I can co-sign a couple of these. DKC is just an incredible soundtrack, but I'm biased towards to DKC 2. First heard Snake Eater on Smash Bros Ultimate, another banger! Thanks for the add-ons!
So many excellent ones here! And some I don’t yet know and will have to go listen to (and maybe file them away for one of my future Tunesday posts).
Your description of Midna's Lament is spot on. It's such a perfect fit to what's going on in the game. It's also one I haven’t listened to in far too long. Sounds like it's time to bump Twilight Princess up in my listening queue.
- just listen to the original and then ALL of the remixes, everything from chip tunes to heavy metal, it all sounds SO GOOD
Death's Door
- the entire OST is worth listening to, but The Grey Crow, among many others, is a standout in my opinion, especially in the context of the game (I'm not spoiling anything!)
Castlevania - Bloody Tears
- I'm not sure if there's anything to say here other than...go have a listen!
This one may come out of left field, but Warframe has some incredible music. The sound team has composed a ton of stuff over the past decade and much of it is completely unexpected. For a game about "space ninjas", you wouldn't necessarily expect a chain-gang song, a sea shanty, or a boy band tune that could have been pulled straight from the radio waves of 1999... But one of the pinnacle pieces for me is "Final Ascent" from the Jade Shadows story.
The storyline itself is far too spoiler-laden to even summarize, but the music here is a triumphant finale that is only matched by the sheer epic badassitude on display as you play through the last mission of the arc.
It's too hard to choose a favorite soundtrack as I have so. many. But the first one that came to mind is from Final Fantasy XV, Apocalypsis Aquarius. Say what you will about that game, the scene that accompanies that piece is just incredible. While not very engaging gameplay-wise, it is one of the best visual experiences accompanied by one of the best pieces I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.
As an overall soundtrack, I think the Journey OST takes the cake for me. The soundtrack is so integral to the game that it cannot be considered as a different element. The game revolves around its soundtrack, and the soundtrack revolves around the game. 'I Was Born For This' will never not make me tear up. Austin Wintory is an actual genius. Listen to this!
Another mention I would make is Darren Korb, who makes the music for the Hades games. The integration of the soundtrack to the game is just incredible. I actually stopped and listened to Good Riddance for quite a while when I first came across the room it's played in. And fighting against the Sirens in Hades II while they sing Coral Crown? That song goes HARD hah!
Great idea this article. I spend so much time listening to videogame music, and it's been underrated for a long time, but slowly making its way into the more mainstream musical scene. I'm seeing musical influencers analysing tunes from videogames, etc. this is pretty cool!
Sharing some favourites:
- Chrono Cross - Scars of Time and Radical Dreams powerful intro and outro
- Chrono Trigger - Corridors of Time but the whole soundtrack is excellent, although probably best enjoyed once you've finished this classic game.
- Stardew Valley - Dance of the Moonlight Fellies simply peaceful
- Octopath Traveler - The Riverlands or The Frostlands: great game with excellent tunes to listen to on your travels
- The whole FFVII Remake soundtrack: maybe cliche / easy choice, but you have to recognise the amount of work on this one is colossal. 156 tracks for 8h30 of music with some crazy tunes like One-Winged Angel or J-E-N-O-V-A. I think Uematsu and his team did an amazing job at rearranging tracks from FFVII and creating new classics too.
- The whole Journey soundtrack! But especially Apotheosis and I Was Born for This
It really is. I listen to a lot of it while I work and will add some of these to the playlist.
That's part of the goal of my newsletter. Either explain gaming in a way that's accessible
to those that don't or find cool trends within gaming that are more mainstream than what people think. So it's nice to hear this piece struck a cord for you.
Well I never really have the opportunity to discuss this topic with people around me because videogames are not an interest of theirs (or not enough to have a conversation about videogame music specifically), so it's nice to have an opportunity to chat a little about it!
Fantastic list and idea! I'll add a few ones:
Corridors of Time - Chrono Trigger
Aquatic Ambience - DK Country
Snake Eater - Metal Gear Solid 3
I can co-sign a couple of these. DKC is just an incredible soundtrack, but I'm biased towards to DKC 2. First heard Snake Eater on Smash Bros Ultimate, another banger! Thanks for the add-ons!
David Wise is truly a musical genius
Amazing list!!
One of my favorites is Departure from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
So many excellent ones here! And some I don’t yet know and will have to go listen to (and maybe file them away for one of my future Tunesday posts).
