So why was the MGS theme not in MGS4?

[Rman]

The classic Metal Gear theme song has stayed fairly thematically consistent throughout each iteration of the Konami franchise -- and fans noticed its absence from the latest installment, Metal Gear Solid 4.

In an interview with print magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly, longtime series composer Norihiko Hibino explains why the familiar tune was left out of series creator Hideo Kojima's grand finale for Solid Snake:

"The truth is, Konami [had legal problems with] Russian composers who said we stole their music," Hibino told EGM.

The full story: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21513

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTcNUoxCmHI

Sounds pretty accurate.  I always wondered why the theme was missing from MGS4.  The MGS theme composer claims he didn't plagiarize.

[CurseoftheGods]

Embedding disabled by request

[Rman]

Embedding disabled by request

Oh snap.

I'll just link it.

[Don Flamenco]

just one more thing that sucked about mgs4-- no theme. was kinda pissed when I saw this vid, since I knew konami would take it out because of this.  otoh, the russian guys have a point, it's the same melody. 

The franchise took increasing stylistic liberty with the theme tune over its iterations, and while wholly absent from MGS4, the song made only a brief background appearance in MGS 3.

The incarnation largely best-known to fans appeared in MGS2, and while there are a few resemblances in elements of Sviridov's melody and thematic structure, it's hard to draw a definitive conclusion as to whether a true derivation is present.

what...I think they have it backwards.  the theme was all over mgs3 and was only in one scene in mgs2 that I can remember off the top of my head:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

after EE dies.

[close]

[fistfulofmetal]

just one more thing that sucked about mgs4-- no theme.

I was this a lot sooner! Good jon.

[y2kev]

just one more thing that sucked about mgs4-- no theme.

I was this a lot sooner! Good jon.

you were a theme? good jon

[WrikaWrek]

It was mainly for MGS2. MGS3 didn't use it much, and MGS1 didn't use it much either.

It's a shame anyway, they should've licensed the Russian song and call it a day. Some of the stuff really is like STRAIGHT from the Russian og.

[y2kev]

It's everywhere in MGS2. MGS2 (and gregson-williams) made it famous. It's in the opening cutscene actually.

[cool breeze]

really like the theme, but I didn't miss it

MGS4 had fantastic music regardless of the iconic one

[Don Flamenco]

wtf...i remember being in mgs3 the most and not at all in 2.  particularly the ending of the 3.

[Rman]

It was mainly for MGS2. MGS3 didn't use it much, and MGS1 didn't use it much either.

It's a shame anyway, they should've licensed the Russian song and call it a day. Some of the stuff really is like STRAIGHT from the Russian og.

Yes, it was, in the credits or after.  Can't quite remember, exactly.  Gotta replay MGS1 again. It was also featured in the first E3 trailer.



Can't embed again.  WTF?

[WrikaWrek]

wtf...i remember being in mgs3 the most and not at all in 2.  particularly the ending of the 3.

Well i disagree. I only remember it used at the end of MGS3.

Regarding MGS4 music, i guess it was good, but never did i felt impacted by it. I guess some, if not most, will like it that way, as they don't like the music to "force" their emotional engagement, because music can be used as a sort of emotional guide.

Personally, i love it when the music makes itself very present, when the music is the embodiment of what you are seeing, more than being an "auxiliary", i love it when it knows its present, and it wants to be amazing, and when you close your eyes you can see the music shape the scene. In games this kind of music it's much more complicated, as you connect it to gameplay sequences.

"Iconic" themes, or memorable themes, are very important to me, but they aren't "crucial". But i don't remember one piece of MGS4's music, and i've played that game 3 times now.

[fistfulofmetal]

just one more thing that sucked about mgs4-- no theme.

I was this a lot sooner! Good jon.

you were a theme? good jon

aw fuck

[Don Flamenco]

just one more thing that sucked about mgs4-- no theme.

I was this a lot sooner! Good jon.

you were a theme? good jon

aw fuck

wat

[Robo]

The funny thing about it is that the MGS theme is like the ONLY thing from the rest of the series that doesn't show up in MGS4 at some point.

[trippingmartian]

Kind of a shame. I always looked forward to hearing the new Harry Gregson-Williams mixes of the theme with each game.