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Home Page > Mother > Mother_3 : Mother 3i - The Red Blimp
Mother 3i Review
Hee, another review! This is one of the two Mother 3 soundtracks released through iTunes, the other being Mother+. I really prefer this one.
NOTE: This page involves criticism of Mother 3i. If you worship this and can't stand me not worshipping it either, you'd best run out of here. The following represents the opinion of a fan who only wants to present her thoughts on this soundtrack.
Let me start by saying that This album has 15 tracks, some of which are very long. Unlike the Mother Original Soundtrack, this is a collection of songs straight from the game, not a re-recording. The 15 tracks could better be called collections of songs from the game. The songs in each track correspond to the name - for example, Memory of Tatsumairi has various songs from Tazmily.
Each of the tracks on this album are well-made. The songs from the game all flow well into each other on each track. The selection of songs is also great (it should be, in any case - Itoi was the one that chose the tracks!).
Track Listing
- Welcome to Mother3 World *
- Tatsumairi *
- Twist and Battle *
- Gentle Rain
- Mambo and Battle
- Theme of DUSTER
- The Castle of OSOHE *
- Funky Monkey Dance
- Oh, Buta-Mask *
- Memory of Tatsumairi
- With Magypsy *
- Do Not Disturb *
- Flowers *
- Theme of Bad Boy * BEST TRACK
- From Utopia *
Welcome to Mother3 World is the first track. It opens up with the swelling Mother 3 Naming Screen song. It's relaxing... and then you get a hard, fast rock song from DCMC! If you've played EarthBound, then this portion of the track will sound familiar to you. After that, you get a power-ballad thing that sounds like a level-up track (well, that's my opinion). A fun, jazzy track follows. I love this part - it sounds right at home in a casino. It's even got some swing to it, complete with horn parts and a little piano part. Almost like elevator music...
Tatsumairi opens with a dramatic horn rendition of the pig mask theme. There's a very short riff that reminds me of the American national anthem (Oh-oh say...), and then you get a track that wouldn't sound out-of-place in Kirby's Air Ride. You get plenty of horns and drums here. Once this part is done, there is a quick, delicate little flute melody which is quickly repeated by... um, more horns. It's quite pleasant, and definitely a counterpoint to the opening.
If you liked the battle themes in this game, Twist and Battle is likely to be your favorite track. It's great and energetic. I am in love with the second track - the rock and roll anthem of this game. Unlike EarthBound and Mother, this rock and roll track is entirely original ; there are no parts from Johnny B. Goode here. The chord progression here is actually repeated on a later track. The third song could easily fit into the Dusty Dunes section of Paper Mario before it turns into the desert theme. It's good fun, definitely atmospheric without being just background noise. This is one of the most memorable songs in the game, without a doubt. The end is a bit off - some strings hold a chord. Yeah.
I'm not quite fond of the opening to Gentle Rain. It certainly is gentle, but it's also... boring. After the piano part, there is a creepy flute melody. It's quite disconcerting to hear it. In the actual game, it is used to great effect, but here, it really creeps me out. After this is a piano rendition of one of the sadder songs in the game. It's perhaps the most touching part of this track. I don't know why it was put after such mediocre songs. It deserves a track all its own, or it at least needs to open the track.
Mambo and Battle... well, I'm 'supposed' to like this type of Latin-ish music, but it doesn't really attract me. That, and it's super-annoying to combo to in the actual game, but whatever. The tracks are 'ok'. If you like Shakira, maybe you'll fall over this. I guess the second track is the only one I like, but it's not one of my favorites. I tend to skip this track when it comes to the album. It does reminds me of 'Besame Mucho', though. Thankfully, this track isn't too long - just 3:41.
There is an oboe in Theme of DUSTER and that alone makes it amazing. The track is pleasant, a little sad... what's truly odd is the track that follows. It's the same melody, but with reverb-gated drums (very 80s style!) and a generally cheerier approach. I quite like the bass in the part. Go bass. This track is even shorter than the previous one. It's a shame, because it's actually better than Mambo and Battle. Shogo Sakai certainly knew how to make great melodies.
The Castle of OSOHE starts off with a ragtime ditty on the piano. I wish it was a little thicker, but it's awesome. I'm a sucker for ragtime. The track following it isn't as jocund, though. It's the unsettling song that played after the (whoa spoilers up ahead) Pig Masks invaded the castle. It's not what I'd pick for casual listening. Following that is Mr. Passion playing a beautiful song on his haunted piano. It's even got a dramatic end. Great song.
