I figure I'd post this because I've been listening to quite a bit of game music lately.
I'd like to hear some opinions: which game companies do you think make the best music? Which games have some of the greatest music you've ever heard?
Personally, I've always loved the music Rare makes. From the old Donkey Kong Country games (Mining Melancholy and Stickerbush Symphony *crag* yeah) to more recent games such as Viva Pinata and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts n' Bolts, their music has always felt incredibly epic in one way or another.
Another company on my top list is obviously HAL. I seriously love the *crag*ing music in Kirby games.
Also a favorite would have to be the folks at Nintendo for the Super Mario Galaxy/Metroid Prime soundtracks. (though I still hate 90% of the New Super Mario Bros music because of that stupid *crag*ing "BUH-BUH-BUH" noise)
After hearing some of the music from the upcoming World of Warcraft: Cataclysm expansion, I can certainly say that Blizzard has also earned a place on my list of god-tier music.
Other favorites of mine include Namco and Konami, more on that later probably.
Maybe I'll post some links to favorite examples later. Feel free to post some of your favorite songs and the like.
Replies:
From years of listening to in game osts I can probably say I have the hugest hard-on from listening to anything capcom shits out(a few of the best were remixes however). Music from RARE, Nintendo, and SEGA are also really *crag*ing good, and then theres a few games outside of those main companies where I like the specific OST for that game but don't give a shit for anything else the company makes like Bomberman 64's soundtrack and The World is Not Enough.
But for the most part I'm usually all over any sort of in-game music orchestration that I can get rip off off of youtube, I can probably flood this entire *crag*ing forum with tracks that've rubbed me the right way, trust me I'm not that picky about it, but instead I'll stick to a few that either blew my god damn mind or were simply just amazing.
MM10: Solar Man stage theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oj2rYq-Q5Y
MM10: Enker stage theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWIyMzmbhhA
MM10: Punk stage theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdcHN9TSyIw
Bionic Cammando Rearmed: Heatwave(*CRAG* YEAH)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfy8CEd_50w
Bionic Cammando Rearmed: Main Theme(*CRAG* YEAH)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6th_wyfdu1Q
F-Zero Expansion Kit: Rainbow Road(Creamed my panties like a school girl)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vNjzrkPMUw
Sonic Advenure: Red Hot Skull(This was always seem kinda overlooked, but then again it's Sonic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzorhmaOstI
DKC2: Flight of the Zingers(Bees)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feoFZIRuic0
DKC2: King K Rool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9_RnUZf9n4
DMC1: Sparda Battle theme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_tL_x1sMB4
I think you get the point here.
I love you.
No homo.