Dragon Quest I Remix Symphonic Suite Super Famicon Version    Publisher Sony Length 58:60 h Version 2nd Print Discs 1 Release Date 01/12/1994   Composer Sugiyama, Koichi   ID SRCL-2733   Price 2800 yen   Tracks 18   Tracklist 01 - Overture March (4:00) 02 - Chateau Ladutorm (3:24) 03 - People (3:41) 04 - Unknown World (2:08) 05 - Fight(2:14) 06 - Dungeon (3:41) 07 - King Dragon(3:10) 08 - Finale (2:45) 09 - Overture March (1:05) 10 - Intermezzo (0:44) 11 - Chateau Ladutorm (2:34) 12 - People (1:36) 13 - Unknown World (2:12) 14 - Fight (1:41) 15 - Dungeon (2:27) 16 - King Dragon (2:01) 17 - Ending (2:18) 18 - ME Sound Collection (1:02) Cover Scans Front | Back Dragon Quest: The First. When it came to 8-bit sounds with only 3 channels to work with, videogame composers were often limited in their prospects of arranging plain melodies into an satisfyingly full instrumental picture. The Nintendo Entertainment System we all know, got his first sound enhancements around 1990, hence earlier game music had the repute, consisting of nothing more than superficial beeps and clicks. DQ, alongside Final Fantasy 1 was one of the first roleplaying games with really catchy and interesting songs. Though gameplay and controls were still lacking, the music spreaded it's charme even with 3 synthesizer channels. It was 1986 when Koichi Sugiyama recorded the Dragon Quest Score in the way he originally intended it. Epic, classical and fully orchestrated. For the Super Famicon Remake Version 1994, nobody less than the famous London Symphony Orchestra, which should be well known for it's work with Star Wars componist John Williams, was intrusted with the production task under the conduction of K.Sugiyama. In SRCL-2733, the cd which is reviewed here, the Original Sound Version of the SFC replaces the arranged synthesizer tracks + the NES Sound Medley from the 1986 "Dragon Quest Suite" ~ Digital Sound Explosion, whereas the orchestrated versions were just re-recorded, not modified. The CD starts off with the Overture March, the opening idea, which appears in every Dragon Quest, from I to the newest part VIII. An Overture is usually an epic piece which introduces a big musical work or an opera. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) or H�ndel for example, all German composer were famous for their opera openings ("Xerxes" "Tristan und Isolde"). Nothing could do the job better, of outlining the mood of an adventure world like Dragon Quest, than an 4 minute lasting meeting of fanfares, floating strings and propulsive orchestral percussion. The only problem: If you've played a lot of DQ's you'll rather skip the Overture in your player than listening to it the 100st time. But: A few new passages were composed for the midsection of Track 1. Track 2 and 3: "CHATEAU LADUTORM", written in minor key, which can be heard first in the Castle of Tintagel reminds of an baroque organ fugue. Sugiyama takes full advantage of the Kontrapunkt; the movement of 2 or more independent melodies and harmony shifting (sequences) and gives the listener the feeling of walking through an imposant old castle hall with soldiers and maids. "People" is the BGM in villages and towns and my personal favourite on the disc, besides the overworld theme. In contrast to the original 8bit Track the arranging-scope was widened: there are whole musical parts added, which are fitting perfectly into the rest. Very light-hearted, especially when the contrabass sets in. "Unknown World" is the song of Alefgard, the world of the first Dragon Quest Trilogy and the first overworld theme in the series. The leitmotif, which steadily switches color between flute and strings has enough emotion to make a listener shake. Splendid Work. 2 Minutes long...perhaps a little too short. Anyway, if you take a look on other Dragon Quests and their field themes you will discover something weird: the accompaniment, i mean the chord progression is identical, at least for the first 8 bars. This is one thing that makes K. Sugiyamas music so interesting. You won't get 30 different tracks, totally seperated from each other in therms of musical structure, but ONE big score, which draws you into an functional phantasy world. "Fight" is nicely arranged, with good use of percussion and velocity changes, the initial melody movement sounds slightly enhanced and faster paced. "Dungeon" with play duration of ~4 minutes uses the musical apparatus of modulation. Inside the game the music is pitched down with each level you are venturing deeper into the underground dungeons. This would be way to easy for an orchestral performance. Great use of instruments, but more killing than thrilling. "King Dragon" the BGM for the last boss mirrors the situation of an bloody and reckless battle with deep strings and brasses. Extreme changes in volumes are marking this track. Not the top of the iceberg anyway. Forget the last 2 tracks if your impression got flat. "Finale" has anything a ending song must have. The Melody is easy to remember, starts out slowly and calm, and then switches between the various musicians and their instruments. The London Symphonic did a true masterpiece that stands for itself as a fully grown movie/staff roll piece. Whether you succeeded in beating King Dragon on the NES/SNES or in listening through DQ I's Symphonic Suite, this track flows like water...and ends with an bombastic crescendo of toms, as the strings are rising. The first symphonic suite is good. But...the problem is the plainness in the original arrangement material, and the therewith connected short disc length. But it's not to be missed out though, for its the entry of our beloved series into orchestral halls. Review Date 02.06.04 Overall Rating 8/10 Slimes Writer George Vallant ([email protected])