Overview

SQ Chips is the latest in a line of albums featuring tributes to Square Enix's most popular game music by artists across the industry. In contrast to other albums that featured live performances or electronic remixes, SQ Chips takes a reductive approach by focusing on contemporary chiptunes. Prior to the full album's release, a preview was released at the United States of Odaiba 2011, featuring several demo versions and exclusive tracks.

Body

While SQ Chips turned out to be a very creative album, the first track on the preview album is actually very conservative. "Meridian Dance" is little more than an 8-bit reduction of a 16-bit original — even the loop and fadeout are here. It remains an enjoyable listen thanks to the lyricism of Hiroki Kikuta's original, though a wilder approach may have been justified. Much the same applies to "Crisis" from the same game, another frantic battle theme arrangement. However, the beat-heavy focus of this arrangement ensures it is a little more interesting in its own right and, depending on how much you enjoy your ear being bombed, it's perhaps a shame this didn't make it into the full release.

Hige Driver reflects the capacity of contemporary chiptunes with his remix of Final Fantasy III's "Battle 2". The chiptunes used here are much more alluring than the cold and screechy sound chips of the NES, and the frantic polyrhythms in the bassline are incredible. What's more, the arrangement doesn't loop like its original counterparts and simply "Battle 2" grows more intense and hybridised during its three minute duration. This might be a chip-focused album, but the arrangers don't hesitate to hybridise these elements with electronic and orchestral timbres along the way. Note that the full version of this remix has slightly more polished samples and this is only a demo version.

A further exclusive is "The Place I'll Return to Someday" from Final Fantasy IX. Once again, (S_S) takes a conservative approach and simply changes the ancient instruments of the original to chiptune sounds. It's an inaccurate indicator of the approach for the full album and, thankfully, was left off the main release. Finally, Mitsuto Suzuki offers a much less orthodox take on the Chocobo theme, perhaps wanting to contrast the remix from the likes of Final Fantasy VIII's "Odeka ke Chocobo". Expect lots of eccentric rhythms and crazy interruptions in the rhythm part. While a little too 'out there' for the full album, it's good that this track at least made it to the preview.

Summary

Overall, this is a poor preview album given the majority of the arrangements aren't as interesting or emotional as those on SQ Chips. Hardcore fans might wish to seek down the exclusives here, but note that all but "Crisis" can be heard by purchashing the full album through Village Vanguard. Everyone else should stick to the vastly superior full album.

Five track preview album of SQ Chips [SQEX-10248] sold during the United States of Odaiba 2011 event (July 16-August 31 in Tokyo, Japan).