-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
-
We have made minor adjustments to how the search bar works on ResetEra. You can read about the changes here.
I'm honestly left with mix feelings after hearing the new music rendition of Dragon Quest XI Switch
- Thread starter SilverX
- Start date
Surprised at all the DQ music haters. XI is comparatively bland, but I think some of the tracks from other DQ games rival the best in the industry. I guess the classical style isn't for everyone.
I never liked music in any Dragon Quest game, midi or orchestrated, it doesnt matter. It really puts me off.
Yeah OP I agree, this is a problem I have with the DQ7 remake too, in both there's an orchestrated soundtrack option that yes, technically sounds better but completely lacks the energy you'd expect from video game music and ends up feeling weak as a result. It really bothers me how the battle theme in DQ11 for example drops all percussions randomly at one point and feels like a completely different track in the orchestrated version, it's pretty jarring.
I guess it's what happens when they add live orchestra tracks that clearly weren't meant to play in a game, they aren't "gamey".
I'm currently playing through DQ7 3DS and I'm probably the only madman to deliberately not patch his game with the orchestrated soundtrack fix because of the same problem you describe. Here's the orchestrated version and here's the midi one, you tell me which has more energy and fits fighting better. I appreciate better sounding music and actual instruments as much as anyone, and these renditions are great for listening, but they don't suit the games at all, IMO.
DQ11 clearly has composition problems and misplaced music as well, but this is yet another issue for me. So frustrating too, because I absolutely adore the game.
I guess it's what happens when they add live orchestra tracks that clearly weren't meant to play in a game, they aren't "gamey".
I'm currently playing through DQ7 3DS and I'm probably the only madman to deliberately not patch his game with the orchestrated soundtrack fix because of the same problem you describe. Here's the orchestrated version and here's the midi one, you tell me which has more energy and fits fighting better. I appreciate better sounding music and actual instruments as much as anyone, and these renditions are great for listening, but they don't suit the games at all, IMO.
DQ11 clearly has composition problems and misplaced music as well, but this is yet another issue for me. So frustrating too, because I absolutely adore the game.
The orchestra mod/music is definitely an improvement over midi but the music in DQ XI is pretty fucking awful in general IMO.
Wellll its only on the switch version and only in the full version. The demo doesnt have it
Ya, the orchestral is better sounding than the midi for sure, but that doesn't change that the tracks themselves are bad.
Dragon Quest music, regardless of format has always been kind of "meh" to me. That being said, I'd much rather have orchestrated "meh" than annoying midi "meh". I understand why some people love the midi stuff though, as I always have a nostalgic soft spot for the "BWWWWAAAAW" of the Sega Genesis sound chip even if it sounds dumb.
nah, MIDI music can be amazing. The quality of audio in DQ11's MIDI tracks just happens to be absolutely terrible.
I really liked DQXI music, I've heard part of the soundtrack orchestrated and I actually prefer the midi versions in a few tracks.
That said the music is beautiful not matter what, can't wait to hear all the tracks orchestrated once I play the game.
That said the music is beautiful not matter what, can't wait to hear all the tracks orchestrated once I play the game.
The music in Dragon Quest XI is simply mediocre and uninspired, some tracks being repeated ad nauseam makes it even seem worse than that. This is the first game ever in which I had to turn the music off after a point. The orchestral renditions doesn't improve things much.
Legitimate question: do you actually like this? Is this what people want in battle music?
(unrelated, but this track sounds like an orchestra that's being recorded through some rear exit door at the studio)
You can switch between Orchestra & MIDI in the full game.
As for me, Orchestra > MIDI. The melodies are already meh, but at least the orchestration makes it more tolerable.
It's recorded to sound like you're sitting in a concert hall listening to an orchestra. It's lovely.
of course, it's subjective if it's "good" or not, but DQVIII definitely had a beautiful soundtrack compared to DQXI. The borrowed tracks really stand out.
The horrific noise that dq11 PS4 called music was a sustained assault on my ears and soul that almost single handedly ruined the game for me, especially after the masterpiece of dq8s ost.
So yeah I'll take the switch version over it. I'll take laying down in a pile of garbage over it.
So yeah I'll take the switch version over it. I'll take laying down in a pile of garbage over it.
Wow. Old man Sugiyama's best work is definitely behind him. And I'm not talking about it being MIDI. The actual composition is so much worse than previous games. It's like he took a handful of arpeggios and decided that was enough-I'm struggling to find a melody in there.
This. I guess all those times I watched Fantasia as a kid really helps to appreciate DQ music.
