Seiken Densetsu -Secret of Mana- Original Sound Version
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Album Title: Seiken Densetsu -Secret of Mana- Original Sound Version |
| Record Label: NTT Publishing |
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| Catalog No.: N25D-019 (1st Edition); NTCP-5030 (2nd Edition) |
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| Release Date: August 6, 1993 (1st Edition); October 1, 2004 (2nd Edition) |
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| Purchase: Buy Used Copy |
Overview
Secret of Mana, otherwise known as Seiken Densetsu 2, is an extremely colorful gameplay experience that is both indelibly beautiful and ethereally endearing. It is amazing to consider that most of these characteristics are imparted upon the game by the music alone. Hiroki Kikuta was the composer for Secret of Mana and did an amazing job of providing the game with an endearing, yet subtle emotional quality that will haunt you years after you play the game. Yes, the music is THAT powerful. Even when held against the musical standards of games today with their real orchestras and digital quality, Secret of Mana remains timeless with the simplicity of its musical statements and the clarity and succinctness of its implied emotional characteristics. When listening to the tracks from Seiken Densetsu 2, one begins to distinguish an aura of mysticism and spirituality that reaches far beyond the confines of the game itself. There is a free flowing nature that permeates every piece of music in the soundtrack, binding them all together in a unbreakable chain. There is a softness, a brightness and sensitivity to the musical processes, which enhances the actual game itself by an untold means. I will provide commentary on a few of the tracks to aid in the understanding of the emotional impact that the music is so adequate in describing.
Body
“Angel’s Fear (Title)” is probably the most well known of Kikuta’s musical endeavors. There is good reason for that. The sheer musicality of this piece is quite profound. The chord progression, the instrumental arpeggiations, and the overall quality of the melody is very powerful and mysterious. This is also a perfect piece for allowing the listener to get a bearing on what the rest of the soundtrack is going to be. It is setting the listener up for what lies ahead. In that sense it is extremely effective as the introductory piece. The town theme “Tell a Strange Tale” conveys hope, happiness and the certainty of a brighter tomorrow. The chord choices are very interesting and lend themselves very well to repeated listenings. “Phantom and… a Rose…” is perfect for introducing vibes of sadness to alter the emotional quality of the game. It is bittersweet and sad with a redeeming chance of hope; this is the tragic theme of the game and will become quite well known to the player as it plays at specific points during the progression of the story. Extremely fitting.
4) Always Together
The nature of this piece expresses the happiness of being in the company of good friends as well as the elation, the splendors and the happiness of being free to experience those feelings without interruption. Suitably, this piece is good natured and very optimistic. There is a playfulness and a carelessness that is revealed during the theme’s development that it is quite lovely to observe.
5) Fond Memories
This is Dyluck’s theme. There is a subtle strength in this music despite the small scale of the instrumental presentation. There is something legendary about this piece… it boasts a quiet confidence that tinges the ears and heart with hopefulness and passion.
6) Into the Thick of It
This theme is magical. The way it touches your ears, the way the instruments flow like an assuming yet ambitious flowing river is nothing short of wondrous. I won’t lie. This is one of my favorite themes ever. Even after all these years, the piece still retains its purity. When I hear this piece, I am reminded of beauty, exploration and the joys that can be found in pursuit of the unknown. When I close my eyes and listen to this song, I am transported… I can imagine myself in a grassy bit of land…trees smiling and swaying, tall grass dancing to the left and right as a gust of wind blows across a windswept plain… and this piece floods my ears with warmth and my heart is full of joy. Not bad Mr. Kikuta.
8) Dancing Beasts
The percussion and the light instrumentation help this piece retain an ambient quality; so primitive and natural that it truly gives me images of a great tribal dance by fire. During the actual gameplay, this is the music that represents the indigenous native mushroom tribe. The music symbolically represents the isolation of this tribe. It does this by remaining completely unique, highly stylized creating its own musical niche separate itself greatly from the demeanor of every other musical entity found in the soundtrack.
9) Distant Thunder
This piece is very exploratory. Imagine walking through a forest, unsure of what you might find, unsure of why you were there in the first place but feeling a definite sense of happiness that you are there. Now imagine a strange harmless smiling “rabbit” — like creatures with white skin jump out at you from behind a tree, trying to scare you. The only solution to this is to laugh without regret and enjoy the moment for what it is. “Distant Thunder” helps this idea to become fully realized. The understated simplicity of this theme underscores the playfulness that is so endearing to the emotional intention of the soundtrack. It serves another important function providing essential comic relief to keep the listener in a playful spirit as the story unfolds.
13) Mystic Invasion
Upbeat and lively while yet again providing an important explorative quality, though this time expressing that concept with a hint of danger. Still, there is a coolness to this piece that endures. In truth, most of the pieces in this game share a common thread regardless of the nature of its intended emotional application. I appreciate the entire soundtrack’s ability to stay consistent stylistically while still providing appropriate emotional states to fit the desired scene. This piece is a further testament to Kikuta’s musical vision. Careful musical observers may note that this piece utilizes the exact same melodic and harmonic structures as “A Prayer and Whisper”.
