LOST SPHEAR ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (REVIEW)

Last year Tokyo RPG Factory released its first game, I Am Setsuna which was featured a battle system similar to Chrono Trigger and a piano based score composed by Tomoki Miyoshi. Although I didn’t get around to reviewing I Am Setsuna‘s soundtrack‎ I did share my thoughts on it, stating that it suited the icy setting and story of sacrifice surrounding the main character.

Tomoki Miyoshi has returned to score Lost Sphear, Tokyo RPG Factory’s second official release. The game is already out in Japan and will be available in early 2018. The soundtrack to Lost Sphear breaks free of the solo piano and branches out with a much more diverse use of instruments. Read on for my full review of the soundtrack.

As I was impressed by I Am Setsuna‘s soundtrack I was eager to hear the music of Lost Sphear. The album cover features an image of a piano, and a violinist to represent the two performers on the score, the composer and Hiroaki Yura who has worked extensively in the past with the Eminence Symphony Orchestra. The soundtrack boasts a total of 50 tracks, 24 on on disc one and 26 on disc two.

The soundtrack to Lost Sphear opens with the song “The world of memory” which features sombre solo piano ‎slowly revealing the game’s main theme. The elongated notes give the listener a sense that memories are precious, and important. This song is also featured in the Dynamic Theme which is part of the upcoming game pre-order bonus. Which you can see in the video below.

“Nostalgia” the second track, features piano, high toned violin and a woodwind moment that you could have pulled straight out of Yasunori Mitsuda’s Chrono series scores, and for me that simple woodwind melody triggers JRPG memories of games past. The songs on the album continue and offer a bright playful and colorful sound. This is also one of the bonus pre-order tracks available with the game that Square Enix has advertised being featured in the Town of Elgarthe. The second bonus track included with pre-orders is titled “Great Bustle” which is track 17 on the first disc, another wonderful town theme.

“Memory of Sound” the sixth track is the first battle theme that features rapid fire stacatto piano notes coupled with strings and what sounds like a xylophone. There is enough variety in the theme that carries itself well for drawn out fights.

Track nine, “Echoes of the Heart” is the game’s main theme and a wonderful emotional piece of music. The prolonged piano theme at the beginning has evolved into a graceful piano and violin piece the highlights a melody that the composer notes in the album liner notes came directly from his own heart. It is truly lovely and a highlight of the soundtrack. The theme is worked into subsequent tracks in a masterful fashion, and evoked in me thoughts of light and bright colors.

“Ready to go”, track 13, is another battle track with much more intensity achieved with added drum percussion with a much increased tempo suggesting it’s for a larger boss fight. I found myself nodding along with the melody.

Later tracks on the first disc feature machine sounds, harpsichord, ‎regal horns, and some truly menacing sounding boss tracks.

The first track of disc two “A sign of fortune” is another one of my favorite tracks on the album. It’s a rapid chiming tune that sounds like a battle tune, that’s just a whole lot of fun.

The second disc of the soundtrack features many short tracks for battle victories, item acquisitions and leveling up. Based on the album presentation I am assuming that most, if not all of the games music is presented on the album.

At the end of the second disc after seven brief tracks there are two longer tracks that I am quite fond of, “Originator” and “Decisive Fight” and their placement was probably intentional as to save some of the best music on the album for last.

I have not played the game yet, or the free demo but based on the music I am planning on picking it up when it releases in North America. The music overall is completely different than I Am Setsuna. At times its very uplifting and touching music, which I can’t recommend enough. I hope that Tomoki Miyoshi continues to work with Square Enix and Tokyo RPG for many years to come.

You can purchase the soundtrack from various online retailers. I bought my copy from YesAsia as they offer free International shipping on orders over $39.

Are you excited to play Lost Sphear?