My introduction to RPGs was when I was like five or six years old, watching my older brother and older cousin play FF4 on SNES and being completely captivated. Because of this specific moment, FF4's music can seriously bring me to tears.
Yeah. I think everyone who's been a very serious or lifelong gamer has game music that, usually due more to the context of the experience, who you played with or what else was going on in your life at the time, can induce tears.
Metal Gear Solid's OST has always been a favourite. Not only are there adrenaline-fuelled action tracks like Hind D and Duel but there's also the touching, cripplingly beautiful; The Best Is Yet To Come, Mantis' Hymn and Enclosure. They're genuinely pretty chilling.
And that's just MGS1. MGS4 gets so damn emotional it had me ovulating. I'm a guy, I shouldn't ovulate.
The Chrono Cross score is also one of my favorites. I also love Final Fantasy X (To Zanarkand gives me chills and always will), selections from the later parts of Silent Hill 2, Fragile Dreams, Lost Odyssey. I hate admitting FF7 is part of mine too, but whenever I hear the theme from Sephiroth's final battle I'm always amazed by the memories that come with it and what an engaging, amazing battle that was for me.
My favorite RPG track of all time is the ending theme song to Final Fantasy VI(FF 3 in the US). The interweaving of all the characters songs is what did it for me.
I can't agree more. Chrono Cross is the greatest video game soundtrack ever composed, hands down. The boss fights are fantastic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcUyYWPsyM&feature=related), but I think Magical Dreamers (Nikki's song) beats them all (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APD75lWDMMQ).
Chrono Cross is a great example of a decent game that is propelled to greatness on the wings of its music.
Even though the rest of the soundtrack is really good at pushing heartpounding exciting moments, the Halo 3 soundtrack had one of my favorite slow sad tracks, Never Forget. I think it was used as the multiplayer menu background music as well.
The ultimate tear jerker is definitely the ending/credits music for Wind Waker. It sounds happy and upbeat but in context of what happens in the end it makes me feel incredibly sad.
Favorite pieces of game music would include (in no particular order):
Final Fantasy 5 - Ahead on Our Way LoZ: Link's Awakening - Ballad of the Windfish Sonic 2 - Sky Fortress Zone or Ending (it's a tie for me) Final Fantasy 4 - Ending theme
A lot of the ones that spring to my mind are mostly Final Fantasy tracks. Nobuo Uematsu wrote some of the most memorable songs in all of gaming for the franchise, but the one that always spoke the most to me was the main Final Fantasy Theme. When you crossed the first bridge in the original game, it broke in and gave you that feeling of embarking on an epic quest. After that, it was used in the ending themes of the series' soundtracks, and it always gave me that sense of victory and fulfillment. My favorite version, by far, is the one from FFVIII, as it is beautifully orchestrated and woven into the ending of the game. To this day, I cannot hear the song without getting a major rush of adrenaline (goosebumps!) and feeling that almost intoxicating sense of contentment. It makes me instantly choke up and almost blubber uncontrollably, but not in a sad way, more of an extreme wave of joy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsVCmHwTpVY
I'm still upset that they've stopped using it from FFX onward. Mind you, FFX is the best game to not use it, and the soundtrack is still spectacular, but it's just not the same without it.
Far more than I'm entirely comfortably admitting. I guess the Opera from FF6 is the top (the whole game was full of Uematsu at his best, really), but I can get emotional from everything from semi-recent games with excellent music (Rez's "Mind Killer") to old arcade games (Double Dragon attract theme) to amazingly bad music from old Commodore 64 games that have good associations for me (most of the tunes played in the Bard's Tale games).
Of course, it's almost all nostalgia; I find that even the more recent games with excellent music don't prompt the same emotional response as terrible tunes from old games that, themselves held emotional connections. I played the Bard's Tale games with my father at a very early age. Double Dragon was the first game I beat in the arcade, which was a pretty empowering achievement at the time. I used to play Rez all the time when I was jobless and doing everything I could to find a way into the industry.
Conversely enough, the current game music most likely to engender good memories isn't "game music" at all. If Carry On My Wayward Son, or Painkiller or the like comes on, the first thing I think of are great times playing Rock Band with close friends.
Xenogears is my absolute favorite video game of all time for a variety of reasons which would take too much space to really get into here. As such, when you ask which video game songs elicit the most emotion from me, the first thing that I think of is "The Beginning And The End" from the second OST. I'm an absolute sucker for choral music, though. And while I admit not all of the tracks from Xenogears are particularly wonderful, many of them are (especially the Creid renditions).
The natural progression for me from thinking about this song, then, is Homeworld's opening/mission 1 song (though, yes, it wasn't made for the game, but I still associate it very strongly).
I also absolutely love the Secret of Mana soundtrack, and the Chrono Trigger soundtrack (even Brink of Time, though I'm not a huge fan of jazz, holds a special place in my heart)...
Music is, far and away more than anything else in my life, the thing which draws out old memories from within me the most. As soon as the song begins, I can remember where I was, what I was doing, what I was thinking, feeling, what my hopes and dreams were at the time, who I was with... It instantly and completely transports me. So when I need a pick-me-up, I spend a lot of time revisiting the soundtracks of the games which have meant the most to me over the years.
I'm a little bit wild about C64 SID chip stuff, which is where I began playing. I heard a version of Commando played by an orchestra a while back tast left me open-mouthed. I think the music of the time explains a) why I love games, b) why I love fierce electronic music, and c) why my brain is slightly fried.
It is Finished, one of the final songs in Mother 3. A remix of Love Theme, slowly going from a dark and twisted place to a place of serenity. Definitely the most touching and impacting song I've ever heard in a video game, by far. Play this game, people!
Tons and tons of classics from the great era of SNES RPGs. However, like Tony, I have a special place in my heart for the Final Fantasy Main Theme/Prologue.
One of my best friends played the song acoustically on guitar at my wedding as part of the processional. It was epic.
specifically for "sadness", we have things like: http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=oLK8IrYrZxA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsSg_TDMz70
However, to bring something slightly different to the table, we could also look at songs from Visual Novels (which, after all, are games of a sort), and in that case here is one from Kanon which consistently pulls at my heartstrings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9NDWqhcbtc
I loved the Shadow of the Colossus soundtrack enough to actually buy it. It''s like an old-school Hollywood epic score with liberal Asian sprinklings on top.
