video game music

[Nekomancer]

Wasn't too sure where this belongs but anyway.
I've gotten into video game music a bit, (mostly remixes) and I'd like to hear from you learned young chaps, what is your favorite video game music, and why.

Currently, i have been listening to inticreates rockman zero re masted soundtrack, which has some excellent tracks, particularly Max Heat, and Blaze Down.
The Metroid metal remakes are quite good too, you can get them yonder (http://www.metroidmetal.com/)

(I'm aware I made a music thread a little while ago but I'm feeling rebellious)

[Kaatridge]

Metroid Metal is fucking spectacular. Also, I know this seems cliche, but I do love alot of the ol' Megaman musics. Not even many remixes, just the main music for it. Theres something about them Capcom tunes that get you tappin' your feet.

[Amake]

Nobuo Uematso is what makes Final Fantasy 6 and 9 sing, I think.
Songs freely avaliable to enjoy on youtube. *wink wink*

Also, Zombies Ate My Neighbors has some fabulous sound.

[shMerker]

I saw The One Ups at PAX last year. They do an excellent job reinterpreting a lot of stuff from the 8 and 16-bit era.

The One Ups at PAX (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zSsc8YYxNc)

For Bison Month (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6K_4EphCSg)

My favorite game score of all time is probably Chrono Trigger. It's impossible to imagine that game without the music. There was a two track CD that came with the DS version that had a full-orchestra version of the opening song and a huge medley of the rest of the game. It was worth the $30 by itself.

If you haven't already heard this it is because you are a terrible person (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOmgIZZuI68&feature=related)

[Flounderman]

There are too many for me to list, I'd post Unshakable Faith from Fire Emblem 7 but it's not on youtube, so here's I AM IMPACT from Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon. Yes it had to be in all caps, typing his name in lowecase would be an insult.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEE66AMzGNg

[shMerker]

My brothers and I thought this was absolutely hilarious.

Singing? In a video game? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZJ0QLYmcPw&feature=PlayList&p=801F8FDDA888B15B&index=0)

They aren't even staying in time! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z9j1mO16eg&feature=PlayList&p=801F8FDDA888B15B&index=23)

Explain to me how three teen boys thought Yoshi's Story was awesome when it came out and then reconcile that with how supposedly all any of them want to play now is War Guys: Even Bigger Penises.

[Reasonableman]

Two big ones (no, not penises) stick out in my mind; they're both fairly mainstream though.
First of all, pretty much every Zelda soundtrack ever, but most importantly, Wind Waker. Just wonderful. Secondly, just about everything Jeremy Soule has written music for- first game I ever really owned, myself, was Total Annihilation, and I adored the fact that the music was stored on the disk in standard CD-format for playing on my ultra-hip Walkman CD player.

[The flying banana]

Musical favourties: The World of goo soundtrack deserves all the praise it can get, in particular the tracks Best of times, Are you coming home, love MOM and Cog in the machine. They have a lovely orchestral sound and are full of emotion.

I also quite like a lot of the redone soundtracks on Brawl, but was relieved to hear the original Gerudo desert track from OoT unaltered. Though could someone tell me what the hell they did to Ashley's theme from Warioware? The singer changed from someone that sounds exactly like how you imagine Ashley to some weird bubbly pop thing.

I listened to metroid metal, liked it, then found I couldn't save it because I don't have quicktime something or other. Damn.

[Kaatridge]

There are too many for me to list, I'd post Unshakable Faith from Fire Emblem 7 but it's not on youtube, so here's I AM IMPACT from Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon. Yes it had to be in all caps, typing his name in lowecase would be an insult.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEE66AMzGNg

Oh fuck man I remember Goemon. God damn I love this song because its just soo cheesy.

[shMerker]

I also quite like a lot of the redone soundtracks on Brawl, but was relieved to hear the original Gerudo desert track from OoT unaltered.

At an anime store I found an album called Ocarina of Time: Hyrule Symphony. It's a strings-heavy orchestral version of a lot of the music from Ocarina of Time. They have the Gerudo Valley theme in there without the guitars or percussion that gave the original it's flavor, but it's still excellent.

Oh look, I found it on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvdqk-jnqQc)

Crystal Chronicles has one of the best sound tracks of any game I've played. And I think it's commonly overlooked because it was a game that demanded entirely too much from players to even be approached. They used all these unusual instruments from around the world and just did an incredible job of having unique sounding compositions for every area in the game.

When The Northern Sky is Clear (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inBzLi6_omY)

Mag Mell (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw29024LkGA)

[The flying banana]

At an anime store I found an album called Ocarina of Time: Hyrule Symphony. It's a strings-heavy orchestral version of a lot of the music from Ocarina of Time. They have the Gerudo Valley theme in there without the guitars or percussion that gave the original it's flavor, but it's still excellent.

