[Dragon Quest BGM] Iconic and popular tracks from the Dragon Quest series
The Dragon Quest series is a flagship title among Japanese RPGs.
Of course, the games themselves are fantastic, but the in-game music is also hugely popular! All of the in-game tracks were composed by Koichi Sugiyama, who also arranged them himself, and they have even been performed in orchestral concerts.
In this article, we’ll highlight some of the most popular pieces from these meticulously crafted and beautiful works.
Immerse yourself, body and soul, in the world of Dragon Quest!
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[Dragon Quest BGM] Masterpieces and Popular Tracks from the Dragon Quest Series (31–40)
The decisive battlesugiyama kouichi
The BGM used in the final battle against the fallen angel Elgiyos in Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, released in July 2009.
I think it’s a piece that really conveys the grandeur of a boss battle.
There’s also a story that when Koichi Sugiyama brought a composition he’d created after expanding on the image of the final boss, he was told, “We’ve changed the boss’s character,” and had to rewrite the piece.
Dragon Kingsugiyama kouichi
The background music used in the battle against the final boss, the Dragonlord, in the original Dragon Quest for the Family Computer released in 1986.
It’s a superb track with a weighty feel that heightens both fear and excitement.
As a classic, it’s also used in other entries like Dragon Quest IX and X.
It’s essentially the foundation for the series’ final boss themes.
I won’t lose.sugiyama kouichi
It was used as the background music for regular battle scenes in Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies.
Apparently, there was originally a different track intended for the battle scenes, but when that BGM was inserted for test play, game designer Yuji Horii commented that it was “catchy in a way that would get tiring.” Composer Koichi Sugiyama agreed, created a different piece, and this one was adopted instead.
Tower of Deathsugiyama kouichi
The BGM used in the tower dungeon from Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride, released for the Super Famicom in 1992.
As the title “Tower of Death” suggests, it’s a somewhat scary, eerie piece with a strong unsettling feel.
It evokes a dim, gloomy image of the tower’s interior and heightens the sense of fear, making the tower dungeon even more intimidating for those who already dislike it.
shrinesugiyama kouichi
A medley of the shrine BGM used from Dragon Quest II through Dragon Quest V.
Listening to them side by side like this, you can really tell they’re similar yet each slightly different.
They’re all wonderful, but which ‘shrine’ BGM do you like best?
[Dragon Quest BGM] Masterpieces and Popular Songs from the Dragon Quest Series (41–50)
Open a path through bloodsugiyama kouichi
This is the BGM that plays during battle scenes in Dragon Quest VII: Warriors of Eden.
Many battle themes are heart-pounding, and this one is no exception—it conveys the rising intensity of combat.
Dragon Quest VII was released for PlayStation in 2000, for Nintendo 3DS in 2013, and also has Android and iOS smartphone versions.
The Mysterious Towersugiyama kouichi
If you’ve ever played Dragon Quest, the tower interior BGM is probably memorable, isn’t it? Caves and towers are unavoidable, but many people find them a bit scary and aren’t fond of them.
This piece, “Mystic Tower,” is the dungeon BGM used inside towers in Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, the eighth installment in the Dragon Quest series released in 2004.
While caves and towers often feature eerie or melancholy tracks, this one is comparatively bright and evokes a mystical image of the tower.