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RPGFan Music
RPGFan Music of the Year 2024 Editors’ Favorites: Matt Wardell
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Like every year, 2024 was packed with too many amazing games and intimidatingly huge soundtracks. I probably listened to more new games than I played, but even then I’ll be catching up with this year for the next decade. Here are a handful of albums and scores I did listen to that impressed me.
Unicorn Overlord Original Soundtrack
Mitsuhiro Kaneda and his team (who’ve scored all the previous Vanillaware games) nail it with Unicorn Overlord’s soundtrack. The battle and overworld themes are triumphant and militaristic in a way that reminded me of the “dueling destinies” of the Soul Calibur series, and each corner of the world has its own personality while remaining tonally consistent. This makes me want to pick up a banner and charge into battle behind an anime teenager.
Highlighted Track: “Cornia Stage”
Black Myth: Wukong Soundtrack Selection
Here’s one I love listening to and am still eagerly waiting to play! Black Myth: Wukong’s music feels grandiose and authentic to classical Chinese instrumentation, with absolutely pounding drums throughout and melodies on traditional strings and woodwinds. It’s as motivating as it is transportive to a fantasy long ago and far, far to the east.
Highlighted Track: “The Yellow Wind Rises”
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Orchestra World Tour Live 2024.09.08
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth seems like an obvious pick, but that’s because it’s such a great one. However, between the likes of Stellar Blade and your Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, another 8 discs and 200-plus tracks is a big ask, and so I’d like to put forward this recording of Square Enix’s live world tour orchestra. Recorded in Yokohama, Japan and coming in at a very manageable 21 tracks, this album is among the best of live Final Fantasy concerts, as I covered in my album review. You’ve got plenty of arrangements updated from Uematsu’s score from the 1997 original game, and a plethora of new songs (and equally as many new composers and contributors).
Highlighted Track: “Aerith’s Theme Return to the Planet Medley”
Zelda & Jazz II
VGM arrangement label GameChops and arranger Rob Araujo released both Zelda & Jazz and Zelda & Jazz II in 2024. The first album whetted my appetite and I was eagerly awaiting the followup, which did not disappoint. This is music from The Legend of Zelda series at its most chilled out, Peanuts-esque jazz, with a decades-spanning tracklist sure to excite (or uhm… relax) old and new fans of the series.
Highlighted Track: “Dragon Roost Island”
