Junya Nakano is one of the most underrated composers out there. Until Final Fantasy X, he was a relative unknown in the game music industry. Amid loads of great talent at Square, his music was often lost in the mix. Yet during that time he composed a vastly different RPG score in Dew Prism. Although it may not sound like your typical RPG soundtrack, it does have quite a bit of appeal. Much of the music is mellow and laid-back, but there are a few tracks that pop out demand your attention. I haven’t played the game, but I can just picture the lush and vibrant forest imagery while listening to this music.
Dew Prism’s soundtrack is separated onto two CDs, Rue’s Disc and Mint’s Disc. As such, most of the music is character specific and is represented on each character’s disc respectively. Generally, the overall tone differs greatly on each: Mint’s is upbeat and cheerful while Rue’s is mellower, and at times sharp and stirring. However, the differing styles work well. If you’re in a happier mood you may want to listen to Mint’s Disc. Looking for something more laid-back, Rue’s will do fine. Both have their high points as well as the expected filler tracks, but overall Dew Prism contains a nice selection of music.
As mentioned before, Rue’s Disc is a bit more subdued, but there a few upbeat tunes that truly stand out. “Passing Through the Forest” is one of the best pieces on the album, and fits in well with the game’s foresty atmosphere. “Fancy Mel” is a fun piece with it’s cheerful melody chirping away throughout. And then there’s “Sad Prima Doll,” “Reminiscence,” and “A Chance Meeting” which are all very calming with their soothing melodies.
On the other hand is Mint’s disc which is filled with up-beat, catchy tunes that perfectly captures the character’s free-spirited nature. Of the two discs I enjoy this one more. There are so many excellent pieces here it’s hard to pick favorites. “Underground Ruins” is AWESOME, my favorite track on the CD. I love how Nakano takes an upbeat melody and mixes it with a slower, soothing base harmony resulting in something almost magical. “Rodo ~Impetuous Soul~,” “Village,” and “Maya’s Theme” are all excellently composed as well. Finally, I must mention “Finale ~Mint~” which is a jazzed-up version of the Dew Prism main theme. I love this piece, and found it to be a fresh and invigorating inclusion on the album.
If you’re looking for something different, Dew Prism is a great choice. Filled with a wonderful mixture of ambient and highly enjoyable melodious tracks, unless you’re turned off by slower music, you can’t go wrong with this one. With its mellow, soothing tone, Dew Prism is great to listen to in the background while doing work or while just chilling out!
