CREID (Xenogears Arranged) [Import CD]

I was a little worried an arranged album might stray too far from the source material, but these versions stay true to the game's mood while adding new layers. The track "Small Two of Pieces" is incredibly moving with the live orchestra. It's been on repeat all week.

If you loved the original Xenogears soundtrack, these arrangements feel like rediscovering it for the first time. Mitsuda’s piano and string work on "Shevat" gave me chills. The import disc itself arrived in perfect condition and plays flawlessly.

The original composer handling the arrangements himself gives this import CD a cohesion I wasn’t expecting—every track feels like it belongs. Millenial Fair’s performance on pieces like “The Wounded Shall Advance” brings out an emotional depth the game’s midi files just couldn’t capture.