SaGa / All Sounds of
 |
Album Title: All Sounds of SaGa |
| Record Label: NTT Publishing |
|
| Catalog No.: N32D-007/8 (1st Edition); NTCP-1004/5 (2nd Edition) |
|
| Release Date: December 21, 1991; December 12, 2004 |
|
| Purchase: Buy at CDJapan |
Overview
Between 1989 and 1991, Square released a trilogy of moderately popular RPGs for the Game Boy, known as the SaGa trilogy in Japan and rebranded as Final Fantasy Legend in the West. Each score was composed by a different team. Nobuo Uematsu for SaGa, Nobuo Uematsu and Kenji Ito for SaGa 2, and Ryuji Sasai and Chihiro Fujioka for SaGa 3. This gave each score a different timbre and character, although there are conserved themes and features throughout. The scores largely built on the musical foundations established by the Final Fantasy series on the Nintendo Entertainment System, but were composed within even tighter technological limitations. All Sounds of SaGa compiles the three scores for the Game Boy trilogy into a two disc release, complete with a bonus arrangement. It was a definitive release back in 1991, but has it been made redundant by the series’ box set and various digital releases in recent years?
Body
The soundtrack opens with Nobuo Uematsu’s SaGa Original Soundtrack. Nobuo Uematsu was able to carry over most of the charm of the original Final Fantasy titles when creating this score with a range of staples, ranging from the motivating battle anthems, to the adventurous world map theme, to the moody dungeon soundscapes, to the quasi-cinematic ending cues. In each case, he focuses a lot of attention into offering captivating melodies while accommodating technological restrictions. It’s particularly impressive how he was able to make series’ staples such as the “Prologue” and “Wipe Your Tears Away” so expressive despite the Game Boy’s humble sound chip. It may take some time to accustom to the piercing, occasionally crackling, synth used here, though such pieces expressive plenty of humanity, thanks to Uematsu’s strength as a melodist.
Kenji Ito’s debut score, the SaGa 2 Original Soundtrack featured on the second half of the first disc, is also impressive. It maintains the magical and personal feeling of the series while exploring the range and depth of the Game Boy further. Ito instantly makes an impact with the highly lyrical normal battle theme “Lethal Strike”, while “Never Give Up” is a motivating march-like track used during the last areas. Nobuo Uematsu’s main theme “Searching for the Secret Treasure” is also impressive here, offering boundless adventurous feel desired for the world map. However, a couple of Uematsu’s tracks are surprisingly uninspired due to their somewhat generic stylings and bland melodies. In addition, the prologue, victory, and recollection themes are given somewhat more elaborate arrangements here, though they are perhaps more welcome in the game than on the album release given their partially recycled nature.
Developed by Square’s Osaka team, the SaGa 3 Original Soundtrack on the second disc is not as impressive as its predecessors. The soundtrack is let down by its 25 minute length, more choppy synthesis, and often uninspired tracks. For example, “Village in a Strange Land” lacks the charm of Nobuo Uematsu’s town themes, while “Dungeon” is a mind-numbing attempt at ambience and Chihiro Fujioka’s four compositions are entirely unremarkable. Despite its weaknesses, Ryuji Sasai pioneers a welcome shift towards more rock-based tracks, with themes such as the jubilant “Journey to the Future” or driving “Fight!” for the map and battle screens. In addition, “Steslos” and “Theme of Another Dimension” are also motivating anthems filled with character and melodic potency, while there are serviceable renditions of a couple of fan favourites to round off the score.
The compilation concludes with a synth arranged medley entitled “Journey’s End” by Nobuo Uematsu. It is written in the style of a credits medley, with faithful renditions of several popular themes from the original SaGa and various dramatic shifts. The arrangement opens modestly with a slow and somewhat repetitive rendition of the “Prologue”, but soon takes a more epic direction with an orchestra and organ version of the victory theme. After a reflective oboe-based interpretation of the town theme, Uematsu captures the classic Square vibe with an exuberant rock-orchestral version of the main theme, before concluding the medley with interwoven renditions of “Wipe Your Tears Away” and “Epilogue”. Though aspects of the medley could have been better in arrangement and production, it’s still a great bonus that captures the title’s magic.
Summary
Overall, this soundtrack is a complete and well-presented compilation of the soundtracks from the SaGa series’ original trilogy. It is impressive how the various composers of this album managed to offer so many memorable compositions and emotional soundscapes in spite of the limitations of the Game Boy. However, all the material on this release is also available on the series’ box set, so those looking for a wider compilation of the series’ music should look at this release instead.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
4
Posted on August 1, 2012 by Chris Greening. Last modified on August 1, 2012.
About the Author
Chris Greening I've contributed to websites related to game audio since 2002. In this time, I've reviewed over a thousand albums and interviewed hundreds of musicians across the world. As the founder and webmaster of VGMO -Video Game Music Online-, I hope to create a cutting-edge, journalistic resource for all those soundtrack enthusiasts out there. In the process, I would love to further cultivate my passion for music, writing, and generally building things. Please enjoy the site and don't hesitate to say hello!
Related Posts
Final Fantasy VII Remake Acoustic Arrangements →
Fleeting Symphony →
Final Symphony II – music from Final Fantasy V, VIII, IX and XIII →
