Panzer Dragoon is an artistic and beautiful game, sure it might be ‘ugly’ now since games can do better graphically. But there is just something about the art assets used that really strike me as beautiful. Like most SEGA games, the soundtrack matched the presented game and no other game delivered as well as Panzer Dragoon series. This week we will be looking through the first game’s soundtrack.
The above song attached is the main theme that really sets the game’s epic scoop. Its a beautiful piece that for some reason reminds me of the 1989 animated film ‘Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland‘. Fun fact: French artist Jean “Moebius” Giraud was actually involved in both Panzer Dragoon (mostly influence and did the Japanese cover) and the Little Nemo movie.
I couldn’t write about the first game’s soundtrack without looking at the song ‘Flight‘ (which we covered before), which really does give the sense of excitement and adventure. A very beautiful track that doesn’t get credit enough by mainstream retro gamers. Violins and trumpets mix amazingly well and great laid out drum track makes this one of my favorite SEGA tracks of all time.
The track ‘Sudden Change‘ is just that, a huge change of pace in the music. This is more faster tone music that has more in common with rock then it does the other two tracks shown in this soundtrack.
Panzer Dragoon also had a really fantastic track for its ‘Staff Roll‘. This is possibly one of the few times that I sat through the credits after beating the game and actually wanted it to go on longer, just because the track was so great. Its epic, haunting and overall a classic.
The last track we are looking at is ‘Departed Spirit‘ and its probably a good chance to say that the composer for this soundtrack, Yoshitaka Azuma, passed away on October 11th, 2012. While death is sad, he will truly live on in all our hearts through his music. He will be missed and its sad to see legends like him go.
Yoshitaka Azuma (東祥高): 1948 – October 11 2012
What is your favorite tracks off of the first Panzer Dragoon soundtrack?
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For me the best track is the one in the intro, I don’t know, but the rest of the soundtrack feels different to the rest of the saga, kind of too classical maybe, while the intro has a very unique feel, explaining all the action and the events you see just with the music.
PDS ftw.