mostly unrecognized video game music

[kiyo-chan]

What video games do you think had some really beautiful and amazing music that no one else really seems to recognize for whatever reason?

I mean, everyone recognizes the music Uematsu wrote for Final Fantasy and old classics like Zelda and Mario. Katamari Damacy and Kingdom Hearts pieces certainly have been making a splash lately too. But there's always so much music overlooked often because the game isnt' as fantastic as the music.

For me, I have always been enthralled by how beautiful Yoko Kanno's music has been (yea, it's no secret around here that I worship her haha), but almost equally saddened that it's so unrecognized. For example, for the past week, I have been so enthralled by the two random tracks I found off of Yoko Kanno's old Nobunaga's Ambition compositions (written with Kenji Kawai) that I was motivated to clean my ridiculously large music collection in order to burn/backup it for enough room to listen to the entire soundtracks.

Two of the three pieces I have ever arranged for my band were from Napple Tale - a never-released-in-America Dreamcast RPG (with an entirely-female development team). The last one was from Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - one of the lesser-played FFs, which also has some truly fantastic music that was probably overlooked because the game wasn't too popular. I'm in the process of arranging yet another FF:CC piece that was just too cute to resist and a probably-just-as-unnoticed piece from the well-known anime Paradise Kiss. But this is only after I had to keep myself from arranging yet more Kanno compositions that are so gorgeous that I truly wanted to be part of the music (I'm in the process of trying to convince my band to let me arrange ONE.LAST.TUNE from Napple Tale)...after all, we can't play too many obscure tunes at our shows. The audience becomes disinterested =[

[Crazy IX]

There are plenty of games, whose musical tracks I love. Though the only two that really made an impact on me were Chrono Cross and Street Fighter III: Third Strike.

It is suprising just how much music can make an experience so much better. Take SFIII for example, I have the hardest time actually getting into the game, but I'm perfectly fine listening to the Hip Hop/Jazz/Techno themes in the game. (I got within a eyelash of buying the soundtrack as an addition to the SF Anniversary Collection Strategy Guide, but alas, I didn't have the funds to do so at the time, and when I did, it was no longer available.) Even in today's games, the soundtrack is unique in a atmosphere where most of them rely on more Rock n' Roll tunes.

Chrono Cross' music was just so relaxing. It made the hours of tedious wandering trying to find out what to do next much more bearable. From the European Termina theme when you first enter there in "Another World", to the battle with Fate, it is all good.

Those are the two for me. I'm also a fan on Yoko Kanno, but I've only been lucky enough to hear her music in anime.

-Crazy

[omnibreak]

It is suprising just how much music can make an experience so much better. Take SFIII for example, I have the hardest time actually getting into the game, but I'm perfectly fine listening to the Hip Hop/Jazz/Techno themes in the game. (I got within a eyelash of buying the soundtrack as an addition to the SF Anniversary Collection Strategy Guide, but alas, I didn't have the funds to do so at the time, and when I did, it was no longer available.) Even in today's games, the soundtrack is unique in a atmosphere where most of them rely on more Rock n' Roll tunes.
-Crazy
I too liked SF III's Music, mainly Double Impact and Third Strike's. Double Impact's songs are mainly remixes of the New Generation's but they sound different enough to be a whole new experience. New song's like Bottoms Up, which I believe is Hugo's song, also make welcome additions. I think it is an interesting, upbeat jazzy tune.

I've played many games over the years so it's hard to recall them all at once. I'm usually not too picky with music. As long as a song makes me feel something, whether it be relaxed or if I simply find a song catchy, I'll enjoy it. I generally like upbeat songs rather than slow songs but do enjoy both.

For now, I would like to name Dark Cloud 2 for this. The music generally had a nice, relaxing feel to it and made the hours of dungeon crawling more bearable. I particularly liked Rainbow Butterfly Woods. I wish this particular song was longer because it loops after only a minute but I still like its melody.

[The Grim Reaper]

Nobody really remembered the soundscapes from Oddworld...they were absolutly beautiful and relaxing. Also, the Tetrissphere soundtrack was very unique....

But by far, Oddworld had some great sounds, even if it was only soundeffects and some rythmic drumming...

[Viltris]

I have some really obscure MP3s from some really obscure, really old games, like Zeux and One Must Fall. (Actually, they're not MP3s. They're tracker MODs. I just recently recorded them into MP3s.)