There are a lot of video game tracks that easily bring me to tears for various reasons. Just a few: Super Mario World's credits theme crushes me under a wave of nostalgia. "Theme of Love," from Final Fantasy IV, is just a beautiful piece. And then Nagisa's theme from Clannad is actually sad.
A couple of my current favorites are "Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion," theme of Touhou character Utsuho Reiuji, and "To Your Sky," the opening theme from Pangya Portable.
Also, Yoko Shimomura's music for Kingdom Hearts for some reason just has this ability to zero in on the specific area of my brain that is still a hopelessly romantic 14 year old boy like a goddamn cruse missile filled with bittersweet emotions.
Despite being very cliché, as in orchestral sound track for a RPG, I really love Jeremy Soule's ST for Oblivion. The melodies and arrangements are memorable for me.
It's always interesting to make one of "those" lists : P
Let's see...
Chrono Cross has a killer soundtrack but I have to mention two songs that really made an impact on me:
First, Scar of Time, every time I played Chrono Cross I HAD to see the OP movie.
Second, Overworld theme for Another World... the most sad, nostalgic and awesome song there has been EVER... it still gives me the chills hearing it... or just remembering it.
Hyrule Castle from A Link to the Past. Nothing like waking up in the middle of the night in the middle of a storm to go and sneak up in a castle full of enemies just to rescue the (literally) princess of your dreams.
Final Fantasy VI Tina's opening... I think I've never seen a better intro to a videogame that those three magitek armors walking slowly through the snow just to get to the "end of the world". The music made it from something fantastic to something sublime.
I knew Xenogear's Star of Tears way before I played the game... Then I played the game and got goose bumps when hearing it. Then I finished the game and every time I hear the song makes me sentimental... I'm a big fan of Nietzsche... so, it has something to do with that.
Ocarina of Time was a breakthrough game for me... so I have many unforgettable songs there: The Windmill Song The Forest Temple The Spirit Temple The Owl's song Lon Lon Ranch with Malon singing along Etc...
Kirby Super Star's Revenge of Metaknight's Ending... I love those credits. I REALLY love them.
Breath of Fire II (there's something about this game that just.... it has SOMETHING I tell you): Decadence of God The White Wings
Breath of Fire IV's Opening Theme.
Chrono Trigger... Frog's Theme: you can't get more heroic than this. Memories of Green... I'm hearing it and it's making me CRY!!! Wind Scene. Gonzalez [Gato]'s theme!!
Super Mario 64 Dark World... it really feels like a song from the FINAL level.
Megaman IV All the soundtrack (specially Skullman's theme and Dustman's)
Samurai Shodown Charlotte's, Nakoruru's and Earthquake's themes. Amakusa's second theme too!!! (he was a damn hard boss the first twenty times!!) An incredibly good OST all around.
Goemon's Great Adventure for the N64 has an incredible Soundtrack... you have to hear it.
Mischief Makers It's weird... but great!! Volcanic, Marina and Neo... they have this kind of... charm I really can't put up in words.
Super Mario RPG: Sad song Welcome to Booster Tower (plays for like four "#&("/# seconds!!!) And my name's Booster Fight against Culex (FF remix!!) Margarie Margarita (felt like I was in a whole different game when heard it for the first time) Fight against Smithy (first)... it's kind of ominous... kind of active... kind of awesome!!
Right now I'm playing No More Heroes and the music is also awesome... one song I just loved was Speed Buster’s. Hearing it alone is a good song but hearing it in-game is... DAMN!
Majora's Mask, Last End... it IS really the End of the World...
Donkey Konk Country: K. Rool Boss theme (Plank Galleon) Fear Factory
Donkey Kong Country 2: Kannon's Klaim (beautiful) Stcikerbrush SYmphony
I've oly played Other M for like fifteen minutes but I liked how they portrayed Samus Aran since it remembered me a lot of Metroid Fusion (I loved those little monologues).
So I'm not sure if all that "rage" about her personality is really deserved... What do you think?
Jazzy NYC arranged from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSzPbO9DFcg , Quantum Velocity from Unreal Tournament III http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJs-LLgXUY8 , and X- Men (Sega Genesis) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZBPxTujQSE
Chrono Cross really is an amazing soundtrack... great selections you've chosen here as well. I've always liked Star Stealing Girl as well, but nothing tops Dream of the Shore Near Another World... especially this remix:
There is one song in particular, though, that I have a lot of fond memories of and would like to mention: Lucia's Theme from the Sega CD version of Lunar: Eternal Blue. CD audio tracks of the game's two theme songs were present on the game disc, and I listened to them many, many times. (Also, as far as I'm concerned, the Playstation remake isn't nearly as good as the Sega CD original.)
Alright, that's it. I was watching some of Daniel Floyd's pre-Extra Credits stuff and he plugged your blog. The thing at the top of the list is my favorite video game soundtrack ever.
Bookmarked, will read more.
More to the point: Prisoners of Fate from that track is one of the few that straight out makes me sad enough to cry, and Scars of Time is the best song in any video game so far
I'd probably go with the Grim Fandango soundtrack. Can't think of a specific piece off the top of my head, but that final bit before the end credits rolled damn near brought a tear to my eye.
As much as I don't want to just be a Final Fantasy fanboy, there are definitely some pieces there that can really move me. Something about VIII's _Liberi Fatali_ really just energizes me. That first bit of string and timpani is... well, maybe it's just tainted with memories, but it works.
Also, VII's _One Winged Angel_ is pretty recognizable, but I never really appreciated it until I heard it in the Kingdom Hearts Colleseum, where it was actually pretty terrifying in the "oh shit this is going to be hard" kind of sense.
As for ENTIRE Game Soundtracks that I like, nothing immediately pops to mind. Nintendo has produced some good stuff, but in general I don't really go out of my way to listen to game music as-is.
I do absolutely love ocremix's album projects; and both the Earthbound and Chrono Trigger ones are amazing.
The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus soundtracks are brilliant. But the music from the save screen of Ico is by far my favourite, its really serene and dreamlike while Ico and Yorda are snoozing on one of the benches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGwfBvW3YA8
Oh and the space invaders music just for how it gets your heart going, ramping up the intensity!
Well, it's become a bit of a cliche now, but I love the ambient music and Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive" from Portal. Also Nathan McCree's soundtracks for the first three Tomb Raiders. And then there are the earworms from the old Sonic games that I still find myself humming from time to time. Ah, the list goes on and on....
That's one of those games I bought that I never got to. I'll have to find some time during winter break or something to power through it.
I, unfortunately, have to be one of those Final Fantasy Fanboys, as a lot of the tracks from VI are the ones that have always stayed with me, Celes' Theme and the Opera, though a lot of that is, like someone said above, due to the nostalgia factor. I'm also a big fan of The Mystic Forest and Coin Song.
VII's opening bit from the Main Theme has a really strong nostalgic power for me. From X, there's the track that also serves as the "theme" for the game, but without the vocals. I think there's a version that played while on the way to Yunalesca.
For general soundtracks outside of the Final Fantasy series, I've always been pretty partial to Lufia 2. I choked up at the end, though, in my defense, I was in sixth grade.
Great topic and it's garnered a lot of opinions :)
My fave soundtrack has to be FF7, as much as I loath to be unoriginal I simply cannot resist the subtle piano melodies such as the ever wonderful Aerith's Theme and juxtaposed with the heavy guitar riffs of Those Who Fight Further and Bombing Mission (Black Mages versions ftw ;))
Honourable mentions also go to:
Sonic The Hedgehog, a game that single-handedly proved that the Mega Drive's "inferior" sound chip was indeed capable of competing with the SNES's.
Sonic CD whose Jap/Euro soundtrack was so good that I played it on my Discman frequently as a kid (forget the rubbish US soundtrack).
Legend of Zelda Theme - any of them, they're all epic and spine-tingling
Tetris default music on the GameBoy, which is instantly recognisable and simply fantastic.
Super Mario Bros/Land - all of which are superbly composed and excellently addictive tunes in their own right :)
My most recent favorite soundtrack would have to be Red Dead Redemption's soundtrack. If you haven't given it a good listening, you should know it requires one. I was surprised at how excellent the music for the game is.
RDR- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orvJ0dFFSNI
Echochrome deserves a lot of love and mention for a recent soundtrack, as well as Flower. FFXIII OST was great, also.
Overall, while Chrono Cross is high on my list, I really enjoyed Chrono Trigger and Xenogears. Both there OST and Arranged albums were fantastic.The Arranged albums of both game transformed the original compositions into something much more imaginative and definitive. Yasunori Mitsuda is a f*king beast at composing.
Two of my fave game songs ever are extremely triumphant ones.
"Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger just buoyed my spirits back in the day. Something so vindicating about how the theme swelled, a perfect theme to celebrate the victories of the little frog knight.
And I don't know the name of it, but there's a track in Shadow of the Colossus - i think it played on one of the flying colossi once you actually got onto it - was just so damn uplifting. Like you could tackle anything.
Currently for me, the soundtrack for Alan Wake. Not many original songs but the soundtrack fits the game wonderfully. One of the original songs created for the game, "The Poet and the Muse" is a wonderfully haunting song.
@Craig, I think the Shadow of the Colossus one is #2 or #3 here?
@Dauragon is the only one who's recommended something I actually liked, the Kingdom Hearts one. Haven't read the whole thread.
I like music that sounds celebratory too: Matoya's Cave from FF1, the end music from Golden Axe, and I better not put any more links in here or this will get held for spam.
I know I'm a few days late on this, but I STILL find myself going back to Chrono Cross and FFIII/VI when I can't figure out exactly what I want to listen to.
Also, CC came out before I was really downloading a lot of music, and I remember just leaving it on so I could hear the music while I was doing something else. I think "Another World" and the forest theme are two of my favorites.
Great comments. I'm adding a bunch of these suggestions to my Grooveshark gaming music playlist. Thanks!
Final Fantasy Tactics is my favorite game soundtrack still. First listened around 2000, even before I played the game. Antidote is my favorite game music ever.
It's a tie between the opera scene from FFVI, Frog's theme from Chrono Trigger (always gives me chills) and stickerbrush symphony from Donkey Kong Country 2.
The theme to MG Snake Eater, the long climb up the ladder to the bunker. "What a thrill..." AMAZING moment of gaming for me. Also can't listen to Starsailor without thinking about the Boss, and having to hold back the tears a little.
The soundtrack to Jet Set/Grind Radio, reminds me so much of my late teenage years/early twenties. First CD I ever imported I think.
Flower the game in it's entirety, I know that the soundtrack is available to buy, but the entire experience is just so cathartic and emotionally engaging.
Red Dead Redemption, music is used so sparingly within the game, but when a song "does" play... It's a real "moment"
Ico/SoTC & *sigh* nuff said...
Silent Hill & Siren soundtracks are firm favourites, especially when walking to work on a foggy day (it was yesterday!)
Alan Wake has a magnificent soundtrack.
The Bayonetta soundtrack is pretty good too... Like the mix of funky tunes and slow jazz, and of course the Sega tunes/remixes.
Keep meaning to get the Mass Effect soundtrack, will buy them one day... And everyones got to have a least a few Zelda songs on their collection?
As someone already said, the soundtrack to Braid was excellent to listen to while figuring out not only puzzles but Braid’s deranged mindset. Also, <3 Secret of Mana - favorite of all time.
The Shatterhand game music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?fmt=18&annotation_id=annotation_125270&v=C9RFIxutMWQ&feature=iv) for some reason always knocks socks for me, a lot of the songs have some nice tonal shifts while still keeping up the energy, though the game does its best to undermine. Also "Heartbeat, Heartbreak" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRUEccOa4f0) for Persona 4 always brightens my day, just a pop song but I love the downward lilt of the melody, and the pitter patter of the bass drum during the chorus. These are kind of silly and mediocre, and I can't really blame it on nostalgia, no accounting for my no account taste, I guess.
Also, second Katamari and the OoT Forest Temple. And thanks for the links everyone! lots of good stuff.
I like this topic. Thanks. I've listened to a lot of memorable music by playing games for over 20 years. I might write uncharacteristically sappy, artsy, sentimental shit below over this and the next post (really), so you've been warned.
Overall, these are the games whose OSTs I really like: - Chrono Cross - Final Fantasy VIII and X - Metal Gear Solid series - Resident Evil 4 - Katamari Damacy - Okami (Beautiful game. Beautiful soundtrack). - Mega Man X4 and X5 - Mega Man 2 and 3 - Mass Effect - God of War series - Bayonetta
For now I'll just post links to a few tracks, and if people keep posting I'll add more. I'm hoping you like them as much as I do. Some of these have made me tear up, others have made me bawl like a little bitch, and others are just cool and put me in the mood to kick ass/ be a hero/ take revenge, etc.
I think of closure when I listen to this, but it has nothing to do with anything I was experiencing in my life. For some reason I think about things like letting people go, accepting death, and seeing the beauty of the world for the first time after living it for a lifetime.
I feel bravery when I hear this one, and it may have to do with when it plays in the game. One of the NPCs decides to do a very heroic act, and as the player, you join and help her in doing so.
The soundtrack is packed with themes like these, but it's better to just play the game. When I hear all the BS about Japanese game development being so far behind, I just look at my memories of Okami, and laugh at the ridiculous statement.
This song is sad, sounds sad, and plays during the end credits, after the emotional last end scene.
I remember, as I listened to the song after beating the game for the first time, before I joined the industry or even the school for game dev, I rushed to my PC, logged in my livejournal account, and posted that I was honored to be living in the same era where Metal Gear Solid games were being released. I still feel this way, just as strongly, but it usually takes several layers of either alcohol or deep conversation before I clearly admit this. Or a topic that brings back memories like this one.
I know people have posted these already, but these mean a lot to me. It brings back the thoughts I had when playing MGS for the first time. I had been gaming for ten years then, yet I had never felt the same way about a game as I did then. My exact thought at the time was, and I still remember it clearly, "No puedo creer que este juego me haga sentir asi," (I can't believe this game is making me feel this way). This made me want to be a "videogame maker." I rationalized that I wanted to make games that make people feel the same way I felt about MGS. Well, still looking...
The end of Snake. I bawled like a baby. No reason to get into details. I can't imagine non-fans of the game getting emotional at the end of the game, but I can't imagine fans not reacting the same way I did (unless they lack a soul).
This one really moved me. At the time I was getting over someone, being nineteen, dumb and highly emotional, and that one scene... the one with the hug... damn.
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I'm also a big fan of battle themes, but I'll leave those out for now.
If you read, let alone listened to all of this, thank you very much. I had a lot of fun re-listening all of these, and now I'm feeling nostalgic.
Did anyone ever play Terranigma? I don't think it ever made it to the US; we can emulate it now, but we generally have better things to do than dig up SNES RPGs of yore, so I can never really recommend it to friends.
Anyway, the game hit me unusually hard, I'm not entirely sure why. I don't spend much time listening to game soundtracks, but this song always gets me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmmN-13uDS0
The song that plays during the intro movie of Zone of the Enders 2 - "Beyond The Bounds". In isolation, the song itself isn't anything particulary awesome, but when it's played over those opening credits it damn near gives me a heart attack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCmVHuHCG_o
The song synchs so well with the visuals and the combination of explosions, giant robots, people shouting and portentious speeches leaves you sweating in anticipation of what's going to happen when you hit 'New Game'. It's like watching a really well-made movie trailer for something you already own.
Also, the race music from 'Beyond Good & Evil' is just frikkin brilliant. It made shouting "CHILLI CON CARNE!" midway through a race seem like a perfectly natural thing to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtOEjGHR9oo
Mandatory - "When you're mama won't go, you know... MAMMAGO GARAGE!"
Most of Ocarina of Time's magistrial score for me, a personal favourite being the windmill house song.
It's only about 20 seconds or so that loops round but its haunting, manic and spirals round and round really getting under my skin. I could listen to it forever, its like finding the join between this world and one full of mystery. Bizarre and unforgettable.
Thanks a lot for bringing back some really beautiful memories. Personally, I listen to a lot of music, whether it is from games or bands. Chrono Cross is without a doubt one of my favorites: No other music that I have ever heard has captured so well the feeling of being in an exotic, tropical world, and rarely you hear music with so much emotion in it.
75 comments:
My introduction to RPGs was when I was like five or six years old, watching my older brother and older cousin play FF4 on SNES and being completely captivated. Because of this specific moment, FF4's music can seriously bring me to tears.
Yeah. I think everyone who's been a very serious or lifelong gamer has game music that, usually due more to the context of the experience, who you played with or what else was going on in your life at the time, can induce tears.
NO SHAME! These are the ones that make me cry :)
Still a sucker for the Aria in FF6, and of course I will never stop rocking out to the overworld theme in Ultra's TMNT.
Beyond that, I've actually written songs directly based on Brinstar's theme from Super Metroid, as well as Big Blue from F-Zero.
Metal Gear Solid's OST has always been a favourite. Not only are there adrenaline-fuelled action tracks like Hind D and Duel but there's also the touching, cripplingly beautiful; The Best Is Yet To Come, Mantis' Hymn and Enclosure. They're genuinely pretty chilling.
And that's just MGS1. MGS4 gets so damn emotional it had me ovulating. I'm a guy, I shouldn't ovulate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxkGP1efHOc
The Chrono Cross score is also one of my favorites. I also love Final Fantasy X (To Zanarkand gives me chills and always will), selections from the later parts of Silent Hill 2, Fragile Dreams, Lost Odyssey. I hate admitting FF7 is part of mine too, but whenever I hear the theme from Sephiroth's final battle I'm always amazed by the memories that come with it and what an engaging, amazing battle that was for me.
Also this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts5OGIDhz_s
My favorite RPG track of all time is the ending theme song to Final Fantasy VI(FF 3 in the US). The interweaving of all the characters songs is what did it for me.
I can't agree more. Chrono Cross is the greatest video game soundtrack ever composed, hands down. The boss fights are fantastic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcUyYWPsyM&feature=related), but I think Magical Dreamers (Nikki's song) beats them all (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APD75lWDMMQ).
Chrono Cross is a great example of a decent game that is propelled to greatness on the wings of its music.
Even though the rest of the soundtrack is really good at pushing heartpounding exciting moments, the Halo 3 soundtrack had one of my favorite slow sad tracks, Never Forget. I think it was used as the multiplayer menu background music as well.
The ultimate tear jerker is definitely the ending/credits music for Wind Waker. It sounds happy and upbeat but in context of what happens in the end it makes me feel incredibly sad.
