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> PD Saga arrived during the twilight years of the Saturn's
life much to the delight of Sega fans everywhere, but needless
to say, by then it was too little too late. It was almost as if Sega
sought to reward the loyalty of gamers who believed in their ability to
consistently create quality, original games. We should be grateful that
PD Saga was even translated into English.
> Any fan of PD Saga will know that the game has an incredibly
memorable soundtrack. The OST doesn't merely set the mood of the game,
but reflects it in a way that you will remember forever. The music is synthesized
by the Saturn, meaning electronically recreated or created
(as opposed to orchestral), but that doesn't stop the music from being
great. In fact, it's outstanding. I am not joking when I say words simply
don't do it justice. Mere words fail to describe this OST's magnificence.
> The OST reflects how primitive tribes of people live in the shadow of
advanced technology. Despite bending the Ancient technology to their will,
the OST aptly conveys how the current inhabitants of the world are still
"standing on the shoulders of giants". The ancient technology and primitive
tribal cultures clash until they begin to slowly merge into one with disastrous
consequences. You hear drum beats blended with flowing oriental windpipes
and organs that both constantly change pitch, echoing percussion, and electronic
beats and melodies that shift tempo depending on the environment. You could
argue that there is too much percussion, especially in the form of drum
beats, but it fits the theme perfectly. The music ranges from soft melodies
for towns to fast-paced thunderous beats for action.
> The OST creates a very ambient atmosphere. It's quite impressive when
you consider that this music was created on 1994 console hardware. The
tracks that stand out are Atolm's theme which you also hear in the intro
trailer, and for me personally, the Imperial Air Force track. Atolm is
a huge black dragon who strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies. He
is ridden by Azel, a female drone (a biomonster in human form) created
in the Ancient Age. Azel defies gravity by literally standing atop her
dragon as they both soar the skies gracefully. Much of the game revolves
around saving her, especially from herself, because she is the key to unlocking
the power of the Ancient technology.
> Atolm's theme sweeps you away into another world with tribal drum rolls,
melodic windpipes and organs that rise and fall. It's stunning to hear.
The Imperial Air Force track captures your attention with a slow build
up of prolonged subtle organ keys combined with fast soft melodic keyboard
keys, and the clashing of metal with hard drum beats vaguely in the background,
and culminates in flowing harps and organs. It's beautiful to hear while
you are blowing Imperial warships to pieces. Anti-gravity ships define
the Empire, and this track alerts you to a greater threat than you have
faced before.
> The track for the Imperial flagship has more prominent fast-paced tribal
drum beats which I found fitting because the Panzer world is home to primitive
tribes of people who are drawn to power like moths to a flame. You really
need to hear this all for yourself before you can form an opinion.
> The Empire in PD Saga was motivated by an insatiable hunger
for power. The Empire believed that the Emperor was the heir to the ancient
civilization and therefore had the right to claim the ancient technology
by force and dominate the world. This is reflected in the music where low-tech
and high-tech collide. The Empire didn't answer for its crimes to the rest
of the world, or to a higher power except ironically the technology it
sought to claim as its own. You might call this a fitting end. The Empire
was blinded by an insatiable hunger for power, which is why it's always
best to limit power. You can't reason with tyrants, but the Empire's advanced
technology is stunning to behold. If it can be used for evil then it can
also be used for good. The Imperial warships are such a work of art that
it's a tragedy to destroy them.
> The music captures these themes magnificently with slow harps that create
a sense of foreboding (heard in "A Nation of Holy Deceit"), and disciplined
military drum beats in some tracks and more chaotic tribal drum beats in
others. The drum beats set a militaristic mood. They introduce the player
to the Empire without fail. PD Saga has distinctive music
for every type of enemy. The game uses reflective instrumentation like
no other.
> You will have to forgive me for writing an in-depth review; I am attempting
to be as specific as possible. This is a special OST, so it deserves a
special review. The story of Panzer Dragoon Saga seems to
be an allegory of human nature itself, but that's another story.
Bottom
Line:
> Panzer Dragoon Saga is a magnificent game that has a magnificent
soundtrack. This OST is a masterpiece that true gamers will remember forever.
Overall:
10/10 |
