Ryo Yamazaki
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese synthesizer programmer
and occasional composer of video game music currently working at Square Enix
.
, Front Mission Online, and Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
. While the composers seem to attract the most attention in the video game industry, the quality of Yamazaki's instrument sampling has made him a name among video game music fans. It was his programming that brought a highly realistic feel to Yasunori Mitsuda
's Chrono Cross
, for example. However, his most prolific work stems from his ongoing collaborations with Masashi Hamauzu
.
Composition
Arrangement
Synthesizer programmer
In video game music, a synthesizer programmer - or a manipulator - helps a composer by choosing the right instruments to play the music inside the video game....
and occasional composer of video game music currently working at Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
.
Biography
Yamazaki has created several compositions for Front Mission 4Front Mission 4
is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 18, 2003 and in North America on June 15, 2004. Front Mission 4 is the fourth main entry and sixth entry overall in the Front Mission series...
, Front Mission Online, and Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII
is an action role-playing third-person shooter video game developed and published by Square Enix in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. It is part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII metaseries, a multimedia collection set within the universe of the popular 1997 video game Final Fantasy VII...
. While the composers seem to attract the most attention in the video game industry, the quality of Yamazaki's instrument sampling has made him a name among video game music fans. It was his programming that brought a highly realistic feel to Yasunori Mitsuda
Yasunori Mitsuda
is a Japanese video game composer, sound programmer, and musician. He has composed music for or worked on over 35 games, and has contributed to over 15 other albums...
's Chrono Cross
Chrono Cross
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which was released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System...
, for example. However, his most prolific work stems from his ongoing collaborations with Masashi Hamauzu
Masashi Hamauzu
is a Japanese video game composer who was employed at Square Enix from 1996 to 2010. He is best known for his work on the Final Fantasy and SaGa series. Born into a musical family in Germany, Hamauzu was raised in Japan...
.
Discography
Synthesizer programming- Chocobo's Dungeon 2 (1998)
- SaGa Frontier 2SaGa Frontier 2is a role-playing video game developed by Square for the PlayStation. It is the eighth original game in their SaGa series. Initially released in Japan in April 1999, an English version was made available in North America in January 2000 by Square Electronic Arts and in the PAL region the following...
(1999) - Legend of ManaLegend of ManaLegend of Mana, known in Japan as , is the fourth game in the Mana series. The game was released for the PlayStation in Japan on July 15, 1999 and in North America on June 7, 2000, with a delayed release in Canada...
(1999) – with Takeharu IshimotoTakeharu Ishimotois a Japanese video game composer, synthesizer programmer, and musician currently working at Square Enix. He joined Square Enix in 1999 as a synthesizer programmer on Legend of Mana, and worked for them on several games. In 2002 he moved to become a composer, beginning with World Fantastista...
, Hidenori IwasakiHidenori Iwasakiis a Japanese synthesizer programmer and video game composer currently working at Square Enix. He studied at the Tokyo International University before joining Square in 1998. He first worked as a synthesizer programmer before becoming a composer. His first work as a solo composer is Front Mission 4...
, and Hirosato Noda - Chrono CrossChrono Crossis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which was released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System...
(1999) - Final Fantasy XFinal Fantasy Xis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2, and will be re-released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2012...
(2001) – with Takeharu Ishimoto and Keiji Kawamori - Kingdom HeartsKingdom Heartsis an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
(2002) - Unlimited SaGaUnlimited Sagais a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation 2 as the ninth game in their SaGa series. Originally released in Japan in December 2002, the game was later made available for North American players in June 2003 and in Europe the following October...
(2002) - Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart (2003) – with Hidenori Iwasaki and Hirosato Noda
- Musashi: Samurai LegendMusashi: Samurai LegendMusashi: Samurai Legend, known in Japan as , is a third-person action game developed and published by Square Enix in 2005 for Sony's PlayStation 2. Much like its predecessor, Brave Fencer Musashi, the game involves real-time combat in a 3D environment, and character designs by Tetsuya Nomura.The...
(2005) - Heroes of Mana (2007)
Composition
- Dragon Seeds (1998) - with Kenichi Arakawa
- Racing LagoonRacing Lagoonis a 1999 video game developed and published by Square. The game is unique in that it combines street racing with role-playing elements. The game's story follows a new member of a street racing team in 1999 Yokohama, Japan as he tries to learn about his forgotten past and a mysterious race that...
(1999) – with Noriko MatsuedaNoriko Matsuedais a Japanese former video game composer. She is best known for her work on the Front Mission series, The Bouncer, and Final Fantasy X-2. Matsueda collaborated with fellow composer Takahito Eguchi on several games. Composing music at an early age, she began studying the piano and electronic organ...
and Takahito EguchiTakahito Eguchiis a Japanese video game composer and arranger. He is best known for collaborating with fellow composer Noriko Matsueda on numerous soundtracks, most notably The Bouncer and Final Fantasy X-2. He became interested in music when he was six years old after hearing his neighbor playing the piano... - Front Mission 4Front Mission 4is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix Co., Ltd., and was released in Japan on December 18, 2003 and in North America on June 15, 2004. Front Mission 4 is the fourth main entry and sixth entry overall in the Front Mission series...
(2003) – with Hidenori Iwasaki - Front Mission Online (2005) – with Hidenori Iwasaki
- Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VIIDirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VIIis an action role-playing third-person shooter video game developed and published by Square Enix in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. It is part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII metaseries, a multimedia collection set within the universe of the popular 1997 video game Final Fantasy VII...
(2006) – with Masashi HamauzuMasashi Hamauzuis a Japanese video game composer who was employed at Square Enix from 1996 to 2010. He is best known for his work on the Final Fantasy and SaGa series. Born into a musical family in Germany, Hamauzu was raised in Japan... - Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal BearersFinal Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearersis an action-adventure game for the Wii and was first announced to the public at E3 in May 2006. The game was released on November 12, 2009, in Japan and on December 26, 2009, in North America.-Gameplay:...
(2009) - with Hidenori Iwasaki and Kumi TaniokaKumi Taniokais a Japanese video game music composer and musician. She is most known for composing the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series.-Early life:Kumi Tanioka was born in Hiroshima, Japan. She studied music and composition while in school and enjoyed listening to video game music as her younger brother...
Arrangement
- Final Fantasy XIIIFinal Fantasy XIIIis a console role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth major installment in the Final Fantasy series...
(2009) - with Junya NakanoJunya Nakanois a Japanese video game composer who was employed at Square Enix from 1995 to 2009. He is best known for scoring Threads of Fate and co-composing Final Fantasy X. He has also worked as an arranger for Dawn of Mana and the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy IV...
, Mitsuto Suzuki and Toru Tabei