MUSIC OF THE SPHERES

Co-composers Masato Kouda and Kento Hasegawa seem to have been given neartotal freedom in this trippy dreamscape, and clearly revel in the opportunity – not that the soundtrack’s varied instrumentation hasn’t been applied with thought and care. A blend of washed-out synths combine with the echoed voices of a children’s choir as you approach the Tower of Fallen Angels, perfectly complementing the hyper-stylised alien environment you traverse, casting impossibly tall spires against the backdrop of fireworks. Orchestral sections serve to raise the stakes against formidable opponents, while an electric-guitarled rock track lends excitement to your encounter with the ostentatious Armaros. Even the combat theme feels like a statement of intent, using percussive sounds to create a suitably ethereal atmosphere.