Xenogears: Original Soundtrack [Soundtrack, Import]

Yasunori Mitsuda (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 8, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Soundtrack, Import
• Label: Msi Music/Super D
• ASIN: B00003CK5M
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #407,055 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Stars of Tears [Outtake]

Disc: 2

1. Small Two of Pieces

Editorial Reviews

Japanese video game soundtrack composed, arranged & performed by Yasunori Mitsuda. 44 tracks. 1998.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite, emotionally-charged., January 14, 2002

By 

Lord Chimp (Monkey World) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xenogears: Original Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Xenogears had an ambitious, deep plot. It had a powerful theme surrounding relationships of men and women, men and God. (Actually, because of its religious overtones it almost didn't make it to North America.) It was also a spectacularly moving love story (the eternal bond of Fei and Elly was beautiful). Additionally, it had some of the most intense, grandiose moments I've ever seen in cinema or gaming. When the "Red Gear" picked up the Yggdrasil, or when Id destroyed Solaris, or when Krelian became an angel, or the tear-jerking return of Elly and Fei after proving the power of humanity to Krelian. Because Xenogears is such an emotionally-affecting game, the soundtrack -- which accounts for much of the impact of any scene -- makes it more powerful.

I am in awe of Yasunori Mitsuda. Few film or game composers can match his melodic instinct and his emotionally sensitivity. Xenogears was a massive game...it took me about 70 hours to finish. Probably about five of those hours, however, were just spent stopping to listen to the music. Is there anything more beautiful than the mournful violins and piano of "Shattering Egg of Dreams"? Is there anything more menacing and crippling than "One who Bares His Teeth at God"? (from when Fei & co. fight Deus)? "The Blue Traveler" (from the Yggdrasil) is uplifting and spirited. The music box theme "Faraway Promise" shows how a simple melody can be so beautiful. "Flight" gives me goose bumps just thinking about it and the scenes it works in conjunction with. With its powerful trumpet build-up and the soaring string & percussion arrangement, it is probably the most elating song I've ever heard. The end theme, "Two Small Pieces - Restored Pieces" is gorgeous, featuring a Celtic influence. It is beautifully sung (I don't know who the singer is, but she has a very pretty voice.) "Graaf, Emperor of Darkness" is a ominous, sinister composition that underscores the enigmatic villain's malfeasance. "Gathering Stars in the Night Sky" reuses a theme from "Flight" in a more somber, soothing orchestration. "Shebat: The Wind is Calling" is mysterious, enchanting, and stately.

Naturally, the soundtrack won't have the same effect on someone without emotional attachment to the game. Also, as synthesizer technology improves greatly, the archaic sample quality on older soundtracks like this one doesn't sound so hot. Still, if you've played Xenogears and still gets chills at the thought of Fei's showdown with Graaf, or Fei and Elly coming to terms with their feelings for each other, or Maria carrying the "attack team" into Solaris...you _have_ to get this soundtrack. The music is timeless, even though the sound quality is not, and it will help preserve the memories of one of the best stories ever told.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yasunori Mitsuda's powerful, emotional masterpiece., August 12, 2002

By 

"arxane" (Oklahoma City, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xenogears: Original Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Yasunori Mitsuda is most famous for composing the music to the classic SNES RPG "Chrono Trigger" and its wonderful PSX sequel "Chrono Cross", but out of all his works, the soundtrack to the underground PSX classic "Xenogears" is probably his greatest accomplishment. "Xenogears" was a very story-driven RPG, even for a Square title, and contained very heavy idealisms and thought-provoking concepts, so the music especially had to set a defined mood and atmosphere throughout the course of the game. Mitsuda took up the challenge, and ended up creating one of the most powerful and emotional soundtracks ever made.

The first thing a listener will notice about the "Xenogears" soundtrack is that the overall tone is a lot darker than his other works. While there are light-hearted tunes scattered throughout the soundtrack, they are balanced by dark, brooding songs that create an overall atmosphere a lot heavier than his other soundtracks. The songs are also played using synth-like sounds, giving the underlying impression that this is, indeed, a game soundtrack.

