This soundtrack is actually the first "Perfect Collection" Falcom ever released. It's the first to feature Yonemitsu's standard "Special Arrange" tracks...but it's also the only exception to the Perfect Collection name.

All other games from Falcom that received Perfect Collection soundtracks worked like so: If two-disc, the first disc is Special Arrange, the second disc feature Vocals, JDK Band arrangements, New Age arrangements, Super Arrange Versions, sometimes Orchestral arrangements, etc. If it were one disc, Special Arrange tracks and other types of tracks would all be on the same disc. Not for Dragon Slayer ~ The Legend of Heroes, however: Disc one is the OST, disc two is only Special Arrange. That's right, while most other games would have their OST tracks on a separate release (ex. - Music From Ys), this "Perfect Collection" has the OST tracks in the collection.

While many Falcom fans are upset that this Perfect Collection didn't have vocals or JDK Band tracks, that does not mean that this soundtrack should be ignored. It still features some of Yonemitsu's earliest and more unique arrangements in his time. The OST tracks are nothing to laugh at either. For being what they are, I was definitely pleased with the first disc's fine synthesizers.

As for a "favorite track", almost everyone agrees that track 6 "Field" is the best Dragon Slayer song...ever. It was turned into an AMAZING vocal for the Feena~Shoko Minami CD, and the Yonemitsu arrangement is just as pleasing. Even the OST version is good. All the other great tracks are the ones I sampled...I hunted down the best of the best.

Yes, I would say that a couple of these tracks count as "Filler" tracks, even for such a small number of tracks for a whole game. A couple simply aren't pleasing, they're just music.

This soundtrack is somewhat hard to find; but, because it is Falcom, asking around message boards and keeping an eye out on eBay usually allows for a person to find it within a few months. Remember, only the real Falcom music fans go for this stuff!!

Reviewed by: Patrick Gann