Chrono Trigger for the Nintendo DS is on the horizon, and while we’ve been talking about the Chrono Trigger Orchestra Extra Soundtracks pre-order bonus a whole lot, it’s about time we sit down with Yasunori Mitsuda himself regarding the title, its music, and of course the bonus CD.

CTds就快要發售了，在我們討論CTds發售特典（那張交響樂）的同時，讓我們一起跟光田坐下來讓他說說ct的音樂，當然，還有那張特典CD。

I've always wanted to ask Mitusda about the close to 30 minutes of unused music that was unearthed from Chrono Trigger some years ago, and what better time than now with the new release? We’ve been fortunate enough to have Norihiko Hibino meet up with Mitsuda to ask him in person about these songs and their originals as well as other topics, such as his role on the DS remake and the possibility of arranged albums in the future.

數年來，我一直都想問問光田那從CT發掘出來，將近30分鐘的未使用音樂，還有什麼比遊戲即將推出的此時更好的時機？我們實在很幸運讓日比野 則彦遇上了光田康典，個人訪問這些音樂以及其原型，除此之外還有其他遊戲的情況，像是他在CTds音樂上所扮演的角色，以及未來有可會出的AST。

（一小段作者感想省略，有興趣這可點連結觀看）

Song 1: Funky Beat (A Meeting With Destiny)
OSV: This is a really groovy track. What was it originally intended for in the game? The beat is different from a lot of the material that was featured in the game. Was this an experiment?
Mitsuda: This is actually not my song… however, it definitely uses the Chrono Trigger sound module. I think it was created by Sekito-san over at Square Enix for the PlayStation remake.

Song 1: Funky Beat (A Meeting With Destiny)
OSV：這首曲子很棒，請問這首歌本來是為了什麼而作？這首的節拍和遊戲內其他的元素特色大不相同。請問是實驗性作品嗎？
光田：其實，這不是我做的曲子...但，這音樂的確是使用CT的音樂模組所製作出來的。
我想是由SE社的関戸剛先生所製作出來的。

Song 2: Peaceful Rest: End of Battles
OSV: This beautiful track is slow-paced and emotional, sounding like it was meant for the end of the game. It also uses the pendulum sound from the game’s classic introduction screen. What can you tell us about this one?
Mitsuda: This is also not my song. This is another version of the ending theme that was created by Sekito-san for the PlayStation remake.

Song 2: Peaceful Rest: End of Battles
OSV：這美妙的一首很慢且富有感情，聽起來是要放在遊戲的最後所使用的，在這首內我們可以聽到如同標題畫面所使用的鐘擺音效。可以請您說說看這一首歌嗎？
光田：這也不是我所做的曲子。一樣是由関戸剛先生為PS版重製所做的結尾主題。

Song 3: Twinkling (Scattering Blossoms)
OSV: This one happens to be my favorite. It’s been on constant rotation on my iPod since the first time I heard it. It’s a shame that this amazing piece of music was not put to use! It’s actually somewhat melancholy, but also soothing and serene all at once. Please tell us about this piece of music!
Mitsuda: I actually don’t know this song.

OSV：這首是我最喜歡的一首。自從我第一次聽到它之後，我就一直放在我的IPOD內。這首歌沒放在遊戲內實在是太可惜了！它聽來帶點憂鬱，但能同時帶來慰藉及安穩的感覺。請一定要說說這首音樂！
光田：其實，我不知道有這首歌。

（以下有一段作者的個人感想，有興趣可以自己翻翻原文）

OSV: There are also a number of songs that were discovered that are either increased/descreased tempo versions of different instrument versions of some of the songs that were used in the game, such as the battle music, “Brink of Time,” and “Determination.” What’s the story behind all these different versions?
Mitsuda: When I composed the original Chrono Trigger soundtrack, the main games were Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and both series were full of different kinds of songs for each area. As a game player, I always felt there was no consistency in the music, and I wanted to use the Chrono Trigger main theme as much as possible, like they do in film. As a result, I started working on different tempos and arrangements. Hamauzu-san, the composer for Final Fantasy XIII had actually just joined Square at the time, and he really liked this style, saying “this is very unique!”

OSV：遊戲內有一些歌曲是更改了速度（不管是變快或變慢）或是使用了不同的樂器，像是"戰鬥音樂"、"時之卵"、或是"Determination"，請問有什麼逸事可以說說嗎？
光田：當我為CT譜曲時，主流的遊戲為FF 或是DQ，這兩個系列的音樂每個區域都有不同的音樂。作為一個玩家，我總是覺得有不一致的感覺。所以我想盡可能地使用CT主題音樂，就像電影一般。所以，我開始製作不同速度的樂曲或改編。濱渦先生，FF13的作曲者當時剛進SQUARE這個公司，他很喜歡這種方法，並說"這真是獨一無二！"

OSV: What can you tell us about the musical direction for the DS port of Chrono Trigger? You’ve told Famitsu that you’re going to keep the music as close to the original as possible, and it definitely sounded like the original Super Famicom music when I played it at E3. Could you give us any details as to exactly what will be happening with the music in the game?
Mitsuda: When Square released the PS version of Chrono Trigger, the fans got quite angry because of my lack of involvement. That’s why Square Enix decided to call me up for the DS version.

