So I don't know how I missed this gem for such a long time, it's great!!  Totally unexpected from Falcom Sound Team jdk (I was thinking more outlandish j-rock) but it comes off like a mix of Chrono Cross and Atelier Iris 3 (one of the highest compliments in my book).

The instruments chosen are perfect. 

Some of my favourites: 

"Pavel Garden" - There's no mistaking that SNES/SFC violin plucking in the background, and each layer brings new depth to the song.  I feel so warm and cozy listening to it.  ~1:47 is GOLD.

"Kenopi Volcano" - This would have to be, without a doubt, my favourite "lava cave/volcano" theme EVAR.  It's not overbearing and delightfully low-key for supposedly a high intensity area. 

"Road to Where the Dragon Sleep" - The accordian synth absolutely does it for me on this one.  That, and the catchy backbeat provides the rest of the energy to let the musicians have fun with the rest of the song. 

I'm sure there's going to be more as I delve deeper into the soundtrack, but I'm still amazed that I haven't heard anything mentioned about this OST.  Bravo Falcom.  Bravo.

Can anyone suggest similar OST's?

Yeah I had decided to play the game based on how good the OST was, and yes it reminded me of chrono cross too.

Falcom has been altering their style in the 2000s, and at the time Zwei came out it was pretty radical change from their typical past series.
(New-school Falcom is quite different from Old-school Falcom).

Zwei 2 comes out next month, so we'll see if the music is similar to the first.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxY9eMKeiQ8

There's also a Zwei!! Super Arrange Version: you might want to look into that as well.

Zwei is great music, probably my most favorite of all Falcom stuff.  I love the complete non-rock ideology they took on that album and some of the other albums after that. Oath in Felghana and that redone PC game that came out around the same time Zwei did (Remake of Wanderers from Ys) is in the same style I believe.  If you like Zweii, check them out too

Speaking of Zwei was a translation ever done (patch, port?).  The game looks amazing and I own it but I can't really play it, and playing it with an English walkthrough just defeats the purpose of playing the game. :x

Is a Zwei 2 soundtrack announced?

I'm with Crash on this, check out the Super Arrange Version, to me it's even better than the original soundtrack.

I would place the Zwei!! Super Arrange Version in my top 3 VGM albums of all time. (And if you check GoldfishX's thread, I did!)

Jb, I'm with you there all the way. It's easily my favorite Falcom soundtrack. I definitely love the Celtic style of it. This probably comes from my big man-crush on Mitsuda's music though.

The arrange version is also quite nice. Mythical Land Serpentina is my favorite from that one and the original soundtrack.

Agreed that both Zwei!! albums are excellent.  And I'm looking forward to Zwei 2 next month too.  The OST to Zwei 2 comes packed in the Limited Edition pressing. ^^)/

allyourbaseare, you might like the Albert Odyssey Gaiden: The Legend of Eldean soundtrack if you've never heard it.

- Justin Pfeiffer

=O @ Zwei 2 soundtrack release. Some of the best VGM-related news I've heard all year, I'm sure it'll be great.

As for the original Zwei soundtrack, I think it's fantastic. My favourite Falcom score as of right now (I haven't ventured into Ys stuff so I'll get back to ya after I do~). They really got the Celtic, fantastical sound right here didn't they? Every piece is worthwhile, and all pieces carry a perfectly harmless, hummable melody. As for favourites:

"Floating Continent Arges -Main Theme-" - Mitsuda incarnate. Seriously, it's so similar to Mitsuda it's borderline ridiculous. The pastoral influences are soothing and the melody is lovely. <3

"Cropp Cave" - How fun is this one! It's got quirkiness written all over it and some pretty funky melodies to boot. Not the most accessible or conventional track on the score; I actually think that this distinction works in its favour. Memorable, memorable music.

"Hiporita Hill" - It's hard to imagine a tune as soft and gentle as this being used as an environment/location theme in an RPG. o.0" And it's not too often you get such a classy, down-to-earth track like this in RPG's anyway. It glides from one lovely melody to the other in almost seamless fashion, all while creating some great, picturesque imagery. <3 x3

"Mythical Land Serpentina" - A shame to see this one go so early in GFF's Best Song Contest. It's one of the most accomplished themes on the soundtrack for sure: a nice dramatic tone and some awesome (Asian?!) developments. The main theme incorporation is pretty grand too.

It's a shame "Final Battle -Demon Vesper-"'s bagpipe mixing is so terrible, because it's otherwise a great tune. Not a great FINAL BATTLE tune, but a great piece of music regardless. (Also of note is "Kapaya Forest". It's pretty spectacular for a generic forest theme, you've gotta admit)

So yeah, really looking forward to Zwei 2! And Zwei!! Super Arrange...I still haven't listened to that. I'm sure I'll love it.

Question then, where can I buy the LE Zwei 2 package? ^_~

$85 http://www.himeyashop.com/product_info. … s_id/10946
But it doesn't specifically say if it's LE or not though....

Thanks for the advice everyone!  Will definitely check out the arranged album, but only after giving the OST another thorough listening-to. 

I've dabbled with Albert Odyssey Gaiden, only because one of my fav. composers did the soundtrack (Naoki Kodaka - Blaster Master, Journey to Silius, Batman) and it's a different style for him.  It's going to take some repeated listenings.  Thanks.

O_o Zwei!! 2?  The title is ironic enough but hopefully Falcom stays true to the last one.  Awesome.  I'd LOVE to play the actual game and experience the music the way it was meant to be, but it doesn't look like that's going to be happening ever.  Who owns the rights to that game anyway?  Taito?  ...and now SQEX?

Why wouldn't Falcom own the rights to it?  Did Taito do the PS2 conversion?

Anything more definitive than that Carl? 

.

Good to know, thanks.  I just ordered from Falcom, I wasn't sure if they shipped games overseas as a lot of retailers have problems with that.

Yes, you should ALWAYS order directly from Falcom.  For one, it's probably cheaper, and two, sometimes they throw in little bonus items. ^^)

Well, there is, but I double-checked and actually you're right about Zwei 2, it's not technically an LE (shokai-genteiban), it's a 'tokuten-dzuki,' which means "special favor or benefit attached," and usually run for the entire first print.  However, tokutens don't necessarily last FOREVER.  Eventually they repackage the game and usually leave out the tokuten.  But yeah, if you order the game in the first year or two, you'll probably get the tokuten.

- Justin Pfeiffer

Falcom has posted a new Zwei 2 movie:
http://www.falcom.com/download/movie/zwei2_pre_web.wmv

Here it is in higher resolution:
http://www.4gamer.net/games/044/G004487/20080718016/

And here it is with out the narration:
http://www.falcom.com/download/movie/zw … _web02.wmv
http://www.4gamer.net/games/044/G004487/20080822007/

Looking pretty sweet.  The theme song is performed by JDK Band too.  Falcom also announced that Zwei!! (the original) will be released for PSP in December.

- Justin Pfeiffer

Actually, knowing Falcom, they will, sometime next year, run a weekly special which includes both Zwei!! games and all of their soundtrack CDs for 6500 yen.