https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4HnjG023zAFgF8Yk-4p75qCk0rdeyqJj

This album is what I call a “semi orchestrated” one. In other words, it sounds much more realistic than the regular soundtrack (especially for this game), but if you listen closely you can figure that it’s not quite “real” instruments that are playing.  So how does this remix compare to the original soundtrack?

It is actually quite impressive, considering that the Sega Genesis sound chip was rather limited. Having realer instruments has improved most of the tracks and made them even more moment appropriate. Also most tracks were made to end after two loops or so, which gave some mixed results.

Welcome to Storm (the intro song) now sounds even more relaxing and fairytale-like with harp in the background and flute in the main track; you can almost see fairies around. Stormsong Castle might have been a little overdone – the background arrangements barely sound like strings – but the militaristic feel is certainly heightened with the drum and cymbals and trumpets. Ancient Temple sounds even more mysterious with the muted brass in the first part of the loop and dramatic violins/trumpets in the second part. The flute in the background sounds less annoying than the original background noise of the Genesis track, although the ending was rather sharp. God’s Baptism (end of a level in the lower labyrinth) sounds SO MUCH more epic with its organ and choir showing that you have proved your worth. The original track sounded like a music box that had no epicness to it.

Confrontation with Monsters starts out with slow violins and then starts accelerating until it gets to a very upbeat tempo to the core of the loop. Like the preceding tracks realer instruments have made it much more epic; the trumpets and violins that play in the main track are so much better than the original track. And Fateful Battle (against Mortred / Dark Sol) sounds MUCH more epic with the loud trumpets and dramatic with the violins in the background. The tempo is also slightly faster, heightening the drama. Too bad it ended rather dryly, just like Confrontation.

But the best of the best is definitely Garf’s Pub. Realer instruments have made the track SO MUCH more joyful that the original. There’s a mix of bass and banjo in the background, the drums give it the perfect tempo and whatever “instrument” they use in the main track (it sounds synthesized) sounds very cheerful. I also loved the tambourine towards the end of the loop, which added to the joyful feel.

I had two main deceptions for the album. Cheerful Merchant sounded “too” cheerful compared to the original track. By that I mean that the strings and flutes used sound “too” realistic and not as Medieval as the original one. Also, Searching for Princess Claire didn’t sound as mysterious as the original track. The drum and cymbals in the background, although at the right tempo, were too loud. They didn’t translate the mysteries of the upper labyrinth as well – the same thing goes for the main track, where the instruments are a little too loud too.

Nevertheless, the Sound Story of Shining in the Darkness is a great addition to your music library. Most arrangements are far superior to the original ones, and even the “deceptions” you might get aren’t “deep” ones since, unlike many other remixes, you can still recognize the track. It’s just that sometimes realer instruments are not the improvement you were looking for.