Overview

Doki Doki Idol Starseeker was the first game to be released by G.rev, a group of former employees from Taito's arcade division. In contrast to most of their subsequent titles, the title was a puzzle game — centred on a wannabe idol — rather than a shooter. The Doki Doki Idol Starseeker Remix album contains music by Norihiro Furukawa from both the original arcade soundtrack as well as the music for the Dreamcast port of the game. Does the album manage to entertain or is it best to look into other works by Furukawa?

Body

The album opens with "Starting Sound ~ Title Demo" and gives a great idea of what the soundtrack is going to sound like. It's upbeat, a bit quirky, with a strong focus on melody and some jazz brass tones and some melancholy piano. Similar to the title demo music, "Hmm, Somehow" is an upbeat and catchy track that captures a very playful atmosphere with its melody. "I Love You..." is a contemplative tune that has a bit of sadness to it, but at the same time, manages to capture an air of innocence. It fits nicely given the girly scenario. "Is Someone Watching Me?" meanwhile is a mysterious electronic tune with a serviceable melody, but doesn't particularly stand out.

There are four main BGM themes featured on the album used during the puzzle gameplay. The first, "Ready Go ~ Voyage to Tomorrow," is an upbeat theme with a strong melody that has a bit of a tropical vibe to it at times. The B section is also a bit interesting, as it features some gospel sounding keyboard work. "From Wonderful Door" continues with a slight tropical vibe and is overall quite catchy and upbeat. The hip-hop vocal sampling is an interesting addition; however, I'm not sure if it's entirely necessary. The melody, particularly the B section, is absolutely stunning and sure to please any fans of this style of music.

The third BGM tune, "Doki Doki," also features a strong melody, providing some Caribbean influence, particularly in the accompaniment using what sounds like steel drum tones. The B section, however, is just mesmerizing, providing some captivating and mysterious tones while keeping the overall atmosphere intact. These themes are also featured on the original arcade version featured at the end of the album. The last BGM tune, "Capricious Equation" is exclusive to the Dreamcast port of the game. Of all the BGM themes, this one is definitely my favorite. It's upbeat and features a strong melody while providing a soundscape more in-line with the story mode music featured in the Dreamcast port. The piano lines are particularly beautiful and work well with the synthesizer focused melody.

There are also a few themes that are related to specific areas in the game. "Yui -east side-" and "Moe -south side-" are both upbeat themes with infectiously catchy melodies and some quirky synthesizer accompaniment. In the former, there are some slower sections that help build up the atmosphere a bit, while the slightly weaker latter is redeemed by an extremely beautiful B section. "Natsuki -west side-" is another catchy theme but features more traditional synthesizer work as well as some gospel keyboard work and some dreamy piano lines in the B section. Lastly, "Kyouko -north side-" is probably my favorite of these themes. Beautiful choral tones and piano dominate the track; however, the acoustic guitar and synthesizer work together to create a rustic, yet modern, sound.

The release is rounded off by two ending themes. "Run & Go" is a short theme used for the arcade ending, and is very upbeat and cheerful. Despite its short length, it's a particularly rich tune. The other theme, "If You Believe, Your Dreams Will Come True," used for the ending in the story mode on the Dreamcast port, features a beautiful medley of tunes; it ranges from more ballad style tunes to more upbeat themes similar to the style featured in the BGM sections of the soundtrack. It's a fantastic tune and also helps serve as a nice little summary of the styles featured on the soundtrack.

Summary

In the end, I think that the Doki Doki Idol Starseeker Remix album is quite enjoyable. While there is some filler on the album, the overall flow of the album is quite solid. The substantial tunes are the highlight of the album and, although they are far and few between, they are definitely a treat to listen to. Even though the majority of the album features shorter themes, they fit within the context of the game and soundtrack, providing an entertaining listen from start to finish. Fans of Furukawa's work might find enjoyment in his work here, although those who prefer his more mature sounds may want to pass on this particular album.