gigantor21
Member
The lack of Street Fighter EX for PS1 disgusts me.
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NeoGAF's Soundtracks of the 5th Generation Results Thread
- Thread starter Nocturnowl
- Start date
SquirrelWide
Member
Didn't vote for Zelda tracks since they're too short for standalone listens, but happy to see them in the top spots regardless.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
I don't bother complaining about results. I know that certain games will be above games I think are better because of simple popularity. I knew VII was going to beat out both Final Fantasy VIII and IX despite both soundtracks being better because simply way more people have played VII and probably a lot of these votes were for the games themselves rather than their music.At first I had put Super Mario 64 on my list just because I had played the game and enjoyed it, but it had been more than a decade since I actually played it, so I decided I shouldn't just put it in when the only thing from my memory is Bob-Omb Battlefied, so I decided to go back and listen to it. I found out that I only ended up liking about 8 songs in the game and knocked it off my list because an album where I skip the majority of the album has no business being in the top ten.
Cross fans might've gotten a vote out of me for Chrono Cross, but since I never played the game and I like to listen to the music within the game the first time I hear it, I didn't vote for it. I am a little bit surprised to see Symphony of the Night as #1, but at the same time I'm not. Despite Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VII, and Super Mario 64 all being more popular games, Castlevania being at the top shows that there is likely a different demographic that votes in this thread vs the overall game thread, which is also demonstrated to the number of votes that each thread got.
Getting that out of the way, here's the playlist I compiled for the top 15 spots with some of my personal favorites. If you haven't played Final Fantasy IX, but plan to later on I suggest skipping Behind the Door at the end of the playlist.
Top 20 Songs of the Soundtracks of the Generation #5
Cross fans might've gotten a vote out of me for Chrono Cross, but since I never played the game and I like to listen to the music within the game the first time I hear it, I didn't vote for it. I am a little bit surprised to see Symphony of the Night as #1, but at the same time I'm not. Despite Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VII, and Super Mario 64 all being more popular games, Castlevania being at the top shows that there is likely a different demographic that votes in this thread vs the overall game thread, which is also demonstrated to the number of votes that each thread got.
Getting that out of the way, here's the playlist I compiled for the top 15 spots with some of my personal favorites. If you haven't played Final Fantasy IX, but plan to later on I suggest skipping Behind the Door at the end of the playlist.
Top 20 Songs of the Soundtracks of the Generation #5
bennywhatever
Member
All you people listing Zelda games with good tracks are forgetting Link's Awakening, the real GOAT.
Nice list! I personally think VIII has many stronger tracks than MWTMG but it's obviously still one of the best. I think I would rank The Extreme, Ending Theme and Liberi Fatali over it. For Chrono I would put Star stealing girl or Brink of Death.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Oops, I actually meant to change that to The Landing or The Extreme. At first I was going with a theme when I compiled this, but ended up changing my mind to just picking the best ones and to repeat I haven't played Silent Hill, Chrono Cross, Symphony of the Night, or Nights Into Dreams, so those picks might not represent the best.
Nocturnowl
Member
Thanks for the kind words people, I wasn't about to let the soundtrack vote slip through the gaps but I may think twice before taking one on so unprepared again!
I like Majora's Mask but I'd be lying if I didn't think "bugger" when I noticed this.
Makes me wonder how Street Fighter 2 would fare in a 4th gen thread, it's the most widely known fighting game OST after all.
Banjo almost stole a top 10 spot and then I noticed that I'd skipped over Majora's Mask which was one point ahead.
I like Majora's Mask but I'd be lying if I didn't think "bugger" when I noticed this.
I've noticed that whenever we get voting threads for soundtracks fighting games always seem to go under the radar despite the fact that if you made a thread about fighting game music in particular it would be jam packed with tons of quality tracks.
Makes me wonder how Street Fighter 2 would fare in a 4th gen thread, it's the most widely known fighting game OST after all.
Speaking of 4th gen, this going up against ALttP feels like another OoT vs MM situation.
It's tied with FF8 for Sixth place? unless I miscounted.
Well, at least the #1 is also a Saturn game.
True! I always forget that game came out on Saturn too.
Nocturnowl
Member
then what is 7th? whatever, all the ties read weird.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
A Link to the Past was definitely my favorite. Great music in that one.
If there's a tie the next place is skipped, because the game in 8th still has 7 games before it.
Kazooie needs to be way higher.
Kazooie > Mario 64 when it comes to soundtrack. Dire Dire Docks is probably a better song than anything in BK, but I take the rest of BK's soundtrack over Mario 64. Kirkhope's masterpiece.
The same way OOT is Kondo's masterpiece and the GOAT Zelda soundtrack and the GOAT soundtrack period. Get outta here you weird jrpg people
Kazooie > Mario 64 when it comes to soundtrack. Dire Dire Docks is probably a better song than anything in BK, but I take the rest of BK's soundtrack over Mario 64. Kirkhope's masterpiece.
The same way OOT is Kondo's masterpiece and the GOAT Zelda soundtrack and the GOAT soundtrack period. Get outta here you weird jrpg people
<3
yo that's weird
That's a pretty standard way of ranking things.
Etrian Oddity
Member
Total Annihilation is not on this list?
what
the
fuck
what
the
fuck
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
Chrono Cross has a good soundtrack, but I can see how it's not going to be to everyone's tastes. And hey, there's no shame in losing to a classic Castlevania game.
The Panzer Dragoon series is what really got robbed here, but it's understandable since fewer people owned a Saturn.
The Panzer Dragoon series is what really got robbed here, but it's understandable since fewer people owned a Saturn.
Yep, great picks, this would be my list too. Plus MGS.
RetroPlayer
Banned
No WipEout game is a shock.
Melchiah
Member
Thanks. It's been so long, that I don't remember its soundtrack at all. It's actually the only MGS game I've played.
Shocked at the number one choice.
I am surprised Chrono Cross didn't win which I did vote for. Very surprised Parasite Eve didn't make it. Still, this a list worth checking out for fans of music. Some stellar soundtracks. The only main thing that isn't that great is that we don't have enough music from non N64/PS1 games. But that's the way it goes.
I am surprised Chrono Cross didn't win which I did vote for. Very surprised Parasite Eve didn't make it. Still, this a list worth checking out for fans of music. Some stellar soundtracks. The only main thing that isn't that great is that we don't have enough music from non N64/PS1 games. But that's the way it goes.
Mr. Nice_Guy
Member
Kept putting off voting. Still, here's a top 10 list that FFVIII totally does deserve to be in. The music is incredible. Happy to see Xenogears up there as well.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Happy with #1.
Not very happy with the rest. FFTactics and Wild ARMs got mega-robbed, as did the Panzer Dragoon games.
Really surprised to see NiGHTS that high though. That's cool, it has a good OST though not my favourite (it was one of my honourable mentions), but hey at least some Saturn representation made it...
Can anyone sell me on the Chrono Cross OST? I love the title track ("Time Scar"), but someone on another forum posted a shitton of Youtube links (that were meant to highlight how good it was) and I listened to them all, and other than Time's Scar and maybe one other they all bored me to tears. Was his song selection bad or something?
FWIW I generally enjoy Mitsuda's work and really like the Chrono Trigger and Xenogears OST (I voted for Xenogears in #7) and think Xenogears should have beaten every item on the final results list except SotN. But yeah those songs were very bland and forgettable, I don't get it...
In any case, thanks for your hard work, Nocturnowl.
Not very happy with the rest. FFTactics and Wild ARMs got mega-robbed, as did the Panzer Dragoon games.
Really surprised to see NiGHTS that high though. That's cool, it has a good OST though not my favourite (it was one of my honourable mentions), but hey at least some Saturn representation made it...
Can anyone sell me on the Chrono Cross OST? I love the title track ("Time Scar"), but someone on another forum posted a shitton of Youtube links (that were meant to highlight how good it was) and I listened to them all, and other than Time's Scar and maybe one other they all bored me to tears. Was his song selection bad or something?
FWIW I generally enjoy Mitsuda's work and really like the Chrono Trigger and Xenogears OST (I voted for Xenogears in #7) and think Xenogears should have beaten every item on the final results list except SotN. But yeah those songs were very bland and forgettable, I don't get it...
In any case, thanks for your hard work, Nocturnowl.
I did my part.
SatelliteOfLove
Member
What's continuing to get me was the lack of votes.
Heart-rending melancholy, all with this almost divine spareness to the melodies and tone. Looooooooooooong whole notes like anguished sighs, these little 3, 4, 5 note runs bridging for each other...it's an entire soundtrack for life after a devastating hurricane (given the gameworld, that's an apt allusion, I feel).
And when he does like this or Time's Scar, it is that hurricane, raw and tumultous, a force of nature with its own wants and emotions.
Happy with #1.
Not very happy with the rest. FFTactics and Wild ARMs got mega-robbed, as did the Panzer Dragoon games.
Really surprised to see NiGHTS that high though. That's cool, it has a good OST though not my favourite (it was one of my honourable mentions), but hey at least some Saturn representation made it...
Can anyone sell me on the Chrono Cross OST? I love the title track ("Time Scar"), but someone on another forum posted a shitton of Youtube links (that were meant to highlight how good it was) and I listened to them all, and other than Time's Scar and maybe one other they all bored me to tears. Was his song selection bad or something?
FWIW I generally enjoy Mitsuda's work and really like the Chrono Trigger and Xenogears OST (I voted for Xenogears in #7) and think Xenogears should have beaten every item on the final results list except SotN. But yeah those songs were very bland and forgettable, I don't get it...
In any case, thanks for your hard work, Nocturnowl.
I did my part.
