I Am Setsuna was designed with nostalgia over '90s RPGs in mind, and it would have been easy to give the game an 8-bit, retro-inspired soundtrack. Instead, Tokyo RPG Factory and Square Enix turned to Tomoki Miyoshi. Miyoshi isn't yet a well-established name in videogame scores, with his largest previous project being SoulCalibur V, but from the gate it's clear that the developers made the right choice.
![Image for Album Review | Winter’s End: I Am Setsuna (MusiCube)](/media/2016/October/wintersend.jpg)
While the game it's based on is clearly inspired by RPGs of old, Miyoshi's soundtrack sounds heavily influenced by the works of Studio Ghibli's Joe Hisaishi. Much like the game it accompanies, however, it works to stray from direct lifting and lean more toward influence; here Miyoshi's work takes on a life and theme of its own. Calm piano chords evoke snowfall and long, perilous treks across I Am Setsuna's wintry landscapes, while changes in pace and tone keep the soundtrack from getting too flat or monotonous.
It's not all cold and gloom, though. The track Like a Boss! stands out with its humorous title, for example, and a unique sound to go along with it. The Warmth of Hope lives up to its name, featuring a brighter, optimistic tone. Safe Haven has a calm, welcoming tune to it, and the closing track, An End to the Journey softly winds Winter's End down with gorgeous piano strikes and an emotional fade-out.
9/10
![Rated 9 out of 10](/imagesv9/blank.gif)
![Rated 9 out of 10](/imagesv9/blank.gif)
Exceptional - Gold Award
![Rated 9 out of 10](/new/images/review_gold.jpg)