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[SantaC]

Whoever the hell did Megaman 2's music.

Yoko Shimomura (Street Fighter II, Front Mission, Mario RPG, etc)

Megaman 2 was composted by 3 different people:

Manami Ietel, Ogeretsu Kun, Yuukichan's Papa

Wr Wily's Skull castle stage 1 is one of the best tracks ever.

 

[AtomicShroom]

I have to agree with Wyzdom there. While sound quality went up, the compositions themselves have gone down the crapper for the most part. They're no longer melodic and catchy as they used to. Anyone can hum the Super Mario Bros. theme. Good luck humming anything from Super Mario Sunshine. Hell the only song I remember from that game is the main hub, and it's not even great.

 

[SantaC]

I agree with you that videogame music is not as catchy anymore. One reason might be that composers don't need to push themselves anymore (compared to the 8, 16 bit days) in order to complete a soundtrack.

btw, the composer of Journey to silius (Naoki Kodaka) is a fucking genius! They say that it's the most advanced soundtrack out of the nes chip.

 

[segasonic]

Richard Jacques and Yuzo Koshiro

 

[dark10x]

Who composed Halo's soundtrack? I've always liked it.

As I mentioned above, it was composed by Marty O'Donnell. Check out the two soundtracks for the Myth games for more of his music (as well as the Riven soundtrack). He rocks!

Is it just me or is videogame music not as good as it used to be? I think the quality of the tracks has increased a lot since we have gone to the CD and now DVD, but you just don't get game tunes stuck in your head that way you used to.

I highly disagree.

You see, in my opinion, "getting a tune stuck in your head" is not the best way to judge the quality of music. The reason you could easily hum those older tunes to yourself is a simple one; the music itself was simplistic. The music today is often much more complex and layered.

It bothers me that people are somehow judging the quality of today's game music by that factor...

There is more variety than ever before and a lot of it is EXTREMELY well done. There is plenty of generic, poorly composed music floating around these days...but guess what? It was no different back in the olden days either. There was no shortage of boring, poorly composed music during the NES days. I mean, there is a reason why certain NES games are always brought up (they were the GOOD ones).

Anyone can hum the Super Mario Bros. theme. Good luck humming anything from Super Mario Sunshine. Hell the only song I remember from that game is the main hub, and it's not even great.

That's pretty unfair, though. Mario Sunshine DID have a boring soundtrack, but that doesn't represent modern day game music.

Sound design has made great progress and some of the best game music ever composed was done so in the last few years...

 

[FortNinety]

I'm sorry, but it has to be Koji Kondo. The bottom line is that he has created some of the THE most memorable music ever and his work has influenced countless others behind him. Just think about the SMB music... it takes a genius to create just a few simple tones that are not just infinitely hummable, but hasn't gotten old after 19 years. You can't say that about anyone else. No contest.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Sound design has made great progress and some of the best game music ever composed was done so in the last few years...

Agreed. I prefer the music we're hearing today over any other period. I'd just like it even more if some composers would try to be more original instead of going down the epic route. It's one reason why Yamaoka is my favorite "new" composer. He seems to be one of the few actually trying to do something unique. Even when he's not doing the SH's.

 

[JackFrost2012]

It takes a genius to create just a few simple tones that are not just infinitely hummable, but hasn't gotten old after 19 years. You can't say that about anyone else. No contest.

You can say it about HIP TANAKA, motherfucker!

Kid Icarus! Metroid! Super Mario Land! Dr. Mario! Classics one and all.

 

[FortNinety]

You can say it about HIP TANAKA, motherfucker!

Kid Icarus! Metroid! Super Mario Land! Dr. Mario! Classics one and all.

So last night I went to a sketch comedy show called Soundtracks where you bring in your on CDs and then they play track randomly and the performers do stuff related to the tune. I brought a game music mix CD and they used selections from both Kid Icarus and Metroid. And most everyone in the audience had that look of "I think I know what game this is from, but I'm not sure..."

 

[drohne]

i really like koji kondo's ragtimey mario soundtracks, but i think his music is memorable and iconic primarily because of the games it's in, not because of its inherent quality.

 

[SantaC]

i really like koji kondo's ragtimey mario soundtracks, but i think his music is memorable and iconic primarily because of the games it's in, not because of its inherent quality.

I also think the opposite could be said. SMB wouldn't be the same great game without Kondo's brilliant score.

 

[Littleberu]

David Bergeaud

 

[Luscious LeftFoot]

Tommy Talerico

 

[bionic77]

As I mentioned above, it was composed by Marty O'Donnell. Check out the two soundtracks for the Myth games for more of his music (as well as the Riven soundtrack). He rocks!



I highly disagree.

You see, in my opinion, "getting a tune stuck in your head" is not the best way to judge the quality of music. The reason you could easily hum those older tunes to yourself is a simple one; the music itself was simplistic. The music today is often much more complex and layered.

It bothers me that people are somehow judging the quality of today's game music by that factor...

There is more variety than ever before and a lot of it is EXTREMELY well done. There is plenty of generic, poorly composed music floating around these days...but guess what? It was no different back in the olden days either. There was no shortage of boring, poorly composed music during the NES days. I mean, there is a reason why certain NES games are always brought up (they were the GOOD ones).



That's pretty unfair, though. Mario Sunshine DID have a boring soundtrack, but that doesn't represent modern day game music.

Sound design has made great progress and some of the best game music ever composed was done so in the last few years...

To me a videogame soundtrack is great when it makes the game better then it would be without it. I guess I shouldn't say that music is worse then it used to be because I really do love some modern day soundtracks, I mean I can't imagine playing Kingdom Hearts without it's music. Still, I am a little disapointed in videogame music today considering how much they have available to them nowadays.

 

[GashPrex]

interesting xbox has 2 of the best soundtracks this gen(Halo and Fable), considering traditionally japanese games are more well known for their music. Marty O'Donnel, David Shaw, Jeremy Soul(can't deny his previous work), and Kenji Yamamoto(metroid prime) all come to mind recently. Personally, I couldn't stand the 8bit/16bit music.

And anybody complaining about videogame music today needs to play fable, it's amazing imo.

 

[dark10x]

To me a videogame soundtrack is great when it makes the game better then it would be without it. I guess I shouldn't say that music is worse then it used to be because I really do love some modern day soundtracks, I mean I can't imagine playing Kingdom Hearts without it's music. Still, I am a little disapointed in videogame music today considering how much they have available to them nowadays.

It's quite the opposite for me, some of the soundtracks today are SO good that they sometimes almost MAKE the game for me.

Though, funny you should mention Kingdom Hearts, since I really found the music to be rather lackluster...

There is no real reason to be disappointed, though. I mean, like I said, when you look back at the older systems...there are tons of games with poorly composed soundtracks spread amongst the classics. It just seems that some people tend to associate those classics with that time period in general...

interesting xbox has 2 of the best soundtracks this gen

Yes, but those are only a drop in the bucket. There are an incredible number of great soundtracks around today...

 

[Pang]

Koichi Sugiyama - Dragon Quest series, EVO
Hirokazu "Hip" Tanaka - Metroid, Kid Icarus
Jesper Kyd - Hitman 2, Freedom Fighters
Richard Jacques - Headhunter
Yuzo Koshiro - Actraiser
Lennie Moore - Outcast

Whose music I've appreciated the most, Koichi Sugiyama's.

 

[ourumov]

Yuzo Koshiro
Akira Yamaoka
Michiru Yamane
Sota Fujimori

 

[BeOnEdge]

jun senoue or whatever her name is who does the sonic music.

 

[Kandinsky]

Mitsuda by far.

 

[COCKLES]

Rob Hubbard.

Dyyaamm straight!

And Martin Galway as well.

C64 J'Adore!

Get your remixes while their hot: http://remix.kwed.org/

For Modern stuff. Halo has a wonderful soundtrack and Nights was fantastic...and sadly the last great hurrah for chip-based music.

David Wise does dod some good stuff for Rare - Sabre Wulf / Goulies both had cool soundtracks - I've got the Ghoulies Ballroom remix on my cellphone.

 

[Hero]

Nobuo Uematsu - FF4/6 themes were some of the best, considering their era.

SSB:M person - So many awesome tracks. Fountain of Dreams, Opening Theme, etc.

But my favorite would have to be Koji Kondo. Aside from his legendary 8-bit themes to SMB/LoZ, OoT had some of the best music in the past couple of years. The Lost Wood's theme is one of my favorite pieces ever. Purely bliss.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Koji Kondo without a doubt.

Runner-up: Nobuo Uematsu - FF series (particularly I, VI, IX,)

Personal favourites:
Jesper Kydd - Hitman series
Michael Giacchino - MOH series (particularly Arnhem in Frontline)
Masato Nakamura - Sonic 1
Yuzo Koshiro - Actraiser, Streets of Rage series
Tappy Iwase - MGS Theme
Keiichi Suzuki & Hirokazu Tanak - Earthbound
Marshall Parker - Shadowrun, True Lies
Bobby Prince - Wolfenstein 3D, Doom I & II, Duke Nukem 3D
Christopher Grigg & David Lawrence - Maniac Mansion (particularly NES)
Kenji Yamamoto - Metroid Prime

And who can forget ex-music-teacher-turned-naughty-video-game-maker...

Al Lowe

 

[Hotsuma]

Yuzo Koshiro; Streets of Rage (series), Super Adventure Island, Actraiser 1, Sonic CD? (JP).

After edit

Hideki Naganuma; JSR, JSRF, Ollie King.

 

[teh_pwn]

Nobuo Uematsu
Yasunori Mitsuda
Koji Kondo

 

[doncale]

great thread

 

[DarthWoo]

Although I'm pretty fond of Nobuo Uematsu's work myself, I also really enjoy the work of whoever did the Call of Duty and Medal of Honor games. I know one person did both, just don't remember his name right now.

 

[Gregory]

Ron Hubbard
Kris Hatlelid
Martin Galway
Matt Gray
Jeroen Tel
Chris Huelsbeck

 

[Solid]

Nobuo Uematsu
Akira Yamaoka
Harry Gregson-Williams
Norihiko Hibino
Steve Henifin (Eternal Darkness/Twin Snakes)

 

[Shikamaru Ninja]

Kazumi Totaka
Sound Composition - Wave Race 64: Kawasaki Jet Ski
Sound Composition - Yoshi's Story
Sound Composition - Mario Paint
Sound Composition - Luigi's Mansion
Sound Composition - Virtual Boy Wario Land
Sound Composition - Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Sound Composition - A Bell Tolls For the Frog Prince
Sound Composition - X
Sound Composition - Mario Artist: Talent Maker
Sound Composition - Mario Artist: Polygon Studio
Sound Composition - Mario Artist: Paint Studio

Kenji M. Yamamoto
Sound Composition - Super Metroid
Sound Composition - Galactic Pinball
Sound Composition - Metroid Prime
Sound Composition - Metroid Prime 2
Sound Composition - Detective Club: A Sudden Disappearance
Sound Composition - Detective Club 2: The Girl Who Fights Back
Sound Composition - Detective Club 2 SX: The Girl Who Fights (SNES)
Sound Composition - Mike Tyson's Punch-Out !
Sound Composition - Woods of Beginning
Sound Composition - Metroid: Zero Mission

Akito Nakatsuka
Sound Composition - Pilotwings 64
Sound Composition - NES Open Tournament Golf
Sound Composition - Pro Wrestling
Sound Composition - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Sound Composition - NP: Sutte Hakun
Sound Composition - Mike Tyson's Punch-Out !
Sound Composition - Ice Climber
Sound Composition - Heisei: New Onigashima Volume 1
Sound Composition - Sutte Hakkun

Koji Kondo
Sound Composition - Star Fox 64
Sound Composition - Super Mario 64
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Sound Composition - Pilotwings
Sound Composition - Super Mario World
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Sound Composition - Yoshi's Island: Super Mario World 2
Sound Composition - Super Mario Sunshine
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Sound Composition - Ice Hockey
Sound Composition - Soccer
Sound Composition - Super Mario Bros.
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda
Sound Composition - Nazo no Murasamejou
Sound Composition - Famicom Mukashi-Banashi: Shin Oni Ga Shima
Sound Composition - Dream Factory: Nervous Panic
Sound Composition - Super Mario 64: Shindou Version
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

Hirokazu Tanaka
Sound Composition - Earthbound
Sound Composition - Mario Paint
Sound Composition - Dr. Mario
Sound Composition - Kid Icarus
Sound Composition - Metroid
Sound Composition - Dr. Mario
Sound Composition - Super Mario Land
Sound Composition - X
Sound Composition - Wrecking Crew '98
Sound Composition - Game Boy Camera
Sound Composition - Balloon Fight
Sound Composition - Balloon Kid
Sound Composition - Fire Emblem: The Sword of Light & The Dragon of Darkness

Ryoji Yoshitomi
Sound Composition - Mario Paint
Sound Composition - Wario Land 4
Sound Composition - Metroid II: The Return of Samus
Sound Composition - Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Sound Composition - Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Microgame$
Sound Composition - Wario Ware Inc: Mega Party Game$

Naota Ishida
Sound Composition - F-Zero
Sound Composition - F-Zero: Maximum Velocity

Hajime Hirasawa
Sound Composition - Star Fox
Sound Composition - Time Twist

Taro Bando
Sound Composition - F-Zero X
Sound Composition - Super Mario Kart
Sound Composition - Mole Mania
Sound Composition - Famicom Mukashi-Banashi: Shin Oni Ga Shima

Shinobu Amayake
Sound Composition - Stunt Race FX
Sound Composition - Wario's Woods

Soyo Oka
Sound Composition - Pilotwings
Sound Composition - Super Mario Kart
Sound Composition - Wario's Woods
Sound Composition - Wario's Woods
Sound Composition - Famicom Mukashi-Banashi: Yuu Yuu Ki
Sound Composition - Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally

Minako Hamano
Sound Composition - Pokémon Puzzle Challenge
Sound Composition - Super Metroid
Sound Composition - Galactic Pinball
Sound Composition - Wario World
Sound Composition - Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Sound Composition - Metroid Fusion
Sound Composition - Teleroboxer
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Sound Composition - Game Boy Camera
Sound Composition - Metroid: Zero Mission

Kenta Nagata
Sound Composition - 1080° Snowboarding
Sound Composition - Mario Kart 64
Sound Composition - Pokemon Stadium
Sound Composition - Pokemon Stadium
Sound Composition - Animal Crossing
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Sound Composition - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Sound Composition - Mario Artist: Talent Maker
Sound Composition - Pokémon Box: Ruby & Sapphire
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition

Shinobu Tanaka
Sound Composition - Animal Crossing
Sound Composition - Luigi's Mansion
Sound Composition - Super Mario Sunshine
Sound Composition - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

Hajime Wakai
Sound Composition - F-Zero X
Sound Composition - Pokemon Stadium
Sound Composition - Star Fox 64
Sound Composition - Pikmin
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Sound Composition - Pokemon Stadium 2
Sound Composition - Pikmin 2

 

[bionic77]

So, uh, who composed the music for Ninja Gaiden 1 and 2 on the NES?

 

[AtomicShroom]

David Wise does dod some good stuff for Rare - Sabre Wulf / Goulies both had cool soundtracks - I've got the Ghoulies Ballroom remix on my cellphone.

Funny that Dave Wise didn't produce any of those two soundtracks.

Sabrewulf is by Robin Beanland (some Killer Instinct, some DKC1, JFG, Conker)
Grabbed by the Ghoulies is by Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie/Tooie, DK64)

 

[Kai Dracon]

My votes go to:

Richard Jacques (Club Paris forever!)
Mitsuda
Yuzo Koshiro (well, early Yuzo Koshiro...)
Koji Kondo
Michiru Yamane
Uematsu
Hiroshi Myauchi (Magical Sound Shower morer forever!)

 

[Ranger X]

I highly disagree.

You see, in my opinion, "getting a tune stuck in your head" is not the best way to judge the quality of music. The reason you could easily hum those older tunes to yourself is a simple one; the music itself was simplistic. The music today is often much more complex and layered.

It bothers me that people are somehow judging the quality of today's game music by that factor...

Actually, maybe we sounded like we are on one extreme side of the question but you did sound like if you are on the extreme of the other side.
Technical stuff and complexity is great in a song but to some extent. Proof of that is that you can take 2 equally complex and technically difficult to play orchestral symphony but one will be great (and you will hum it) and the other one you won't.
At the very basis of music there's is something that must catch you. Most commonly the beat or the melody i suppose. Each of those 2 things cannot make it if they are completely alone. When this is done great, the music create an identity of itself and then you like it and remember it.
Nowadays i tend to feel there's more soundtrack that sound the same and aren't unique anymore as they once were. Maybe it's because there is much more games in number nowadays though. (so you spot bad stuff more easily) --- but in maths, it would still mean for one person stand point there's less great songs composed...

 

[Gazunta]

Rob Hubbard and anyone who says otherwise can see me outside.

After joining EA he became their...I'm not sure what the official title was, but he was the guy responsible for sound and music quality on EA's PC and console games. Have a look at a lot of early EA MegaDrive / Genesis games, you'll see his name in the credits.

Now he's back in the UK, having quit EA and doing his own thing. He plays in a pub band too apparently.

 

[doncale]

the greatest IMHO: Hiroshi Miyauchi ("Hiro") ~ Out Run, After Burner II, Sword Of Vermillion




-other favorites-

Tamayo Kawamoto ~ Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Yuzo Koshiro ~ Revenge of Shinobi, Actraiser
Tokuhiko Uwabo ("Bo") and Izohu Takeuchi ("IPPO") ~ Phantasy Star I, II, III, IV
Alfh Lyra, Yoko Shimomura ~ Street Fighter 2
K. "NAV" Nagai ~ Altered Beast
Y.T Dolphin ~ Golden Axe
Katsuhiro Hayashi ("Funky K.H") ~ Super Hang On

 

[jcjimher]

Hideki Naganuma
Jet Set Radio, Jet Set Radio Future and Ollie King

Yuzo Koshiro
Streets of Rage, Revenge of Shinobi. Actraiser, Adventure Island (SNES), Beyond Oasis, some tracks in Shenmue.

 

[doncale]

btw, Tamayo Kawamoto, who composed some of Capcom's 80s game BGMs, and is also from Taito's sound group, Zuntata ...well.... she needs more recognition

 

[dark10x]

Actually, maybe we sounded like we are on one extreme side of the question but you did sound like if you are on the extreme of the other side.
Technical stuff and complexity is great in a song but to some extent. Proof of that is that you can take 2 equally complex and technically difficult to play orchestral symphony but one will be great (and you will hum it) and the other one you won't.
At the very basis of music there's is something that must catch you. Most commonly the beat or the melody i suppose. Each of those 2 things cannot make it if they are completely alone. When this is done great, the music create an identity of itself and then you like it and remember it.
Nowadays i tend to feel there's more soundtrack that sound the same and aren't unique anymore as they once were. Maybe it's because there is much more games in number nowadays though. (so you spot bad stuff more easily) --- but in maths, it would still mean for one person stand point there's less great songs composed...

When someone makes one of these statements (your initial statement, not this one), there are usually a number of examples firmly planted in their mind. What kind of music were you thinking of that leads you to believe this as the case? I just want to know what kind of game music you've heard (as of late) that has caused you to form this opinion.

I mean, for Nintendo fans, I could see how they might feel that way (and I'm not suggesting you are a Nintendo fan either). Nintendo has not produced many good soundtracks over the past several years. In fact, outside of Metroid Prime, I pretty much dislike the soundtrack to every recent Nintendo game I own. The incredibly dull music of Wind Waker, for example, damaged the game for me. Just as good music can aid an experience...bad music can have the opposite effect.

I'd also be interested in seeing which older soundtracks you consider to be at the top of their game...

 

[Squeak]

TIM Follin smokes them all with his hands tied.
There may be good musicians mentioned in this thread, but he not just that. he is a friggin' genius.

Follin and the guy who composed Outrun soundtrack, i forgot his name...he seems to have disappeared after that, anyone knows where is he or what he did besides outrun ?

Oh and Hubbard, Huelsbeck and Jeroen Tel, but not quite on the same level.

Follin and Jeroen Tel are equally good, they have quite different styles but when it comes to overall greatness of their work they are equals.
If you need convincing take a listen to the following tunes:

Aspar Grand Prix
Alloyrun
Cybernoid
DemoSong
Digi-Piece for Telecomsoft
Eliminator
Gaplus
JT 42
Manics of Noise Demo 1991
M A C C
Navy Moves
Robocop 3 aka Dutch breeze intro tune
Rubicon
Thats the Way It Is main
Tomcat

Here are links to a Sid emu and the most complete library of C64 tunes ever, for those who may need it:
http://www.gsldata.se/c64/spw/
http://www.hvsc.c64.org/

 

[dark10x]

Wait, is the Tim Follin being discussed here the same Tim Follin responsible for the recent Ecco soundtrack?

 

[epmode]

if anyone is interested in rob hubbard (seeing as he was mentioned several times,) i put up a zip with most/all of his c64 music here.

to play the tracks, just download sidplay.

edit: bear in mind that it was coming out in 1985-88. it rocks now, but it was absolutely mindblowing for its time.

 

[Ranger X]

Working with examples will be easier i think.

Lament of Innocence: Classical Castlevania stuff with some techno touch and good melody. This one was an instant winner. It's complex and at the same time it's catchy and memorable because of it's uniqueness.

Take also Suikoden and Suikoden2 soundtracks. Those are just as complex as Nobuo stuff but much better than the lastest years stuff from Nobuo.

In another style; music of Metal Gear Solid the first. Great soundtrack that sounded like a movie for a game as intense as a movie; perfect.

