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20. Antarctic Oscillation - Chris Christodoulou
My favorite track, from the incredible ROR2 OST, A.O. is a terrific composition that takes the listener on a journey, developing motifs and gaining energy until a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommend this OST!
![Halo 3 Warthog Run OST [HQ]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gzgrzoqaynp7clwmexklhlc7/bafkreihzkt2refq3dgvdcddb34hx5kdumw7i4tzwjh76i4u5xe4uir7hhq)
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19. Halo 3 - Warthog Run
Capping off one of the most revolutionary gaming experiences of the century so far, “Warthog Run” accompanies the finale to Halo 3’s campaign. Unmistakably “Halo”, this track exudes rhythmic energy and explosive power. Give it a listen!
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18. Balatro Main Theme
What’s not to love? Every second of this track is beautifully handcrafted. Every filter and modulation effect is so tight and well produced, giving altogether nostalgia for retro games yet with a fresh coat of paint.
Enjoy!
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17. Airy - Pepper Grinder
Featuring hectic gameplay with exciting visuals and… uh… points and… lots of achievements to get! And, um… ok so I haven’t played the game, but the soundtrack is dope! Check out this track!
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16. Don’t Starve Menu Theme
This dreadfully delightful track oozes personality, and it’s attached to a game that is abundant with something that is all too absent: originality. Such an effective track that creates quirkiness and darkness in one swoop!
Enjoy!
No, thank YOU 😊 it is an inspiring soundtrack! It rocks 🎸
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15. Title Theme - Animal Crossing
As you get cozy today with family and/or friends, real or imaginary, enjoy the epitome of coziness in this anthropomorphic microcosm of a game!
Perfectly jazzy and folksy all in one.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!
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14. Slay the Spire (main theme)
Welcome to the video game soundtrack that delves into darkness and delivers one of the best pure* orchestral video game soundtracks in recent memory. Harmonically complex and rhythmically driving, a real treat!
*=wee bit of synth
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13. Death’s Door Theme
A delightfully dark take on a Zelda-type game, Death’s Door’s OST has excellent orchestration, catchy tunes, and a gripping narrative to boot! Also, you play as a crow.
What could be better than that?
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12. Original Overwatch Theme
This dazzling fanfare is a towering achievement of what video game music can do. It’s all in one a call to action, an immersion into its world, beautifully orchestrated, and free from junky over-processed Hollywood sounds.
Voila!
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11. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Circuit Theme
Nintendo music, in a league of its own already, can be immediately recognized yet still innovate across each OST! MK:DD is no exception! Unmistakable, upbeat, driving (heh) fun. Hope this quick energy makes for a great Saturday!
…which, by the way, doesn’t happen very often. But that did not dissuade Anamanaguchi (the composer) from writing a fully-fleshed out, multi-instrumental, fully contrapuntal samba dance music track! This track inspired me to realize that music can truly delight in absolutely any context.
![Cheap Shop - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game [OST]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gzgrzoqaynp7clwmexklhlc7/bafkreiddhkm6yavltqoaf5lo524vs4pwdc2hrg5cwo7fsrc2ocnhacfufa)
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10! Cheap Shop - Scott Pilgrim vs The World: The Game
This is a case of “this has no excuse to be this good” syndrome. Using a variation of the Brazilian “Partido Alto” rhythm, this theme appears whenever Scott Pilgrim or his friends enter the shop…
(Continued below)
Being a musician is so funny, I was just singing my contemporary disjointed scat remix of All Star by Smash Mouth loudly to myself as I got out of my car at the grocery store, when someone saw me and immediately became terrified as I tried to pretend I was just clearing my throat
#musiclife
~•Daily VGM Shoutout•~
9. No Escape - Hades
An instantaneous hit, No Escape stands at the pinnacle for what video game music can be: a fusion of art, sound, triumph and most of all, fun. Easily, it pulls you into a world separate from our own, fully alive and unique. There’s no escaping it…!
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8. Challenging - Duck Game
What’s better than hard 80’s synth rock? Duck-themed Hard 80’s synth rock! Ostensibly written by the developer of the game, this track features rich harmony, driving pads and a whole lot of Duck undertones! 🦆
Enjoy!
^*Daily VGM Shoutout*^
7. Step Right Up - Dicey Dungeons
Composed by the wonderful Chipzel, this track easily speaks for itself. Every sound handcrafted, each hook delightfully composed, and rhythmically exhilarating, Step Right Up is a masterclass in indie game music composition. