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Twelve Game Music Tracks Worth Keeping

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-just-de-bips-and-bloops dept.

The field of game music has gotten considerably better over the years, a fact that Games Radar highlights in a simple 'list article' about iPod-worthy game music. They highlight some obvious recent gems, like Coulton's "Still Alive" and "Hikari" from Kingdom Hearts, but also bring back some older goodies with choices like "Everybody Jump Around" from Jet Set Radio or "Chemical Plant" from Sonic 2. "Sonic games used to have amazing music. And while single-player Mystic Cave Zone came a close second, this has to make the list. It may be basic compared to modern CD recordings, but just listen to how each of the console's sound channels is used - it's remarkable. Intricate and dramatic, this industrial anthem builds and builds before seamlessly looping in a non-annoying way."

16 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. Some PC titles have good music too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Quake 1, Doom, Deus Ex 2, Interstate 76, that I can think of offhand...

  2. Katamari Damacy!!!! by Cy+Sperling · · Score: 5, Informative
    It is criminal that Katamari Damacy is nowhere to be found on that list. The principle theme is one of the stickiest (pun intended) melodies I have heard in a game. I am listening to the soundtrack right now! That simple catchy melody is transformed into such a wide array of styles and arrangements, and remains catchy and fun in every form. It is the only game I have ever sought out a soundtrack for. If only I could get the creepy red pandas out of my subconcious when I listen to it...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpFFzWPzA2c

    1. Re:Katamari Damacy!!!! by Bones3D_mac · · Score: 2, Informative

      Check out the PlayAsia website sometime. There's a CD set of the soundtracks from the first three games for around $27. I'm tempted to buy a copy of the set to use in Beautiful Katamari on the 360.

      --


      8==8 Bones 8==8
  3. For the record.... by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 2, Informative

    I tried to purchase the JetSet Radio soundtrack. At $40 bucks, I thought it was a rip-off - especially since I had the game. Maybe one of the torrent sites has it.

    --
    Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
  4. Twelve tracks? How about twelve hundred. by Sciros · · Score: 5, Informative

    Video game music has come a long way, and I have about... oh, a LOT of it on my comp00tar at this point. I can't pick 12 favorite soundtracks, let alone 12 tracks. What I *can* do is recommend composers.

    1) Yasunori Mitsuda. Some dislike him, but he has a certain style that can really draw the listener in. Xenosaga's orchestral pieces are very ambitious for a game. Notable scores: Chrono Cross, Xenosaga Episode 1

    2) Yoko Shimomura. She has a problem using some really low-quality samples in some tracks, which is very apparent in KH2, but is generally quite good. Legend of Mana's end credits are fantastic. Notable scores: Legend of Mana, Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2, Mario RPG

    3) Jeremy Soule. Every self-respecting gamer has to recognize this name at this point. A British composer who specializes in background orchestral music. Notable scores: Morrowind, Oblivion, Guild Wars

    4) Koji Kondo. Composed the original Mario and Zelda themes. Very respected in the industry, but has yet to fully adjust to more current standards of using high-quality samples.

    5) Hitoshi Sakimoto. Composer of FFXII's amazing score. While quite different from Nobuo Uematsu's FF scores, focusing less on melody and more on "theme," his music is reminiscent of John Williams with its complexity and orchestral balance.

    6) Nobuo Uematsu. The great master himself, composer of many Final Fantasy scores. One of the most respected men in the business. Notable scores: FFVII, FFVIII

    7) David Wise. Few have heard of him but this guy is one of the greatest. He wrote the music for Rare's games during its time with Nintendo. Playing the Tawfret track from the JFG soundtrack while going through a forest or swamp in an RPG makes the experience about ten times more immersive. This guy is a genius. Notable scores: DKC, DKC2, Jet Force Gemini

    There are other great composers out there, but I encourage everyone to give these a listen for sure.

    --
    I like basketball!!1!
    1. Re:Twelve tracks? How about twelve hundred. by Yosho · · Score: 3, Informative

      You managed to hit most of the big names, but I think it's worth also mentioning:

      1) Koichi Sugiyama, composer of the Dragon Quest series, and the guy who made people take video game music seriously in the first place.

      2) Sound Team JDK, though not a single person, is behind the music of the Ys series; the Ys series is, sadly, not very popular in the US, but I think you'll find that gamers who are familiar with the series agree that their soundtracks are among the very best.

      --
      Karma: Terrifying (mostly affected by atrocities you've committed)
    2. Re:Twelve tracks? How about twelve hundred. by KnightNavro · · Score: 2, Informative

      Agreed on the Ys. I still remember a lot of the tracks from Ys the Vanished Omens. It's amazing what they managed on the 8-bit Sega Master System. It's too bad not more than three people in the USA owned that game.

  5. Quake by icebones · · Score: 4, Informative

    Quake 1 - the whole soundtrack. NIN also one of if not the only PC game that was designed to be put in a CD player to listen to the soundtrack.

    --
    Life is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something.
  6. Re:What about Portal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    FFS, it's the first song mentioned in the summary.

  7. C'mon, Utada Hikaru is the ONLY Square music? by ZombieRoboNinja · · Score: 2, Informative

    How is it even physically possible to write this list without including Chrono Cross?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDnPYoGzW78

  8. Re:YOU STEAL MEN'S SOULS! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Would you like to specify which of Bach's many fugues you're referring to? He wrote a couple books full of them, as well as seperate works.

    Fugue is a type of music. Not a title.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugue

  9. Re:CT: To Far Away Times by coolGuyZak · · Score: 2, Informative

    I'm not sure if it's the song, the game, or both, but "To Far Away Times" nearly brings me to tears when I hear it (no joke). It's a travesty to not mention that song on the top 10.

    As a side note, it's interesting to see video game music re-imagined. There's a lot of tripe, but OC Remix is a great place to find video game music, from old to new.

  10. Re:YOU STEAL MEN'S SOULS! by Beefysworld · · Score: 3, Informative

    Would you like to specify which of Bach's many fugues you're referring to? He wrote a couple books full of them, as well as seperate works.

    Fugue is a type of music. Not a title.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugue He was probably referring to Bach's 'Toccata and Fugue in D minor', which is the more well known fugue of Bach.
  11. Spy Hunter music = Peter Gunn theme by Novus · · Score: 3, Informative

    And it is how old now?
    Since Spy Hunter plays the theme from late 1950s TV series Peter Gunn, I'd say about 50 years.
  12. Re:Devo Video Game Soundtrack by Novus · · Score: 2, Informative

    That would be "Some Things Never Change", from the album Total Devo.

  13. Re:YOU STEAL MEN'S SOULS! by BoyIHateMicrosoft! · · Score: 2, Informative

    That was EXACTLY the one I was referring to! Thanks for looking out!