One of the best terms I learned in grade-school math was “least common denominator.” That the term can be used outside the realm of numbers makes it that much more special.
Why am I talking about denominators? Well, Tokimeki Memorial is known for having way too much content produced for it. There are only four games in the main series to date, as well as over a dozen sidestory games. But there are hundreds of CDs for the series: instrumental arrangements, vocal arrangements, drama CDs, more drama CDs, combinations of the above three in one CD, and of course, there are original soundtracks as well.
For Tokimeki Memorial, the OST is the “least common denominator” of all the available music.
And as I listen to the Tokimeki Memorial 2 OST, music for a decade-old PS1 title, I can’t help but sit here and identify as I listen to the music, what it is, or what it would be on the appropriate album. Of course, all the instrumental character themes have vocal versions absent here but present on the five (and more!) vocal collections. That soft instrumental piece? Oh, that’ll be on a piano collection for sure. And that guitar-heavy synth track that only runs one minute in length on the OST? One of the “Music Collection” albums is sure to have an awesome five minute rock band recording of that piece. Three cheers to the Kukeiha Club.
Thus, a study of the Tokimeki Memorial 2 OST is about the only option I have. I cannot bring myself to enjoy the music on face value. It all sounds like a blueprint of better things to come. And I know they’re already out there. I just haven’t gone after them yet.
Now, let’s for the sake of this review pretend that those other albums didn’t exist. This was the end of the line for this music. What would I think of it then? I’d call it an average performance for Konami. Maybe a little below average, depending on where you put the bar. Comparing this to peers such as Suikoden II and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the Tokimeki Memorial 2 soundtrack just doesn’t compare. Any day of the week, I’d rather be listening to other Konami PS1 music than this. Then again, if I compare this to Vandal Hearts (another Konami PS1 title), I think this beats Vandal Hearts. So… yeah, average. I’d say that’s fair. There are also some tracks on here that more than likely aren’t arranged anywhere else, including the classical music worked into the OST. I really like those, as they themselves could be interpreted as synth arrangements within an OST.
If you’re looking to collect a large number of Tokimemo CDs (which is certainly a worthy set of music to collect, if you can afford it), then you’ll want this album. You’ll want all the OSTs. They’re the baseline, the “least common denominator,” from which to start. It helps you to take in the music as it appeared in-game and then compare to the superior arrangements out there. It’s a very pleasant experience, as I discovered with the first Tokimemo so long ago. I am only now bravely stepping into the realm of the sequels. But if you think, “I’d like to check out Tokimemo, maybe I should start with the OST…” No, no no no. Don’t do that. Start with a vocal album and an instrumental arranged album of your choosing. Listen to those, and if you’re impressed, keep going. Konami Kukeiha Club, the dozens of musicians that make up this group, they know how to make great music, and there are some surprising gems in the world of Tokimeki music.