Favorite pieces of game music would include (in no particular order):
Final Fantasy 5 - Ahead on Our Way
LoZ: Link's Awakening - Ballad of the Windfish
Sonic 2 - Sky Fortress Zone or Ending (it's a tie for me)
Final Fantasy 4 - Ending theme
A lot of the ones that spring to my mind are mostly Final Fantasy tracks. Nobuo Uematsu wrote some of the most memorable songs in all of gaming for the franchise, but the one that always spoke the most to me was the main Final Fantasy Theme. When you crossed the first bridge in the original game, it broke in and gave you that feeling of embarking on an epic quest. After that, it was used in the ending themes of the series' soundtracks, and it always gave me that sense of victory and fulfillment. My favorite version, by far, is the one from FFVIII, as it is beautifully orchestrated and woven into the ending of the game. To this day, I cannot hear the song without getting a major rush of adrenaline (goosebumps!) and feeling that almost intoxicating sense of contentment. It makes me instantly choke up and almost blubber uncontrollably, but not in a sad way, more of an extreme wave of joy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsVCmHwTpVY
I'm still upset that they've stopped using it from FFX onward. Mind you, FFX is the best game to not use it, and the soundtrack is still spectacular, but it's just not the same without it.
Far more than I'm entirely comfortably admitting. I guess the Opera from FF6 is the top (the whole game was full of Uematsu at his best, really), but I can get emotional from everything from semi-recent games with excellent music (Rez's "Mind Killer") to old arcade games (Double Dragon attract theme) to amazingly bad music from old Commodore 64 games that have good associations for me (most of the tunes played in the Bard's Tale games).
Of course, it's almost all nostalgia; I find that even the more recent games with excellent music don't prompt the same emotional response as terrible tunes from old games that, themselves held emotional connections. I played the Bard's Tale games with my father at a very early age. Double Dragon was the first game I beat in the arcade, which was a pretty empowering achievement at the time. I used to play Rez all the time when I was jobless and doing everything I could to find a way into the industry.
Conversely enough, the current game music most likely to engender good memories isn't "game music" at all. If Carry On My Wayward Son, or Painkiller or the like comes on, the first thing I think of are great times playing Rock Band with close friends.
Agreed, the context I heard the music in has put me on a retro gaming kick for the last few months.
The Castlevania music always puts me in that mood, Dracula's Curse in particular:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1l4ourOqtY
Final Fantasy 3/6 Esper World music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fe0wNariU
That song sounds like the musical expression of fate to me.
Xenogears is my absolute favorite video game of all time for a variety of reasons which would take too much space to really get into here. As such, when you ask which video game songs elicit the most emotion from me, the first thing that I think of is "The Beginning And The End" from the second OST. I'm an absolute sucker for choral music, though. And while I admit not all of the tracks from Xenogears are particularly wonderful, many of them are (especially the Creid renditions).
The natural progression for me from thinking about this song, then, is Homeworld's opening/mission 1 song (though, yes, it wasn't made for the game, but I still associate it very strongly).
I also absolutely love the Secret of Mana soundtrack, and the Chrono Trigger soundtrack (even Brink of Time, though I'm not a huge fan of jazz, holds a special place in my heart)...
Music is, far and away more than anything else in my life, the thing which draws out old memories from within me the most. As soon as the song begins, I can remember where I was, what I was doing, what I was thinking, feeling, what my hopes and dreams were at the time, who I was with... It instantly and completely transports me. So when I need a pick-me-up, I spend a lot of time revisiting the soundtracks of the games which have meant the most to me over the years.
I'm a little bit wild about C64 SID chip stuff, which is where I began playing. I heard a version of Commando played by an orchestra a while back tast left me open-mouthed. I think the music of the time explains a) why I love games, b) why I love fierce electronic music, and c) why my brain is slightly fried.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-EKQp4Hedk
It is Finished, one of the final songs in Mother 3. A remix of Love Theme, slowly going from a dark and twisted place to a place of serenity. Definitely the most touching and impacting song I've ever heard in a video game, by far. Play this game, people!
Tons and tons of classics from the great era of SNES RPGs. However, like Tony, I have a special place in my heart for the Final Fantasy Main Theme/Prologue.
One of my best friends played the song acoustically on guitar at my wedding as part of the processional. It was epic.
Too many to list.
specifically for "sadness", we have things like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=oLK8IrYrZxA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsSg_TDMz70
However, to bring something slightly different to the table, we could also look at songs from Visual Novels (which, after all, are games of a sort), and in that case here is one from Kanon which consistently pulls at my heartstrings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9NDWqhcbtc
I loved the Shadow of the Colossus soundtrack enough to actually buy it. It''s like an old-school Hollywood epic score with liberal Asian sprinklings on top.
Favorite of all time? Couldn't say. Favorite of the moment? This Symphony of the Night remix in Castlevania Harmony of Despair:
There are a lot of video game tracks that easily bring me to tears for various reasons. Just a few: Super Mario World's credits theme crushes me under a wave of nostalgia. "Theme of Love," from Final Fantasy IV, is just a beautiful piece. And then Nagisa's theme from Clannad is actually sad.
A couple of my current favorites are "Solar Sect of Mystic Wisdom ~ Nuclear Fusion," theme of Touhou character Utsuho Reiuji, and "To Your Sky," the opening theme from Pangya Portable.
I have a few odd ones I think.
One of them is the Save Screen music from Resident Evil 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BR1ZGFuuJc
Another is Mad Biscarsh from Klonoa 2. I died on that section of the level so many times because I was distracted by how wild the music was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFQue54kYkI&feature=related
Also, Yoko Shimomura's music for Kingdom Hearts for some reason just has this ability to zero in on the specific area of my brain that is still a hopelessly romantic 14 year old boy like a goddamn cruse missile filled with bittersweet emotions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JUlNMAklhs&feature=related
Jeehun Hwang's Mechwarrior 2 soundtrack is the business:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX4G1RJYTi8
As is Super Stardust HD OST, which absolutely slays:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp7M097XEfw
Despite being very cliché, as in orchestral sound track for a RPG, I really love Jeremy Soule's ST for Oblivion. The melodies and arrangements are memorable for me.
Aerith's Theme is the only song that brings me to tears in just the first few notes. As for an entire soundtrack, I would say Chrono Trigger.
It's always interesting to make one of "those" lists : P
Let's see...
Chrono Cross has a killer soundtrack but I have to mention two songs that really made an impact on me:
First, Scar of Time, every time I played Chrono Cross I HAD to see the OP movie.
Second, Overworld theme for Another World... the most sad, nostalgic and awesome song there has been EVER... it still gives me the chills hearing it... or just remembering it.
Hyrule Castle from A Link to the Past. Nothing like waking up in the middle of the night in the middle of a storm to go and sneak up in a castle full of enemies just to rescue the (literally) princess of your dreams.
Final Fantasy VI Tina's opening... I think I've never seen a better intro to a videogame that those three magitek armors walking slowly through the snow just to get to the "end of the world". The music made it from something fantastic to something sublime.
I knew Xenogear's Star of Tears way before I played the game... Then I played the game and got goose bumps when hearing it. Then I finished the game and every time I hear the song makes me sentimental... I'm a big fan of Nietzsche... so, it has something to do with that.
Ocarina of Time was a breakthrough game for me... so I have many unforgettable songs there:
The Windmill Song
The Forest Temple
The Spirit Temple
The Owl's song
Lon Lon Ranch with Malon singing along
Etc...
Kirby Super Star's Revenge of Metaknight's Ending... I love those credits. I REALLY love them.
Breath of Fire II (there's something about this game that just.... it has SOMETHING I tell you):
Decadence of God
The White Wings
Breath of Fire IV's Opening Theme.
Chrono Trigger...
Frog's Theme: you can't get more heroic than this.
Memories of Green... I'm hearing it and it's making me CRY!!!
Wind Scene.
Gonzalez [Gato]'s theme!!
Super Mario 64 Dark World... it really feels like a song from the FINAL level.
Megaman IV
All the soundtrack (specially Skullman's theme and Dustman's)
Samurai Shodown
Charlotte's, Nakoruru's and Earthquake's themes.
Amakusa's second theme too!!! (he was a damn hard boss the first twenty times!!)
An incredibly good OST all around.
Goemon's Great Adventure for the N64 has an incredible Soundtrack... you have to hear it.
Mischief Makers
It's weird... but great!!
Volcanic, Marina and Neo... they have this kind of... charm I really can't put up in words.
Super Mario RPG:
Sad song
Welcome to Booster Tower (plays for like four "#&("/# seconds!!!)
And my name's Booster
Fight against Culex (FF remix!!)
Margarie Margarita (felt like I was in a whole different game when heard it for the first time)
Fight against Smithy (first)... it's kind of ominous... kind of active... kind of awesome!!
Right now I'm playing No More Heroes and the music is also awesome... one song I just loved was Speed Buster’s. Hearing it alone is a good song but hearing it in-game is... DAMN!
Majora's Mask, Last End... it IS really the End of the World...
Donkey Konk Country:
K. Rool Boss theme (Plank Galleon)
Fear Factory
Donkey Kong Country 2:
Kannon's Klaim (beautiful)
Stcikerbrush SYmphony
Damn.... sorry it was so long...
And still there are so many out there...
This is a good world to be living in ^_^
I almost forgot to ask...
Maybe you aready answered this...
I've oly played Other M for like fifteen minutes but I liked how they portrayed Samus Aran since it remembered me a lot of Metroid Fusion (I loved those little monologues).
So I'm not sure if all that "rage" about her personality is really deserved... What do you think?
I played Ultima Online for many years; the old MIDI tracks (borrowed in some cases from U7) always bring back memories.
Jazzy NYC arranged from Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSzPbO9DFcg , Quantum Velocity from Unreal Tournament III
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJs-LLgXUY8 , and X-
Men (Sega Genesis) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZBPxTujQSE
Chrono Cross really is an amazing soundtrack... great selections you've chosen here as well. I've always liked Star Stealing Girl as well, but nothing tops Dream of the Shore Near Another World... especially this remix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amIK-VXlCSo
So sad that no one has added any comments related to Mother 3 music. =(
Final Fantasy VI has always had my favorite soundtrack. For some reason, I like the 16-bit era sound better than today's more technically advanced soundtracks. Perhaps the limitations of the sound chips forced the composers into using styles I prefer?
There is one song in particular, though, that I have a lot of fond memories of and would like to mention: Lucia's Theme from the Sega CD version of Lunar: Eternal Blue. CD audio tracks of the game's two theme songs were present on the game disc, and I listened to them many, many times. (Also, as far as I'm concerned, the Playstation remake isn't nearly as good as the Sega CD original.)
Alright, that's it. I was watching some of Daniel Floyd's pre-Extra Credits stuff and he plugged your blog. The thing at the top of the list is my favorite video game soundtrack ever.
Bookmarked, will read more.
More to the point: Prisoners of Fate from that track is one of the few that straight out makes me sad enough to cry, and Scars of Time is the best song in any video game so far
I'd probably go with the Grim Fandango soundtrack. Can't think of a specific piece off the top of my head, but that final bit before the end credits rolled damn near brought a tear to my eye.
Can't believe I forgot something:
Most beautiful sound possible with SNES technology:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIJxrAHuk7Q
As much as I don't want to just be a Final Fantasy fanboy, there are definitely some pieces there that can really move me. Something about VIII's _Liberi Fatali_ really just energizes me. That first bit of string and timpani is... well, maybe it's just tainted with memories, but it works.
Also, VII's _One Winged Angel_ is pretty recognizable, but I never really appreciated it until I heard it in the Kingdom Hearts Colleseum, where it was actually pretty terrifying in the "oh shit this is going to be hard" kind of sense.
As for ENTIRE Game Soundtracks that I like, nothing immediately pops to mind. Nintendo has produced some good stuff, but in general I don't really go out of my way to listen to game music as-is.
I do absolutely love ocremix's album projects; and both the Earthbound and Chrono Trigger ones are amazing.
The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus soundtracks are brilliant. But the music from the save screen of Ico is by far my favourite, its really serene and dreamlike while Ico and Yorda are snoozing on one of the benches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGwfBvW3YA8
Oh and the space invaders music just for how it gets your heart going, ramping up the intensity!
Well, it's become a bit of a cliche now, but I love the ambient music and Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive" from Portal. Also Nathan McCree's soundtracks for the first three Tomb Raiders. And then there are the earworms from the old Sonic games that I still find myself humming from time to time. Ah, the list goes on and on....
Wow. Very moving. I need to play this at some point :-/
For videogame music, it's got to be Akira Yamaoka's Silent Hill music, and Betrayal, which sounds like squeaky metal funeral march, is my favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WShknpNpHbY
The Final Fantasy Legend theme too but that is PURE NOSTALGIAVISION.
