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http://rghost.net/41967151.view)
Greetings once again! That sure took much longer than I originally anticipated.
This post will cover the soundtrack and extras for "Summoner 2". Before we begin though, I have a few words for those of you who loved the soundtrack to the first game, but haven't played the sequel, haven't heard its soundtrack and who are curious right now what it's all about.
You see, Summoner 2 is a very, very, very weird game. And, to be perfectly clear on that one, when I say weird, I am talking about at least Planescape levels of weird out there. The first game, despite having absolutely brilliant soundtrack, felt a bit shallow, mish-mashed and maybe even a bit generic in places. In the second one though the developers seemed to go completely and utterly out of their way to make the game as unique and as capable of standing out on its own design-wise, as possible. And they also greatly and organically expanded the in-game mythology. And there is a much better game (you know, from a gameplay/fun perspective) out there too. But that's not really the point.
What DOES constitute the point though, is that such magnificent accomplishments came at a price. You see, in order to convey a really weird atmosphere, one would generally need an accordingly weird soundtrack. And while soundtrack in Summoner 2 definitely explores some seriously new grounds and really does a lot for that unique feel of the game, I wouldn't say it is as fully fleshed out as the soundtrack from the first game was. It serves a much more background role and it doesn't really shine as brightly on its own as the soundtrack to the original Summoner did. Of course, there are still many ties to the Summoner's music, and there are still glimpses and moments of pure brilliance here and there, but for all intents and purposes, S2's soundtrack is just too busy being weird for the sake of being weird. It would be pretty interesting to see the motifs of the second Summoner being further developed and shaped into a more coherent whole in the third Summoner, but alas, Summoner 3 just never happened. To be completely honest though, the game DOES have that one track... but we'll discuss it a bit further along the way.
I also have a pretty embarrassing confession to make. I never finished Summoner 2. This has nothing to do with the quality of the game (I DID enjoy the game immensely), but it just so happens, that (as of this moment) I have absolutely no idea about the stuff happening in the second half of the game.UPDATE: This is no longer true. I finished the game in January. The ending level was absolutely awesome in terms of story pacing, and overall, this game is one of the best (if not the best) h&s RPGs I've ever played.
But enough of that talk! Onto the rip itself!
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http://rghost.net/41967161.view)
As with the previous rip, the format of audio files (except for those in extras) is APE (ADPCM -> PCM_WAV -> APE). The sampling rates are also preserved everywhere. There are some exceptions to the "original filenames only" rule - in that case any "non-canon" additions are contained inside the [brackets]. Archives are NOT multi-part once again, so in order to extract any given part, you won't need any other parts. And yes, 10% recovery record everywhere, unless stated otherwise.
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http://rghost.net/41967175.view)
The PS2 is once again the first version to go.
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Non-Cutscene gamerip tracks (39 tracks, 452 MB total):
Part 1 (boss -> highwater):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?qu01u18yc78e425) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/XZ4LXHW1N6)
Part 2 (indubal -> tamirath-citadel):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?vfei7g607seb9e7) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/H5DI8CZOVS)
Part 3 (teomura-intro -> zodiac):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?co7wbvb72u6gmpu) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/DG5X7HNVWN)
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Cutscene gamerip tracks (bodril songs are included; 21 + 11 tracks, 66 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?yiziq5glc8d5hf4) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/ZIPNHVECHG)
(
http://rghost.net/41967194.view)
Now to the Gamecube version (since the tracks there have much higher sampling rate - consistent 48 kHz instead of 22.05 kHz + a couple of occasional 44.1 kHz tracks as in PS2 version - the resulting overall size is also much higher).
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Non-Cutscene gamerip tracks (39 tracks, 876 MB total):
Part 1 (Arena -> cm-tribunal):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?35fpb45fplzjvbe) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/S765C4X6DQ)
Part 2 (cm-wheel -> halassar):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?rjh6kncubh2r818) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/B3DUXF8QJB)
Part 3 (HighWater -> nhuvasarim):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?z5c01g3ge89pmsg) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/01F21K7920)
Part 4 (pirate-base -> title_music; 6% recovery record):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?39azzn07phku2j3) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/IVH6D93HKC)
Part 5 (Unseen -> zodiac):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?dbdcan5f27tuv5g) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/9O39A3W0EP)
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Cutscene gamerip tracks (bodril songs are NOT included, reasons explained below; 21 tracks, 111 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?lf8e6drtcu5nd1y) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/1JX3J4N761)
(
http://rghost.net/41967209.view)
One interesting thing about the game is that you had your own palace there. That's right, an entire palace, with its secrets, different people and an ability to make all sorts of decisions about all matters political (well, all of that - in a pretty simplified manner, but still...). In the palace, there was court musician, called Falin, who played an instrument, named "bodril". Now, during your journeys, you could find some sheet music of different compositions written specifically for bodril. You could turn those compositions to Falin - and in return he would perform a new tune for you (via a short cutscene). To tell you the truth, I completely forgot about those little pieces of music, but thankfully ShardofTruth (
http://forums.ffshrine.org/members/shardoftruth-226229) managed to remind me about them just in time. As it happens, there are 10 bodril songs in the game, BUT, while Gamecube version contains those exact 10 tunes, the PS2 version in fact contains 11 of those pieces (11th one being the shortest and seemingly not used anywhere in the game; it's designated with zero - you'll see what I'm talking about - in the archive).
Now, I DIDN'T manage to "crack" the format these songs were in Gamecube version. But I DID manage to successfully extract and decode all 11 songs from the PS2 version (and it wasn't pretty; also, naturally, those bodril songs are also included in the PS2 version release - see above). Now, there is a bit of clipping, which originates from either the source files or the MFAudio, but it isn't so bad.
So, here are all the bodril songs from the game (11 tracks from PS2 version + source files from both PS2 and NGC version; 32 files, 7 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?oec0rwfx1namsjf) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/A02ABSD2OJ)
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http://rghost.net/41967225.view)
Now, to the differences between the PS2 and NGC music releases above. First, as I've already said, NGC release doesn't contain the bodril songs.
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Second, it's really weird, but I wasn't able to locate the Arena track in the PS2 version of the game. It IS where it's supposed to be in the NGC version though.
So, here is the Arena track specifically (NGC version, NOT contained in the PS2 release above, 16 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?2kcm007k7fcfbar) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/PAHLOJ5FGB)
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At the same time, PS2 version contains one track that is missing from the NGC version: teomura-intro.
So, here is this specific track (PS2 version, NOT contained in the NGC release above, 2 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?5y59osn22477v6w) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/DT1VS8C6S4)
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http://rghost.net/41967240.view)
Now, to some shiny audio extras.
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First, the complete audio rip from Summoner2 page on absolute-video-games (
http://anonym.to/?http://www.absolute-video-games.com/album/9/summoner-2-soundtrack); it's in AAC (AC3) format and pretty LQ though (31 tracks, 45 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?7q28vhxwuotk7e0) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/JJJ9ULB0Z7)
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Second, here are some promo tracks (16 tracks, 62 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?e1xntag5lrlm725) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/50PBX9BEZB)
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http://rghost.net/41967255.view)
And now - to the shiniest of all extras. The prerendered videos from the game. Summoner 2 greatly improved upon the "hand-drawn" cutscenes of the original and managed to crank up some of the most mindblowingly stylish 2D (or pseudo-2D) cutscenes I've seen in any game ever (could be longer and more numerous though). Some of that can be seen on the images which supplement this release. Still, I think those videos truly deserve to be seen in a really good (as in "original") quality - so here you go. In both PS2 and NGC releases, hard-subbed videos take (almost) exactly as much space as non-subbed ones, so in order to have a little better quality on imagery, you should probably go with the non-subbed pack.
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PS2 version of the game. The original files were PSS containers with M2V (MPEG2) video track and SS2 (PS2 PCM) audio track. I left the video stream untouched, reencoded audio track into LPCM (with the identical sample rate) and fused them into MPG (MPEG2) file. Intro (which doesn't have any speech and, thus, subtitles) is present in both non-subbed and hard-subbed packs.
