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That's right, another Gradius weird memorabilia after the board game!

http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 8225345714

Quite an expensive way to listen to Farewell!

Oh god I want this.

Oddly enough, it wouldn't be the first collectable music box I'd buy this month...

I don't even like Gradius and I want this.

Beautiful. I'm absolutely penniless right now, though.

I was soooo close to pwning everyone with a last-minute bid, but then I decided against it at the last minute :P I figure if the reserve was $95, I could keep an eye out for one on YJA and eventually get one for a similar price (granted I'd never even heard of this, but I don't specifically search for Gradius stuff on YJA). I agree, it's an absolutely beautiful item... and I'm a bit surprised it didn't go for more...

Now I'm curious. Care to elaborate?

One for a Japanese band called Malice Mizer. Their third album "merveilles" was re-released in limited quantities about a week ago with a live concert DVD, a DVD of their music videos from the album, a DVD of a TV special about them including a ton of old footage, and the album itself. It's all packed in a large (think the size of a very thick hardcover novel) music box that plays the string sections of the last song on the album, "bois de merveilles" when you open it (assuming it's wound up at the time).

It's probably the most elaborate treatment I've ever seen for a single album.

Edit:

Didn't those guys work with Michiru Yamane on Young Nobleman of Sadness (Clocktower BGM) on the SotN soundtrack or something? I know they're somehow tied to Castlevania.

I've heard a few times that Mana did some of the compositions for Harmony of Dissonance, including the final theme (and was subsequently pissed off at how terribly the sound quality butchered it all), and it wouldn't surprise me at all to hear he'd worked on other CV soundtracks as well. Even without that, though, their last album Bara no Seidou might as well have been a Castlevania soundtrack for a sequel that was never made. I've heard people say Merveilles sounds like Castlevania music as well, but I always pegged it as what Cirque du Soleil music would sound like if it was more album-oriented.

Here's a picture of Mana, by the way (male):


Definitely looks like someone who'd work on Castlevania music, too.

ANOTHER VIDEOGAME TIE-IN: Gackt was their singer on Merveilles. Squall (from Final Fantasy VIII) was modeled on him (rumor, but the similarities both in body and outfit are VERY striking), and Bujingai was basically riding on his success (the Japanese commercials for it were almost entirely images of Gackt, with quick flashes of gameplay). You could play as him in-game, and he provided some voice work. Shame his solo albums have been terrible for years though.

There is a board game for Gradius?!?! I haven't heard of that. Any information?

http://forum.shmups.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=884

Is it any surprise Castlevania and MM sound similar? They're both a Japanese treatment of the same kind of music. And seth, you have great taste! I LOVE malice mizer. (And, let's face it, Mana is a GOOD-LOOKING MAN :P) I also listen to Moi dix mois, and they're awesome as well. While nothing will ever reach the haunting beauty of some of the shit malice mizer came up with, when you're in the mood for some less subtle, slightly more pounding agression, MDM works a lot better. :P

My problem with Moi Dix Mois is that the mellow moments feel like watered-down Malice Mizer, and the aggressive moments feel like watered-down Cradle of Filth (of all things). They could put out a great album, no doubt, but I really think Mana needs other people to reign him in a bit for him to be at his best.

I love Malice Mizer too! Well, the few songs that I heard from them. How did you pay for the special Bois de Merveilles edition sethsez?

And, here's the link to the chat between Koji Igarashi and Mana hosted at the HoD site:

http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/CV01/taidan.html

http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/CV01/taidan_1.html

YET ANOTHER VIDEOGAME TIE-IN: Gakt also did tv advertising for Sons of Liberty in Japan: he said something in the line of "Metaru Ghia Soriddo tsu: boku wa shiranai" a very funny commercial worthy a download; and you can even obtain his dog tag from a soldier in advenced difficulty levels.

Btw, some argue that he and Raiden do share some similarities in look.

With my liver.

Well, actually with $120 after shipping was factored in. I wouldn't recommend it to somebody new to the band because... you know... $120. But if you know you like them, it's an awesome collectable and is without a doubt the definitive edition of their best album. It could have been even more definitive with all the b-sides and the full short film from that era included, but then I guess Columbia wouldn't have been able to justify the Merveilles Singles music box, which includes both (but is a significantly worse deal overall, since it's just 9 songs and one 30 minute DVD). Still, it's classy as hell and since it arrived in the mail I haven't regretted buying it.

Truth be told, if they released a box like this for every album I'd buy them (yeah, even Voyage) just because it really fits the band's overall aesthetic to a tee. But since Merveilles was their only major label release, it'll never happen.

Incidentally, if you're looking to buy a full MM album, here's the order I'd recommend them in:

Merveilles
Bara no Seidou
Memoire DX (mini album, terrible vocalist, but some great songwriting)
Voyage ~sans retour~ (first album with Gackt, but just... bland)

Moogs told me the other day that Dir en Grey's gonna be touring America next year or something. Wonder how much a ticket will cost for their concert.

Course I 'taint interested in seeing girly men perform. Though I am becoming increasingly curious as to what they sound like.

Dir en grey... hmm.

They're a Japanese take on Slipknot. Better than Slipknot, but still have one hell of a nu-metal vibe, especially on their last few albums. With that said, Macabre was pretty good overall, and they put on a hell of a show.

Nothing like Malice Mizer beyond the nationality and image focus, though.

AWW, I wish I'd seen that earlier I need another atrociously expensive Gradius item to go with my board game and metallic figure

[kidding! ...sort of]

Well then you're in luck [...sort of]:

Damn, that was kind of a sarcastic comment ...well, they DID give me overtime this past week...

Shoot, I won OH WELL

I got the music box in the mail today... apparently I am the resident "buys diminuitive rare Gradius items for ~$100 each" person Here is a size reference for anyone who was curious:



I also recorded the actual tune it plays, for those who were curious, though it's a bit rough because 1. the crank squeaks loudly, and 2. it's not self-propelled, so it only plays while I'm actually turning it. It's very short--only 15 seconds long.

I'm glad that box ended up in good hands. Do you happen to know offhand what year it was made or perhaps which game it was meant to commemorate? I suppose it's probably not tied to a specific game, but rather to the series as a whole.

It only says ©1994 Konami on the front under the standard Gradius logo, which you should be able to sort of make out on the full huge photo. Offhand, I can't read the rest of the exterior box besides Tokyo, King Records, and Konami Level [Rebel?].

Hee hee, now you've got something to play for your gerbils when they have trouble falling asleep, if nothing else.

Hee hee, "and visions of power-ups danced in their heads..."

Hey, don't complain - I didn't resurrect this thread!

Kotaku did:

http://kotaku.com/gaming/konami/the-gra ... 325723.php
http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com/2007/1 ... music-box/

edit: how fare your lovely gerbils, Minzoku?

Ohhhh, that's a [i]gerbil[/]. I was wondering what the hell he had for lunch to get turds like that.

Speaking of music boxes, a Xenogears one would be nice, like at the beginning of that game.

i dont know what a gradius is and i want this . . . or a music box?