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Forums - Gaming - 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
pokoko on 02 August 2013

Oh, and before we forget--



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DialgaMarine on 02 August 2013

I actually do agree with this question. While all music in the world is related in that it all shares deep roots, Nintendo definitely does have the most unique and universally recognizable themes, namely Mario, Pokemon, and Zelda. Sony has some great music in games like GoW or Uncharted, but they more obviously derived from older works of music (namely Clash of the Titans and Lawrence of Arabia). Although Nintendo hasn't made an original tune in years, I will give them that.



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Trunkin on 02 August 2013

Nintendo's soundtracks have a unique charm that makes them almost inseperable from the games they're composed for, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to say that they're the only ones making unique music. FFXIII, and especially XIII-2, for example, both have extremely unique soundtracks. There's also Bravely Default(also SquEnix), LittleBigPlanet(not all original, but still counts, IMO), SCEJ games, ClaDun, basically every Sonic game ever, God Eater, Nier, Bastion, Superbrothers, Krater, Return All Robots, etc. etc.



ChrolloLucilfer on 02 August 2013

With Nintendo games normally having less voice work than other developer games. I wonder if they spend longer on music side of things to compensate and fill the emotional/mood/dramatic tension void that voice acting would otherwise bring to particular section of a game.



Otakumegane on 02 August 2013

Yeah a lot of people summed it up well.

Japan usually has more melodious OSTs, but the West can have em too. Not just a Nintendo thing.



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BloodyRain on 02 August 2013

It's mostly Japanese based games with great sound tracks. There are a few from the west too. Some memorable ones are ff13 so I don't agree.



F0X on 02 August 2013

Rei Kondoh.

He also composed some of the music in Fire Emblem: Awakening.

And he was the main composer for Bayonetta, I believe.



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miz1q2w3e on 02 August 2013

Mario Galaxy alone wins them the title forever.



FarleyMcFirefly on 02 August 2013
LilChicken22 said:
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.


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


I agree.  After hearing that Skyward Sword would get the orchestral treatment that Super Mario Galaxy received, I was ecstatic, because those soundtracks (especially Galaxy 2) are among the best I've ever heard.  Skyward Sword's just sounds generic... Not very memorable, I only really remember Ballad of the Goddess, which is just Zelda's Lullaby backwards.



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Trunkin on 02 August 2013
FarleyMcFirefly said:
LilChicken22 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 agree.  After hearing that Skyward Sword would get the orchestral treatment that Super Mario Galaxy received, I was ecstatic, because those soundtracks (especially Galaxy 2) are among the best I've ever heard.  Skyward Sword's just sounds generic... Not very memorable, I only really remember Ballad of the Goddess, which is just Zelda's Lullaby backwards.

There was also Fi's theme.

 

I know what you mean, though. I felt the same way. Actually, in my opinion, every Zelda since WW has had a disappointing soundtrack, though I do prefer SS's to TP's.