Oh look, I found it on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvdqk-jnqQc)



That's a lovely piece of music there, to the extent that I would put it on my iPod if I could, but it's got a very different feel to the original, it wouldn't have worked in the context. Which is why it seems so odd to now say how similar it sounds, with the whatever sort of bow instrument playing the simple repetitive backing the spanish guitar did in the original.

By the way, does anyone think the Moldera (The sand worm, earth temple boss) battle music in windwaker sounds like someone actually saying chikkachikka chikkachikka over and over again? I'm not sure if it's an instrument or not.

[shMerker]

I've heard it about a thousand times since I have the sound track album and I'm actually listening to it right now. It doesn't sound like some sort of shaker instrument. The sound is too smooth and windy. But I can't think of a wind instrument that would make that sound. So yeah, I think it is just someone saying "chikka" over and over again. Or, more likely, a loop of someone saying it once.

I was getting fed up that all the track names on that album were in Japanese for some reason so I went looking for a track list and I realized that for some reason I only have disc two in my music library. I have no idea how that could've happened.

[Beavis Saves]

Lots of good choices so far. I still belt out IMPACTUUUUU in the shower now and then.

Chrono Cross was great and had the best opening song I've ever heard. The entire Earthbound series has great songs, especially Mother 3, where they are essential for using the rhythm based combat.

But this... Mere words cannot grasp the brilliance of it.

Holy shit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joNwYPdEBTc&feature=related)

[Neen]

For some reason not one person has uploaded the Meteos credits music, End of the Universe, so here's another favorite DS song of mine:

M&L:PiT Final Battle--Elder Princess Shroob (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba_GKg2PicU&feature=related)

And for its catchyness:

Super Mario Land--Rocket Ship Ride (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDWkrG9xvyw&feature=related)

[Twyatt]

Rhythm Tengoku's a pretty safe bet
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Videogame soundtracks have always been a bit weird for me when the song is separated from the ambience and other sounds in the game. With a few exceptions, the result usually sounds stark in comparison. (rhythm tengoku is a good example.)

[shMerker]

Yeah, that's why I especially like finding the albums that have added their own spin on stuff.

[I-ray]

http://www.nintendopella.com/
I think the name pretty much sums it up.

Also, Rhythm Tengoku was amazing. Proof that you don't need Wiimotes and touch screens to make something truly creative.

[Nekomancer]

if anyone has played the red alert games, they might know that Frank Klepacki is fricken' awesome, he does most of the music and most of it is completely rad, he did the two first command and conquer games also, not sure about the newer one.

[Neen]

I'm listenin' to the Cave Story title screen loop for, like, 10 minutes now....

Doo doo deedle doo deedle dee doo deedle dee doo doo

[Scriabin]

Neotokyo: mod for the source engine

Neotokyo soundtrack (http://www.neotokyohq.com/music.html) for the mod that's supposed to debut shortly.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6451/neotokyosoundtrack.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=neotokyosoundtrack.jpg)

Sample tracks. (http://www.neotokyohq.com/nt_music_player.html)

gameplay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ewUBTSlvQ)

[Neen]

Seriously guys, Hatsworth

Fellatio (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6nc77yI3qA&feature=related)

TEA TIME (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJzpLAOXMfY)

You can download the entire soundtrack gratis off of the official website.

[Neen]

I'm wondering if any of youse guys ever visit Over Clock ReMix (aka OCRemix (http://www.ocremix.org/)).

It's been around since 2000, and I just recently discovered it. There are some pretty competent remixes in there--my current favorite being a Metal rendition of Blaster Master's 'Area 6' (http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR01656/). Most of the site is plagued with techno, and Final Fantasy VII remixes (seriously, nearly half of the entire site is dedicated to it), though, but don't let that stop you.

Also this: http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR00015/

[Flounderman]

Speaking of videogame remixes

http://www.scrubclubrecords.com/music/8bit.html

Free album by Madhatter, it's got some great tracks on it. Game Master, Ganon Slayer, and AFS are particularly good.

[liam3000]

what I've found pretty great is this http://www.remix64.com/tune_83000.html I just love c64 music as well as chiphop, and I highly reccomend the original as well, by Johannes Bjerregaard

[Nekomancer]

Two big ones (no, not penises) stick out in my mind; they're both fairly mainstream though.
First of all, pretty much every Zelda soundtrack ever, but most importantly, Wind Waker. Just wonderful. Secondly, just about everything Jeremy Soule has written music for- first game I ever really owned, myself, was Total Annihilation, and I adored the fact that the music was stored on the disk in standard CD-format for playing on my ultra-hip Walkman CD player.

total annihilation was just splendid, i didn't care much for the game, as i was drooling over dune 2k at the time, but the music was fantastic, its the only orchestra music i've ever liked.

