PixlBit

*I've saved all my Blogs from 1up now, i'm not willing to lose all that work so till I decide to create something new (like that Pandora's Tower Non-review  I've been putting off ). So, just incase you missed it...*

These days game music is almost forgetable despite the rise in quality but their are tunes that will stay with us forever, when we play games one of the biggest things we take from them are the music, it's one of the most powerful mediums in the world.

 We all have our favourite songs from any series but narrowing down a particular game is somewhat trickier (for me at least). Anyway, enough with the wif-waf, here are my Top Ten videogame soundtracks, I've heard (so far).

*Discliamer*

- One entry per franchise

- No anthologies meaning no collection from series or Anthologies so no Powerglove. Sorry 

- Original, arranged and remastered music will be included

- Anything not mentioned doesn't mean I don't think they Kick-ass ;)

- It'll be fair to warn you their are alot of Jazz entries here 

 

10. Donkey Kong Country

What can I say about this game? well for starters it made Miyamoto's idea for a new mario look so inferior he had to scrap what he did, it took the platforming genre to new heights and Rare was in their prime.

The Music was a mix of carribean, african, jungle, Jazz and Classical influences composed by Robin Beanland, Eveline Fischer and David Wise. Many might say Gang-Plank Galleon is probaly the best and the most popular in the game (I Mean you fight a pot belly Crocodile King for godness sake) but here's my pick.

 

9. Gyakuten Saiban Jazz ~ Gyakuten Meets Jazz

 

Yes, Phoenix Wright has a Jazz album i was like "WTF!" too.  Comprised of background music from Ace Attorney it's a bit parlour roomy/Dinner at Las Vegas but it goes hand-in-hand with the quirkiness of the game. This was was compoesd by Masakazu Sugimori, arranged by Noriyuki Iwadare and Performed by the Metamorphosis Jazz Band. In the words of Marilyn Mansone "Phoenix Wright is F***ing Awesome"!

 

8. L.A. Noire +Remix

I can defend two entries, I swear!!

But first lets talk about the OST, man what a lovely album, good game too. It's classic in the sense only a Jazz infusiast could understand the sound is reminisent of Billy Holiday, June Cristy, Lee Morgan, Art Blakey i could go on. Performed and Composed by Claudia Brücken & The Real Tuesday Weld and Andrew Hale and Simon Hale,  It set the mood in a way that lives up to the games name, now let me take you back to a time when Music was Cool...

Oh, yeah i'm supposed to tell you why the remix soundtrack is added... well being Rockstar they (as a publisher at least) use licensed music all the time especially if it's during particular time period. Look, just listen to my favourite one and you'll understand.

 

7. The King of Fighter '97 Arrange Sound Trax

This was a hard one to pick out of all the other arranged albums, this one has the most songs I like though others have my favorites songs. This soundtrax is a mix of Jazz and Metal a great example of how to remake music and stay true to the series, arranged by Shinsekai Gakkyoku Zatsugidan. Here's my favourite from the soundtrack.

 

6. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Even though this is my favourite Zelda game ever I was going to leave this out but man this game is haunting  and the music helps.

When you play this game this overwhelming sense of sadness and horror, you feel uneasy and that everyone you meet matters the new songs does the best job of adding tension and dispair and at the same time surprising;y uplifting. It's beautiful, Koji Kondo is a genius (even if much of them are short).

 

5. F-Zero Arrange

Normally i'm the go-to guy for game music, I have most of game soundtracks but when my best friend told me about Jazz versions of F-Zero I lost my mind this is the type of music you listen to in your car, turn up the volume, open every window and put your roof down, these songs are a great realisation of the first game it works to keep the same feel from the game.

Original music created by Yumiko Kanki and Naoto Ishida performed by the talents of Yellowjackets members Marc Russo on saxophones and Robben Ford, Here's my favourite.

 

 4. Final Fantasy VI

Now we all know the story about how the silly people who localised the FF games didn't release 3,4 and 5 so called 6 III, as a result westerners were stupified when they found out they missed out on 3 games which is a shame because this game is the peak of all that came before it you may have a favourite but this one is the best on the SNES/GBA (i'd say it's the best in the series nut I'll leave that for another blog).

This is what you call a beautiful game, the art direction, the story, the characters even the gameplay but the music was some of the most ambishious on the SNES, the score it's was composed with almost as much detail as an actual Ochestral acompliment.

