LnRiLXlvdXR1YmV7bWluLXdpZHRoOjEwMHB4fS50Yi15b3V0dWJlPmRpdnt3aWR0aDoxMDAlO3Bvc2l0aW9uOnJlbGF0aXZlfS50Yi15b3V0dWJlPmRpdj5pZnJhbWV7Ym94LXNpemluZzpib3JkZXItYm94O3dpZHRoOjEwMCU7aGVpZ2h0OjEwMCU7cG9zaXRpb246YWJzb2x1dGU7dG9wOjA7bGVmdDowfSAudGIteW91dHViZVtkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLXlvdXR1YmU9IjkwNTE0MWI5MTNmNTg2MGFmMzdiZTQ2MTFlODQ1NTI5Il0geyB3aWR0aDogMTAwJTsgfSAudGIteW91dHViZVtkYXRhLXRvb2xzZXQtYmxvY2tzLXlvdXR1YmU9IjkwNTE0MWI5MTNmNTg2MGFmMzdiZTQ2MTFlODQ1NTI5Il0gPiBkaXYgeyBwYWRkaW5nLXRvcDogY2FsYygxMDAlLzE2KjkpOyB9IEBtZWRpYSBvbmx5IHNjcmVlbiBhbmQgKG1heC13aWR0aDogMTAyNHB4KSB7IC50Yi15b3V0dWJle21pbi13aWR0aDoxMDBweH0udGIteW91dHViZT5kaXZ7d2lkdGg6MTAwJTtwb3NpdGlvbjpyZWxhdGl2ZX0udGIteW91dHViZT5kaXY+aWZyYW1le2JveC1zaXppbmc6Ym9yZGVyLWJveDt3aWR0aDoxMDAlO2hlaWdodDoxMDAlO3Bvc2l0aW9uOmFic29sdXRlO3RvcDowO2xlZnQ6MH0gfSBAbWVkaWEgb25seSBzY3JlZW4gYW5kIChtYXgtd2lkdGg6IDY0MHB4KSB7IC50Yi15b3V0dWJle21pbi13aWR0aDoxMDBweH0udGIteW91dHViZT5kaXZ7d2lkdGg6MTAwJTtwb3NpdGlvbjpyZWxhdGl2ZX0udGIteW91dHViZT5kaXY+aWZyYW1le2JveC1zaXppbmc6Ym9yZGVyLWJveDt3aWR0aDoxMDAlO2hlaWdodDoxMDAlO3Bvc2l0aW9uOmFic29sdXRlO3RvcDowO2xlZnQ6MH0gfSA=
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
Breakout indie hit Wizard of Legend received a stellar soundtrack from composer Dale North. After the digital-only soundtrack was revealed in 2018, Scarlet Moon Data determined to beef up the soundtrack with some new preparations and a limited-edition bodily launch. That’s proper: an OST and piano assortment CD field set arrived at my doorstep in 2020, alongside a unbelievable ebook of sheet music for stated piano assortment.
Now, it’s 2025. And it’s to my nice disgrace that it’s taken me so lengthy to get again to this nice set of music. I’ll blame COVID for the preliminary delay, and past that, forgetfulness on my half. I wish to take a while to focus on precisely what makes this OST so pleasing, in addition to what I like in AYAKI’s piano preparations. Let’s go!
Disc One: Wizard of Legend The Full Soundtrack
The Wizard of Legend soundtrack was first revealed as Wizard of Legend Unique Soundtrack (SMRC-1024). This stable, 14-track OST was already price celebrating, but it surely received an improve in 2020 as The Full Soundtrack (SMRC-1047), which tacked on three new tracks written for the sport’s DLC, making a brand new complete of 17 tracks. Then, for the bodily launch of The Full Soundtrack, we received a remaining bonus with observe 18, an unused observe referred to as “Smoldering Ember.”
Personally, I can’t go with out the upgraded Full Soundtrack for precisely one observe. I’m speaking about “Blinded by Night time (Lightning).” Earlier than digging into the remainder of this OST, I’d like to begin by specializing in this piece.
Excessive-octane, synth symphonic goodness. And a melody that’s memorable, even sing-along-able? That’s a recipe for greatness. Some comparisons come to thoughts for me: Falcom (particularly Ys Origin), indie shmup Jamestown by Francisco Cerda, and even a little bit of ACE+ (Xenoblade). For those who like that type of music, you’re going to dig this observe—and that admiration is more likely to lengthen to the remainder of the OST.
From the highest, “Wizard of Legend (Title)” is a killer title theme that I solely want had been a tad longer. North makes use of a motif on this observe that jogs my memory of the Sailor Moon “Outer Senshi” theme tune, although I suppose the motif hearkens again, rhythmically (however not harmonically), to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. I begin bouncing alongside, nodding my head each time I hear this little bit of the title theme, and it will get me pumped up for what I do know is coming subsequent.
After some calmer tracks (“Museum” and “Plaza”) set the stage for subject fight, we’re able to go. First on the scene is the ice space music, “Freiya’s Cage.” I like the jump-scare synth noise that pops up on the finish of its enjoyable, syncopated, melodic ascensions. Once more, there’s one thing very Falcom-esque with the best way North mixes clearly synthetic synthesizers with life like symphonic samples.
