So the obvious Music Monday this week would almost certainly be the one that ties in with issue 150 of the podcast, and celebrates the much-lauded soundtrack to Hotline Miami.
However, though I like what I’ve heard of the music to that game, I’ve only played the first few levels and so to talk about how much the OST means to me would be disingenuous. Anyway, there are plenty of bits from the game on the podcast, hopefully enough to tempt you into seeking the full selection out.
Instead I thought I’d go for another ‘crowd-pleaser’, from the fondly remembered Bitmap Bros. designed shooter from 1989, Xenon 2: Megablast.
I say Bitmap. Bros. designed because, as often seems to be forgotten, Xenon 2 wasn’t coded by the Ray-ban wearing, non-biological siblings of Montgomery, Matthews, Kelly and co., but by The Assembly Line (Interphase, Cybercon III, Pipe Mania, E-motion).
Back in the late 80s, coming off the back of some amazing but obviously computer chip-generated tunes we could scarcely believe what our Amigas (and STs) were pumping out – serviceable and entirely recognisable versions of recent chart hits (see also The Power)!
Even those of us who were already into the computer game music scene started hooking our gaming machines and TVs up to superior sound systems to get the extra oomph that these thumping beats deserved.
I bought myself a pair of speakers which were clearly a hastily repurposed rear set for a car, as well as plugging the Amiga and Mega Drive through to a friend’s ‘ghetto blaster’ to record two 90 minute cassettes full of game music (which I still have to this day).
This is the version – the sample-infested Amiga intro incarnation – I committed to cassette for posterity (and portable listening pleasure)...
Re: The videogame music thread - share your favourite tunes
Posted: October 24th, 2014, 3:00 pm
by Flabyo
The Amiga you say? I think I might've had one of those...
SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: October 29th, 2014, 9:44 am
by JaySevenZero
Here's where you can leave us your own submissions for your favourite pieces of video game music so we might include them within future episodes of Sound of Play. What we would ask of you is offer us a brief explanation (no essays please - we're trying to keep the show under an hour!) as to why the particular track resonates with you and and if possible, a YouTube link to the track in question - this will make our job easier when it comes to adding the correct audio to the show.
Also worth noting to perhaps try and avoid spoilers whenever possible in your submissions too
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: October 29th, 2014, 10:51 am
by Katieee120
This year I played one of the best games I've ever played. The story, characters, combat were all amazing but something that was even more incredible was the soundtrack. The game I'm talking about is The Last of Us. This is one of the best soundtracks I've heard in a long time. This game reduced me to tears a couple of times and the reason for that is mostly because of the music. The end of the prologue section, during the scene between Joel and his daughter, is incredibly moving and the music, the Guitar being softly played in the background, just adds to the atmosphere. The track I'm going to give you here though is the games main theme, what you hear in the opening credits. It's got a very eery, spine chilling feel to it and the way it builds up throughout is just incredible, absolutely love this soundtrack to pieces. Gustavo Santaolalla known for the creation of some awesome pieces of music in films such as Brokeback Mountain and Babel has outdone himself yet again. Well done sir.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: October 29th, 2014, 9:16 pm
by Alex79
My favourite piece of music in a video game is An End, Once And For All, from Mass Effect 3. It just summed up the entire trilogy for me, and the emotions I felt as the game drew to it's conclusion couldn't have been scored more perfectly.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: October 29th, 2014, 11:15 pm
by magicjoef
Although I loved all of the Fez soundtrack, in particular the track Sync really stuck with me. Playing in time with the appearing and disappearing in-game platforms it was yet another way that Fez pulled me into it's fantastic world.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 1st, 2014, 7:39 pm
by FollowMyRuin
For me, Kraid's theme from the original Metroid stands out to me as an exemplary piece of in game music.
It just seems to evoke a sense of peril and evil that helps to develop the awesome sense of place. The fact that it's short and looping really helps to enforce these notions.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 2nd, 2014, 12:23 am
by craigieh
Probably my favourite game of all time. If Bethesda's environmental world building wasn't enough to drop me into a hostile yet alluring environment, Inon Zur's astounding soundtrack was reason enough to anchor me there for a good 100 hours. Sparse, evocative, haunting: a perfect audio representation of the Capital Wasteland, one of the most intensive holidays I've ever taken...
