SimAnimals Original Videogame Score

SimAnimals is one of the exceedingly few game soundtracks that emphasize texture over melody. Though variations of a memorable main theme and a variety of other mini melodies abound, it's the arrangement of those melodies in a colorful tapestry of varied instrumentation that makes the album unique.

"Sim Animals Theme" sets the playful mood and the nature theme of the soundtrack from the outset in a delightful opening suite. The ending credits arrangement in "Forest Song" is even better, showcasing the theme at its most harmonic and energetic state in a jazzed-up, festive reprise. Yasunori Mitsuda fans should take note that Forest Song is very much akin to some of the celebratory pieces from that composer's soundtracks, and the very best of them at that. The main theme makes numerous other appearances throughout the soundtrack and is welcome every time.

The other melodies appear too briefly to make a long-standing impression, but the instrumentation is so skillful that sometimes all it takes is a couple of small touches to make a track. In "Happy Place" it's a playful banter between woodwinds and chimes. In "Perfect World" it's the album's sole appearance of a grand choir. Almost all the pieces have an innocent air about them, occasionally upbeat and playful but more often quiet and calming. "Quality Time" is possibly the most beautiful, a patiently arranged piece with various chimes and woodwinds embellishing a constant, soothing piano. "Trailhead" has an almost existential quality to it, sounding fondly familiar to some of the quieter moments of the early Panzer Dragoon soundtracks.

In a refreshing change of pace for an instrumental game soundtrack, there is no string section to speak of, just the occasional violin solo. In fact the soundtrack never relies on any particular instrument en masse. Instead we get a plethora of solo wind and brass instruments which, along with piano and light percussion, give a fresh, brisk sound to the album, and will have anyone who's ever enjoyed a live brass concert right in the mood to go to another. Joining the instrumental ensemble in most tracks is an array of ambient nature sounds - twittering birds, running brooks and the like. Surprisingly they're hardly even noticeable after the first few listens, simply adding to the atmosphere as they should.

Almost every track offers something of interest when given individual attention, but taken as a whole the album can become a tad monotonous. I don't dare use the word dull - the music is much too good for that - but the middle section of the soundtrack needs more variety in mood to liven up a string of mostly atmospheric pieces. Obviously there are only certain directions you can take with this property, but add for example another charismatic theme or two and a quiet but stirring melody to the mix - something composer Winifred Phillips seems entirely capable of - and you would have a more complete album, with the atmospheric tracks present probably standing out better as a result. It would also add a bit of needed length to the album, which at 36 minutes is a bit short.

Take the best half of SimAnimals and you have a varied, consistently enjoyable instrumental album that radiates colors most game soundtracks don't even include in their spectrum. Skeptics (and cheapskates) might be best sampling a track like Trailhead or Quality Time to get a feel for the album first, while those with an appreciation for instrumental prowess and atmosphere in a soundtrack should just go straight for the whole thing. In any scenario, the opening and ending themes are essential additions to any respectable soundtrack collection.