Dragon Quest III Symphonic Suite + Original Game Music

With the plethora of Dragon Quest III symphonic albums available, one might wonder why to consider Dragon Quest III Symphonic Suite + Original Game Music. Despite the title, it's not for the original music from the Game Boy version of the game, which constitutes the last 20 tracks of the album. Rather, the best reason to consider the album is its repackaging of the very first Dragon Quest III symphonic performance by Japan's NHK Symphony Orchestra.

The London Philharmonic performances are generally considered the gold standard for Dragon Quest symphonic suites, and their recording for Dragon Quest III certainly has a more refined sound to it than the NHK version. At times it's perhaps a little too refined - a string of subtle compositions in the middle of the score makes for a somewhat passive listening experience in the London Philharmonic version. Though the NHK version suffers from the same flaw, its slightly less subtle approach at least makes "Dungeon ~ Tower ~ The Phantom Ship" a bit more interesting. The London Philharmonic version of the track starts spookily, but the NHK one maintains that mood effectively for its entire duration, with a more deliberate performance style and a grating string finale that ends the piece with an appropriately disturbing touch. The medley "Around the World" and the waltz "Sailing" also make worthy alternatives to the versions in other recordings (though the themes themselves still fall short of similar material in Dragon Quest IV and V).

The trade-off is that a few tracks that are excellent in the other symphonic suites aren't quite as excellent here. I don't know whether it's due to the performance or the recording, but the brass in the NHK version suffers, to the degree that the traditional, score-opening Dragon Quest march in "Roto" sounds almost like game synth. In "Into the Legend" as well, the brass just can't match the majesty of other versions, though the theme itself is still excellent. The climactic battle theme "Fighting Spirits" lacks the fierceness of later versions, but a much more emotional reprise of the included "Unknown World" theme (I could swear I hear a fleeting soprano in there) and a tumultuous string finale make for substantial consolation.

As the first symphonic performance for Dragon Quest III, this collection lacks the extra arrangements found in later editions. Normally I would say the more Dragon Quest the better, but in the case of Dragon Quest III the album moves at a better clip without tracks like "Zoma's Castle" and "Distant Memories" from later editions prolonging the onset of the score's grand finale. On the flip side, the gorgeous "Prologue" and the powerful call to battle "Gruelling Fight" are valuable new arrangements that can't be experienced here.

Were I allowed only one collection of Dragon Quest III symphonic music, I would pass on the NHK edition for the more complete and at times more spectacular later editions, and just playlist out a few of their slower tracks. However, for Dragon Quest fans hardcore enough to desire multiple orchestral performances of the same title, Dragon Quest III Symphonic Suite + Original Game Music is well worth consideration.