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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Is Nintendo the only one coming with really unique gaming soundtracks?

 

Who makes the best gaming soundtracks these days?

Nintendo 178 71.20%
 
Sony 65 26.00%
 
Microsoft 7 2.80%
 
Total:250
deadly2choke on 02 August 2013

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journey soundtrack was nominated for grammy



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osed125 on 02 August 2013

There are always going to be exceptions, but I mostly agree to this. But it's not Nintendo, it's a Japan thing in general. Most Atlus games have good soundtracks (but not necessarily unique), and as much as I hate FF XIII, the soundtrack is one of the few things that's very good about that game. 

Overall I don't think it's Nintendo only, it's more that Japanese developers tend to focus more on the soundtrack than westerns developers. 



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Xen on 02 August 2013
Soleron said:

Nintendo hires composers that can create memorable soundtracks (Koji Kondo (Mario, Zelda), Kenji Yamamoto (DKCR, Metroid), Mahito Yokota (Galaxy), and Hirokaza Tanaka (Animal Crossing) did the games you listed, and I also like Yuka Tsujiyoko (Fire Emblem), Jun Ishikawa (Kirby) and Junichi Masuda (Pokemon).

But there are others in the industry that can do this. Yoko Shimomura who worked on Dream Team and Xenoblade that you listed has plenty of other games. Also look at Motoi Sakuraba (Tales of), Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy) and Yuzo Koshiro (Ys).

It's more like, only Japan can do it. As you say, the West are more interested in background, film score like composers. Again though, there are a few who are capable of being memorable. Jeremy Soule (Skyrim) is someone who does both.

Lately, I feel games are ashamed of BEING games and all want to be cinematic. From Versus XIII to Skyward Sword to Starcraft II, everything wants to be a film now. So memorable soundtracks are getting rarer. Plus all of the 80s composers are retiring/moving away from composing.

Gotta agree, here.

However, as far as western composers go, you can't go wrong with Jesper Kyd. My absolute favorite.

Makes you wonder why games like Uncharted have such uninspired music usually, when those would work amazingly.



Anfebious on 02 August 2013
osed125 said:

There are always going to be exceptions, but I mostly agree to this. But it's not Nintendo, it's a Japan thing in general. Most Atlus games have good soundtracks (but not necessarily unique), and as much as I hate FF XIII, the soundtrack is one of the few things that's very good about that game. 

Overall I don't think it's Nintendo only, it's more that Japanese developers tend to focus more on the soundtrack than westerns developers. 


That's why I like more japanese games! The soundtrack can make a game a lot better! 



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KHlover on 02 August 2013
MDMAlliance said:

 


uematsu ftw



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MDMAlliance on 02 August 2013

Even though this is on a Nintendo platform, Nintendo had no part in the creation of the music for the title.



edit: Let's add another here





Soleron on 02 August 2013
LilChicken22 said:
Soleron said:

...


I thought Skyward Sword OST was indeed a bit dissapointing, but I can't say it was cinematic? Do you have some examples?

I thought it was entirely ambient except for 'Field'. And I know that composer can do better because he did for Galaxy.



badgenome on 02 August 2013

I laughed when I read the title. That you seem to be talking about first parties makes it slightly less laughable, I guess.

But no.

And of course



Ssenkahdavic on 02 August 2013

Atlus wins this one easily.



 

  

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ishiki on 02 August 2013

Deus Ex Human Revolution has my favorite Soundtrack... It's very ambient so it's not as easy for snippets but in game its so perfect.

The Third Birthday and Xenoblade are closely behind. Atlus has pretty awesome soundtracks too, all of the dead spaces were pretty awesome, but they were more ambient again. So answer to your question is no for me. But not every game great game has great music.