Official Review Merch Updated

Review cover Death Stranding Soundtrack Vinyl (Merch)
Official GBAtemp Review

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While we await the release of the eccentric video game designer's new title, the limited edition Death Stranding soundtrack vinyl is here to fill the void.

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Let's face it: it might be years before Hideo Kojima's WIP game Death Stranding hits our consoles. Or not. We have no idea. While we've had two trailers, we have no release date; so as we wait for more details, we can spend some time listening to its official vinyl record with tracks from indie band Low Roar featured in both trailers.

Vinyls of the 21st Century

In this digital age, physical medium is becoming a rarity. More so when it comes to music. Nowadays, music is streamed, downloaded, and uploaded but rarely is it seen being passed around in the physical storage formats like the CDs and DVDs of yesteryears. One could almost say that music storage is bound to the digital format. Who even remembers, let alone uses, an even older medium such as vinyl these days?

Well, apparently a lot. More than we could expect actually. It was last December itself that vinyls outsold streaming music in the UK for the first time ever.

The video game industry has also been leaning on this format of late with several video game soundtracks getting the vinyl treatment. Online stores like Mondotees and iam8bit are bringing old and new games' soundtracks to the format, complete with the 'officially licensed' tag.

We've been given the opportunity to take the newly released Death Stranding soundtrack vinyl record for a spin thanks to Mondotees. So let's hear it out!

An Affordable Collectible

An officially licensed a video game soundtrack can easily have an asking price of $25 or more; and it can fetch for even more if it's in the format of a fancy vinyl record. Even the new Final Fantasy XV CD set is at $25.69. Yet, the Death Stranding record is priced at $15.

This limited edition memorabilia is a 12" single of Low Roar's song "I'll Keep Coming", and "Easy Way Out" both featured in the cryptic trailers of Hideo Kojima's upcoming Death Stranding.

This E3 2016 trailer features "I'll Keep Coming" as soundtrack

The 'PSX 2016：Low Roar Version' trailer with the "Easy Way Out" track

Unique Artwork & Music

The cover bears original artwork by Randy Ortiz while the record itself has a unique look being a clear 180g pressing with heavy black splatters; all evoking the dystopic atmosphere that the trailers seem to emanate.

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This unique-looking vinyl record feels sturdy and delivers quality music, worthy of an official product. Nevertheless, you get what you pay for. It contains only two tracks by Low Roar, one on each side; "I'll Keep Coming" on Side A and "Easy Way Out" on Side B. Note that the record is at 45 rpm, so you might need to adjust your player's settings before mounting the record.

Side A excerpt

Side B excerpt

For my part, I've enjoyed the record both as a collectible and a music piece; I happen to like Low Roar's music and I'm actively listening to the record while the cover with its original artwork is a pretty addition to my collection. At a very affordable price and branded as a limited edition official product, this high quality product will satisfy audiophiles and collectors alike and if you're both, you're in for a treat!

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Verdict

What We Liked ...
  • Affordable licensed merch
  • Original cover artwork
  • Unique vinyl record look
  • Quality music
What We Didn't Like ...
  • Only two tracks
8
out of 10

Overall

At $15, this officially licensed product is worth a buy for collectors or if you need some new tracks for your record player.
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anthonyplep
Happy to see video game vinyls on the site being discussed/reviewed. I'm a big collector of this stuff, with 71 releases in my collection, and 4+ preorders on the way as well as 3 additional ones to buy this week. I am very proud of my collection needless to say!

I of course own this, and while I'm not sure if I'm going to pick up the actual game, it's very hard to pass this up for $15. The music is quite good, although the quality of my record was semi-noisy. It probably needed to be cleaned a little better, but for what it is it's a great addition to a collection, and an even greater addition to fans of the game

The pros/cons pretty much nail all there needs to be known about the release. Looking forward to future reviews :D
 
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Prans
anthonyplep said:
Happy to see video game vinyls on the site being discussed/reviewed. I'm a big collector of this stuff, with 71 releases in my collection, and 4+ preorders on the way as well as 3 additional ones to buy this week. I am very proud of my collection needless to say!

