RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Music Reviews > Star Ocean Perfect Sound Collection
Reviewed by: Ersatz Sobriquet
One of the best things about Motoi Sakuraba is that he knows how to make you smile while listening to one of his CD's and this one is no exception.
The rearranged version of the classic Star Ocean themes, which may be oblivious to many readers, since the classic game had its start on the SNES in Japan only (emulation is the only way you can truly play this game nowadays) are all spectacular and stunning in its own way. The opening track, New Generations is a stirring reminder to better days and a future that has hope. The melody is strongly original and what brings the song up a notch is the fact that a drum is played somewhere during the 2+ minute mark. Sakuraba loves to incorporate drums in his playing, as was evident in Star Ocean 2 Story Arrange. The addition to drums isn't obnoxious at all, but only drives the beat, never overdoing it when it's not necessary.
One of the other things I enjoy about Sakuraba is that he doesn't rush his music at all. If it needs to be 7 minutes long, it's going to be 7 minutes long. Poem ~ Towns Theme is a 7:45 minute long song, and you know what? This has got to be one of the fewest 5+ minute songs that doesn't bore me to tears. Once again a drum is played along with the classical melody and even a simple, yet highly effective bass line, and neither, once more, is annoying or out of place.
Kingdoms ~ Castle Theme is also another well done song, giving off that royal signature that royalty carry. The string ensemble is very nice and carries the melody along nicely. The drum accompanying the main melody, very simple and adding crescendos where needed brings the song alive. The interlude the song has at the 4:30 mark reminds me of a scene in a medieval movie where you would see the market place in action, people chasing chickens and whatnot. A very enjoyable song.
Unfortunately, the whole album doesn't fare as well as I would have expected it to. The Death Trap ~ Dungeon Theme isn't done well in my opinion, for a dungeon at all. The music is so happy and preppy, you forget your listening to a dungeon theme. That, plus it exudes the aura of the last horrible song, Through The Mills ~ Battle. I thought that was going to automatically be a good song. It started off nice, with a rockin' drum beat and a moving melody, but it never goes anywhere after that. Sakuraba switches up the melody more than twice, and then does the switching up more than twice as well. I seriously think this song would have done better with an electric guitar leading the way instead of a keyboard. As Time Goes By ~ Events has more excitement than that one did.
This is a solid CD. With two exceptions, Dungeon theme and Battle theme, the album is a good one, with songs that'll keep your classical side and your contemporary side happy.
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| Album Information | Reviewer Rank |
|---|---|
|
Star Ocean Perfect Sound Collection Published by: Sony Records Release Date: November 01st 1996 Composed by: Motoi Sakuraba Arranged by: Motoi Sakuraba, Yoshiharu Gotanda, Kazushi Sato 2 Discs, 23 Tracks Catalog: SRCL-3686~7 |
88 |
Reviewed by: Ersatz Sobriquet
One of the best things about Motoi Sakuraba is that he knows how to make you smile while listening to one of his CD's and this one is no exception.
The rearranged version of the classic Star Ocean themes, which may be oblivious to many readers, since the classic game had its start on the SNES in Japan only (emulation is the only way you can truly play this game nowadays) are all spectacular and stunning in its own way. The opening track, New Generations is a stirring reminder to better days and a future that has hope. The melody is strongly original and what brings the song up a notch is the fact that a drum is played somewhere during the 2+ minute mark. Sakuraba loves to incorporate drums in his playing, as was evident in Star Ocean 2 Story Arrange. The addition to drums isn't obnoxious at all, but only drives the beat, never overdoing it when it's not necessary.
One of the other things I enjoy about Sakuraba is that he doesn't rush his music at all. If it needs to be 7 minutes long, it's going to be 7 minutes long. Poem ~ Towns Theme is a 7:45 minute long song, and you know what? This has got to be one of the fewest 5+ minute songs that doesn't bore me to tears. Once again a drum is played along with the classical melody and even a simple, yet highly effective bass line, and neither, once more, is annoying or out of place.
Kingdoms ~ Castle Theme is also another well done song, giving off that royal signature that royalty carry. The string ensemble is very nice and carries the melody along nicely. The drum accompanying the main melody, very simple and adding crescendos where needed brings the song alive. The interlude the song has at the 4:30 mark reminds me of a scene in a medieval movie where you would see the market place in action, people chasing chickens and whatnot. A very enjoyable song.
Unfortunately, the whole album doesn't fare as well as I would have expected it to. The Death Trap ~ Dungeon Theme isn't done well in my opinion, for a dungeon at all. The music is so happy and preppy, you forget your listening to a dungeon theme. That, plus it exudes the aura of the last horrible song, Through The Mills ~ Battle. I thought that was going to automatically be a good song. It started off nice, with a rockin' drum beat and a moving melody, but it never goes anywhere after that. Sakuraba switches up the melody more than twice, and then does the switching up more than twice as well. I seriously think this song would have done better with an electric guitar leading the way instead of a keyboard. As Time Goes By ~ Events has more excitement than that one did.
This is a solid CD. With two exceptions, Dungeon theme and Battle theme, the album is a good one, with songs that'll keep your classical side and your contemporary side happy.
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