LogFAQs > #950615014

8) Legend of Mana - Title
https://youtu.be/Y1PnieCgVyY
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
Prelim score: 9.9/10
Score: 9.7/10 (phenomenal)
VGMC History: VGMC 1 (Lost R6 to Baba Yetu)
Favorite Part: 0:51 - 1:21

I rented Legend of Mana many years ago. I remember little about the game itself Apparently I didnt enjoy it very much as I never played it again. There was one thing that DID stick out to me, and it was this mind-blowing intro theme. This is THE track that seals Shimomura as being one of the great JRPG composers in my book (other great stuff in this game, too). Theres little doubt Angels Fear served as inspiration for this.

Gotta love the open-4th interval hairpins with the beautiful, windy, mysterioso piano at the start and the haunting low piano strikes. I tend to be critical of piano music where the bass outlines triads and such, because its way too common, but here everything is just perfect. Not really complex, but its just PERFECT.

Love the way the piano bass moves by steps and fifths its EXACTLY the kind of thing I love. Im usually not crazy about bII, but here its.GORGEOUS OMG OMG (0:32). The 3-on-2 hemiola also works well here, giving the bass some room to shine. It starts off wonderful, but the second half is even BETTER, wow especially 0:51 - 0:55..! Love the way it switches to sixteenth notes at the last moment (on top of triplets).wow, the FEELS!!! Then a lush string orchestra joins in! We get a repeat of the first part of the melody (with piano chords! And the lower piano part switches to triplets now. Instead of the second part repeating, we get .VI7, VII, #VI7,#VII (IV, V in new key), then VI, VII, I in new key (1:11 - 1:21)! But yeah, the bolded part is fine on its own, but its the MELODY on top (scale alteration) that makes it chill-inducing. Wooooooooowwwww!!! Gets more intense after that(nice low piano syncopation, once again those hard strikes!) Ahhh, the way the strings soar with that little bit of theme (elongated) at 1:42 is pretty cool. Everything drops out at 1:58, with ambient open chords and wind chimes and the mysterioso

All in all simply phenomenal. When I think about it, this is THE highest rated video game music of my youth, in retrospect. I cant think of anything else that beats it.


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"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So... what is a party?"
"You drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."