The original, first recording of the Dragon Quest V Symphonic Suite from the NHK Orchestra, is finally back in 2009. This is a reprint of APCG-9004, but with the second disc (the "Original Sound Story") cut from the release.

Anyone who's seriously studied Sugiyama's work usually has their own preference as to which of the three orchestras is their favorite: NHK, London Philharmonic, or Tokyo Metropolitan. I myself usually prefer the last of these three, but in the case of Dragon Quest V, I think all three sound great in their own way.

If you want the NHK version, now is the time to strike.

Reviewed by: Patrick Gann