For those who enjoy traditional RPG music, the soundtrack to Konami's PlayStation RPG Genso Suikoden is about as divine an object as one could hope to lay hands on, even though to describe the content as merely "traditional" is an insulting slight. Suikoden stands as a modern triumph of musical ingenuity, a landmark in the evolution of game music that could instantly convert anyone under the long antiquated notion that video game scores are of no artistic merit. The venerable Konami Kukeiha Club has driven itself to the edge, and produced a work of stylistically expansive, culturally broad musical erudition, rivaled by few for sheer breadth of artistry.
The two-disc set begins with the rousing, ebulliently western "Into the World of Fantasy" main theme, one of the most perfectly developed, satisfyingly crafted melodies ever heard in a game. From there it plunges the listener head-first into a spectacular musical exposition gleaming with examples of classical, modern orchestral, folk, new-age, ambient, eastern traditional, military, Celtic, and baroque genres.
The album is literally a bursting mine of gems. Those that sparkle brightest include the heart-wrenching "Theme of Grieving", an indescribably beautiful, haunting requiem performed by an ethereal, echoing live acoustic guitar that chills to the bone. The blood-stirring, electrifying "Advancing Army" march features a soaring, ascending chorus of strings which cries out with dramatic heroism. Most notable of all is the ending credits music, "Avertuneiro Antes Lance Mao", which builds slowly on a repeating motif from a simple, wistful flute melody to full orchestra and percussion, and closes the song with an overwhelming, profound glory of a live chorus.
Throughout, the presentation is solidly supported by the astonishing sound quality. Apart from the occasional use of real instruments throughout the soundtrack, the digital instrumental quality is eerily, perhaps suspiciously (What does Konami know that the others don't?) realistic. Music of this magnitude comes along agonizingly rarely, and must be snapped up the moment it materializes. I unreservedly recommend this soundtrack not just to fans of RPG music, but to all music fans in general.