16) A Wish…
This is one of those pieces you can listen to for hours… and grow happier with each passing minute. It is appealing in its interesting chord structures and soft spoken, bittersweet demeanor. Despite the fact that this piece is meant to resemble the natural environment of an ice-crested region, the piece nevertheless retains an enticing, warm quality. I would consider the impeccable instrumental choices and wonderful mixing job to be the main reasons for this. The actual nature of the music itself may indicate the sadness that goes with experiencing loss. Fitting, considering that winter and ice are definitive symbols of death. In the end, the flute speaks in a way that makes the heart glad, and at times happy to acknowledge the substance of sadness.
17) Spirit of the Night
This piece just further confirms the spiritual aspect of Hiroki Kikuta’s musicianship. There is something sacred in the way that the choir resonates in the ears of the listener, giving way to serene statements of the main Secret of Mana theme in a very natural and free flowing way. This piece will make you lose yourself in the beauty of things that remain unseen but are always felt and always loved. This part of the quest involves traversing through ancient forests, under moonlit skies and naturally implicates the quiet beauty that nature often holds for those patient enough to witness it. The music is no different.
19) Danger
Creepy. This is a perfect concept piece for the emotional idea of ‘suspense’. The musical means to providing such an intense sound would include the utilization of the tri-tone scale to aid in building tension. The initial main statement is extremely angry and unsettling. The tense nature of this theme is exasperated even further by the belligerent musical development that occurs at :43, throwing the piece into an even more unsettling light. The main theme from Secret of Mana is stated at 1:15 (of course in a slightly sped up way) and if you aren’t careful, you just might miss it! The thematic integration is tastefully done as is usually the case in regards to this soundtrack. Due to the subtle nature of the music in this soundtrack, it isn’t always easy to catch the entrance of the main theme, but it is often there at just the appropriate moment.
30) Steel and Snare
This is one of the most innovative pieces in the game. There is a very futuristic element to this music. The emotional dynamics of the piece include a very harsh, metallic reality where there is no escape from the futility of mechanical oblivion. Hopelessness and darkness are all that are the only realities conveyed in this piece. There is no hope, only decay. The drum beat is wicked and the bass line will slap you in the face if you aren’t very careful. There is an eerie white noise in the background which makes the piece even more unsettling. This track is quite abrasive and really transports the listener away from the hopefulness and softness of the rest of the soundtrack.
31) A Prayer and a Whisper
I can nearly cry after listening to this piece. It appeals to a place in my mind and heart that remain pure and untouched by all the horrors of the world. It portrays serenity in a manner that I can’t fully explain, but greatly admire.
32) Ceremony
Omigod, someone please play some Raffi or something!!! This has got to be one of the strangest, most evil sounding pieces of music, ever. The piece conveys an innocence that is quickly eviscerated by the claws and fangs of something dark and sinister waiting around the corner, or perhaps hiding under your bed… It’s like an acid trip back to Babes in Toyland and all the toys have been overtaken by demon spirits and walk around decapitating and killing whatever they can find. It is deliciously evil. MWA!
“Still of the Night” just further confirms the spiritual aspect of Hiroki Kikuta’s musicianship. There is something sacred in the way that the choir resonates in the ears of the listener, giving way to serene statements of the main Secret of Mana theme in a very natural and free flowing way. This piece will make you lose yourself in the beauty of things that remain unseen but are always felt and always loved. This part of the quest involves traversing through ancient forests, under moonlit skies and naturally implicates the quiet beauty that nature often holds for those patient enough to witness it. The music is no different.
39) I Will Never Forget You
Yet again (and thankfully so) another restatement of the “Angel’s Fear” motif. This is a much more micro version, with more attention being payed to an intimate portrayal of the music. Very bittersweet, yet very powerful as is a common theme throughout the entire soundtrack. When it comes to the Secret of Mana, this is Kikuta’s greatest musical gift to the listener; to remain true to his own musical sensibilities while still providing music that can incapacitate the listener with the joys of living in the moment, is quite an amazing feat and one that I myself will always treasure.
Summary
Except in the rare case of Secret of Mana, I have yet to experience a soundtrack that can be considered organic or spiritual to any exceptional degree. The music is natural, beautiful, and a joy to have as part of my collection. I look upon Hiroki Kikuta as a true musical visionary for the video game ages as a result of his work in Seiken Densetsu 2 and cling to the hope that he is able to make a comeback providing his unique musical insight to aid and abet in telling stories of revealing and startling beauty and depth.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
4.5
Posted on August 1, 2012 by Ryan Reilly. Last modified on August 1, 2012.
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