If My Heart Had Wings is a cool visual novel that I enjoyed. There were some hiccups here and there due to the US version having the H content edited out, but the edits did not hinder my enjoyment and it was still a good flight. Upon first glance, one would think that this visual novel is light and breezy, but it is not. It has gravity to it and a certain wistful melancholy that makes the moments where it does soar all the more meaningful. I would describe the music the same way; it soars, but not without overcoming some adversity along the way. Everyone longs to spread their wings and fly in their own personal way, but doing so is easier said than done.
The music in the OST is highly synth-pop driven, but there are no vapid bubblegum pop hooks or wispy ethereal sounds to be found here. No, each and every song has a strong, commanding presence with layers of depth in its intricate melodies and harmonies. It’s the kind of music that needs to grow on you after a few listens. There is a subtle heavy-heartedness present in many of the tracks, even the whimsical ones. For example, the goofiest piece, track 8, comes off with the awkwardness of a guarded person not quite allowing him/herself to laugh at something really stupid, even though they want to.
Interestingly, I noticed a lot of Celtic influences in many of the pieces. Tracks 3, 7, 10, and 24 are four examples where Celtic sounds and melodies really come out and greet you. In the happier pieces, those sounds give a sense of gravity, almost saying that you have to go through hardship in the pursuit of happiness. The standout tracks to me are 5 and 17, which sound like pure, unadulterated joy without any sort of baggage. Happiness is a difficult pursuit, and the moments when the characters truly feel the freedom of joy without restrictions do not occur often. That quality makes those storyline moments special, and it makes pieces like “Open the Wind” special too. While I was driving in my car listening to this soundtrack, I saw two eagles flying while “Open the Wind” was playing, and that rare occurrence felt perfectly in keeping with the mood the song brought out in me.
The final songs on this soundtrack are the opening and ending vocal themes. Both are quite good, in that they have more heft than garden variety pop tunes. Both share a similar style and undoubtedly fit the tone of the game. Of the two, I enjoyed the closing theme “Perfect Sky” more. I can’t quite say why, but I just did.
I enjoyed my time playing If My Heart Had Wings, and I also enjoyed my time listening to its music. Both were among my personal picks in RPGFan’s 2013 Game of the Year and Music of the Year features. The music presented here is quite good and enjoyable to listen to on its own, but truly is best experienced while playing the game. Coupled with the game’s lovely art direction and soaring storyline, the music adds a ton of dimension. I am glad that the game’s soundtrack is finally available and fans should definitely check it out.
