The bubbly J-pop energy coming out of an arcade cabinet in 2006 is kind of unreal. THE IDOLM@STER's debut soundtrack, composed by the Bandai Namco sound team, goes so much harder than any idol sim has any right to. "Agent Yoru wo Yuku" has this cool, almost spy-thriller groove that completely breaks from the cute formula, while "Aoi Tori" slows everything down with this aching sincerity that just sits with you.
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Then "Taiyou no Jealousy" snaps you right back into dance-pop mode with these punchy synths and an irresistible hook. Every idol gets her own vocal take on every song too, so you hear entirely different personalities across the same tracks.
If you've ever been curious why this franchise has such a devoted following, start here.