That's one of those games I bought that I never got to. I'll have to find some time during winter break or something to power through it.
I, unfortunately, have to be one of those Final Fantasy Fanboys, as a lot of the tracks from VI are the ones that have always stayed with me, Celes' Theme and the Opera, though a lot of that is, like someone said above, due to the nostalgia factor. I'm also a big fan of The Mystic Forest and Coin Song.
VII's opening bit from the Main Theme has a really strong nostalgic power for me. From X, there's the track that also serves as the "theme" for the game, but without the vocals. I think there's a version that played while on the way to Yunalesca.
For general soundtracks outside of the Final Fantasy series, I've always been pretty partial to Lufia 2. I choked up at the end, though, in my defense, I was in sixth grade.
Ratchet and Clank's light techno music is something I never get tired of!
To Zanarkand from FFX always gives great memories as well.
Wow, you guys are amazing -- thanks so much for sharing your favorites and feelings!
Great topic and it's garnered a lot of opinions :)
My fave soundtrack has to be FF7, as much as I loath to be unoriginal I simply cannot resist the subtle piano melodies such as the ever wonderful Aerith's Theme and juxtaposed with the heavy guitar riffs of Those Who Fight Further and Bombing Mission (Black Mages versions ftw ;))
Honourable mentions also go to:
Sonic The Hedgehog, a game that single-handedly proved that the Mega Drive's "inferior" sound chip was indeed capable of competing with the SNES's.
Sonic CD whose Jap/Euro soundtrack was so good that I played it on my Discman frequently as a kid (forget the rubbish US soundtrack).
Legend of Zelda Theme - any of them, they're all epic and spine-tingling
Tetris default music on the GameBoy, which is instantly recognisable and simply fantastic.
Super Mario Bros/Land - all of which are superbly composed and excellently addictive tunes in their own right :)
My most recent favorite soundtrack would have to be Red Dead Redemption's soundtrack. If you haven't given it a good listening, you should know it requires one. I was surprised at how excellent the music for the game is.
RDR- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orvJ0dFFSNI
Echochrome deserves a lot of love and mention for a recent soundtrack, as well as Flower. FFXIII OST was great, also.
Echochrome - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig_DwZ9G_wo
Flower - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y816GnoUKJY
FFXIII - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0cfgSywF_g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kbzEkWyklg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2-1VBxB3rA
Overall, while Chrono Cross is high on my list, I really enjoyed Chrono Trigger and Xenogears. Both there OST and Arranged albums were fantastic.The Arranged albums of both game transformed the original compositions into something much more imaginative and definitive. Yasunori Mitsuda is a f*king beast at composing.
Chrono Tigger (Arranged) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp0zjJJ0Pf8
Xenogears (Arranged) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO965K6daG0
Sorry for all the links, I just REALLY love music and sharing that love.
One more:
From Ico called "Heal"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Dn9kX9xyA
The music in the Mass Effect series is my favorite. It just nails that 80's sci-fi vibe so well.
Also, been finishing Far Cry 2 lately, and the music in that game is phenomenal.
Two of my fave game songs ever are extremely triumphant ones.
"Frog's Theme" from Chrono Trigger just buoyed my spirits back in the day. Something so vindicating about how the theme swelled, a perfect theme to celebrate the victories of the little frog knight.
And I don't know the name of it, but there's a track in Shadow of the Colossus - i think it played on one of the flying colossi once you actually got onto it - was just so damn uplifting. Like you could tackle anything.
That one still pops up in my head occasionally.
Currently for me, the soundtrack for Alan Wake. Not many original songs but the soundtrack fits the game wonderfully. One of the original songs created for the game, "The Poet and the Muse" is a wonderfully haunting song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOxSqSxRy-4
@Craig, I think the Shadow of the Colossus one is #2 or #3 here?
@Dauragon is the only one who's recommended something I actually liked, the Kingdom Hearts one. Haven't read the whole thread.
I like music that sounds celebratory too: Matoya's Cave from FF1, the end music from Golden Axe, and I better not put any more links in here or this will get held for spam.
Just about anything Mitsuda works on turns out great. Chrono Cross, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears... I could listen to his music all day long.
I know I'm a few days late on this, but I STILL find myself going back to Chrono Cross and FFIII/VI when I can't figure out exactly what I want to listen to.
Also, CC came out before I was really downloading a lot of music, and I remember just leaving it on so I could hear the music while I was doing something else. I think "Another World" and the forest theme are two of my favorites.
Great comments. I'm adding a bunch of these suggestions to my Grooveshark gaming music playlist. Thanks!
@Lex_D
... I am ashamed, I forgot to include Braid in my previous comment. I think the majority of the music in that game is incredible.
@Lex_D
While the original score's good I really like the radio station choices in Fallout 3 and New Vegas - I just wish there were more songs....
Final Fantasy Tactics is my favorite game soundtrack still. First listened around 2000, even before I played the game. Antidote is my favorite game music ever.
My favorite Silent Hill music was Room of Angel.
@Cal, I like your Super Stardust music, but your Mechwarrior link goes to the same song.
It's a tie between the opera scene from FFVI, Frog's theme from Chrono Trigger (always gives me chills) and stickerbrush symphony from Donkey Kong Country 2.
The theme to MG Snake Eater, the long climb up the ladder to the bunker. "What a thrill..." AMAZING moment of gaming for me. Also can't listen to Starsailor without thinking about the Boss, and having to hold back the tears a little.
The soundtrack to Jet Set/Grind Radio, reminds me so much of my late teenage years/early twenties. First CD I ever imported I think.
Flower the game in it's entirety, I know that the soundtrack is available to buy, but the entire experience is just so cathartic and emotionally engaging.
Red Dead Redemption, music is used so sparingly within the game, but when a song "does" play... It's a real "moment"
Ico/SoTC & *sigh* nuff said...
Silent Hill & Siren soundtracks are firm favourites, especially when walking to work on a foggy day (it was yesterday!)
Alan Wake has a magnificent soundtrack.
The Bayonetta soundtrack is pretty good too...
Like the mix of funky tunes and slow jazz, and of course the Sega tunes/remixes.
Keep meaning to get the Mass Effect soundtrack, will buy them one day... And everyones got to have a least a few Zelda songs on their collection?
