"Dragon's Awakening" erupts like something that's been held back for years finally breaking free, which is basically Kiryu's entire deal in this game. Like a Dragon Gaiden's soundtrack carries the weight of a man erasing his own identity, and tracks like "I'm Fading Away" make that devastatingly clear.
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"Furioso" lives up to its name with combat intensity that rivals anything in the mainline entries. "The Sleepless Castle" builds this oppressive atmosphere around the Castle location that just suffocates. "Un altro appassionato" brings Italian flair that feels both out of place and exactly right.
The whole score walks this line between nostalgia and grief. If you thought a side story couldn't hit this hard emotionally, Gaiden's music will prove you wrong.