[Great King Dragon]

Ok, I'm not so sure about this one, but I thought this song is amazing and even though it is a final fantasy song, it was probably overlooked.
Vamo Alla Flamenco from FFIX. As far as my friends and I, I am the only one who knows that song by name and I have it on my computer.

[Tycho238]

Gunstar Heroes for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive had pretty awesome electronic music. Very futuristic sci-fi feel to it, much like Galaga.

I found a site which hosts the soundtrack in mp3 format, but I don't think it would be appropriate to link it.

[Viltris]

Ok, I'm not so sure about this one, but I thought this song is amazing and even though it is a final fantasy song, it was probably overlooked.
Vamo Alla Flamenco from FFIX. As far as my friends and I, I am the only one who knows that song by name and I have it on my computer.

You can't be a Nobuo Uematsu fan and NOT have heard of Vamo Alla Flamenco.

...it's one of the tracks on the second Black Mages CD.

[Daiju]

Beyond Good and Evil, which contains one of my personal favorites: "Home Sweet Home", a very peaceful piano piece adding some "ambient-like" sounds to it. The track "Dancing with Domz" is pretty good too, quite "energic" should we say.

Another ones without adding much comment would be Jade Empire (great epic chinense-japanese style music), Dreamfall: The Longest Journey ("Hospital Room" = <3 ) and pretty much all of the SaGa game series' soundtracks like SaGa Frontier I & II and Unlimited SaGa, even when they are "Square games" (most likely because many disliked the games thus thought the music was bad as well).

And a lil' bit topic related, a certain Anime series' soundtrack which is pretty overlooked IN THE US (because it is damn popular in South America, Japan and some countries in Europe) and I believe to be very good is all of the Saint Seiya series' soundtracks (I believe they are a total of 8 or 9 currently), mixing beautiful orchestral tracks with instumental rock now and then, and some very good chorus-vocal themes. If you want a sample, on my Eternum's OOC thread, in the very first post, the music theme sample/reference I gave to the Water Lore Mare is from that series.[/shamelessadvertising] :dagger:

[kiyo-chan]

Ok, I'm not so sure about this one, but I thought this song is amazing and even though it is a final fantasy song, it was probably overlooked.
Vamo Alla Flamenco from FFIX. As far as my friends and I, I am the only one who knows that song by name and I have it on my computer. I feel like FFFIX was just underrated in general haha. It has some REALLY gorgeous music and yea, lots of people know "Vamo Alla Flamenco", but I'm a fan of the orchestral version of "You're Not Alone" (concert version, actually) because that one just kicks major arse...

[Daiju]

but I'm a fan of the orchestral version of "You're Not Alone" (concert version, actually) because that one just kicks major arse...

What? Where? Which CD?! Tell me!!!! O_O

[Great King Dragon]

Oh... I guess it's just my group of friends then. Most of them are like "What the hell is that?!"

Ok, I guess I was defeated here. YOU WILL RUE THE DAY YOU CROSSED ME!

[Crazy IX]

Ok, I'm not so sure about this one, but I thought this song is amazing and even though it is a final fantasy song, it was probably overlooked.
Vamo Alla Flamenco from FFIX. As far as my friends and I, I am the only one who knows that song by name and I have it on my computer.At what part of the game does that play exactly? Was that the song that played during the Chocobo's Hot and Cold Minigame?

I feel like FFFIX was just underrated in general haha.Agreed, but that is a discussion for another time...

As of late, I've become quite fond of the music that plays on the world map of FFVI. It is just so relaxing.

-Crazy

[Lockedge]

I have some really obscure MP3s from some really obscure, really old games, like Zeux and One Must Fall. (Actually, they're not MP3s. They're tracker MODs. I just recently recorded them into MP3s.)
One Must Fall was so badass. I wish I had a machine that could run that game...
It had a nice soundtrack. Fit the game well.

The new Kameo game has a good soundtrack, as did Psychonauts.
Neverhood and Grim Fandango both had incredible soundtracks as well.