The way I see it
I-III = Magical
V = Peak DQ
After that: Really hit or miss
Huh, I really thought you'd post the battle theme or something. I mean how about that epic boss theme (half way through this track)?
But seriously even a non battle note. Noble Requiem really makes the drama hit HARD in V
Yes, thomasjast this is legitimately great.
That is pretty good. Don't get me wrong... I like DQ music, generally, but given a choice, I prefer MIDI to orchestrated all day, err day. [side note: I think PS1-era PCM/synth/samples are the high point of game music production. I think FF VIII and Parasite Eve are some damn fine sounding games.]
Oh sure, I can agree with that. I certainly wouldn't say the orchestra version of Man with a Machine Gun is better than the original. Uematsu certainly wasn't going for an orchestra sound with his original composition. I think Sugiyama does though (sad to say the bastard intentionally just goes for low quality synth to better sell his orchestra tickets)
Noble Requiem is one of my favorites, too. The follow up, Saint, is so short, so sweet, so sad.
The sailing theme is one of the most epic themes in the series and is the very first one you hear in the game, I could listen to it for hours.
Nah its also just shitty and repetitive compared to most other rpg series.
I love dq, far more than most and it's close to my heart but..... look xi has a weaker soundtrack. They reuse alot of classic songs but other than maybe the silly song the XI soundtrack is so forgettable I literally cant remember a song. That's impressive when you add the length of game and how repetitive the soundtrack is.
Games amazing otherwise, I'll defend it to death just damn that musician needs to retire
Games amazing otherwise, I'll defend it to death just damn that musician needs to retire
It basically sounds like a middling college student in a music composition class was asked to copy Sugiyama's musical style. But the student is Sugiyama himself.
As someone who plays almost exclusively with headphones to avoid waking a sleeping baby, I couldn't disagree more. The synth tracks are grating as hell, with particular shout outs to the battle theme, overworld theme, and Heliodore theme.
I agree with everyone else that the soundtrack as a whole is mediocre at best, but the synth versions sound bargain basement. This from a game that's trying to be the standard-bearer for all JRPGs. No, fuck that, give me the actual instruments please.
I agree with everyone else that the soundtrack as a whole is mediocre at best, but the synth versions sound bargain basement. This from a game that's trying to be the standard-bearer for all JRPGs. No, fuck that, give me the actual instruments please.
I think there's two things that should be cleared up about the issues with DQ11's soundtrack:
1st, there are many songs from previous games picking up the slack in different areas, like the Hotto music being the same as from DQ3.
2nd, many of the songs made for DQ11 are simply just poorly composed, and have uncreative or repetitive instrumentation that cannot be fixed with an orchestral remaking.
I can only assume the first problem is intentional on the part of Sugiyama to some end outside of a lack of time or desire to create a full original soundtrack, but the second is a small part of why I'd rather he wasn't making more music for Dragon Quest, with his apprentice being given a shot at one being a good compromise.
Like, he's a bad person to a powerful and dangerous degree, and that a major reason why he needs to go, but these are honestly some of if not The weakest compositions he's made in his career, no matter your position on his actions, it can clearly be seen that he's devaluing the experience of these games with his music as of late.
His past music will always be beautiful to me, but he cannot be forgiven, and the sooner he can become a memory and stop hurting people in the now, the better.
1st, there are many songs from previous games picking up the slack in different areas, like the Hotto music being the same as from DQ3.
2nd, many of the songs made for DQ11 are simply just poorly composed, and have uncreative or repetitive instrumentation that cannot be fixed with an orchestral remaking.
I can only assume the first problem is intentional on the part of Sugiyama to some end outside of a lack of time or desire to create a full original soundtrack, but the second is a small part of why I'd rather he wasn't making more music for Dragon Quest, with his apprentice being given a shot at one being a good compromise.
Like, he's a bad person to a powerful and dangerous degree, and that a major reason why he needs to go, but these are honestly some of if not The weakest compositions he's made in his career, no matter your position on his actions, it can clearly be seen that he's devaluing the experience of these games with his music as of late.
His past music will always be beautiful to me, but he cannot be forgiven, and the sooner he can become a memory and stop hurting people in the now, the better.
Op i got ya back it doesnt have that punch. It was like that for me with the overworld theme and battle theme.
It will just be the Switch version, I think, unless Square Enix decides to sell that content for PS4 and PC later on.
First I'm hearing about that and I hope it's true. That field music in DQ VIII is one of my favorites of all time.
Edit: is that one of those changes that only happens if you're wearing the clothing set from the DQ8 hero?
Edit 2: Yes it is! DQ XI list of additions
Last edited: