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Your favorite video game composer?

Nice to see gaf forgetting everyone except japanese composers as usual. No mention of Frank Klepacki, Alexander Brandon, Rom di Prisco...

At least Jesper Kyd and Marty got a few mentions.
 
off the top of my head i have to go with Martin O'Donnell, for ODST alone, by far my favorite OST for a game.
 
Tricky I Shadow said:
David Wise.
Click to expand...

No doubt one of the best. Another fav of mine is Grant Kirkhope, his work on the Banjo series was amazing.
Someone who wasn't mentioned(I think?) is Tomoya Tomita, the composer for Kirby's Epic Yarn. Loved that game's soundtrack.
 
I mentioned Tim Follin but I didn't link any music. Since nobody actually clicks on any links in threads like these, I'm not going to go through all of that effort. It's not necessary, anyway. Listening to Silver Surfer will make you want to seek out more of his music yourself. He really made the hardware he worked on sing.
 
I'm only going to list people who have not been mentioned in this thread.

Hidenori Shoji - The guy makes pretty badass music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOFM9V9Tvpk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F8FeGfj8rw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRh8FX7YU6U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsCtzDlYs_A

Michael Land - Obviously.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjKiqjyEjDM

Shinsekai Gakkyoku Zatsugidan - The group that did music for SNK games. Who knows that who composed what.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC0xpTwZwMY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxcnFZ2Z6cQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pbTWhH_M2w
 
The Mana Legend said:
Hiroki Kikuta hasn't done a single bad soundtrack in his life. In fact, they are all magnificent. He needs more work.

My other favorite composers:

-Tsuyoshi Sekito
-Motoi Sakuraba (when he is on the ball, he produces the best stuff in all of the JRPG genre)
-Kenji Ito
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm a huge fan of Kikuta's old work (Seiken Densetsu 2 and 3, Soukaigi)... it's such a shame he ended up doing music for H-games :(

Very creative and distinct composer, used lots of instruments not normally associated with RPGs or game music, as well as lots of Asian/middle-eastern influence in his songs... the snare in a lot of SD3 tracks predated that infamous Dubstep snare by about 10 years :O

Probably my favorite game composers, aside from Kikuta, are Yuzo Koshiro, Yasunori Mitsuda and of course Nobuo Uematsu (so incredible meeting up with him at Distant Worlds!!!).
 
1) Shoji Meguro

2) Nobuo Uematsu

3) Yasunori Mitsuda

4) Tsuyoshi Sekito

5) Yuki Kajiura

6) Motoi Sakuraba

7) Ken Nakagawa, Daisuke Achiwa, Akira Tsuchiya
 
martyodonnell.jpg

Marty O'Donnel
The Halo Music is the ONLY video game music I've ever gotten the soundtracks from. Most composers can make good scores that compliment their games well. But only few can truly make scores that are deserving of the title "iconic" When you hear a Halo song you KNOW its from Halo.

The classic, Walk in the Woods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t97u9qmgwN0

The iconic theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjvo0SPAOiQ

ODST's Noire Magic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a70h0cX8AMM

And Seige of Madrigal. Pre-Halo. Featured as easter eggs in Halo games.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCFtBlKDIaM

Another recent one that wowed me and I might just buy the soundtrack...

darren.jpg

Darren Korb from Supergiant Games. Creators of Bastion.
http://supergiantgames.bandcamp.com/
Listen to the songs at the bottom of the page. SPOILER WARNING. Don't listen to Zia's, Zulfs, or the End theme. They are powerful parts of the story so don't listen if you plan on playing this amazing game.

Most people are familiar with Marty but PLEASE check out Bastions music. In-game you can find a gramophone and bring it back to the Bastion. It will let you play music by clicking it. I spent forever chilling in the Bastion listening to the music.
 
Michiru Yamane.

I must have over a hundred listens on all of the Castlevania tracks of her making on my iPhone. She is the only modern composer that still makes what I would classify as video game music today.
 
Rapture said:
off the top of my head i have to go with Martin O'Donnell, for ODST alone, by far my favorite OST for a game.
Click to expand...
Even though I listed Shimomura, I definitely have to agree ODST is a stunningly good score, I hadn't heard about its greatness going into the game and was blown away.
 
ScionOfTheRisingSun said:
Michiru Yamane.

I must have over a hundred listens on all of the Castlevania tracks of her making on my iPhone. She is the only modern composer that still makes what I would classify as video game music today.
Click to expand...

