https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BA7AIiDp9E

Dragon Warrior IV was one of the last grand games made for the 8-bit generation. Since it got out in 1992, it of course stands as one of the best games of its time with good graphics, an excellent story and also a fairly good soundtrack.

I say “fairly” because I still prefer Dragon Warrior III when it comes to music. Nevertheless, I can still recognize that DW IV has one of the best soundtracks of the 8-bit era.

For one thing, the arrangements are very complex. Cursed Towers, for example, loops after 90 seconds, something even Uematsu wasn’t quite able to accomplish (except for battle themes) until about Final Fantasy V with Prelude of the Empty Sky. The background synth for this track is comparable to early Sega Genesis games, and that’s a compliment here. Combined with the “bells” of the main track, it creates the perfect tower theme – the best up to Dragon Quest VI I daresay. Equally complex and long is the Endor Casino. While the arrangements in themselves are just slight variations of the same sequence, it was nevertheless made masterfully. I say it’s at least at par with the Dragon Quest V casino theme, although its slower tempo fits a casino ambiance better. You can almost see the flashing slots and people losing all their money all around you when listening to the track.

Another thing that made the soundtrack so good is the sheer number of overworld themes. There is one for each of the first four chapters and two for the last one; you can even listen to the first four depending on who’s leading the group.

But however interesting that feature was, not all overworld themes are created equal. The theme in Chapter 1 is rather easy-going with its high-pitch flute in the main track and its slow-tempo effects in the background. It’s perfect for an introductory chapter since you don’t know much about the story… yet. In Chapter 2 the theme sounds a little “grander”, a perfect fit for Alena’s desire to free herself from her royal duties. The tempo is slightly faster, and the second part of the loop gets fewer arrangements to show how free she feels. Chapter 3 is the worst of them all. Not only does it lack any epicness, but it sounds MUCH too joyful. Taloon’s life is not easy, collecting so much money left and right to MAYBE start his shop one day. Plus the main track is downright annoying. Gypsy’s Journey (in chapter 4) sounds slightly better. I think it fits the sisters’ quest to avenge their father well: the tempo is right, the main track arrangements are a little happier in the first part of the loop whereas they are more epic in the second part and the background beat it tolerable.

Finally the chapter 5 themes are both excellent for their context. Homeland sounds very sad, showing that the hero is all alone after his village was destroyed. The tempo is slow (the 8-bit track helps a lot here), the main track sounds very sad and the background track doesn’t give much hope either. But Wagon Wheel's March (once everyone is reunited) sounds much more joyful AND epic. The “flute” in the main track is cheerful and the background arrangements are the “joyful” version of Homeland.

Even “regular themes” are excellent. The castle theme (Menuet) actually sounds like a menuet – try to find the orchestrated version. The NES sound chip is pushed to its limit with very intricate arrangements; you barely hear the 8-bit track in the background. Frightening Dungeon doesn’t quite sound “frightening”, but its quick tempo does have an excellent dose of mystery. I daresay it’s better than the regular dungeon themes from Final Fantasy III. The end of the loop ends abruptly before restarting again, adding to the ambiance of mystery. Expanding the map (the boat theme) sounds amazing; more than in DW III you feel like you are navigating on a huge, calm sea. The track is an excellent mix of harp and flute – even though it goes to higher pitches in the second part of the loop it doesn’t get annoying at all.

However, some tracks were annoying and could have been made better. Mysterious Shrine, despite being more elaborate than its predecessors, still has annoying background arrangements that are excessively monotonous. The main flute isn’t quite as high pitch, but it can’t save the track. Balloon’s Flight, despite being fairly elaborate (over 90 seconds) gets annoying very quickly. It’s as if Sugiyama just wanted to show what he could do without trying to make something harmonious. Unlike the casino theme, Balloon’s variations are not beautiful. My final deception was the town theme (In a Town). Unlike other games since DW II, there is no distinction between towns, villages or castle towns outside the castle. It’s the same thing all over, and it sounds inferior to even DW II; it sounds more childish than welcoming.

Nevertheless, Dragon Warrior IV is a must for any RPG music fan. The soundtrack has some of the most elaborate tracks of the 8-bit era (and of the DW series) and one of the most diversified soundtracks ever composed.