Atelier Lise is a handheld installment (Nintendo DS to be specific) and black sheep of Gust's alchemy-laden series. What makes it the "black sheep?" For starters, the soundtrack isn't composed by any of the regulars. It isn't even done by any noteworthy composers at all! Eri Arakawa and Miyoko Takaoka came out of the woodwork to score this little offshoot of the Atelier franchise. Did they do a good job? Well...yeah. They did alright, considering what they were up against.

This isn't the Gust music we know and love, but it is decent, particularly for a DS soundtrack. The opening vocal theme may trick people into thinking they know what they're in for, but the rest of the OST tells no lies. There are a couple of stellar themes on the album, but much of it falls to the wayside. Among the songs I liked are "Knife Edge" (a battle theme, I assume) and "The Great Sage." The melodies are strong and surprisingly catchy.

This soundtrack was also printed alongside some other handheld Gust tunes in a three disc set. Personally, I'd recommend going all out if you're going to get this 2nd-rate music at all. However, if your tastes differ from mine and you are somehow brought to a state of awe by these DS tunes, then maybe this one disc version is for you.

Reviewed by: Patrick Gann