Re: The videogame music thread - share your favourite tunes
Posted: November 2nd, 2014, 1:23 am
by mikeleddy83
Loved this one, from the first game the podcast got me into picking up: Superbrothers!
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 2nd, 2014, 12:54 pm
by Scrustle
There are so many songs I'd love to share, and I'm sure I could ramble on about them forever, but I'll try to keep this short and start off with this piece from what I think is a pretty underrated game. "The Throne Room", by Oscar Araujo, from Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2. Much like its predecessor, the game has a gorgeous, sweeping orchestral soundtrack, and it's hard to pick just one song, and this is just one of many tracks I've listened to over and over.
It starts with a brooding and melancholy opening, perfectly setting the mood for the dark and tragic character of Dracula as the game introduces him, but then it builds and builds to an extremely powerful and tense crescendo which is overflowing with a sense of drama and power, before finishing off with a short outro of an unnerving and foreboding strings section, which leaves a lingering feeling of dread that complements earlier parts of the song by giving them an increased sense of dramatic weight.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 5th, 2014, 3:31 pm
by peatear
Panzer Dragoon Saga -Sona mi areru ec sancitu
Slow starting song that builds into something special. From one of my favourite games that is criminally underplayed though for obvious reasons
GTAIV -Soviet Connection
The main theme is absolutely fantastic. John Williams himself commented on how good a composition it is.
Shenmue -Sedge Tree
I game that I loved at the time and in no small part to this fantastic piece of music.
Xenoblade Chronicles -Mechonis Field
A song in a part of the game that kept me in that area far longer than I thought just to listen to this over and over. Ties fantastically with the industrial setting of that particular place.
Assassins Creed II -Venice rooftops
No better music to run across renaissance Italy to. Unfortunately Jesper Kyd has not composed an Assassins Creed since Revelations.
Final Fantasy VIII -Compression of Time
Really sums up the section of the game in which it occurs during which time is going haywire and this song represents that brilliantly while also being great in its own right.
Re: The videogame music thread - share your favourite tunes
Posted: November 5th, 2014, 5:41 pm
by Flabyo
I do love a bit of pizzicato...
Re: The videogame music thread - share your favourite tunes
Posted: November 12th, 2014, 2:12 am
by mikeleddy83
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 13th, 2014, 4:21 pm
by Solm
Loving the new podcast. I've been listening to gaming podcast for a while now notably DorkTunes (if I'm allowed to say). So it's nice to have another podcast to add to that. One of my favourite games of all time is Mario Galaxy 1. One of my fav tracks from the game is opening title: Super Mario Galaxy. What can I say about this game it's pure FUN. Love the game design the colourful and magical worlds. Everytime I play this it just puts a smile on my face. It's pure Nintendo genuis.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 13th, 2014, 4:26 pm
by ratsoalbion
Solm wrote:I've been listening to gaming podcast for a while now notably DorkTunes (if I'm allowed to say). So it's nice to have another podcast to add to that.
That's exactly how we felt about it. DorkTunes obviously got there years ahead of us but there are of course hundreds of gaming casts and not many of them are devoted solely to audio. We imagine that any games music fan would be interested in listening to both shows as each offers their own tone and take on the subject and, of course, their own selections.
Glad you're enjoying our efforts so far.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 14th, 2014, 1:25 am
by Tleprie
There's so many good songs that I want to share, but I'll start with something fun, before diving into the more emotional pieces.
From Edmund McMillen's Basement Collection, this song got me through a couple thousand clicks in A.V.G.M.. Its great to listen to on repeat while working on homework or just when looking for something fun.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 14th, 2014, 1:35 pm
by FollowMyRuin
Aural goodness:
Peaceful Repose seems to capture what made Flower such a special game, it evokes such a tangible sense of catharsis and peace. My two year old son seems to respond to it in the same way I do. Beautiful piece.
Re: SoP submissions *please read first post*
Posted: November 15th, 2014, 12:04 am
by Flabyo
Right, now I know a little more about the style of the show, I've deleted this request and I'm going to pick something a little more obscure...
