Vanillaware before Vanillaware was Vanillaware. This Saturn action RPG from 1997 (soundtrack released 2011) carries that signature storybook fantasy feel in every track. "Castle of justice" opens with regal confidence, "Cross swork" brings brisk combat energy, and "Devil in the α" gets deliciously weird with its dark melodic turns.
Read more
The Saturn's sound chip gives everything a slightly warm, slightly grainy texture that suits the fairytale aesthetic perfectly. "Pleasant season" and "Funny guy" show off the lighter side, while "Light in heaven" reaches for something genuinely moving.
Only 17 tracks but each one is doing real work. The direct ancestor of Odin Sphere's sound, and you can hear the DNA clearly.