Non-subbed version (18 videos, 846 MB total):
Part 1 (INTRO -> M07):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?yt5tcscr2o572fh) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/TAWF7WK2W4)
Part 2 (M09 -> M15):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?dg5cukz0tlk5vft) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/KQBH8KKLFH)
Part 3 (M17 -> M30):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?lzjmn7cweadvym9) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/DBYHJVXKOE)
Part 4 (M32 -> M38):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?nqprluvbruesve2) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/YI3XG9UIC8)
Part 5 (M40):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?fup0tk2vo6q5hb1) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/3HNNRIQNV2)
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Hard-subbed version (18 videos, 846 MB total):
Part 1 (INTRO -> MS07):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?r2j356g236f0oby) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/CG8JOFI94V)
Part 2 (MS09 -> MS15):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?ad8p2po0d3d0bkz) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/V4QV3MZLOD)
Part 3 (MS17 -> MS30):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?fh7upzvjbs1ya3m) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/9E2GF9NI81)
Part 4 (MS32 -> MS38):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?7pbztzcm6rdev2u) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/3LZ6ZDEVCB)
Part 5 (MS40):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?3s2b63bjudcj8j6) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/520CL98JKY)
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UPDATE: It appears I forgot to include a couple of PS2 cutscenes, namely, EBD (plays after you destroy the parasite in Eleh), PATTRACT (the official teaser/trailer - it's absolutely kickass, by the way) and PLOGOS (animated logotypes of THQ and Volition). Neither of them has subtitles.
So, here they are (3 videos, 103 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?nh1yj7snknhzmjl) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/VLBYSLTPL0)
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NGC version of the game. The videos were originally in BIK (BINK) format, so I didn't touch them. In order to view them, you'll need RAD Video Tools from here (
http://anonym.to/?http://www.radgametools.com/bnkdown.htm). All the files, that don't have speech (and, thus, subtitles) are included both in non-subbed and hard-subbed packs. Oh, and since the NGC port was handled by a third-party developer studio (named "Cranky Pants", believe it or not), Maia (the main heroine) ended up being heavily remodelled. And, frankly, I don't like the remodelled version at all. Actually, I would really advise you to watch the PS2 versions of those videos - but for the completion's sake, here you go.
Non-subbed version (21 files, 240 MB total):
Part 1 (attract -> m01; is identical for both Non-subbed and Hard-subbed versions):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?hafaik29gz3km8b) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/76LB4FSV09)
Part 2 (m03 -> m38; differs for NS and HS versions):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?kgr28u51ql4a53a) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/TWROE1YAM3)
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Hard-subbed version (21 files, 240 MB total):
Part 1 (attract -> m01; is identical for both Non-subbed and Hard-subbed versions):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?hafaik29gz3km8b) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/76LB4FSV09)
Part 2 (ms03 -> ms38; differs for NS and HS versions):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?rhi1pyhhi41r6ag) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/E4DCJHVUFA)
(
http://rghost.net/41967270.view)
All of that leaves only one more issue to cover. A small one, seemingly insignificant really.
You see, in the very beginning of this post I mentioned there was one specific track in this game. One very, very special track, one that could easily match even the most memorable tracks from the first Summoner game, one that is undeniably the best in the entire game and one I love about this game the most. One track that really proves Summoner 2 to be first and foremost the Summoner game.
Of course, I'm talking about Halassar palace theme.
I took the liberty to compile all the instances of this track (and its variations) from all the previous packs posted above into a standalone archive (8 tracks, 78 MB total):
Mediafire (
http://www.mediafire.com/?1m6fsr5iyp3c30c) | Multiupload (
http://www.multiupload.nl/USERPO9BVQ)
So, yes, by all means, enjoy this magnificent theme in any form you happen to find the best or most appropriate. For me personally, the best one quality-wise is the 44.1 kHz version from the PS2 release, named "s2_mx_halassar_level" (NGC version has sampling rate of 48 kHz, but if memory serves me right, the size of original ADPCM in the PS2 version was bigger than in NGC version), though you are welcome to disagree with me on that matter. And consider this specific archive to be the token of my deepest admiration to this specific track, to the entire game, to all of its development team in general and to its composing team in particular.
And, now, THAT would truly be all. Enjoy!
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http://rghost.net/41967280.view)
