Overview

The Toki to Towa~Tokitowa~ Original Soundtrack features compositions from Yuzo Koshiro, known for his work on Actraiser and the Etrian Odyssey series, and Takeshi Yanagawa, in a lesser extent, for the Namco animation RPG of the same name, known as Time and Eternity in the West. How does the music compare to some of Koshiro’s other recent efforts and is it worth picking up? 

Body

The majority of the music is composed by Yuzo Koshiro and features a variety of styles. While I won’t mention everything, some of the music, particularly that used for the event scenes in the game, does not always pan out successfully. Themes like “Tea Party” and the three attack event themes are woefully disappointing; however, despite that, there are still some gems among the tunes featured on the soundtrack. The “Palais de kamza,” despite sounding a bit cliched, does manage to give off a very regal air. In addition, Koshiro’s more heartfelt tunes such as “Marriage” and “Precious Feelings” really manage to hit the nail on the head. The beautiful woodwind and strings work in the former really manages to create this scene of happiness, whereas in the latter, the strings and piano work together to create a really endearing and tender tune. “A Heart That Can’t Be Broken,” used as one of the themes for the main character’s dual personalities, features a sound similar to the more modernized Etrian Odyssey soundtracks. Deep bass, jazzy piano, strings, and electric guitar really create a beautiful atmosphere that really manages to shine.

Koshiro is also responsible for a majority of the game’s area themes. “Juvenile” features a mix of grand orchestration and softer woodwind tones that manage to create a sound that reminds me, at times, of some of the music heard in the Dragon Quest. “Wind of Hope” definitely has a jubilant air to it and the mix of uplifting woodwinds and strings really manages to create an atmosphere that makes it feel as though you are being carried on the wind. Unfortunately, “Cursed Forest’s Theme,” which as a gypsy sound to it, doesn’t really manage to be as successful in engaging the listener, although I do see how it would fit with the idea of a cursed forest. Lastly, “Sunlight Filtering through the Trees” is probably my favorite of the area themes on the soundtrack. It has a really beachy vibe with its guitar work and strings accompaniment.

Of course, battle themes are a forte of Koshiro and in this case, I would say they are the strongest themes on the entire soundtrack. The two normal battle themes, “Bout! Theme of Toki” and “Bout! Theme of Towa,” used respectively when you use each of her personalities in battle, remind me of Koshiro’s work on Wangan Midnight, before it went in the electronic style it is today. Toki’s battle theme has this really engaging melody and a great energy whereas Towa’s battle theme carries the same energy but is a bit more on the jazzy side, particularly with the piano accompaniment. “Threat,” the boss theme, has this mysterious, almost espionage sound to it. While it isn’t as intense as some of his other soundtrack boss themes, it does manage to fit the style he crafted with the normal battle themes and does have a greater sense of urgency to it. “Dragon of Ancient Times,” in my opinion, is the weakest of the five battle themes featured on the album. It features the orchestral sound one might hear in the boss themes for Etrian Odyssey, but it sounds much more heroic and regal rather than something one would expect for a battle theme. Lastly, “Memory Disorder” is more akin to his work on the 7th Dragon 2020 soundtracks, featuring a blend of rock, electronic beats, and choir to create a truly engaging theme that manages to hit on many notes. While I haven’t played the game and can’t attest to it fitting the game, it does feel a bit out of place compared to the rest of the soundtrack, but it does manage to create that tense sound.

Takeshi Yanagawa contributes a small portion of the soundtrack and sadly, many of his themes don’t stand up compared to Koshiro’s. His two area themes, “Canyon’s Theme” and “Hanging Garden’s Theme,” don’t manage to be very memorable although the instrument usage in “Hanging Garden’s Theme” does manage to give it a bit of an edge with its Renaissance sound compared to the atmospheric “Canyon’s Theme.” “Unfolded Map,” presumably used as a world map theme, sounds like it would fit perfectly in a Gust soundtrack and is probably Yanagawa’s most successful tune on the soundtrack. Lastly, “Memories” ends the soundtrack and sounds very out of place in a largely orchestral soundtrack with its quirky electronic tones, although there are portions of the tune that are quite memorable, particularly the intro. 

Summary

In the end, the Toki to Towa ~Tokitowa~ Original Soundtrack is one that is a mixed bag. While there are many good themes on the album, a lot of them do not stand out. In addition, the filler tracks are quite lackluster. This album, while not one of Koshiro’s strongest efforts, still has some nice production value, and for fans of Koshiro, this might be worth picking up.