Square Enix has announced the release dates for two of its most anticipated music releases of 2012. Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance will receive a three-disc soundtrack release on April 18th, featuring music by series veteran Yoko Shimomura and Square Enix staff composers Takeharu Ishimoto and Tsuyoshi Sekito. You can check out a sample of the series theme, “Dearly Beloved” on the flashy website that Square Enix has created solely for the soundtrack.
Secondly, while I know some out there wonder why Square Enix is still putting out Nier albums, I can tell you that it’s some of the best music Square Enix has released in years and is considered by many game music enthusiasts (myself included) to be the best soundtrack of 2010. Square Enix has slowly come to recognize this by preparing arrangement albums and concert performances in the past as well as this upcoming piano collections CD slated for March 21 featuring arrangements by Kumi Tanioka (Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles composer), Masato Kouda (Monster Hunter series, El Shaddai), and many others. A haunting rendition of “Song of the Ancients” can be heard on the album’s website.
Do either of these releases strike your fancy? Are your surprised by the Dream Drop Distance’s length or Nier‘s endurance?
