Vanillaware before Vanillaware was Vanillaware, and the Saturn hardware gives everything this slightly crunchy, warm quality. "Castle of Justice" and "Willpower" run on these heroic melodic lines that punch way above what you'd expect from a 1998 side-scrolling RPG.
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"Devil in the Alpha" goes genuinely menacing, the synth work thick and oppressive. "Pleasant Season" and "Busy Town" nail that lived-in fantasy world feeling. The arranged versions at the end open up the compositions with real instruments, and "People Get Happiness" especially benefits from the upgrade.
"Mystery Wind" has this wandering quality that's hard to shake. Essential listening for anyone who thinks great Vanillaware music started with Odin Sphere.