Now I'm interested! Scion could you link some of your favorites? I want to hear these, thanks.
 
ScionOfTheRisingSun said:
Michiru Yamane.

I must have over a hundred listens on all of the Castlevania tracks of her making on my iPhone. She is the only modern composer that still makes what I would classify as video game music today.
Click to expand...
While I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, do you not consider what Yuzo Koshiro writes for the Etrian Odyssey series to be "video game music"?
 
Uematsu. Dude is a genius when it comes to creating memorable songs. Sometimes he goes a bit overboard with remixes though.
 
Probably Jeremy Soule.

Morrowind, Oblivion, and the inevitable Skyrim all have (will have) amazing soundtracks. Add that to the already fantastic Guild Wars soundtrack (and the upcoming Guild Wars 2) along with Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and you have one very good composer.
 
Definitely Jeremy Soule (the Prey OST is highly underrated!)

Although Jack Wall is a close 2nd. There are some eastern composers as well, but I really never cared enough to learn who they were to really follow them. I have said it before though, I am a fan of the Chrono Cross and Grandia franchise OSTs.
 
Aeana said:
I mentioned Tim Follin but I didn't link any music. Since nobody actually clicks on any links in threads like these, I'm not going to go through all of that effort. It's not necessary, anyway. Listening to Silver Surfer will make you want to seek out more of his music yourself. He really made the hardware he worked on sing.
Click to expand...
I do. I like exposing myself to new music and making my repertoire bigger. I've heard some good stuff in this thread, though. That Silver Surfer tune you linked to is pretty damn good. I really like the discussion part of these threads, even if a small amount of people are willing to discuss music.

Izayoi said:
Speaking of which, whose dick do I have to suck to get my hands on copies of the Etrian Odyssey OSTs?
Click to expand...
Play-Asia's, CD Japan's, Amazon.co.jp, or YesAsia's? eBay as well.

In Japan it's called "Sekaiju no Meikyuu" or "Sekaiju no MeiQ" (世界樹の迷宮). It seems like the first EO OST is out of print, however.
 
we.are.the.armada said:
Now I'm interested! Scion could you link some of your favorites? I want to hear these, thanks.
Click to expand...
I'm not Scion, but I would gladly share some of my favorites. I hope you listen to them all; they're amazing tracks!

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness has a godly soundtrack:

A Toccata into Blood-Soaked darkness

Abandoned castle I love this track so much; its progression and sound are just...HNNNNG <3 Michiru Yamane <3<3<3

Young Nobleman of Darkness

Aiolon Ruins This track is so soothing with a touch of creepy. It's beautiful.

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence:

Holy Cross Obsessed by the Moon

Stone King Golem

Fog-Enshrouded Nightscape I absolutely love this one when I want to feel relaxed. It takes me to a beautiful, tranquil forest at night, surrounded by fireflies and a nice, refreshing wind. And a spring :P
 
Even though they have been mentioned a lot of time in this thread I have to show some of these pieces from my favorites:

Uematsu

Blue dragon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vAuaA_jxD0

Lost oddyssey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vbsI9xFuo8

Dali: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKc-U80G9l0

FF7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9kGaw216HM

Sakuraba

He makes a lot of crappy music but when he makes a good one, is a damn good one:

TOP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB__iGAZ1DU

VP2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHZADdy_pmM

VP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ertvporcCZI

VP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYTZjzG-jlA&feature=related

I love Shimomura but there have been excellent examples here already, my favorite from her is still the legend of mana OST though.

Mitsuda is great as well, my favorites being Chrono Trigger, Cross, Xenogears/Saga 1, and Soma Bringer.

Props to Yoshino Aoki, with her PS1 BOF OSt's I loved the jazzy one in 3 (even though most people hated it) and she demonstrated great range changing the style significantly. (even though it would be ggod to know how much of the jazz is Akari Kaida's)
BOF 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDIH4TAb8Us

BOF3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8U5nxhxYf0 (cough, HUGE CT rip, cough)

BOF3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiqMhZfIy9s&feature=related

BOF3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O7OY3M0Ftc&feature=related

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

BOF4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5ayyi5_h2o

BOF4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT6KuWjN240

Also the PS1 days capcom sound team, lot's of great music, specially in the VS series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tzJOSyGMAk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuqBGECE5jA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN3v6y808Uw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMtWq2kA_nc
 
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