[T Strife]

I'm wondering if any of youse guys ever visit Over Clock ReMix (aka OCRemix (http://www.ocremix.org/)).

I'm pretty sure that most everybody knows of OCR - hit up the first Eegra podcast for Patrick's thoughts on the majority of the content ;)

[Neen]

I don't listen to the podcasts.

[T Strife]

Well, they're pretty good, for what that's worth (although not updated nearly enough). I do suggest downloading those that are there - even if the news is old, they can still be fun to listen to.

[punkgorilla]

Can't believe no one's mentioned this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAga2AjfZlg

If this doesn't convince you to buy God Hand, then nothing will.

[I-ray]

Even after watching it on Youtube over and over again, God Hand`s credits sequence still managed to feel like the most rewarding and hilarious thing ever when I finally unlocked it myself.

It`s *that* good.

[Ensenada]

No one's mentioned it because it's assumed that every member loves God Hand. It's our form of CAPTCHA.

[punkgorilla]

Time for new mods then (http://www.eegra.com/forum/showpost.php?p=17396&postcount=692)

[shMerker]

Mod. Singular. Captain Awful can pronounce shibboleth without an accent.

[punkgorilla]

Time for new mods is a kind of minor meme thing on another forum that I and some other Eegra forumers are on. I admit it's kinda silly to mention it on a forum that doesn't know about it though.

[Ensenada]

You know, if you still don't have a copy, I will mail you mine. That is how devoted I am to spreading the gospel of God Hand.

[shMerker]

I checked Fry's and Target for it today. Since neither had it I will probably have to resort to the internet one way or another.

[Neen]

Time for some 8-bit forest themes

Moon Crystal - Evil Forest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTVtmqOoSSg)

Whomp 'Em - Sacred Woods (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mmEIfPwCBY&feature=PlayList&p=1B5535D19AB06227)

[beth.oats]

sigur ros

they are incredible

[shMerker]

Is there a video game connection I'm missing? The thread title is "video game music".

[Neen]

Am I in the minority for preferring 8-bit tunes over 16-bit? There are a lot of great 16-bit tunes out there, but I feel as though that generation had a sort of 'Uncanny Valley' sensation. Listen to any SNES track with any synthesized brass instruments.

To hear a 16-bit synthesized trombone is to know sadness.

8-bit, on the other hand, sounds too far off to any actual instruments, but has indescribably quaint charm about it. Your pots-and-pans robot equivalent of the musical uncanny valley.

Of course most everything 32-bit (disk-based) and beyond are technically proficient in recreating real-world sounds.

Thoughts?

[Demaar]

I agree on SNES tracks. There's something kind of off about them. Megadrive is in a happy middle ground between NES and SNES though.

[Neen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFKtYCcMWT4

Vs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzyPJQQ-KEY&feature=PlayList&p=5262B070DB125C6B&index=14

[ST]While the second is a PAL conversion of a NES remake[ST], I think it illustrates my point. I still prefer the 8-bit version. The Genesis is far too tinny.

EDIT: I, erm, checked out the NTSC version. It's just as bad.

[Gatas Brilhantes]

Am I in the minority for preferring 8-bit tunes over 16-bit? There are a lot of great 16-bit tunes out there, but I feel as though that generation had a sort of 'Uncanny Valley' sensation. Listen to any SNES track with any synthesized brass instruments.

To hear a 16-bit synthesized trombone is to know sadness.

8-bit, on the other hand, sounds too far off to any actual instruments, but has indescribably quaint charm about it. Your pots-and-pans robot equivalent of the musical uncanny valley.

Of course most everything 32-bit (disk-based) and beyond are technically proficient in recreating real-world sounds.

Thoughts?I find that 16-bit music occasionally tends to sound like a pale approximation of something real, but 8-bit is so removed from many musical reference points that it possesses a very specific charm.

I worded that so much better in my head, but you can probably catch what I'm throwing out here: hearty agreement. Though I'd contest that the robot is actually made out of cardboard boxes.

Also, fuck yes - Mega Man 2 soundtrack!

[shMerker]

I don't think that's really a fair comparison. Here's some stuff that was actually composed for 16 bit:

My favorite song of the 16 bit generation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFHvxuuOymo)

I think I may have an MP3 of this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keqSU-plrs8)

I'm just playing devil's advocate here, though. I actually really love the 8 bit sound. There's just something pure about it.

[loinbread]

Am I in the minority for preferring 8-bit tunes over 16-bit? There are a lot of great 16-bit tunes out there, but I feel as though that generation had a sort of 'Uncanny Valley' sensation. Listen to any SNES track with any synthesized brass instruments.

To hear a 16-bit synthesized trombone is to know sadness.

8-bit, on the other hand, sounds too far off to any actual instruments, but has indescribably quaint charm about it. Your pots-and-pans robot equivalent of the musical uncanny valley.

