Lufia 2 is, I feel, an underappreciated SNES RPG. I really wish the composer, Yasunori Shiono, had done more soundtracks, but I guess Lufia 2 will stand alone as a work of genius. I enjoy the more low-key tunes on the OST, but this game was mainly chosen for the incredible strength of its two boss themes.
Start of the Journey
What strikes me about Start of the Journey is that the second segment (0:31) would normally bring in one or two more instruments to embellish the main theme. However, Shiono does just the opposite here, momentarily dropping instruments out of the track to emphasize the following passage. He only really embellishes the theme at 1:13 with a tiny harp-like arpeggio, which has an unexpected impact. The other thing that struck me about this theme is how it manages to sound so low-key and peaceful while being very disjunct - meaning the melody tends to jump around quite a lot rather than being smooth and flowing. Disjunct melodies usually have a jarring effect more appropriate for conveying, say, anger or fear, but this melody somehow does the opposite.
Labyrinth
Labyrinth is an incredibly creepy piece of dungeon music. When the strings cut in during the second part of the song, however, it seems to somehow change the atmosphere instantly while keeping everything nice and ominous. What I find most unusual about the song is how the three sections, listened to together, seem to alter each others' meaning. Listened to in isolation, the first still seems creepy, but the second now seems merely sad, and the third seems full of mournful determination. Very cool effect.
The Earth
I have a weakness for woodwinds, and The Earth is no exception. It's a very odd melody, using slight syncopation and hanging out in a key I can't quite figure out. The simple ostinato (repeated underlying instrumental part) highlights a minor key, but I can't figure out if the melody itself is in that key or not. It's a haunting effect that stays with you after the song is over. The light horn embellishment of the second section seems to play a very, very different melody than the main string part, almost too different to properly harmonize, but it somehow works. This is not the kind of song you could ever learn how to compose solely by reading a textbook. Brilliant.
Peace of Mind
The requisite peaceful theme, Peace of Mind. A very odd collection of instruments - what feels like a steel guitar, a bass, and an oboe carry the first part. The strings jump in during the second, and the overriding melody makes you feel content, while still sounding slightly optimistic thanks to the jump leading into the third section (1:01). My only complaint is that the underlying chords being struck by the guitar could be doing a bit more.
Fight Against Sinistrals
This boss theme also serves as the final boss theme, and hits you right in the face from the get-go. The incredible main melody of the theme does a hell of a lot while not ranging too far from its lowest note. It serves as an interesting contrast to Start of the Journey - while that theme manages to sound low-key with a melody that bounces around so much, this theme is tense and exciting despite its melody being mostly smooth. Without question, my favorite section is 1:15 - 1:24.
Boss Music
My favorite song of the entire soundtrack, this is a boss theme that could easily hold its own with Dreadful Fight from FF4, Decisive Battle and Fierce Battle from FF6, or the perennial favorite One-Winged Angel from FF7. Few tunes make me feel as energetic and ready to fight as this one. The way the intro fades out by sliding downwards stands out, as does the rhythm electric guitar part underlying the second and third sections. To really appreciate this song, I recommend you crank it up as loud as you can tolerate.
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