Best current generation sountracks

[Chronix112]

Most game's  music get an OST release, which cost half as much to almost as much as the game they were composed for. I buy game soundtracks, heck I used to buy them alot. I  don't buy them nearly as much because the quality has gone down alot. The only composers you can depend on to put out a great soundtrack  are the ones with  the big names who have been around for a long time. I have only bought 4 osts,  Nier, Final Fantasy XIII, Xenoblade and Bayanette soundtracks within the past year. I used to buy 3 to 5x that, sometimes even more.  Most soundtracks these days are not worth a 30$ to 60$ price tag, that is what Grim is pointing out.
Great music in games have died off with xbox360 era. They are too busy being focused on making movie like soundtracks. Half of it doesn't even sound good in game its just asmospheric. Theme based muisc is going the way of the dodo.

edit: Most of your best soundtracks these days are on the DS and PSP.

[CDFN]

Music can work within the game structure and not be boring as hell. Look at the Sonic games. Castlevania. Metroid. Games with great, listenable music that fits perfectly within the game. That's what I want. Not every game has to have nothing but environmental sounds in a desperate bid to be realistic. Sure, rustling leaves and gurgling brooks are great for setting a tone, but they're also boring if that's all you ever hear. I think these developers sometimes forget that they're making a 20 hour game, not a 2 hour movie. Music can make all the difference in the world.

Yeah but you don't really see games like those anymore do you? Like it or not games are a lot like movies these days, they are always trying to evoke some kind of emotion, there's always a ton of dialogue and cutscenes that require atmospheric music. You can't just write a catchy tune and a slap it on a level untill the player finishes it. The music has changed along with game design I guess.

[GrimReality]

Music can work within the game structure and not be boring as hell. Look at the Sonic games. Castlevania. Metroid. Games with great, listenable music that fits perfectly within the game. That's what I want. Not every game has to have nothing but environmental sounds in a desperate bid to be realistic. Sure, rustling leaves and gurgling brooks are great for setting a tone, but they're also boring if that's all you ever hear. I think these developers sometimes forget that they're making a 20 hour game, not a 2 hour movie. Music can make all the difference in the world.

Yeah but you don't really see games like those anymore do you? Like it or not games are a lot like movies these days, they are always trying to evoke some kind of emotion, there's always a ton of dialogue and cutscenes that require atmospheric music. You can't just write a catchy tune and a slap it on a level untill the player finishes it. The music has changed along with game design I guess.

I know. I know. They don't call me the Dark Lord of Nostalgia for nothing. Ok, no one actually calls me that. But they should, dammit!
*Puts on his Skeleton Warriors OST*

Guess I'll just enjoy the rare game that actually DOES have a decent soundtrack. I just started getting into FFXIII, and I quite like the music.

[ShadowLaguna]

-Valkyria Chronicles
-Oblivion
-Infinite Undiscovery
-Tales of Vesperia
-Final Fantasy XIII
-Resonance of Fate

[Lard]

How can someone on here have listed Xenoblade when the game isn't even out yet?

I haven't seen Eternal Sonata or Enchanted Arms mentioned and I liked both those soundtracks.

[Ramza]

How can someone on here have listed Xenoblade when the game isn't even out yet?

The game's been out since June in Japan.

As is the soundtrack.

[MeshGearFox]

The Void.

[Lard]

How can someone on here have listed Xenoblade when the game isn't even out yet?

The game's been out since June in Japan.

As is the soundtrack.

D'oh.

[Ivalice Alliance]

I need to listen to my copy of Xenoblade.  Sucks that Mitsuda and Shimomura are not credited for alot of the soundtrack.