I found out there is a different version in the game, but it's still a great song and it sounds almost the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4rNq_0l … re=related

You're right. I wonder if this is the Hard difficulty version?

Which brings me to a question... I've heard from various sources that the Hard difficulty has straight arrangements of the classic Contra tracks. However, Angela's rip only has a track like this for the first stage. Are there more tracks in the game that haven't been recorded?

The only classic stage arrangement in the game is "Jungle 2" - all the rest of the Hard mode tracks are exactly the same as in Normal.  A well-placed bit of fan service, but still one hell of a tease; I, too, was hoping for more classic remixes in Hard.

As for the Ocean theme..... it is fundamentally the same track, though it's apparent that it went through a few changes in the final mix.  Personally, I find the differences between the two negligible.