A SUCCESSFUL video game is made up of a great storyline and interesting characters to enhance its playability.
Another important element is the music, which is supposed to exhilarate and motivate the player onwards during game play.
Sometimes the music scores can become as iconic as the games themselves. A great example is Square Enix’s global phenomenon Final Fantasy, which symphonic world tour concerts are sold out shows.
The game developer’s other masterpiece, the multimillion unit selling Kingdom Hearts series, recently had its own world tour in conjunction with it 15th anniversary celebration.
As a huge fan, I enthusiastically made my way, last Saturday, to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the concert, which saw the Selangor Symphony Orchestra playing 18 of the best and most beloved music pieces from the original soundtrack of the whole saga.
Listening to the masterpieces, composed by Shimomura Yoko, performed live transported me back to when I used to play the game. Good times! The concert was enhanced by game footage displayed on a giant screen that accompanied the orchestral arrangements, which made for an immersive experience.
A collaboration between Square Enix and Disney Interactive, the Kingdom Hearts game features various Disney settings based on an original universe. We follow kind-hearted teen Sora as he goes on a journey and experiences with various original characters and those from Disney, Final Fantasy, and another Square Enix game The World Ends With You.
The most iconic songs of the night were the main theme songs for the game series, namely Hikari and Passion, originally written and performed by Japanese pop star Utada Hikaru.
During Hikari, the footage showed an introduction to all main characters, including Sora, his best friends Kairi and Riku, Roxas (a being, created when Sora briefly loses his heart — my most favourite character!), Sora’s Disney partners Goofy and Donald. It was the perfect opening song as the score featured a beautiful blend of wondrous and grand melodies that completely encapsulate the game’s adventures.
One of my favourites was the soothing and melancholic Dearly Beloved, with its soft strings melody and distinct piano chords. I cried while listening to it. Each tunes mirrored the various characters’ varied emotions during their respective journeys.
Down-tempo tunes like Organization XIII, The Other Promise and Treasured Memories represented the more sentimental scenes. Then there were the sinister-sounding ditties Destati, Fate Of The Unknown and Heroes & Heroines (Characters Medley) that reflected the game’s more dramatic sequences.
Certain scores were elevated by the Young Choral Academy.
I cried (again!) while listening to the majestic sounding orchestral performances of the fast-paced Twinkle Twinkle Holidays, Threats Of The Land and Wave Of Darkness, aided visually by battle scenes from the game.
Audience members were delightfully surprised when Shimomura herself appeared onstage. “This long-awaited world tour has been like a dream for me. I never thought that this day would ever come, when I composed these songs.
“Without the unconditional support of the fans, we wouldn’t have been able to come this far. To the Kingdom Hearts fans, thank you very much!” she said.
For the encore, Fantasia Ala Marcia, Shimomura accompanied the musicians on the piano and was visibly surprised by the thunderous applause. The composition was a blend of wondrous melodies with fast and slow tempos that represented the game’s diverse plot — the perfect ending to a perfect show.
Kingdom Hearts Orchestra — World Tour In Kuala Lumpur was presented by Creon Asia.