Early PS2 Square energy radiating off every track like a tech demo that wanted to be a movie. THE BOUNCER's soundtrack goes deep on character themes, giving Sion, Volt, and Kou their own musical identities that carry real emotional weight.
Read more
"Melody of Reminiscence ~Aria Kaldea~" is devastating, this fragile vocal piece that hits completely different surrounded by all the combat tracks. Dauragon C. Mikado getting three escalating themes from composed menace to full "Awakening" is chef's kiss.
"Distant Rain - The Cross Children" has that early 2000s melancholy Square was so good at. The whole thing sounds like Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi channeling cinematic ambition through brand new PS2 hardware. If you remember renting this game just to see PS2 graphics, the soundtrack deserved more attention than the gameplay got.