I mean, to be great in ANY style of music you have to catch people as fast as possible with something. Most of the time is melody or the beat (things that any person can hear and remember).

What i don't like in today gaming music and also in movie soundtracks is that it's more and more of the same. Nobody try nothing anymore. The music is having less charisma.
I like soundtracks that gives, soundtracks that dares, catchy soundtracks. Take Fight Club's soundtrack as a example. There's ton of action-movies out there. But why can't they sound unique as Fight Club? Fight Club music is different, it blends genre, it tries something new.

The problem now it's that there's so many games outthere and also so many movies
that it's harder to be unique and catchy to most people.





True that Nintendo doesn't seem to have those great songs anymore in their games by the way. Maybe it's more Kondo that is overdue and they should hire some other guy/gal to do the most part of the job at least.

 

[Tabris]

Nobuo Uematsu

Favorite Songs:

Final Fantasy VI - Kids Run through the City and Celes
Final Fantasy VII - Death of Aeris and One Winged Angel
Final Fantasy VIII - Liberi Fatali and The Oath
Final Fantasy X - To Zanarkand and Ending Theme

Yasunori Mitsuda

Favorite Songs:

Too many to mention!

Miki Higashino

Favorite Songs:

Suikoden I - Avertuneiro Antes Lance Mao
Suikoden II - A Prayer to my Mother, An Old Story, La Passione Commuove la Storia and Reminiscence

 

[Raxel]

jun senoue or whatever her name is who does the sonic music.

Jun's a guy! Since I run his fansite I'm hugely biased, but he wrote some fantastic stuff for F1 Heavenly Symphony, Victory Goal, Sonic 3, S&K and so on. doncale listed all my other favourites, so I can't think of anyone else, except for whoever did the Road Rash 2 soundtrack. That was awesome

 

[COCKLES]

Dear lord, what is it with Nintendo fans and their fucking lists.

 

[dark10x]

Ah, that's kind of what I thought. That's the thing, though, each generation of game music had their own problems. You say that too many soundtracks are "movie-like" today, but there were other different problems with many soundtracks back in the NES era. They were not all catchy, high quality music...

I'll toss out a few examples of what I really enjoyed as of the "CD" generation that I believe go above and beyond what could possibly have been achieved during the older generations but also remain unique and interesting. "Movie like" isn't how any of these could be described...

Katamari Damashii, Jet Set Radio, Breath of Fire V - Dragon Quarter, Beyond Good & Evil, Star Ocean 3, REZ, Silent Hill series in general, Soukaigi, Baroque, AZEL - Panzer Saga, Evil Twin, Gitarooman, Gungrave, Berserk, Napple Tale, Unlimited SaGa, Hitman Contracts, ICO, Klonoa 2 (especially the Wahoo Stomp), PSO, Ridge Racer Type-4, Shadow Hearts 2, Voodoo Vince, Guily Gear XX, Crimson Sea, Drakengard, Contra SS, Halo, Ecco the Dolphin CD through DotF, etc. etc. etc.

How many of these have you listened to? I mean, really listened to? There is such a wide range of expressions to be found within those titles. When someone lists NES music, on the other hand, you'll find some SERIOUSLY catchy tunes in there...but they can only achieve so much. They stand out due to composition...but those soundtracks above can stand out due to composition, arrangement, and a variety of other factors. I just feel that you can achieve so much more with today's options, but it takes plenty of talent to achieve that...just as it did during the olden days.

So, really, game music has not degraded. It has changed, but just as there was crap 15 years ago...there is also crap today. It's up to you to seek out the cream of the crop.

I will also say that being "movie like" hardly means that the music within is actually generic. There are plenty of high quality movie-like scores available today that certainly don't come off as generic. If anything, it's yet another genre that wasn't entirely possible in the olden days. It can be over-used, of course...

 

[ge-man]

Hajime Wakai
Sound Composition - F-Zero X
Sound Composition - Pokemon Stadium
Sound Composition - Star Fox 64
Sound Composition - Pikmin
Sound Composition - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Sound Composition - Pokemon Stadium 2
Sound Composition - Pikmin 2

I just got done playing a some Pikmin 2 and just realized that few people have really noted the music in the new game. I think it's the best that Wakai has done yet.

 

[dark10x]

I just got done playing a some Pikmin 2 and just realized that few people have really noted the music in the new game. I think it's the best that Wakai has done yet.

Really? It must be VERY different from the original then, eh?

 

[Biff Hardbody]

Jesper Kydd is my fave. So cool.