Funky Monkey Dance, surprisingly enough, does not start off with a Funky Monkey Dance. It's more of that desert music. It actually sounds like another song in Super Mario RPG... Shogo Sakai certainly has plenty of musical influences. Following this, you get the dance track we've been waiting for... yes! It is Funky Monkey Dance! Try playing this at a party and doing the accompanying dance. You'll either make or lose friends. The track after sounds really familiar... could it be we've heard it before? I don't know, but I don't care for it.
Oh, Buta-Mask. Why does that sound like...well, never mind. This is a collection of the songs of the Pig Army. Yes, we finally hear that dreaded tune again! I always picture the Pig Masks walking in, doing their salute... after this is a song that was in the Smash Bros Brawl 'Unfounded Revenge - Smashing Song of Praise'. I think it's freaking great - very Pig Mask-esque, great to listen to, and quite representative of the Pig Army.
Ah, remember old Tazmily? What? You don't? Take a walk down memory lane with Memory of Tatsumairi to relive those days before the Pig Masks invaded the Tazmilians. What a relaxing song! When you have problems going to sleep, try putting this song on and then you're certain to drift into dreamland. What a soft song. This entire track is just different renditions of the same tune - slower, with flutes, with drums, whatever.
Oh no, we've been attacked by guitars! The guitars are With Magypsy! I always knew those cross-dressers were guitar-lovers. Yes, this track starts with guitars and piano. I can't imagine a more innovative and original pair of instruments. After that, you finally get Pachelbel's canon- I mean, the Magypsy theme. If you've never noticed, the two share almost the same chords! Of course, it was still a nice chord progression~, and the sax solo certainly makes it better. My only real complaint is that the song is mind-bendingly slooooow. Ugh. IT wasn't this slow in the game, so why here?
Do Not Disturb! It sounds like something you'd hang outside your door, but it's actually another group of Pig Army songs, this time a bit more menacing. There is another piece of 'Unfounded Revenge' in here (don't you hate it when people take pieces of various songs, piece them together, and then give that mish-mash track the name of ONE of the songs in there? I know I do). There is a part here that could easily be stuffed into an episode of Winnie the Pooh or into a Kirby game. It's short though... and you'll forget it after the track that follows. That bass keeps you on your toes. Oh, the atmosphere! It doesn't grab my attention though, not until certain parts. There is a battle theme in here. It's the Mr. Batty Twist, I believe. It's good, but I do not understand what it's doing among a collection of Pig Mask songs. Did it get lost while trying to get to Twist and Battle?
Flowers starts off softly, delicately, as if any loud noise would shatter the peace. This song is sad. It could be a great partner to 'Theme of love'... unfortunately, this peaceful track isn't very well-known. Suddenly, the strings start and you get this swelling feeling. The strings quickly back down, though, taking a back-seat to the synth. Eventually, the strings sneak back in, behind the melody. It's an example of how tracks do not need lyrics to show emotion.
That peace is quickly shatted by Theme of Bad Boy, which starts off with an 8-bit version of one of the songs in Twist and Battle. Let me assure you - this has to be my favorite part of the entire soundtrack. It definitely reminds me of the 8-bit portion of Giygas's theme. It's catchy and strong and you might even whistle or hum it throughout the day. This short period of bliss is followed by a bombastic, rolling Porky's theme. This is also my favorite version of Porky's theme. The next segment of the track is started by a nonchalant piano chord (do not ask me how piano chords can be nonchalant - this one just is), played again one octave below. After some noodling, there is an oboe quickly weaving in and out of the bass and synth and it really fits the Pig Army. Suddenly, there is a soft synth transition to... that theme played in the desert? Gah! I can't escape! Yeah, the theme returns, but not without some of Porky's orchestra interrupting to play a malevolent little melody. Mr. Passion returns as well! The finish to this track is excellent. It's a pleasure to hear. I gladly say this is my favorite track and, in my opinion, the best track on the album. You won't even notice that seven minutes have passed.
Gee, Mr. Itoi certainly loves the Pig Army. From Utopia starts off once again with the Pig Mask theme, but then other tracks start to appear. What's going on? It's a bit chaotic, that's for sure. It doesn't flow as well as Theme of Bad Boy. That's not saying this is a bad track, no; there are definitely some excellent melodies in here. The transitions are out of whack, though. They're jerky and don't feel like one song. It sounds like various tracks fighting to get the attention of the listener. The main song is acceptable, not the most memorable thing, but still nice. There's even a surprise appearance of the song from Flowers. I know this is the last track and making an impression helps, but what's with all these... guest song appearances? It is a sweet ending, though a bit minimal.
If you can't tell, this album, though quite long, is great. It's available on iTunes. Buy it or download it or something - it's worth listening to.
The Sky Temple