Best Video Game Soundtracks

[Aurian]

(We have a best soundtrack thread but I wanted one for the soundtrack as a whole rather than individual songs.)

I have a coupon for a discount for some soundtrack CDs but I need to spend enough for two soundtracks to use it. I was thinking of getting the Ar Tonelico soundtrack - I haven't tried that yet. I was hoping to get some suggestions for soundtracks I haven't picked up yet.

Favs: Xenoblade, Nier, Radiant Historia, Xenosaga
Honorable mentions: Last Story, FFXIII, FFVIII, FFX, Catherine, End of Eternity, Crono Cross, Divinity, Persona/SMT soundtracks
Bad for me: FFXII, FF-Type 0, Arc Rise Fantasia, Drammatica, FF:Dirge of Cerberus, large chunks of the Last Story Soundtrack

I should explain a bit.... My hearing is not very good so anything that uses a large orchestra (with lots of brass) just sounds like a blare and blaaaat  to me and not very musical at all. The stuff I liked from my honorable mentions are all slower tracks that did not use a massive array of sound. So I would prefer to stay away from the large orchestral pieces.

Any suggestions? :)

[Ramza]

if you're gonna pick up the Ar tonelico OST, I also recommend getting one of the hymmnos albums, if you can find them. I assume you're shopping at play-asia

[Yggdrasil]

Etrian Odyssey II Soundtrack? Is not bad.

[Ramza]

all 3 Sekaiju no MeiQ soundtracks are winners. as are their arrange albums.

[Aurian]

Is the Etrian Oddessey soundtrack different from that playing for Etrian Odessey 3? I found the music in that game servicable but not something I'd listen to outside of the game.

[Wild Armor]

Give Echochrome a listen on youtube...you might like it. Either that or Rule of Rose.

If you're looking for chamber music for a serene or melancholoic expression (or slow), those might work.

But if you'd like a better recommendation....perhaps a bit more detail on your likes and dislikes? What music did you like in Catherine? The original stuff or the classical stuff?

[Aurian]

Hmm... good suggestion but those are a little too slow. Here are some suggestions to narrow things down:


Xenoblade: Almost every track on Xenoblade. Prefer night sides to day sides when applicable as they are less busy but still have a range of sound.


Catherine: Planets Suite, Symphony 5, Little Fugue, Funeral March, Symphony 9
   Did not like: the others were too busy for me. 


FFXIII: Liked Eternal Love, Fabula Nova Crystallis, The Promise, The Final Stage, Kimi ga Irukara, Lightning's Theme, Memories of Happier Days, Serah's Theme, Snow's Theme   , The Sunleth,
Vanille's Theme   

Hope's Theme was one of the few slow tracks I didn't like. To me it sounded repetitious and long, but maybe my hearing isn't up to the task.


Xenosaga:
I didn't like most of Misuda's work in the first one. Too orchestral. I did love Kajiura's work in 2 and 3 though.


Does that help at all?

[Chronix112]

SaGa Frontier 2 Original Soundtrack / also
KICA-1457/8 Tears to Tiara / 2nd

[Ramza]

those are also great suggestions. Everyone who knows me knows I love Hamauzu. I haven't spoken much about TtT though. Let it be said, it has good music.

[Wild Armor]

Mana Khemia

• Example 1
• Example 2
• Example 3
• Example 4
• Example 5
• Example 6
• Example 7

Kingdom Hearts 2

• Example 1
• Example 2
• Example 3
• Example 4
• Example 5
• Example 6
• Example 7

CHANCE

• Example 1
• Example 2
• Example 3
• Example 4
• Example 5
• Example 6
• Example 7

[Cyril]

What are your thoughts on Sakimoto?  He can be a bit "breathy" at times, when not on his battle themes.

IE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m8xeF85l0c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmfKijGhkmI

[Esper_Crusader]

The Final Fantasy piano collections are by far my favorite.

[Ramza]

The Final Fantasy piano collections are by far my favorite.

Hope you saw this.

http://www.originalsoundversion.com/its-called-piano-opera-final-fantasy-iiiiii/

I like that Jayson gave *me* credit for the idea. But it's something that was an OBVIOUS idea and I'm glad SE finally went through with it.

[Yggdrasil]

The Final Fantasy piano collections are by far my favorite.

Hope you saw this.

http://www.originalsoundversion.com/its-called-piano-opera-final-fantasy-iiiiii/

I like that Jayson gave *me* credit for the idea. But it's something that was an OBVIOUS idea and I'm glad SE finally went through with it.

Is the "The Rebel Army from Piano Collections FINAL FANTASY I-II-III (temporary)" track from "Square Enix Music Sampler CD 2011 Vol.6" part of the album aswell? I didn't knew the SE was working on more Piano Collections until I downloaded this album by curiosity.

[Ramza]

yes, it's track 7.

Eternal Wind from FF3 is also there, as is the obvious-choice Matoya's Cave from FF1. It's going to rule. And I will buy the sheet music if/when Yamaha publishes it.

http://vgmdb.net/album/30751