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Masaharu Iwata
| Overview | Biography | Discography | Game Projects | Interviews |
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Date of Birth: | October 26, 1966 (Tokyo) |
| Education: | High School | |
| Musical Influences: | Arabesque, YMO, China Crisis, Bill Nelson | |
| Instruments: | Piano | |
| Game Works: | Magical Chase, Tactics Ogre, Baroque, Odin Sphere |
Employment History
| Company | Tenure | Role |
| Basiscape | 2002 - | Composer |
Brief Profile
An avid gamer and composer during his youth, Masaharu Iwata was employed by Bothtec in 1986 after graduating from high school and worked with Hitoshi Sakimoto on Revolter. Iwata was the lead composer of Bothtec's successor Quest and created the landmark Magical Chase score with Sakimoto in 1991. He led the quasi-orchestral score to Yasumi Matsuno's Ogre Battle in 1993, resulting in he, Sakimoto, and Hayato Matsuo rising to fame. Landmark collaborations with Sakimoto on Tactics Ogre, Shippu Mahou Daisakusen, and Treasure Hunter G followed.
With Final Fantasy Tactics' fantastical score, Iwata and Sakimoto received Western attention for the first time. Soon after, their careers diverged and, while Sakimoto scored Vagrant Story, Iwata worked on further Ogre games, the horror RPG Baroque, and the Evolution duo of titles. However, he soon plunged to obscurity between 2000 and 2003, relying on sound manipulation roles on the Golgo 13 and Shadow Hearts series for his income. He therefore decided to help Sakimoto establish the game music production company Basiscape in 2002.
While Iwata initially continued to work on minor projects, Basiscape increased his prolificacy and allowed him to participate in projects such as Stella Deus and Mushihimesama. Since Basiscape expanded into the most productive game music creation company, Iwata has produced acclaimed works on Wizardry Gaiden: Prisoners of the Battles, Fantasy Earth: Zero, Children of Mana, Final Fantasy XII, A.S.H. -Archaic Sealed Heat-, Grim Grimoire, Odin Sphere, Deltora Quest, Opoona, Coded Soul, Elminage, and Soul Calibur IV. Despite his secondary status, Iwata is a respected and experienced employee at Basiscape.
