A Curious Tale

February 28, 2021

[A Curious Tale]…plays whenever you’re in towns owned by the Empire. I was surprised to see these cities are clean, orderly, and prosperous — being a huge Dragon Warrior fan…I expected ruination and decay wherever evil lurked. A Curious Tale indicates there’s no immediate danger, but still makes it clear you’re in potentially hostile territory and you need to watch your step.

Nadia Oxford, formerly of USGamer

The relaxed town theme of the Empire is another track that’s different than most in the game.  Like many on the Super Nintendo, the sound of the low melodic bass work is limited by the hardware, and I’m curious if another instrument playing the theme would’ve been more successful than the flutes. The remake went in a completely different direction. The roomy guitar in the opener has been replaced by a synthesizer and the main line is less prominent, but I like this version a lot. Its upgraded sonorities bring out a sense of ongoing determination and narrative that was not present in the original.