Your description of Midna's Lament is spot on. It's such a perfect fit to what's going on in the game. It's also one I haven’t listened to in far too long. Sounds like it's time to bump Twilight Princess up in my listening queue.
I'll add some honourable mentions here too:
Crypt of the Necrodancer
- just listen to the original and then ALL of the remixes, everything from chip tunes to heavy metal, it all sounds SO GOOD
Death's Door
- the entire OST is worth listening to, but The Grey Crow, among many others, is a standout in my opinion, especially in the context of the game (I'm not spoiling anything!)
Castlevania - Bloody Tears
- I'm not sure if there's anything to say here other than...go have a listen!
Great post, Harrison!
This one may come out of left field, but Warframe has some incredible music. The sound team has composed a ton of stuff over the past decade and much of it is completely unexpected. For a game about "space ninjas", you wouldn't necessarily expect a chain-gang song, a sea shanty, or a boy band tune that could have been pulled straight from the radio waves of 1999... But one of the pinnacle pieces for me is "Final Ascent" from the Jade Shadows story.
https://warframe.bandcamp.com/track/final-ascent
The storyline itself is far too spoiler-laden to even summarize, but the music here is a triumphant finale that is only matched by the sheer epic badassitude on display as you play through the last mission of the arc.
Great article Harrison! I was already premeditating a comment about why there’s no Stickerbrush sympathy but you saved the best until last.
Course mate!! Of course! I always put my contributions last! You hear enough from me in this newsletter!
What a collab!
It's too hard to choose a favorite soundtrack as I have so. many. But the first one that came to mind is from Final Fantasy XV, Apocalypsis Aquarius. Say what you will about that game, the scene that accompanies that piece is just incredible. While not very engaging gameplay-wise, it is one of the best visual experiences accompanied by one of the best pieces I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.
As an overall soundtrack, I think the Journey OST takes the cake for me. The soundtrack is so integral to the game that it cannot be considered as a different element. The game revolves around its soundtrack, and the soundtrack revolves around the game. 'I Was Born For This' will never not make me tear up. Austin Wintory is an actual genius. Listen to this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftM6xTCqvZU
Another mention I would make is Darren Korb, who makes the music for the Hades games. The integration of the soundtrack to the game is just incredible. I actually stopped and listened to Good Riddance for quite a while when I first came across the room it's played in. And fighting against the Sirens in Hades II while they sing Coral Crown? That song goes HARD hah!
I’m gunna go listen to all of this right NOW! Thank you!
Great idea this article. I spend so much time listening to videogame music, and it's been underrated for a long time, but slowly making its way into the more mainstream musical scene. I'm seeing musical influencers analysing tunes from videogames, etc. this is pretty cool!
Sharing some favourites:
- Chrono Cross - Scars of Time and Radical Dreams powerful intro and outro
- Chrono Trigger - Corridors of Time but the whole soundtrack is excellent, although probably best enjoyed once you've finished this classic game.
- Stardew Valley - Dance of the Moonlight Fellies simply peaceful
- Octopath Traveler - The Riverlands or The Frostlands: great game with excellent tunes to listen to on your travels
- The whole FFVII Remake soundtrack: maybe cliche / easy choice, but you have to recognise the amount of work on this one is colossal. 156 tracks for 8h30 of music with some crazy tunes like One-Winged Angel or J-E-N-O-V-A. I think Uematsu and his team did an amazing job at rearranging tracks from FFVII and creating new classics too.
- The whole Journey soundtrack! But especially Apotheosis and I Was Born for This
Thank you!
It really is. I listen to a lot of it while I work and will add some of these to the playlist.
That's part of the goal of my newsletter. Either explain gaming in a way that's accessible
to those that don't or find cool trends within gaming that are more mainstream than what people think. So it's nice to hear this piece struck a cord for you.
Well I never really have the opportunity to discuss this topic with people around me because videogames are not an interest of theirs (or not enough to have a conversation about videogame music specifically), so it's nice to have an opportunity to chat a little about it!
Herald of Darkness is actually the correct answer
I experienced this song in the context of the game and it was UNREAL. The music and gameplay worked so well together!!
It's such a good tune! But is best listened to in the context of the game I reckon?
It's used so contextually there, and you miss a dimension of it's meaning if you just hear it through a streaming service?