https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEC0D764EB9074BD

Shining Force II was released in 1994, one of the last great games from the inferior console (technically speaking; it has great games). While the plot tries to make a link with Shining Force I, I really consider both as independent games. For a Genesis game it feature amazing graphics, but also very good music, a spectacular improvement from the first game. Here is my review of the soundtrack.

1- Prologue Theme

The opening animation (if you do not press start at the Sega screen) and when you explore the Temple of the Ancients. The arrangements start slow, going in a crescendo. They are perfect to create a mysterious atmosphere for the temple holding the two legendary jewels. The core of the loop has a very heavy synth that sounds good, putting more emphasis on the mysteries of the temple (and of the pending catastrophe in the intro). You could also swear you can hear muted brass!

2- Title Theme

On the “press start” screen. It takes excerpts from the overworld theme and lasts for 10 seconds. Listen to the real overworld theme instead.

3- Town Theme

The theme inside any peaceful town. It sounds very lively and peaceful, without anything to worry about. The background arrangements give the theme its good tempo, while the main “flute” give the theme its nice welcoming theme. The “brass” in the second part are louder, making the theme even more joyful. The last part sounds kind of sad, in sharp contrast with the rest, but it is still good.

4- Castle Theme

The theme inside any castle. It actually does a pretty good job at creating a regal atmosphere, even better than most SNES RPGs I have played so far. The main trumpets are very loud and triumphant in the intro (with good drum arrangements), while the core of the loop has softer brass mixed with “violins” that keep the track very royal.

5- Character Promoted

Self-explanatory. Its sounds much more triumphant than in SF I, and also more militaristic with the constant drums. An excellent short track.

6- Curse Theme

If you foolishly try to equip a cursed item. I do not think I ever got caught (except with Lemon’s Dark Sword), but you can tell that something is wrong when you hear this track.

7- Devastation Theme

The theme inside a ruined village. The heavy synth helps recreating the feeling of sorrow and destruction you see around you. The “trumpet” is very sad, like the kind you would hear at a military funeral, and the flutes are almost weeping.

8- Done for the Day

If you decide you will not continue your game when the priest asks you. It is a variation of the witch’s theme, although a less intriguing one. Since she waves you goodbye, I guess it was appropriate to hear that. However since I turned off the Genesis when her dialog was over I never listened to it and just skip the track.

9- Elven Town

The music inside the secret elven forest right after you get the caravan. The in-game music is actually much softer than the one on the soundtrack, which was very appropriate. The upbeat “harp” has very soothing arrangements that are perfect for relaxation. I found the background “arrangements” in the background annoying, but it is overall an excellent track.

10- Enemy Attack

When an ordinary foe attacks you. It sounds much more dramatic than the ally theme, perfect for the forces of evil. It starts with very loud “trumpets,” followed by battery and flute that keep the drama at the right level and tempo.

11- Headquarter Theme

Self-explanatory (you also hear it inside the caravan). This is a very joyful military march, much better than the HQ theme from SF I. After a short drum intro, you hear nice flute arrangements that smoothens the militaristic beat a little, while the middle of the loop has muted brass that make for great military arrangements.

12- Healing Theme

When the priest relieves you of illnesses (curse, poison). But since I never got cursed – and since you could cast magic outside of battle – I never actually remembered that theme. However it has a nice “relief” feel I like.

13- Joined Party

Self-explanatory. It starts with triumphant trumpets, followed by flutes that go in a kind of decrescendo. It though it was a nice combination for such a joyous event.

14- Joined Party Sad

You hear that once or twice, when everything is ruined around you. It was done better than in SF I, with a quiet flute playing the preceding theme sadly.

15- Journey into Darkness

The usual dungeon theme. It has a very mysterious beat I just love, with its low-tone brass in the introduction. The constant use of drums helps making it more militaristic as it should, while the arrangements in the core even sound “anguishing”, as if a monster were shouting in agony.

16- Mithril Diggers

The dwarfs’ theme. The arrangements are pretty elaborate for the Genesis (the loop lasts about 60 seconds). It starts with “muted” wind arrangements with strings in the background. The second part gets more upbeat, both in the main track with the flute and in the background with the strings.

17- Mitula’s Shrine

What you hear outside her temple in Tristam but also when you fly the Nazca ship. This theme is so… magical! You really feel like you are flying with very loud flutes and small harp decrescendos. The second part of the loop has muted brass that help keep the “magic” in the theme.

18- Panic Moment

When something terrible happens (like Grandseal crumbling into the sea) or when fighting a boss. I find it more appropriate for the former; the tempo is very quick with the drums and you can feel the panic with both the brass in the main track and the panicked flute in the background. The second part of the loop uses heavy synth to make the mood even heavier.

