Overview

This release is a two track promotion CD that was released back in 1997. Despite being only a two track single, the quality is exceptional. Both pieces are fully orchestrated.

Body

Shenmue's "Main Theme", the first of the two tracks, is a lovely blend of Japanese wind instruments played over a stomping string orchestra and magnificent Japanese war drums. The piece drips of epic battles and journeys, but with a tint of sadness throughout, and the downbeat piano ending emphasises that. For some reason this piece reminds me of Final Fantasy X's "People of the Far North", probably due to the same type of instruments being used.

The B-side, as it were, is "Shenfa's Theme", which is where the Christmas appeal comes across a lot heavier than the "Main Theme". Tubular bells, pianos and sleigh bells open the theme in distinctively festive fashion, before taking on Asian undertones again with Asian drumbeats and instrumentation. The combination of the two seemingly opposite ends of the scale in music works incredibly well, and uplifts you for a nice ending.

Summary

Although this single is now out of print, it was definitely a fine preview of the soundtrack. It is now worth purchasing the full soundtrack instead, which features these tracks and more.