Samurai Shodown
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Hyper Neo Geo 64
Samurai Spirits
Arrange Sound Trax



About this CD
Since the CD is an import CD, Samurai Shodown 64 simply goes by the name Samurai Spirits in Japan. Therefore. this CD is called Samurai Spirits Arrange Sound Trax. This is an official Spirits music CD/soundtrack done by SNK New World Sound Players. This CD has 13 tracks of characters themes, 1 track of title music(intro), 1 track of staff roll(ending) and 1 vocal song(in Japanese).

The characters' themes/background musics included in this CD
Haohmaru, Nakoruru, Rimururu, Tachibana Ukyo, Kibagami Genjuro, Kazama Kazuki, Kazama Sogetsu, Galford, Yagyu Hanma, Hattori Hanzo, Shiki, Gandara, Yuga.

The Tracks in this CD
1. Samurai Spirits (Title)
2. Advancing (Haohmaru)
3. Four Seasons (Nakoruru)
4. Snow Flakes (Rimururu)
5. Fantasy (Tachibana Ukyo)
6. The Samisen Song of the Devil (Kibagami Genjuro)
7. Flame (Kazama Kazuki)
8. Dew (Kazama Sogetsu)
9. High Tension (Galford)
10. Inscription (Yagyu Hanma)
11. Darkness (Hattori Hanzo)
12. Dark Black (Shiki)
13. Gandara (Gandara)
14. Yin Yang (Yuga)
15. End Scene (Ending)
16. With a Smiling Face! (Vocal Song)

Special Vocal Song (in Romanji)
Lyrics by MOMO
Sung by Kamitani Keiko (Rimururu's voice actress)

Egao De Iru Yo

Mabushisa ni me ga sameta Yuki no asa Sougen wa
Garasu no hana Yureru you
Sugu ni kagedashita
Mori ya yuki Toritachi ni Ohayou to aisatsu
Itsumo touri hajimaru kedo
Neesama dake tarinai
Donna kirei na sora Miageru no ima
Omoidasu yokokao Sugu ni aitakunaru yo
Hitori sabishiikutemo Namida misenai
Egao de iru kara to kyou mo tsutaetai

Daisuki na oka no ue Te o tsunagi Mouichidou
Arukeru hi o shinjiteru
Haru o matsu youni
Suki tooru kaze no uta Dokomademo tooi sora
Mamoritai to omou chikara
Neesama kara moratta
Donna ni hanaretemo Mitsumete ite ne
Yowamushi wa oshimai Tsuyoku umare kawaru yo
Hidoku kizuitemo Nigetari shinai
Egao de iru koto o dou ka tsutaetai

Daremo mune ni yakusoku kizami umarete kita no
Atsui yuki ga hora tsubasa ni naru kara

Donna kirei na sora Miageru no ima
Omoidasu yokokao Sugu ni aitakunaru yo
Hitori sabishiikutemo Namida misenai
Egao de iru kara to kyou mo tsutaetai
Donna ni hanaretemo Mitsumete ite ne
Yowamushi wa oshimai Tsuyoku umare kawaru yo
Hidoku kizuitemo Nigetari shinai
Egao de iru koto o dou ka tsutaetai

Kaze ni nosete

Special Vocal Song (translation)
Nami Aikawa translated the song, and many thanks to her for letting me to put this up.

Lyrics by MOMO
Sung by Kamitani Keiko (Rimururu's voice actress)

With a Smiling Face!

It was dazzling when I woke
The plain covered with snow in the morning looks like shaky flowers of glass
I began to run immediately
And greet forests, snow and birds, "Good morning!"
My ordinary day has started, but I miss my elder sister

(*) What kind of beautiful sky you look up now?
I want to meet you immediately when I'm remembering your profile
I don't show my tears even when I'm lonely
"With a Smiling face!" I want to tell you today too

I believe it is possible that the day to walk on my favorite hill hand
in hand with you will come once again, like waiting for spring
From elder sister, I accepted the power to think that I want to defend the song of clear wind and the extensive blue sky.

(#) However you leave far, please look at me warm-heartedly
I'm spineless, but I will become a brave girl for you
I don't run away from being cruelly hurt
"With a Smiling face!" Anyhow, I want to tell you

Everyone is born with a promise in their heart
Feel! The hot bravery has become wings

(*) and (#) repeat

Giving a lift on the wind...

Review and thoughts
Okay, to be honest, I don't really like this CD. But as a SS fan, this is something I got to have. As you know, some of the music are just redone from the previous SS games, i.e. Nakoruru, Galford, Genjuro. But most of them are new composed songs. This time the Nakoruru's theme is more serene, it is quite different from the SS4 one, I think I like this one more. The Galford's theme seems faster, but I think the SS4 one is better composed. Now, if you ask me what is the best song in this CD, I would have to say Rimururu's theme. Even in the arcade, her theme still sound very nice. The last track of this CD is the vocal track of Rimururu's theme, very nice. Actually, I can say that Rimururu's theme is the main reason for anyone to buy this CD. Other than Rimururu's theme, the ending theme is pretty good too. Shiki's theme is not bad also. It's weird, she screams softly in some part of her theme, as like a background music. Anyway, the Kazuki's theme is similar to his old theme, but not as good as the old one. I personally don't quite like the new Haohmaru's theme. Genjuro's one is like the SS4 one, except there is an older women singing Japanese Opera type of music to start of the song. The rest of the music in this CD are just okay. In conclusion, if you like the music in the arcade, then you'll like this CD too. I think the original arcade music is not much different from the music in this arranged soundtrack. Because I think the Hyper Neo Geo 64 has better sound synthenizer than the old neo geo machine, that means if you are comparing SS4 music from a cartridge and SS4 AST, then there is quite a difference. So, I would say the SS64 music quality from the arcade will not be as bad as this SS64 AST. Personally, I don't like it that much, I listen to it once in a while.

Buyers' Guide
-Buy it if you love SS's BGM (espescially, Nako's, Rimu's and Shiki's themes).
-Buy it if you really like to collect SS soundtrack.
-Buy it if you want to hear Shiki screams(that's like the bg sounds in one of the track =).

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