I of course own this, and while I'm not sure if I'm going to pick up the actual game, it's very hard to pass this up for $15. The music is quite good, although the quality of my record was semi-noisy. It probably needed to be cleaned a little better, but for what it is it's a great addition to a collection, and an even greater addition to fans of the game

The pros/cons pretty much nail all there needs to be known about the release. Looking forward to future reviews :D
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Thank a lot! I'm really glad to see a positive response since it's our very first vinyl review. There are loads of video game-related vinyls out there and I hope we can bring more such reviews to you people!

Somewhat related, I reviewed the Final Fantasy XV CD set a few weeks ago, you might be interested to check it here.

Peace out!
 
anthonyplep
Prans said:
Thank a lot! I'm really glad to see a positive response since it's our very first vinyl review. There are loads of video game-related vinyls out there and I hope we can bring more such reviews to you people!

Somewhat related, I reviewed the Final Fantasy XV CD set a few weeks ago, you might be interested to check it here.

Peace out!
Click to expand...
I think you did great in both this and the FFXV review. Very easy to read and I like your writing style. I also just saw your post on the vgmvinyl subreddit so nice to see that you go on there too!

This is my collection as far as video game vinyls go. Did you have any existing or future releases you considered reviewing?
 
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Prans
anthonyplep said:
I think you did great in both this and the FFXV review. Very easy to read and I like your writing style. I also just saw your post on the vgmvinyl subreddit so nice to see that you go on there too!

This is my collection as far as video game vinyls go. Did you have any existing or future releases you considered reviewing?
Click to expand...
Thanks! I try to make my reviews/articles concise and in easy-to-read language. Happy to see people appreciate it :)

Sweet collection you got there! Hats off :yay:

I'm hoping to review the Silent Hill soundtrack that is getting released this week by Mondo and also Hero of Time by iam8bit. The latter has great art on the cover and record!
 
anthonyplep
Prans said:
Thanks! I try to make my reviews/articles concise and in easy-to-read language. Happy to see people appreciate it :)

Sweet collection you got there! Hats off :yay:

I'm hoping to review the Silent Hill soundtrack that is getting released this week by Mondo and also Hero of Time by iam8bit. The latter has great art on the cover and record!
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And easy to read it is! Thank you as well!

Would definitely do the reviews for both Silent Hill and Hero of Time. I'm so excited that Silent Hill comes out tomorrow, it's been a literal dream of mine for (at least) the first two games to make their way to vinyl. Very much looking forward to Hero of Time as well. It's a great time to get into this stuff, there's so many good releases coming out and stuff that's already out
 
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leon315
Generally sound track is ALWAYS released after the game, but this simply not the case... Do they really expect that people will get a game's sound track which doesn't even have a release date?
 
anthonyplep
leon315 said:
Generally sound track is ALWAYS released after the game, but this simply not the case... Do they really expect that people will get a game's sound track which doesn't even have a release date?
Click to expand...
The music featured on the record was in the trailers, and it's only 2 tracks, not the full soundtrack. Song 1 on the record was on this trailer while song 2 on the flip-side of the record was on this trailer
 
  • Like
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Issac
anthonyplep said:
I think you did great in both this and the FFXV review. Very easy to read and I like your writing style. I also just saw your post on the vgmvinyl subreddit so nice to see that you go on there too!

This is my collection as far as video game vinyls go. Did you have any existing or future releases you considered reviewing?
Click to expand...
Nice collection!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Prans
Issac
Oh, and I saw you had the Chrono Arranged album... so envious! It sounds so good.
I do recommend Mitsuda's concept album "Kirite"... I get feelings of Japanese temples à la Mystical Ninja and Chrono Trigger from the sound alone. There's also a short story written by Masato Kato (Chrono Trigger et.c.) that comes with the album... I wish to translate it one day, as it's only in Japanese.
 
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