Of course most everything 32-bit (disk-based) and beyond are technically proficient in recreating real-world sounds.

Thoughts?

Agreed, pretty much. Reminds me of browsing the internet prior to the turn of the century and downloading all your favourite songs as midis. Godot's Theme from the third Ace Attorney game has a great melody, for example, but man those synthesised instruments. Great thing that Capcom released orchestrated albums based on the tunes.

[Neen]

That Phantasy Star vid had some really nice composition, but the bass sounded like it was being emitted through a coffee tin, if that makes sense.

I'll leave you to decide whether Green Hill Zone's music suffered from its retro transition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3fWSoqTUdE


Also, fuck yes - Mega Man 2 soundtrack!

It's also handy for demonstrating which is superior, rock or techno!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xm19FjBydI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN9N5tg8fQk&feature=related

I think the answer is obvious.

[shMerker]

That Phantasy Star vid had some really nice composition, but the bass sounded like it was being emitted through a coffee tin, if that makes sense.

I'll leave you to decide whether Green Hill Zone's music suffered from its retro transition.

I can't really argue with that.

I've never actually been able to decide if that was bass or piano in the Phantasy Star IV intro.

It's also handy for demonstrating which is superior, rock or techno!

The answer is karaoke (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=491F794137E66371).

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

[Neen]

I did say it was a preference, which means there certainly are exceptions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o9nv9LAo3w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ6lxzzJAZQ&feature=related

SNES Wario Woods supposedly having a special chip may have a lot to do with it.

[Ham Denture]

Progression:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fakNlghOJY

[Neen]

This is becoming one of my all-time favorites (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3QTsDrYnG4)

[shMerker]

The NES Version sounded better! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZd13Uvvw8)

[shMerker]

Listening to the album that Megaman Rock remix Neen posted earlier is off of. It's pretty neat. My recent enjoyment of music from Mega Man is kind of odd, since I haven't even played most of the games.

I just discovered that the album also contains the original versions of the tracks in addition to the remixes. I somehow missed that when looking at the liner notes.

[shMerker]

Sean Malstrom (http://malstrom.50webs.com/) has been posting chiptunes dailyish on his blog (http://seanmalstrom.wordpress.com) for a few weeks now. They are all fantastic and he's done an excellent job of avoiding the "usual suspects". He's also done some neat posts about what it is that makes great game music so great (http://seanmalstrom.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/the-music-of-the-ancients/) and why great games seem to be so tied to great game scores (http://seanmalstrom.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/email-the-correlation-between-awesome-music-and-awesome-games/).

I've never played this one... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lkgkf0lS3k)

...or this one. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Ebsa_Pc9U)

[Neen]

Blaster Master is one of those games that you had to play way back when to appreciate it today. I'd still recommend emulating it (they won't put it on the VC so I doubt they give a shit); it's far more tolerable with savestates.

[Neen]

I also like how he writes that video games take the form of old Greek plays. It certainly explains the melodrama!

[Gatas Brilhantes]

Speaking of melodrama - The Protomen released Act II just a few days ago. The word "epic" gets thrown around an awful lot these days, particularly by the kind of nerds that would dig this- but fuck me this is epic. Granted, I grew up playing Megaman with Bonnie Tyler and Meatloaf in the background (I think that's actually classifiable as child abuse), so of course I'm going to find 80's style rock pageantry based on the Blue Bomber entertaining as hell.

Anyway, it's a prequel detailing Light and Wily's split, and the former's exclusion from the society he helped create. It sets up Protoman's entrance and Megaman's ensuing vengeance in the next (previous) album so damn perfectly I actually let out a fangirl squeal.

'Light Up the Night' and 'The Hounds' are particularly awesome, but the only thing up on youtube at the moment is the 'Breaking Out' demo released aeons ago; that'll have to do you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sI3xwbPeo0

[Neen]

I just discovered this game exists and wow. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93nIljXpqUY)

[Usernamehere]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUqz9vTU2LA&feature=related

how does this even work

it's beautiful

[Neen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GC0zncMifQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QLrtEbCeoA

[Neen]

Meteos - End of the Universe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc7ULfOWX2M)

[Neen]

T-t-t-t-triple post!

So I've been curious about this happy little egg you Europeans call Dizzy for a good while. It's clearly an aged series, brutal and obtuse. But does it have some tunes! Turns out the (Unlicensed) NES version of Fantastic Dizzy has the best music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EkvYxqT9bs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p6kKgkPHL8

Perhaps the best of the console's library! Shame its unlicensed status makes its VC appearance unlikely, especially after Nintendo lost the counter suit against Camerica way back when.

The soundtrack was composed by the reclusive Matt Gray who was a seasoned C64 composer (it shows). Shame he isn't as prolific as he could've been.