Parasite Eve Original Soundtrack Reviews

Like a lot of gamers, I absolutely loved growing up when the 32/64-bit machines were at the height of the industry. So many games were born out the competition between Nintendo and Sony, yet as most know some competitions were fought and won long before the Nintendo 64 was even released. Stealing Squaresoft from Nintendo over issues like the cartridge vs. disc debate was a definite win for Sony, one the console rode all the way to the bank. Squaresoft games were and remain some of the most celebrated titles of all time, and I have to admit that Squaresoft logo became an unofficial seal of quality to me. Yet as time passes we start to see things as they are, perspective and insight crashing the party and throwing its two cents in the equation whether we like it or not.

Such is the tale of Parasite Eve, the "cinematic" RPG. While we'll obviously never see an end to long-time, jubilant fans leaping to the defense of a beloved title, I have to admit that, as a game, Parasite Eve has failed to age well. Such a view has more to do with the game's gameplay than anything else, but this doesn't mean one can't appreciate the myriad of other things the game accomplished and still manages to do well. That said, most games are not defined by a sole element, games come together when their individual components work with one another. Some parts may be stouter than others, and some parts may even be able to stand on their own. It's this line of thinking that relates to perceived strength of the Parasite Eve Original Soundtrack, a soundtrack that continues to receive a significant amount of accolades thirteen years after its release.

Starting up this two disc set, it really not hard to see why Parasite Eve's score has maintained such a consistent following. Along with "Chaosium Sword" from Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, "Primal Eyes" has my vote for best video game opening ever. Its mix of rock and techno is just so powerful, so visceral that you can't help but know it lives beyond physical confines of your speakers. Yet as I try to steer this paragraph into a fairytale ending that everything is as good as candy on the Parasite Eve soundtrack, I can't. While some would have you believe that all of the game's music is capable of standing on its own, a sizable portion of Parasite Eve's music is dependant on context. Actually, make that highly dependant on context. There are pieces here - like the three part "Memory" series - that can't live beyond their usage in the game. This doesn't derail the experience per say but it does mean it's a lot less bulletproof than it is at first sight.

Another battle that rears its head in the early going is the confrontation between the lesser used survival horror stylings ("Mystery Notes," "Gloom and Doom" and "The Surface of the Water") and the techno influences the game is known for. The latter can shine when given the proper treatment ("Missing Perspective") but it's obvious it can't hold up against the sound that makes this soundtrack what it is. Yet when one speaks of what makes this soundtrack what it is, many listeners seem to underestimate the importance of repetition within Shimomura's work. Considering the style of music that dominates this score, I think most would believe the incorporation of such an element would be a given, but certain tracks (like the wonderful "The Omission of the World") come under fire for this while other tracks ("Wheel of Fortune," "U.B.") get away scot-free.

But speaking of being guilty, Parasite Eve does run into legitimate trouble with its use of use of repetition. The obvious culprit here is something a lot of soundtracks do: their over reliance of the main theme. This isn't much of a problem in-game when different situations call for different kinds of tracks (battle, field/area and scene) but it's definitely compounded in soundtrack form. A related problem, one Parasite Eve shares with the Brave Fencer Musashi Original Soundtrack, is the synthesized opera singing. As essential as this in driving home the setting and mood of the game, I think most can probably agree that this pushes the hardware's sound capabilities to its limits which is pretty unattractive in and of itself. That said it's far from being a real deterrent.

When all is said and done, is Parasite Eve still one of the defining soundtracks of the 32-bit era? While most would unwaveringly say yes I'd have to lean towards no. A few years ago I would have paraded this score around as a flawless masterpiece but simply see things I didn't see back then. I am glad I've had that time to reflect on what's here and I'm glad I can be that honest with myself. The score definitely deserves most of the praise it receives but a little more criticism wouldn't hurt it.