Leaping from ice to earth, we’ve “Atlas’s Terrace,” which provides a hearty dose of choir to the action-packed symphonic stylings. The melody right here, much more than in “Freiya’s Cage,” will shock you with its sharp and surprising syncopation. With sufficient repetition, this melody additionally turns into sing-along-able, a mark of a very good earworm. However sure, it should take repetition, as a result of that syncopation is hard to grasp!
“Zeal’s Forge,” our hearth theme, brings out one thing somewhat totally different, one thing I had initially anticipated this soundtrack to be once I first heard it. Wizard of Legend is a fast-paced, combat-heavy motion RPG. Thus, I’d anticipated a sure type of depth would knock me to the bottom. Whereas I like all the elementally-themed space themes, I discovered what I used to be anticipating in “Zeal’s Forge” greater than anyplace else (besides, maybe, within the aforementioned “Blinded by Night time” from the Thundering Hold DLC). The brass is booming. The percussion doesn’t let up. That is full beast mode.
In sharp distinction, “Shuu’s Spire (Air)” is a hovering rhythmic journey that includes some crystalline synth and plenty of choir. It’s nonetheless at that candy spot for the tempo, and the syncopation (particularly within the tune’s B part) is on par with the remainder of the OST. I like a very good, energetic observe that may really pull again a bit earlier than touchdown on one thing stable: one thing like flying up within the sky earlier than touchdown on a rocky, mountainous crag. That’s what we get right here.
“Duel (Boss)” and “Duel of Legend (Closing Boss)” every have their strengths. They’re, appropriately, a tad shorter than the realm themes. I don’t sense a fleshed-out theme with these two tracks in the best way I do with the realm themes both. However I can’t deny that they’re tremendous catchy. I might have cherished if North went full-on Falcom with the ultimate boss music with a wailing electrical guitar half. However I respect the consistency of the soundscape.
The soundtrack’s the rest consists of vivid ending theme “Magical Merrymaking,” transient and surprisingly lovely credit theme “Legendary Deeds,” and a bunch of music for trailer cuts. All stable, with loads of small moments to admire. However the bulk of the soundtrack, once more, is in these killer space themes.
Disc Two: Piano Collections Wizard of Legend
A perk of working as a composer below the Scarlet Moon umbrella is that you’ve got easy accessibility to some nice arrangers, particularly the GENTLE LOVE duo Norihiko Hibino and AYAKI. They’ve revealed preparations for Celeste, Undertale, ActRaiser, and a lot extra. And right here, additionally they present preparations for Wizard of Legend. Huzzah!
Whereas Scarlet Moon did individually publish a Prescription for Sleep: Wizard of Legend album (SMRC-1037) for individuals who need the piano+sax duo, AYAKI went forward and recorded a separate piano solo album. I really haven’t listened to the Prescription for Sleep album but, so I don’t even know the way a lot overlap there’s in association model. What I do know is that AYAKI went all out right here on Piano Collections Wizard of Legend (SMRC-1036).
For starters, there’s the opening title theme, “Wizard of Legend.” As I discussed above, my solely frustration with it in its OST kind is that it’s too brief. AYAKI’s association, in distinction, runs over 4 minutes, with fleshed-out melody and improvisation that sparks the creativeness. I’m loving all of that, particularly since AYAKI by no means loses sight of these key moments within the tune—together with that trademark motif. Another stand-out moments for me? The introduction to “Freiya’s Cage (Ice)” has a killer sixteenth word lead earlier than breaking into the tune’s closely syncopated back-and-forth between left and proper palms.
Then, “Zeal’s Forge (Fireplace)” has what is perhaps my favourite a part of the entire album. Simply previous the four-minute mark (on a complete six-minute observe!), AYAKI builds an improvised solo to an excellent peak and holds that pressure on the prime for so long as doable with trills that may simply barely sustain with the tempo because the left hand retains the harmonic and rhythmic construction intact. “Shuu’s Spire (Air)” is deliberately organized to be comfortable and sluggish, with the rhythm suggesting a sooner tempo for under the center minute of this five-minute association.
Lastly, we’ve the unique composition from AYAKI, “Realizing One’s Potential.” What I like most about this piece is how properly it suits with the remainder of this album. This tune isn’t composed by Dale North, and it isn’t present in Wizard of Legend correct. However you could possibly be forgiven if you happen to thought in any other case. This unique piece makes use of the conceptual constructing blocks of North’s OST to construct the right capstone for a Piano Collections album.
Closing Ideas
Have you ever performed Wizard of Legend? You then possible keep in mind how robust this soundtrack was. Over time, I hold turning again to it as one in all my favourite indie soundtracks. By no means performed the sport? By no means heard this soundtrack? If I’m describing you, I urge you to take a hear. This will simply be the type of music you didn’t know you wished, however after listening, you notice how part of you longed for it. And whereas the OST and Piano Collections can be found individually for digital buy, I do completely advocate making an attempt to seek out this restricted version bodily printing of Wizard of Legend The Full Soundtrack and Piano Collections.