Heart-rending melancholy, all with this almost divine spareness to the melodies and tone. Looooooooooooong whole notes like anguished sighs, these little 3, 4, 5 note runs bridging for each other...it's an entire soundtrack for life after a devastating hurricane (given the gameworld, that's an apt allusion, I feel).
And when he does like this or Time's Scar, it is that hurricane, raw and tumultous, a force of nature with its own wants and emotions.
Nailed it.
To be honest, I also don't know what Ocarina is doing so high up there. It's got some memorable tunes, but it shouldn't be 2nd place imo.
cj_iwakura
Member
Guess I'm the only one who gave Persona 2 props. Oh well, good list anyway, if expected.
Oh well, good list anyway, if expected.Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
No, I'm the same way. There are a couple Chrono Cross songs I really like, but most of the soundtrack isn't my style.
No real surprises on the games in the list. I think the placement on some is odd, but whatever, it was fun.
OoT is probably up there because of how the votes were counted. I believe the voter's first vote got two points and the rest only one.
I voted for OoT as my ninth vote, but that doesn't mean much. It's a game that will show up on many lists so it's not surprising that it's so high up, regardless of where it was on someone's list.
OoT is probably up there because of how the votes were counted. I believe the voter's first vote got two points and the rest only one.
I voted for OoT as my ninth vote, but that doesn't mean much. It's a game that will show up on many lists so it's not surprising that it's so high up, regardless of where it was on someone's list.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
First one is decent. Better than the other "quiet" type of tracks the other guy posted in his list. Nothing that'd sell me completely on the OST by itself, but it's good.
Second one was already posted in that previously mentioned list, and is indeed that one track I said I liked among the list of boring songs. So... yeah, not convinced right now.
I didn't read the guy's post, but this would be my personal selection ('im not going to put every single track I find good, otherwise it'd end up too long a list):
Dreamwatch of Time
The Girl who Stole the Stars
Radical Dreamers
Dead Sea
People Imprisoned by Destiny
Dreams of the shore near another world
Ancient Dragon's Stronghold
Orphanage of Flame
Well, it's already too long, but fuck it. I enjoy way too many tracks to narrow it down to just a few.
If you find yourself unimpressed, you're either lacking the proper emotional context (at least I find it pretty important to experience the OST in-game to get the most out of it) or it's just really not for you.
Fancy Clown
Member
Silent Hill, RE2, and MGS not being in the top 10 is blasphemy
I totally agree Tactics was shafted. It has one of the greatest OST's in the series. We may not agree about VIII but I'm in complete agreement about Tactics and Xenogears.
As for Chrono Cross, I'll post my personal favourites that you may or may not like and see if it warms you to the soundtrack. I'll avoid Dragon God since its the one you've already heard.
The Brink Of Death
Star Stealing Girl
Gale < people dislike this one but I enjoy it.
People Imprisoned by Destiny
Ancient Dragons Stronghold
Radical Dreamers
Magical Dreamers
But anyway with most soundtracks, a lot of it does come down to personal taste. While there may be some clear cut great soundtracks, it doesn't mean everyone will enjoy them.
Oh, already? I never got around to updating my post. Whoops!
Results could have been worse than 4/10. GAF's taste isn't that deplorable.
Results could have been worse than 4/10. GAF's taste isn't that deplorable.
quit your ragin ragelope i didn't see you in the voting thread
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
This is actually a much better selection of songs. I don't know if I'd put it in any top 10 still, but wow, that is way better than that guy's selection by several miles and leagues.
Thanks for the links.
LOL, well said.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
Personally I find Diddy Kong Racing above Banjo-Kazooie.
4/10? What I didn't see any votes for Quest 64 or Mort the Chicken.
Makoto Yuki
Banned
I didn't see your ballot extolling its greatness. So I'm disgusted by your disgust.
C:SotN has an incredible soundtrack but something about it felt generic. I don't mean that in a bad way, its music that can almost work in almost all gothic-inspired games. That's not an easy thing to do, but I feel like that taints it a bit. You can almost use SoTN soundtrack for any Castlevania. Same can kinda be said for OoT. While I love OoT and find it's music fantastic as well, I think the most notable part of the music was playing it on the Ocarina. This really made the music more impactful, gameplay integration. I feel like Chrono Cross' music transcended music in video games while SotN and OoT are just amazing soundtracks for their respective games.
There is no soundtrack like Chrono Cross, that I have listened to. While I feel like it should have won, I can't argue against the sheer popularity of SotN and OoT.
Regardless of personal taste, Thanks Nocturnowl (and anyone else involved), for the hard work in the voting thread. Looking forward to the next one.
Nocturnowl
Member
(damn I was hoping they'd forgotten...)
Errr, well music links maybe, but I wasn't planning on going full archive.
Errr, well music links maybe, but I wasn't planning on going full archive.
Nocturnowl
Member
whoops, I just made an enemy for life, taking on this role here was a mistake.
Unfortunately yes.