Four listens for this one.

I struggled a fair bit more than I thought I would. The song is short – it is pretty much just a brief introductory piece – but I thought I’d be able to get a fair bit out with ease. Instead it took me a while to capture the first few seconds. Once that was out of the way it became easier to write about what I was hearing, but only a little bit and not a lot.

Akari Kaida’s (海田 明里) “Opening the Gate” (“Opening　～扉開く～“) is from Breath of Fire III‘s soundtrack, Breath of Fire III: Original Soundtrack where it appears to be known as “Opening”. It also is found on Breath of Fire Original Soundtrack Special Box, a collection of the full soundtracks from Breath of Fire I through to V.

Breath of Fire III‘s soundtrack is interesting in its approach as it’s shaped more by jazz than what most other JRPG soundtracks from around the same time. Among other things, the approach helped give the game a certain appreciable feel.

I hope you enjoy.

—

Piano plays tender and perhaps with a little hesitancy. Underneath something softer and more vague follows. There is uncertainty as to consequences, but still a need to go ahead. Hesitancy turns to action and suddenly something rises.

A brief pause and sound becomes massive. Something cracks and rumbles as revelation takes hold. A journey begins and resolve guides through what may come, but rather than close on a definitive note the sounds quickly fade away, seemingly unable to reach conclusion as the song ends.