[kiyo-chan]

Neverhood and Grim Fandango both had incredible soundtracks as well.Eeee!! I ADORE the Grim Fandango OST. It's got some really cute and wonderful pieces in it, but I haven't listened to it so long (don't remember where I put it) that I can't recall pieces off the top of my head. I think overall it was really the style of the soundtrack that made it so wonderful to me too (seeing as how I never played th game) but I lurve that "film noir jazz"-type style ^.^

As of late, I've become quite fond of the music that plays on the world map of FFVI. It is just so relaxing. Is that perchance "Kids Run Through City Corners"? I know everyone loves the basics of the FFVI OST ("Terra's Theme"..."Celes's Theme" etcetc) but I truly adore "Kids..." It's touching, relaxing yah, and truly beautiful...especially the piano collections version and the vocal version on Final Fantasy: Pray...which is a bit of an underrated album in and of itself.

[Great King Dragon]

At what part of the game does that play exactly? Was that the song that played during the Chocobo's Hot and Cold Minigame?



I'm not entirely sure (it has been a long time since I played FFIX and it wasnt my favorite in the first place.) But I am fairly certain it is the song that plays in the library. I dont know the name of the library off hand either.

[Viltris]

One Must Fall was so badass. I wish I had a machine that could run that game...
It had a nice soundtrack. Fit the game well.

Any Windows machine with VDMSound can play OMF just fine. Send me a PM, and I can point you to some links.

Is that perchance "Kids Run Through City Corners"? I know everyone loves the basics of the FFVI OST ("Terra's Theme"..."Celes's Theme" etcetc) but I truly adore "Kids..." It's touching, relaxing yah, and truly beautiful...especially the piano collections version and the vocal version on Final Fantasy: Pray...which is a bit of an underrated album in and of itself.

No, the song that plays in the FF6 world map is Terra's Theme.

And in the World of Ruin, it's Searching for Friends.

You... haven't played FF6, have you?

[Lockedge]

Eeee!! I ADORE the Grim Fandango OST. It's got some really cute and wonderful pieces in it, but I haven't listened to it so long (don't remember where I put it) that I can't recall pieces off the top of my head. I think overall it was really the style of the soundtrack that made it so wonderful to me too (seeing as how I never played th game) but I lurve that "film noir jazz"-type style ^.^
I recently played it through just so I could hear all that beautiful music again(I don't have the soundtrack, can't find it offline). Of course, I also wanted to beat it again, so that provided secondary reasoning. :P I don't know many games with better music than Grim Fandango.

Is that perchance "Kids Run Through City Corners"? I know everyone loves the basics of the FFVI OST ("Terra's Theme"..."Celes's Theme" etcetc) but I truly adore "Kids..." It's touching, relaxing yah, and truly beautiful...especially the piano collections version and the vocal version on Final Fantasy: Pray...which is a bit of an underrated album in and of itself.
:O
Kids run through city corners is a great song, but not the main world theme(Terra's Theme, Searching For Friends).
My personal favourites from it are really....well, not many people tend to appreciate them. I'm huge fans of the 'Slam Shuffle', 'Phantom Forest' and 'Coin Song'. It's really hard to choose though, from this soundtrack. I may be biased, but I think it's a masterpiece. There's not a bad track in the game(except for some of the cart tracks in the Narshe Mines).

[kiyo-chan]

You... haven't played FF6, have you? nooo...c'mon, Viltris. How long have you known me now and you still don't know my bad RPG habits? hehe ^_^

[Chinobi]

hmm...I really like a theme song from Tekken (PSP version) don't remember what its called, but its played when you fight Devil Jin in the winter cathedral map. (for those of you who have played Tekken PSP)

I also like the theme songs from the .Hack Series, which I still can't find. lol no matter how much I search ebay/amazon/animesuki torrents nothing. Niet. lol.

[Azhrei]

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey ("Hospital Room" = <3 )

Oh God, yes. I'll also put in a vote for Final Fantasy - Crystal Chronicles, and Okami if nobody has mentioned it yet. Curse of Monkey Island had some really nice, relaxing pieces, and one track from Donkey Kong Country on the SNES (though all of the sound design in that game was fantastic), the music for the underwater levels, was exceptionally beautiful.

[Viltris]

nooo...c'mon, Viltris. How long have you known me now and you still don't know my bad RPG habits? hehe ^_^

Yes yes, you're the giggling ninja schoolgirl who's played very few games but has listened to the soundtrack to many games.

Seriously, though, you should play FF6. It's considered one of the best (if not THE best) FF by many FF fans.

[Great_Demon]

Michael Hoenig and his work with the Baldur's Gate games is just great, he may have done the Icewind Dale ones but i'm not sure, anyway his music is awesome.

