Friday, October 21, 2011

Underrated Soundtracks This Gen Part 2: And the Beat Goes On

If you recall, a week or two ago I listed a handful of games with under-appreciated soundtracks. Well, this evening I will be doing so again with some more new scores that invoke a warm, fuzzy feeling and were underrated. Let's begin, shall we?

Perfect Dark Zero (360)


David Clynick comes off the impressive Perfect Dark soundtrack with the ever-rocking Perfect Dark Zero score. Whether Jo's shooting through the subway system of the city or safariing through a hot, steamy jungle, there's a great sounding song to back up the ambiance and roar of her weaponry. Classic themes, rock anthems, pan flute melodies, and more await players who pick up this Xbox 360 launch title. Sure, the visuals look dated several years after the fact, but the music still reigns supreme in this writer's heart.


Kameo: Elements of Power (360)


From Hero's Theme to Thorn's Pass, the haunting choir backing these epic songs make up just a sampling of the Kameo: Elements of Power soundtrack. Kameo was another Xbox 360 launch title from Rare, and Rare's games make up a majority of the soundtracks broached about on these segments. Nonetheless, there's a lot to love about this game, and the score is just one of those things. It's always impressive when a game's soundtrack rivals that of big budget blockbuster movies, and Kameo is just another example of this in the video game industry.


NIER (PS3, 360)


GamesAndBiz, a reader of SuperPhillip Central, mentioned this game in the comments section of the original list. I just so happened to agree with his sentiments on the soundtrack. One could argue that NIER was an underrated gem itself, so it only makes sense that the game's score would be underrated, too. The titular character's journey to find the cure to his daughter's disease is only heightened by the powerful and gripping music accompanying his quest. Take a listen to the following trio of examples to understand why NIER makes my list.


The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces (Wii)


The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces for Nintendo Wii is based off the anime of the same way. The game itself features intense dog-fighting, high-flying action, and a myriad of missions to play through. What accompanies the game is a stellar soundtrack which increases the tension as pilots protect precious cargo, take down enemy fighters, and escort a fleet to home base. Forgive the generic names of the songs as there is no official soundtrack was official names to these pieces. Regardless, these themes speak for themselves.

BGM (5)
BGM (14)
BGM (17)

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (DS)


Recently reviewed, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is a tremendous tactical RPG that oozes with charm. The soundtrack in part by Hitoshi Sakimoto (who coincidentally has composed the music for the other games in the series) is simply sensational with some themes borrowed from Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. However, most of the music is brand-new, and it sounds fantastic. These songs I have selected I believe best represent the new audio content offered of the FFTA2 soundtrack.

Crossing Over the Hill
A Time Eternal
Into the Fantasy

LocoRoco 2 (PSP)


This game is not only quirky gameplay-wise, but it's also off-the-wall in the music department as well. With childlike vocals, a capella tracks, gibberish noises, and much more, the LocoRoco 2 soundtrack is a carnival of surprisingly fun sounds. It's difficult to pick just three pieces of music, but I somehow managed to get by regardless. Just listen to the examples provided, and you, too, will understand just how awesomely bizarre the entire score of the game truly is.

Dadhi Dado Da
Muimui House
Moja's Song

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There you have it. Another installment of Underrated Soundtracks in the books. Do you have a personal favorite soundtrack that I have forgotten thus far? Enlighten me in the comments section. Your words are always appreciated.

1 comment:

Matt Sainsbury said...

Great list! I absolutely agree that all those games don't get enough appreciation in terms of their awesome soundtracks.

Soundtracks in general are not given enough credit for making the game experience what it is. It's a vital element indeed.