Is Nintendo the only one coming with really unique gaming soundtracks?

[Xen]

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.