As I have made previously clear in the earlier Music Monday segment featuring the “alternate” soundtracks to both Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana (as The Brink of Time and Secret of Mana+ respectively), I am a huge fan when a soundtrack goes in a totally different direction from the original source material. With the 2006 of Mother 3 in Japan, a fantastic soundtrack was also born which managed to fit in quite well among the previous efforts in the series. Following the release of a straight soundtrack in Japan, Mother 3+, a pseudo live jazz album, made it to store shelves and the iTunes music store (even in America at one point).

Excerpt from ‘Samba de Cambo’

Taking some of the key themes from Mother 3, a fusion of both live and orchestration was created that seemed to defy expectations and prove once again that the Mother series is highly regarded for a reason. Being a series which has prided itself on nostalgia, both the live jazz tracks and the almost surreal Japanese idol sung tracks feel genuine and successful in finding that bit of emotion that so many games try so hard to capture. Playful tracks like the ‘Coconut Champagne’ esque ‘Samba de Cambo’ reiterate the true aim of the series as a light hearted RPG, while others such as the Love Theme and Pollyana seem to find a niche in changing the expectations of what can be used to create the identity of a game or experience.

Excerpt from ‘We Miss You (Theme of Love)’

While certainly a soundtrack is just one facet of a game, in a medium that deals simply with making use of two of a human’s five senses to convey a story or experience, it is often forgotten what an impact these melodies can have on an individual. By changing the melodies and themes found in Mother 3 to such an extent where they skirt the line between unknown and familiar creates a truly unique emotional response. Should you play Mother 3? Yes! But if you for what ever reason don’t want to or somehow can’t, listening to this soundtrack is the next best thing. Somehow Shogo Sakai melded all of the series creator, Shigesato Itoi’s, emotions in to one poignant collection that it is something that should be experienced by game and music fans everywhere.

Excerpt from ‘16 Melodies’

-Eric Wall

Tags: Mother 3, Music Monday, Shigesato Itoi, Shogo Sakia

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