completely new to game music, what would you reccomend?

Howdy everyone! A friend of mine sent me a copy of the soundtrack to Mcgee’s Alice he said I would really like it and he was right I have never heard anything quite like it! I play this soundtrack a lot now, and started to wonder if there may be other really cool game soundtracks out there? I just got super mario galaxy on his reccomendation and that I enjoyed as well (though it isnt quite as dark and emotional and Alice, it’s still a great listen). So can anyone reccomend any other good beginner soundtracks for someone who really isn’t a gamer (the last system I had was nintendo 64, and I still have my atari 2600 LOL). I like music that tells a story, I like music that is dark, or emotional and really sounds different. I also like really big bombastic over the top sort of music. I normally collect movie soundtracks, so to give you an idea of what I like here are some of my favorites: Raiders of the Lost ark, Creepshow, Transformers the movie (the old animated version), Halloween 3 season of the witch, Trick or treat (fastway),Chess original cast (broadway play), Project A-ko, Nausiccaa, 20,000 Leagues (Disney version, love the pipe organ bits), Killer Klowns from Outerspace, Fright Night, Romancing the Stone, Children of the Corn. Ok I think thats enough to give you an idea.

So since there a lot of game soundtrack fans on here… what would you reccomend?

Metal…Gear?

I think Final Fantasy is a good place to start… it got me hooked on game music! There are 12 games, all with great soundtracks, but my current favourite is Final Fantasy VIII.

Ummm… I’m also currently listening to the ‘Gyakuten meets Orchestra’ album, which is Phoenix Wright Music arranged for orchestra. You can download it from http://finalturnabout.com/music/

Other good soundtracks…. Umm…. Super Smash Bros, The Legend of Zelda, SaGa Frontier 2… and Metal Gear 😀 Those are the only ones that spring to mind at the moment.

Hope this is helpful!

I really like orchestrated game music, and my favorite game series is Legend of Zelda, so I would DEFINITELY recommend "The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Symphony", and "Majora’s Mask Orchestrations". They may not be that dark, but I think the music is some of the best you will find out there.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

The Darkness Soundtrack.

You will love vgm music when you hear this!!

Based on what you said, Silent Hill 3.

Thanks everyone keep them coming, I am downloading The Darkness as we speak. I appreciate all the input. 🙂

I can’t believe nobody have mentioned Jeremy Soules yet! Anyway, go for Elder Scrolls Morrowind and Oblivion. Oh, and don’t forget Guild Wars Prophecies and Faction! Listen to the theme songs, they are amazing.

Well, you can have a little preview at his site:

www.directsong.com have fun. 😉

To be more specific, if you like emotional type music then try Final Fantasy Dirge of Cerberus OST. For some bombastic type music I always recommend Soul Calibur Music.

Try searching for KH Insider (can’t link cause this forum won’t allow), search for Soul Calibur II OST within that site and you can preview the entire soundtrack before downloading it. It’s truly is worth a listen. 😀

Well I guess I am gonna have to wait on the darkness one for now… I cannot find the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night soundtrack only promo tracks.
I know this is going to sound crazy, being on a FF forum but I really don’t know a thing about final fantasy (I have seen the one movie, can’t remember the name…. awesome graphics horrible story… I think it had ghost in the title?). Going to look for: The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Symphony,Metal Gear, and silent hill3 in just a moment and probably the elder scrolls I liked what I heard in the samples. Thanks for all the help guys if you think of any more please put them up.

I agree with everyone, Mostly the MGS and Silent Hill replies Final fantasy music is great for them long nights you really need to think or study. any Tekken lovers around? The sims has a good song about ritz crackers but its hard to find outside the sims2 game, my buddy dant_e is great at music he could definetly help out. Animal crossing and pinkmin have interesting music too.

Hi, I’m new here on this forum but I’ve been living with games OST for a while.
If everyone puts a stone for a newcomer to listen sweets and beautifull things…
I say, Mr Uematsu ( FF7, piano collection’s’, FF6, … ), Mr Sakuraba ( Valkyrie Profile’s’, Star Ocean’s’, Baten Kaitos 1&2, and do many others ), hmmmmm…. Mr Hamauzu, all his ost’s are crazy ( Unlimited Saga !!! too bad the game is so strange, Saga Frontier, FF7 Dirge of cerberus … ), Mr Sakimoto ( FF Tactics !!! Vagrant Story ! STella Deus ) and a women to finish, Mme Yoko Shimomura ( Legend Of Mana !!! Kingdom Hearts 1&2 !!! )

Well… Good begining

As for western game music…..check out Michael Giacchino (Medal of Honor: Frontline and Airborne are two great OST’s by him). Check out Christopher Lennertz’s work on the MOH: Rising Sun music, that is the game that got me hooked to game music. I guess Jeremy Soule’s already been mentioned. Steve Burke’s work on Kameo: Elements of Power has some dark themes. All the Halo series music is good (Martin O’Donnell). The darkest-themed OST I can think of is Lair by John Debney (a PS3 game). Well, that’s all I can think of for now. Hope you consider these!

Although you seem to have a propensity for orchestral stuff, if you have any inkling that you’d enjoy more of an electronic sound then I’d highly recommend Command & Conquer and Command & Conquer: Red Alert by Frank Klepacki. Those are both easily in my top ten all-time favorite soundtracks.

As for orchestral stuff, I have to second the Soul Calibur 2 suggestion. Right now, that’s easily my favorite orchestral soundtrack. Not a ton of dark stuff, but very enjoyable.

I’ve also been listening to Castlevania: Lament of Innocence. It’s relatively dark and seems like something in-line with your tastes.

If you have an interest in any of the above and have trouble finding them, I might be able to upload them for you.

Thanks everyone. I have downloaded and listened to: the darkness (really like this one), Castylvania symphony of the night (some of it is a bit too electronic, but overall very enjoyable and I really like the organ pieces in there), I finally was able to download silent hill3 (and silent hill zero), and Legend of Zelda Hyrule Symphony havn’t yet listened to those. Working on finding soul caliber 2, and elder scrolls. Loving all the suggestions, I have heard of pinkmin so may try that out (love the boondocks avatar btw), the command and conquer ones sound interesting, I do like electronic music if its done well (kraftwerk).

Both Castylvania series, and the Final Fantasy series have me a little intimidated… there is soooo much there I am not sure where I should start really (I did try the Castylvania symphony of the night and liked it pretty well, but I don’t want a single album to ruin my objectivity to the entire series if you know what I mean?) Some of these you guys are telling me the composer, but not really the game titles so I am having a hard time finding them (is unlimited saga the actual name?) I would love to hear some of those they sound great (I like different and crazy).

How many final fantasy albums and games are there anyways? it seems endless! Having never played the games I have no idea what the series is even about honestly.
Thanks again for having the patience with a newbee and telling me your favorites really liking what I am hearing so far!

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=X5HUBD9L

Donkey Kong Country 2. Excellent, excellent soundtrack.