As we've noted before, Kurt Kalata's Hardcore Gaming 101 is an invaluable resource, with thoughtful, graphic-heavy reviews of dozens of underappreciated games. I do have to take issue, though, with one of David DeRienzo's comments on the soundtrack to the poetic SNES classic Soul Blazer. "The dungeons have this crazy '80s synth thing going on. Some of them are slightly catchy, but most are just silly and cheesy to the point of being laughable. I was just waiting for Rick James to start singing during a few of them." Um, and? Dave, where I come from, sounding like Rick James is a good thing. Rick James rules.
Granted, Soul Blazer's soundtrack is quite different from the epic orchestration of its spiritual predecessor ActRaiser. (Although the town theme seems like a clear homage.) Yukihide Takekawa's soundtrack is one of the few of its era to feature a clear funk influence. (Off the top of my head, I'm only coming up with Toejam and Earl and Tim Follin's awesome score to the otherwise unbearable Spider-Man and the X-Men.) Most of the dungeon themes are tight, synth-bass-driven funk-rock. Like Soul Blazer's gameplay, whether you find them repetitive or hypnotically satisfying may come down to taste. The rest of the tracks range from straight-ahead rock tunes to humbling fanfares. I really love the latter track's evocation of a chilly cathedral — it's a perfect fit for the game's dark existential undertone. Then there's "Koibito no Inaiyoru", the plaintive ballad that accompanies Soul Blazer's haunting ending. (Sidenote: avoid the vocal version of this track if at all possible. It's flat-out gruesome.) All in all, the soundtrack is an odd little gem, much like the game it accompanies. Head on over to SNESmusic.org and give it a listen.
Previous OSTs:
Everyday Shooter
Rule of Rose
Treasure of the Rudras