Based on Emily Rodda's beloved Australian fantasy book series, this DS adaptation got the full JRPG soundtrack treatment -- and the results are surprisingly charming. The orchestral version of "Theme of Deltora Quest" opens with a sweeping grandeur that punches well above the DS's weight class, while the standard version keeps the melody intact in a more chip-friendly arrangement.
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Both capture that sense of a young hero setting out to save a kingdom. "The Forest of Silence" nails the creepy atmosphere of the series' first major trial, and "The Lake of Tears" shifts into something more melancholic and mysterious.
"Thaegan, the Witch" brings genuine menace, while lighter moments like "Tom's Shop" and "Jasmine's Mixing Room" give the world personality. "Manus's Whistle 'With This Smell'" is one of those delightfully specific character themes that only a Japanese RPG adaptation would think to include.
The chapter-by-chapter structure mirrors the books perfectly, with each region of Deltora getting its own musical identity. "The Shifting Sands" evokes windswept desolation, and "Are You Deceived, by Any Chance" captures the series' recurring theme of trickery and illusion.
For fans of the books who never knew this DS game existed, this soundtrack is a wonderful surprise -- a faithful musical journey through all seven gem territories.