Xenosaga Original Soundtrack [Soundtrack, Import]

Yasunori Mitsuda (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 18, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Soundtrack, Import
• Label: Digicube
• ASIN: B00005V4FY
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,560 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Prologue

2. Opening

3. Battle

4. Gnosis

5. KOS-MOS

6. Life And Death

7. Game Over

8. Margulis

9. Relief

10. U M N Mode

11. Durandai

12. U-tic

13. Kookai Foundation

14. Shion

15. Ormus

16. Nephilium

17. The Resurrection

18. Green Sleeves

19. Zarathrusta

20. KOS-MOS

See all 32 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Japan Only. Music composed, arranged & produced by Yasunori Mitsuda. 2001.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yasunori Mitsuda's Best Work Yet, September 11, 2003

By 

Esc - See all my reviews

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

This soundtrack is, and I mean definitely, it IS the most beautiful collection of music I've heard yet. That's putting general music, movies, and other video game soundtracks together. Nothing has even barred this, let alone surpassed it, and it deserves more stars than this. Granted, one disc is better than the other, but the lesser of the two is equally on the same level of most other grand collections of music.

"Prologue" starts very slowly and mysteriously, and over time draws into an explosive effort, as different brass and high-energy instruments perform, and then finishes with a slow peace, followed by a calm choir. It's over 4 minutes long, and it's only the first of many incredible pieces. In fact, you'll have to skip ahead quite far to get to a piece that's only good, and each of those easily matches Nobou Uematsu's moderate work.

There are varied pieces on each disc, although Disc 1 noticably has several military-styled pieces, such as "Durandal" or "U-TIC System." "Gnosis" is probably the best of these, and it also happens to have one of the two main themes of the soundtrack, the other being "Kokoro" of Disc 2. The songs involving Shion are very slow, but are soothing and peaceful, if not a little sad. There are a few battles here, from the upbeat "Battle" to the grandiose "Battle with KOS-MOS." Nearly everything keeps interest, but as always, there are exceptions. "Daily" and "Relief" are probably the worst of the soundtrack, but they are still decent pieces; they simply don't merit repeated plays.

Disc 2 is the champion of the soundtrack. From start to finish, it's just one awesome piece after another. Beginning with the eerie choir of "Ormus" and ending with the slow piano of Shion's last theme, the pleasure for one's ears never lets up, and the music alone forces the imagination to thrive.

There are many choral pieces on Disc 2. "Ormus" as mentioned, is a very inspiring one. "The Ressurection" is very memorable. "The Miracle" is one of the best pieces of the soundtrack. It's fast, mysterious, and then rushes with quick cellos and violins at its incredible climax.

Speaking of violins, some of the exceptional pieces run by the fine string instruments are "Beach of Nothingness" and "Last Battle." "Beach" sounds depressing and intriuging at the same time, and is simply an astounding piece to listen to. "Last Battle" may seem strange at first, but it warms onto you with the rest of the soundtrack, enveloping the "Gnosis" theme and begs for repeated listening so that you may catch all the different lines of instruments present and obtain the whole listening experience.

And, cutting ahead of other tracks with much need of listening, I move to three last pieces in detail, all vocal, though one stands out from the others. "Pain" and "Kokoro" are both love themes, and "Kokoro" is present in most of the Shion pieces. Both feature the beautiful voice of Joanne Hogg, responsible for the famous "Small Two of Pieces" from the Xenogears soundtrack. She returns to lead both moving pieces and draws all attention to her voice, the best instrument of all. And finally, I lead to "Albedo." It is probably the strangest piece on the soundtrack, but it is also one of the best. It's an opera piece, it moves in a sort of marching-drama, and you will love it if you give it a chance.

The Xenosaga soundtrack is incredible and is more than worth having. Mitsuda has outdone himself this time and leads the London Harmonic Symphony Orchestra to outstanding feats that should not be missed.

-Escushion

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wouldn't know it was for a VG, October 30, 2003

By 

Katie Baker (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

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

Wow.

That was the first word I uttered when I had finished listening to the two CD set of the soundtrack to Xenosaga: Episode 1. Not only was it the absolute best video game soundtrack I had ever layed ears upon, but it even rivals with the movie soundtracks I own. Quite possibly, it takes the top rung in my ladder.

My first thought, when I put the music to my ears, was "Is this really for a video game?" If you did not know it was from a video game, it would be increasingly difficult for you to know, in my opinion. In fact, a great sum of the tracks were played by a full orchestra, and a professional one at that! Not only that, but there are samplings of music for everyone's tastes. Action ("KOS-MOS", "Gnosis", "Escape"), romance, ("Kokoro", any of the "Shion" tracks) choral chants ("The Miracle", "Ormus") and even light-hearted romps ("Relief" and "Everyday")

Personally, I suggest this soundtrack to anyone who is a fan of music in general. It's beautiful on its own, as well as nostalgic for those who have played the games. Heck, even my mother likes these songs. So what are you waiting for?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST GAME SOUNDTRACK EVER!!!, May 12, 2002

By 

Bryce Linsday (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews

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

Being a huge fan of the original game (Xenogears) in the Xenosaga series, I naturally picked up this CD. I expected synthesized, however well written, video game music. Imagine my surprise when I popped the Cd into the CD player and discovered the London Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra was in the place of a Midi keyboard! I must say that this soundtrack is what I believe to be the blueprint of the future of video game music. At times while listening to this CD, I thought I was listening to a movie sountrack at times. There is a variety of different tunes, including classical, jazz, arabian (NICE!), and even a couple vocal tracks. In my opinion this sountrack blows EVERY Final Fantasy soundtrack out of the water, ( I can say that, I have all of them, too) INCLUDING the CHRONO CROSS soundtrack. I find myself humming or singing the vocal tracks in the shower and car everyday.

BUY THIS TODAY! YOU WONT REGRET IT A BIT! Mitsuda has done it again!