Interstate 76 had pretty funky music, 70's style and Interstate 82 had 80's style, but the music was pretty damn good in both games.

Who can forget the Dynasty Warrior games and there lovely rock style soundtracks, just awesome most of the guitar work is done by MASA whos from Gackt.

Zone of the Enders had a real nice soundtrack with songs from Heart of Air, the 2nd runner had a overall better soundtrack though compared to the first game.

Summoner one of the most underatted RPG's for both PC and PS2 was such a great game with an awesome soundtrack. The second game sucked though both soundtrack and all.

[Crazy IX]

I just remembered another game with a great soundtrack:

Legend of Mana

My personal favorite off of the soundtrack was the music that played when you went to the Bejeweled City. It perfectly fit the events of the storyline at the time.

I'm not entirely sure (it has been a long time since I played FFIX and it wasnt my favorite in the first place.) But I am fairly certain it is the song that plays in the library. I dont know the name of the library off hand either.

Was it Daguerro, or something like that?

-Crazy

[Daiju]

hmm...I really like a theme song from Tekken (PSP version) don't remember what its called, but its played when you fight Devil Jin in the winter cathedral map. (for those of you who have played Tekken PSP)

I also like the theme songs from the .Hack Series, which I still can't find. lol no matter how much I search ebay/amazon/animesuki torrents nothing. Niet. lol.

Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection sure has many great tracks. I am particulary attacted to the "Snow Castle" music theme... something about those chants...

Oh and the Vamo Alla Flamenco track? it plays on:
- Chocobo Hot and Cold mini-game
- The opening theater act, when Zidane and Blank (was that his name?) act their sword-fight.

Tales of Legendia just came to my mind. No Motoi Sakuraba here, good or bad I don't know but damn... this Go Shiina guy rocks! his other stuff is hard to come by though. There is something about they way the violin plays on his tracks that make this different, on a positive way.

[Fluff]

Honestly, I don't know what classifies as generally unrecognized these days.
I really like listening to the music of Masashi Hamuzu since I really find a lot a fresh and innovative stuff in his work. I preferred his contributions in the FFX OST over the others.

I like some of the music in Dragon Quest but sometimes end up getting bored - maybe it's a hit or miss thing.

I think the Overworld map music for FFVI is Terra. That was the first piece i really appreciated from final fantasy and I would have my character stay motionless on the screen just to hear it play out. The world of chaos theme is quite beautiful and somehow sorrowful as well.

[Chinobi]

^ woah, talk about old term member return. lol welcome back Fluff!

[Xns]

The .Hack series isn't hard to find. Which particular one are you looking for?

Also, a couple of games that have great soundtracks that went unoticed:

Gitaroo Man
Jet Set Radio Future

[Sitorimon]

I agree with daiju - Jade Empire's soundtrack is excellent - as is Jack Wall's Myst series' music too - especially Myst III Exile. Its just so dramatic and ambient and huge all at once.

I've noticed I really enjoy the Atelier Iris soundtracks but I don't hear much mentioned of those - I've been a bit out of the forum loop of late so they may have cropped up somewhere! Also Legaia Duel Saga is always up on my player for various reasons too - some excellent music all round there. Fun fun I love LocoRoco music too - just high pitched zany voices!

I've never heard anyone talk of the beautifully peaceful and melodic Age of Mythology soundtrack either, nor the Atlantis soundtracks by the bonkers Pierre Esteve who is an unhinged genius with music.

I wish I could gain the Tekken 2 soundtrack on CD somewhere as I adored the music in that game.

Lastly on this random thought trail a lot of my favourite vgm never was released, like the Tomb Raider music I adored (thank god for redbook audio) or the gentle calm guitar of Dog's Life. Ahh, I love game music :)

Si

[Fluff]

Can anyone recommend any vocal VGM CDs? Especially if there are English although it would be nice if the vocalists could sing in English with a bit more clarity.

And I've just listened to Jade's Empire soundtrack and it does sound great.

[Sitorimon]

Fluff: I don't know if it'll intrest you but there's a band called Visa Roster whom do completely vocal renditions of various songs from the commodore 64 - but its not words its all beatboxing and scat stuff but I bet you'll find their fantastic rendition of International Karate on youtube.

Si

[Fluff]

Thanks, I'll check it out later.