Noriyuki Iwadare's original Grandia score is one of the great adventure soundtracks in RPG history, and this 2020 complete collection finally puts it all in one place. "Theme of GRANDIA" is the kind of main theme that makes you want to leave home and see the world, all heroic brass and soaring melody.
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The journey from "Town of Parm" through "The Edge of the World" tracks Justin's growth from small-town kid to genuine adventurer, and the music grows with him. "Farewell to Sue" is devastating in context, one of those RPG goodbyes that the score makes permanent.
"Duel with Gadwin" brings the martial intensity of a mentor fight, while "Lilly's Seagull Restaurant" and "Gumbo Festival" capture the cozy side of exploration. The Saturn and PlayStation versions each had their own audio character, and hearing this material collected comprehensively is a treat.
"Leen's Love Theme" and "Nymph in Alent" carry a wistful beauty that Iwadare does better than almost anyone in the business. "Sult Ruins" and "Dom Ruins" nail that sense of uncovering ancient mysteries. The inclusion of "Time to Relax and Talk" and "Pavane" from Best of Grandia rounds things out.
If you've ever stood at the end of the world in a JRPG and felt something real, this soundtrack is why.