Much More Than A Remnant: The Last Remnant Original Soundtrack (Review)

Tsuyoshi Sekito and Yasuhiro Yamanaka have both been at Square Enix for quite some time, but I’m honestly not very familiar with their work. We mentioned Sekito’s work on the PlayStation version of Chrono Trigger, as we now know that he was responsible for the amazing “unused” tracks that had been floating around the net, but aside from that, I haven’t played most of the titles these guys have worked on.

I approached The Last Remnant with a bit of excitement, however, as I knew the game would be heavily focused on rock music, and I knew there would be some orchestral touches from Natsumi Kameoka. While three disc soundtracks always provide a challenge when it comes time to write a review, I’ve listened, and listened again, and am ready to tell you what I think!

Hit the jump and get ready to rock with our review of The Last Remnant Original Soundtrack.

Sekito is off to a good start with  “Clash of Opposites” and “A City of Heroes,” the first of which is a marraige between electric guitars and sweeping string melodies, while the second is more mellow with the use of choir and organs.  They both have a Castlevania vibe that I thoroughly enjoyed.  “Flamedrop” on the other hand takes a more electronic approach with rapid synth lines that get the adrenaline pumping, while “Struggle Eternal” sports some tubular bells and impressive guitar solos that add an energy to the track that is exactly what I was looking for with this album.

Delving into some of Yamanaka’s contributions, “The Known World” contemplatively chugs along with rock guitars alongside rhythmic percussion that had me thinking of Halo. “Echoing Hallways,” on the other hand, sports metallic clanging and clattering alongside a deep synthesized bass. While the piece doesn’t have a whole lot of melody to grab on to, I enjoyed the moody atmosphere of the track.  The last piece I’ll mention by Yamanka is “Whispers of the Ancients,” which I swear sounds like something out of Xenogears at times with its ethereal pad progressions.

Sekito also takes a break from the guitar shredding with “A Friendly Ear,” which is a laid back track with acoustic guitar, a flute, bongos, and a killer melody.  Both “Arcane Mysteries” and “Breakers on the Shore” are surprisingly soothing with their reverberating belltones, filtered percussion, and bassy synth lines. After this, it’s back to the heavy metal, but this relaxing interlude was much appreciated.

The next set of rock tracks starts with “Reversal!,” a fast-paced and catchy demonstration of Sekito’s guitar shredding skills. The barrage of crash cymbals and the epic string accompaniment only add to the urgency. “Press to Victory” sounds like it’s having an internal struggle at first, as the synths and electric guitar twist around one another, fighting for dominance. Once the guitar establishes itself as the victor, an epic melody ensues accented by bell tolls that instill a sense of impending doom. Things only get more desperate as the end approaches.  “Nisus” pairs staccato string stabs with electric guitars and a bombardment of rock percussion, while the ultra-rapid pace of “Schismogenesis” is wall-to-wall noise from start to finish. There’s choir and bell tolls this time, so you know Sekito means business.  After the final conflict, “Journey’s End” comes in as the obligatory vocal track, sung by Donna Burke. I joke, but her angelic voice sounds beautiful both alongside the acoustic guitars and sorrowful strings of the first half of the song and the rockin’ electric guitars towards the end. This one definitely left a good taste in my mouth after wading through three discs of music.

So yeah, there’s a lot of music here. 97 tracks, in fact.  And while none them are outright bad, a lot of the music here isn’t exactly memorable. However, I do admit to enjoying the album’s energy and scattered memorable moments.  You can buy The Last Remnant Original Soundtrack in a physical format from the Square Enix North America store for $24.99 and also via iTunes for $17.99. Perhaps you should check out some samples on iTunes before taking the plunge, but if you’re into rock music in games, this is definitely a different approach from what you’ll find with artists like Sakuraba.

Are you a long-time fan of Sekito’s work at Square Enix? What are your thoughts regarding the music while playing The Last Remant?