While I do hold that the EO4 OST is the best yet in the series, this bonus album is the weakest of the bonus albums in the series. Each of the four games has gotten some kind of LE bonus disc with a few tracks of some unique variety (“rough sketches,” “piano sketches,” “outtakes,” etc).
Without a doubt, listening to this disc reveals to me the unavoidable fact that, without all the session musicians at Koshiro’s beck and call for EO4, it may not have been even half as good as it is. The rough versions of these songs are interesting, but nothing to get excited about.
And the two unused tracks, both potential “Town” themes, are pretty, but it’s clear after listening to them why they ended up on the floor of the cutting room.
So yes, I continue to love Sekaiju no MeiQ (aka Etrian Odyssey), but I can certainly live without this bonus disc. You can too! Just go for the full OST, it’s worlds apart from this disc.