Nobuo Uematsu himself has said this was the hardest sountrack he had ever done and it shows the best example of this is *spoiler* when Celes has to perform in an Opera and wait for a Sky Pirate Setzer you play through the entire song, even though the voices are typical midi the actual music behind it has so much depth, you here every instrument.

Uematsu wanted the player to be moved by his music I play the song that got me hooked on RPG's in general and sent a chill down my spine, nothing short of Magical. 

 

3. Chrono Trigger: The Brink of Time

 

"What Kind of picture for a Game Soundtrack is this?" well actually I swore but that's what I should've said yes another Jazz album but it's probaly the most atmospheric and enchanting of them all and being based of the already classic original, score that's saying a lot.

This is what I like to call a solitary album meaning each song is made for your ears, you don't blast it out for everyone to hear the best tracks will put you in a tranquil mood. However there is a major flaw, curtain tracks (60%) are either gawd awful or soso and if i were to rank it critically it would be lower on the list... 

I will name the best tracks in order 01 - Chrono Trigger, 02 - Secret of Forest, 08 - The Brink of Time and 10 - The Outskirts of Time, these 4 out of the 10 save this album.

Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda of the original game, arranged by Hiroshi Hata, Kalta Ohtsuki, Gizaemon de Furuta and performed by GUIDO. 

Now close your eye and feel the magic.

 

2. Multi-Dimensional - Sonic Adventure 2 Original Soundtrack

If there's one thing that can be said about this game that's alsoo true for the music is variety, I missed out on the dreamcast but this was the first game I played on the GameCube and i have to admit, City Escape blew me away (yeah, I know the port wasn't as good as the original now but then...) plus the chao Garden was awesome.

Jun Senoue (with Kenichi Tokoi.) composed the hell out of this game and is probably his best work, the BGM for every scene is so well suited and I really like the music from Rouge's Stages (yeah, the Jazz ones ) and all the vacalist do an excellent job.

Behold the Epicness that is Sonic the Hedgehog, Listern and Learn...

 

1. Guilty Gear XX/X2 (including updates and vocal album)

 

Now this is a bit unfair because out of all the Soundtracks this s the only one I got to meet the actual creator, yep, I meet Daisuke Ishiwatari the creator and composer of Guilty Gear (and Blazblue Designer Toshimichi Mori apart from the games I got him to sign these

(the white sheet is actually the cover at the bottom is the case with the instruction, Toshimichi's signature is on the right)

(my silver pen was running out so it's not as good )

Now, my prized piece of gaming Memorabilia (well, one of them at least).

(okay, now i'm just showing off )

I have the Guilty Gear soundtrack Box set signed by Daisuke Ishiwatari (who shorter in person but then agian so am I) in spring 2011 him and Toshimichi came to London for one day for a Q&A, signing and to mark the realease of Arcana Hearts 3 and Guilty Gear XX: Accent Core Plus (coar, what a mouthful ) I almost creamed myself me and my mates had a great time and I was the only person who had this Box set, so I was a BOSS!!

Anywho talk I about the music, RAWK ranging from Rlternative Rock to Blues this soundtrack has the best fighting music ever, Guiiles theme may go with anything but these songs are champion. every track is unique and like all good theme music matches the characters perfectly, the shere craziness of the game is relected in it's music and has since been refined (I recomend the Sound Alive album, the live album is ace). As you can tell there's a bit of bias but rarly do I pause a game just to here it's music.

Now imagine fightng the most Badass Vampire so powerful he can wear a cross on the floor, walk in sunlight (without sparkling) and instead of beating him he just gets board and lies down. What would play in the background?

Well there you have it myy top ten I hope you enjoyed my Musical journey but in the sense of fairness here are some honourable mensions.

No More Heroes, Metal Gear Solid: series (i couldn't pick), Okami, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, Super Mario Galaxy, Sonic CD, MadWorld, BlazBlue series, Rez, Tempest 2000, Doom, Super Street Fight II turbo: HD Remix, Marvel vs Capcom 2 (try using 3 Cables, you can do that I swear!), Devil May Cry, Chrono Cross (I haven't played it but the music is lovely), Metroid Prime and Sonic Adventure.

This was fun, so what are your favourite game soundtracks?

This is V saying "This was my first blog"