19- Piano Theme

The piano you play when you come back to Yeel. The background does sound like real piano, but the main track is too loud to be enjoyable; it sounds too synthetic so I usually skip it.

20- Promoted Attack

Self-explanatory. It was done very well, with a very triumphant brass intro and upbeat drums. The rest of the loop consists of heroic, er, harmonica? Anyway you can feel that the character is much stronger.

21- Ready for War

A battle inside a “public place” like a village. This is my favorite battlefield music. The constant drum beat makes it very militaristic, while the wind intro sounds dramatic, but not too much. The drama builds through the second part of the loop when the flutes start sounding very dramatic (with the drums slamming in the background). The loop concludes with heavy synth and trumpets.

22- Receive Item

When you open a chest containing an object. It is short and sweet, and also triumphant since you are now a little stronger.

24- Revival Theme 2

When the priests resuscitates a fallen member. The flute really sounds like an angel is coming down from heaven and resuscitating you.

25- Saving Theme

Self-explanatory. The first few notes are too loud, but the rest has nice flute arrangements.

26- Shrine Theme

The theme inside most temples. The main arrangements have a nice holy feeling to them while the background beat is nice and slow to emphasize the holiness. The second part has “wind” arrangements that add a very nice touch of mystery.

28- Time to Attack

The regular ally battle theme. It sounds a little less triumphant than the promoted battle theme but it is good nonetheless. It starts with a nice, loud wind intro that become the core of the loop afterwards. The drums add the right beat and tempo for an attack theme.

29- Wandering Warriors

The overworld theme. I think this is one of the reasons I like this soundtrack so much (and always wanted to come back to this game). It has some of the best and more realistic arrangements of the Genesis era, and one of the best themes of its category for the 16-bit era. It starts with very loud and joyful trumpets (accompanied by equally loud drums), followed by brass arrangements that give the track a very happy feeling. After a short flute note, the track gets more and more epic. The loop finishes with loud brass and drums after being introduced by a quieter flute.

30- Water Goddess Mitula

Mitula’s theme. It is an extension of Elven Town, with flute arrangements added. Technological limitations keep the theme from sounding as epic as it should. After listening to Princess Ellis (from the Shining Force Symphonic Suite), its “orchestrated” version, I tend to skip this track. But for the time, it did sound good and magical.

31- Witch’s Theme

The witch that welcomes you to the game, but also the music you hear around the Demon’s Head. This spooky track is especially appropriate for the latter (wait until you see the actual head). It is still appropriate for the witch, since you do not know her intentions when she forces you to help her. The “whistling” in the middle of the track is the best part; it sounds very dark and fitting for a haunted house.

32- Zeon Theme

When you fight the King of Evil or when he captures Ellis after the fight. Another track that suffers from technological limitations. The intro was excellent, with very upbeat and loud brass. Unfortunately, the core of the loop consists of “choked” trumpets and wood instruments that make the theme sound less scary than the Boss battle theme.

33- Last Moments

Another sad theme. It does not sound as dramatic as Devastation Theme, but you can nevertheless feel the sorrow. The loop starts with loud and sad brass with harp in the background. The last part of the loop relies on heavy synth to show the sorrow, and does it pretty well. However, it tries to go to high notes and sounds a little annoying.

34- Last Wishes

The last sad theme, you hear mostly in Howel’s house. It does not exactly sound “sad”, but it definitely is not a happy theme. It is more like a nostalgic theme, when you happily think about the past – I thought of this track when I looked at the pictures I took during an exchange trip I took. The main arrangements consist of a harmonica, while the background arrangements give the track a good tempo for the feel.

35- Final Battle

The theme for the last 2 battlefields (and also when you Jewel of Light helps Lemon after the Final battle). This is an excellent track for the moment. It starts with short, dramatic flute notes that are punctuated by constant drum and cymbals that gives a good quick tempo. The core of the loop has muted trumpets that add good drama. Halfway through the loop, the track suddenly becomes quiet with soft “piano” notes. That is only to create a more dramatic effect when the arrangements come bursting again. The end of the loop even has background arrangements that sound a little spooky.

36- Ending Theme

From the moment Bowie kisses Ellis to the end of the credits. This is one of the rare ending themes I actually care about and like. The track starts slowly with very high-pitch flutes to show Ellis’s awakening after two years of recovering from Zeon’s poison. After that the track because very upbeat and joyous with loud trumpets and constant battery playing. It sounds very epic, as an ending theme should. It contains excerpts from the Overworld theme played in an interesting manner.