...and even if you love or hate the series, the soundtrack to the Halo games gives me that tingly head rush feeling...
...reading through the comments, and ditto Echochrome and Rez... and so many more.
Think I'm going be be spending the day making playlists now!
Actually, now that I think of it, there is one relatively recent video game soundtrack that I absolutely adore.
Na na na na na na, na Katamari Damashii...
As someone already said, the soundtrack to Braid was excellent to listen to while figuring out not only puzzles but Braid’s deranged mindset. Also, <3 Secret of Mana - favorite of all time.
The Shatterhand game music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?fmt=18&annotation_id=annotation_125270&v=C9RFIxutMWQ&feature=iv) for some reason always knocks socks for me, a lot of the songs have some nice tonal shifts while still keeping up the energy, though the game does its best to undermine. Also "Heartbeat, Heartbreak" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRUEccOa4f0) for Persona 4 always brightens my day, just a pop song but I love the downward lilt of the melody, and the pitter patter of the bass drum during the chorus. These are kind of silly and mediocre, and I can't really blame it on nostalgia, no accounting for my no account taste, I guess.
Also, second Katamari and the OoT Forest Temple. And thanks for the links everyone! lots of good stuff.
I like this topic. Thanks. I've listened to a lot of memorable music by playing games for over 20 years. I might write uncharacteristically sappy, artsy, sentimental shit below over this and the next post (really), so you've been warned.
Overall, these are the games whose OSTs I really like:
- Chrono Cross
- Final Fantasy VIII and X
- Metal Gear Solid series
- Resident Evil 4
- Katamari Damacy
- Okami (Beautiful game. Beautiful soundtrack).
- Mega Man X4 and X5
- Mega Man 2 and 3
- Mass Effect
- God of War series
- Bayonetta
For now I'll just post links to a few tracks, and if people keep posting I'll add more. I'm hoping you like them as much as I do. Some of these have made me tear up, others have made me bawl like a little bitch, and others are just cool and put me in the mood to kick ass/ be a hero/ take revenge, etc.
Okami
Ryoshima Plains
I think of closure when I listen to this, but it has nothing to do with anything I was experiencing in my life. For some reason I think about things like letting people go, accepting death, and seeing the beauty of the world for the first time after living it for a lifetime.
Giving Kushinada A Ride
I feel bravery when I hear this one, and it may have to do with when it plays in the game. One of the NPCs decides to do a very heroic act, and as the player, you join and help her in doing so.
The soundtrack is packed with themes like these, but it's better to just play the game. When I hear all the BS about Japanese game development being so far behind, I just look at my memories of Okami, and laugh at the ridiculous statement.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Way To Fall
This song is sad, sounds sad, and plays during the end credits, after the emotional last end scene.
I remember, as I listened to the song after beating the game for the first time, before I joined the industry or even the school for game dev, I rushed to my PC, logged in my livejournal account, and posted that I was honored to be living in the same era where Metal Gear Solid games were being released. I still feel this way, just as strongly, but it usually takes several layers of either alcohol or deep conversation before I clearly admit this. Or a topic that brings back memories like this one.
Metal Gear Solid
Enclosure
The Best Is Yet To Come
I know people have posted these already, but these mean a lot to me. It brings back the thoughts I had when playing MGS for the first time. I had been gaming for ten years then, yet I had never felt the same way about a game as I did then. My exact thought at the time was, and I still remember it clearly, "No puedo creer que este juego me haga sentir asi," (I can't believe this game is making me feel this way). This made me want to be a "videogame maker." I rationalized that I wanted to make games that make people feel the same way I felt about MGS. Well, still looking...
Metal Gear Solid 4
(Yes, another MGS. I'm actually holding back).
Father & Son
The end of Snake. I bawled like a baby. No reason to get into details. I can't imagine non-fans of the game getting emotional at the end of the game, but I can't imagine fans not reacting the same way I did (unless they lack a soul).
Final Fantasy X
Ending Theme
This one really moved me. At the time I was getting over someone, being nineteen, dumb and highly emotional, and that one scene... the one with the hug... damn.
----------
I'm also a big fan of battle themes, but I'll leave those out for now.
If you read, let alone listened to all of this, thank you very much. I had a lot of fun re-listening all of these, and now I'm feeling nostalgic.
Did anyone ever play Terranigma? I don't think it ever made it to the US; we can emulate it now, but we generally have better things to do than dig up SNES RPGs of yore, so I can never really recommend it to friends.
Anyway, the game hit me unusually hard, I'm not entirely sure why. I don't spend much time listening to game soundtracks, but this song always gets me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmmN-13uDS0
The song that plays during the intro movie of Zone of the Enders 2 - "Beyond The Bounds". In isolation, the song itself isn't anything particulary awesome, but when it's played over those opening credits it damn near gives me a heart attack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCmVHuHCG_o
The song synchs so well with the visuals and the combination of explosions, giant robots, people shouting and portentious speeches leaves you sweating in anticipation of what's going to happen when you hit 'New Game'. It's like watching a really well-made movie trailer for something you already own.
Also, the race music from 'Beyond Good & Evil' is just frikkin brilliant. It made shouting "CHILLI CON CARNE!" midway through a race seem like a perfectly natural thing to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtOEjGHR9oo
Mandatory - "When you're mama won't go, you know... MAMMAGO GARAGE!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBPdFPSf7WU
Most of Ocarina of Time's magistrial score for me, a personal favourite being the windmill house song.
It's only about 20 seconds or so that loops round but its haunting, manic and spirals round and round really getting under my skin. I could listen to it forever, its like finding the join between this world and one full of mystery. Bizarre and unforgettable.
I just realized, I still have yet to finish that damn game...
Yeah! I have a project tonight!
Dropping by to post one little snippet:
Baba Yetu, the Main Menu theme from Civilization IV, was nominated for a Grammy. I found an amazing live performance to share with you here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u_EWzmvI8E
I listened while playing this:
http://www.sophiehoulden.com/games/thelinearrpg/
It fit rather well!
Thanks a lot for bringing back some really beautiful memories.
Personally, I listen to a lot of music, whether it is from games or bands.
Chrono Cross is without a doubt one of my favorites: No other music that I have ever heard has captured so well the feeling of being in an exotic, tropical world, and rarely you hear music with so much emotion in it.
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