For the DS version, I’ve decided to respect the wishes of the fans and have decided not to change anything from the original version of Chrono Trigger. I feel that if I add something, it will ruin everything.

OSV：可以請您告訴我們CTds的音樂方向嗎？你告訴FAMI通說 音樂 盡可能與最初版類似，當我在E3 玩到時，我覺得像是以前SFC版的音樂，可以請您透露遊戲內音樂的更多細節嗎？
光田：當SQUARE推出PS版時，樂迷們非常的生氣因為我並沒有參與其中。這也是為什們這一次SE社叫我回來的原因。
對於DS版，我決定依照樂迷們的希望不改變任何的東西，因為我覺得假如我加了什麼，它會毀了一切。

OSV: Any chance we’ll see arranged music from Chrono Trigger or Chrono Cross in the future? The Brink of Time is one of my favorite game music albums of all time, and I’m personally looking forward to a follow-up. Is there any news on the Chrono Cross guitar album that fans have been waiting to hear for many years now?
Mitsuda: For Chrono Cross, I have all the rights to the music, and it will be 10-year anniversary next year, so I’d like to do something. I’m thinking of a guitar-only album, but I’m just trying to find the time to do it…

OSV：我們還有機會在未來看到CT or CC的改編音樂嗎？
"時之卵"一直都是我最喜歡的一張專輯，我一直都在期盼是否還有下一張
光田：我擁有CC的音樂版權，而且CC明年就滿十週年了，所以我打算為CC作點什麼。我在想做一張只有吉他的專輯，但我還得生出時間來作這張專輯...
 

OSV: About this Chrono Cross guitar album, you’ve been talking about this for years. Can you tell us if there’s any progress on the album so far? Your fans have been looking forward to it for a long time.
Mitsuda: Well, I’ve had a lot of different problems come up, so it seems like it’s going to take a bit more time. Since I’m under a lot of pressure from my job right now, it’s pretty hard to continue working on it. (I’m already late on my deadline for arranging a song…)

OSV：CC的吉他專輯，你已經提到這張專輯許多年了。能請您告訴我們目前有任何的進度嗎？你的迷都在殷殷期盼著呢。
光田：嗯，我這邊還有很多問題，所以看來還要些許時間能問世了。因為我目前還有許多來自工作上的壓力，所以要動工實在是很困難的一件事（我已經延後了一首編曲的交稿期限...）。
 

OSV: To get back to Chrono Trigger: Brink of Time for a moment, it was a deep jazz experience which we rarely hear in the world of game music. What inspired this album, and what role did you have in the creation of Brink of Time? It’s one of the most popular game music arrangement albums among international fans, so would you consider doing something similar to this in the future?
Mitsuda: At that time, no one in Japan was trying “Acid Jazz.” So, I wanted to create a sound that no one was trying, and so I thought, “I want to try making acid jazz, grunge, and hard rock themes.” In today’s era, that sort of sound has become a lot more common, so I don’t want to make another album like that.

OSV：讓我們談一下<超時空之鑰：時之卵>這張CD，濃厚的爵士味對於我們來說是少有但深刻的經驗。
光田：在那個時候，日本還沒有人嘗試所謂的"迷幻爵士"。我想試試前人所沒作過的，所以我有了"我要做出迷幻爵士、油漬搖滾、以及硬式搖滾的主題"的這種想法。到了今日，這些類型已經普遍了起來，所以我再也不做這樣的專輯了。

OSV: It has been announced both in Japan and in the United States that fans who pre-order Chrono Trigger will receive the Chrono Trigger Orchestra Extra Soundtrack album, featuring two arranged pieces. What can you tell us about this piece, and were you involved with this in any way?
Mitsuda: Actually, my role on the game is solely as the audio supervisor, and I did not create or arrange any music this time around. For the CD you’re talking about for early reservations, Natsumi Kameoka did the orchestral arrangements of the main theme and a medley. It’s actually recorded with a real orchestra! None of the sound staff at Procyon Studios was directly involved.

OSV：目前SE社公佈說不管是在日本或是美國只要有預定CTds，就能得到那張交響特典CD，裡面有兩首重新編曲的交響樂。可以請您談談那兩首樂曲，以及你是否有參與其中呢？
光田：實際上，我在CTds裡所扮演的角色是音響監督，我沒有再製作新的曲目或是重新編曲。你提到到預約特典CD的音樂是由亀岡夏海所編曲並混合。它是由真的交響樂團所演奏的！而Procyon Studios的所有同仁都沒有直接參與這張CD。
 

OSV: Thank you for your time, and congratulations on the upcoming release of Chrono Trigger.
OSV:感謝您花時間接受我們的訪問，並對即將發售的ctds表達祝賀之意。