But Yasunori Mitsuda uses his remarkable talent to make us beg to differ. While the soundtrack is indeed darker in tone, it merely showcases Mitsuda developing musical maturity into raw, emotional performance. And while the music is played using syth-like sounds, the songs are so marvelously crafted and so beautifully executed they have a life of their own despite their MIDI limitations. Each song is a miniature masterpiece, and not one sounds like a "filler" track commonly found in other RPGs.

What is also interesting about the "Xenogears" soundtrack are the two vocal pieces. While vocal songs in RPGs are hit-and-miss, these two songs are definite hits. But what makes them unique is that they are sung in English and not Japanese. The vocalist is Irish singer Joanne Hogg, and her renditions of "Star of Tears" and "Small of Two Pieces - Restored Shards" are so beautiful and enchanting they completely overshadow the Japanese versions (found on the "Xenogears CREID" album).

There isn't enough that can be said about the "Xenogears" original soundtrack. It would be somewhat silly to call it Mitsuda's musical pinnacle, considering he later composed the soundtracks to "Chrono Cross" and "Xenosaga". But "Xenogears" is undoubtedly his most powerful and emotional masterpiece, and is a game soundtrack not to be missed by anyone interesting in breathtaking music.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small Two of Pieces Alone Earns 5 Stars, September 11, 2003

By 

Esc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xenogears: Original Soundtrack (Audio CD)

Not many people got a chance to play Xenogears when it was released in 1997. It was limited, as Squaresoft didn't believe it would sell very well. As things go, it sold out very quickly, and Squaresoft was left with a number of consumers demanding the hit title.

While I loved the story, the characters, and yes, even the battles, the greatest thing about Xenogears was the music. Yasunori Mitsuda is an orchestral genius, as he proves time and again, putting examples in all of his works, and namely his work here and in its sequel's soundtrack, Xenosaga.

Unlike Xenosaga, I do not know this soundtrack's sequence by heart, so I'm going to order myself in the game's order. Thus, I start with "Light from the Netherworld," a slow, suspenseful piece that eventually erupts into the violence that happens in the game as well. The quick music that ensues after the slow start is very sudden, and the eerie chorus that heads the three minute mark is what truly makes this piece come alive.

"My Village is Number One" is a very enjoyable, innocent piece that really make's one's heart fly. It can be appreciated in its light-heartedness for those who have never played the game, while for those of us who have, reminds us of how easily that innocence is shattered.

I have to skip along now, because there just isn't enough room to mention how good each piece is and why. "Knight of Fire" is an excellent battle music, and is made more interesting by the sound of orders going over a speaker in the background at certain points. It's the boss music, and is also reflected in certain areas with the Geblar forces. Later battle musics, such as in the Arena, don't quite match up to it, but all are put a step back by the final boss theme "Awakening."

"Dajil" is simply excellent. I love hearing the Middle Eastern mix within it, along with the varying instruments and singing of children, which also occurs in "Aveh."

While all these are great, and I haven't even tapped the wonders of "Shevat," nor the mystery and intensity of "The One Who Bares Fangs at God," there is one set of songs that really makes the Xenosaga soundtrack so grand, and also so well-loved, and that is the collection of love songs for Fei and Elly.

Fei and Elly may have the most beautiful love story there will ever be, but they certainly have the most beautiful music for that love story. "June Mermaid" is a popular example of these, as many show the awkwardness and the enchantment of the romance between the two. The musicbox melody (its name escapes me) is very intruiging and is hard to stop listening to. It simply beats right with your heart and gives a feeling of warm through its simple music with a complex and touching theme.

That theme comes from "Small Two of Pieces." Without this piece, the soundtrack just doesn't have as much strength. Without it, it would only deserve 4 stars. Joanne Hogg sings the beautiful serenade of Fei and Elly, and after hearing it and then listening to the musicbox, you can almost hear the words go along with the simple sounds. The music combines flutes and guitars to Hogg's voice, creating an incredible song, one that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life.

-Escushion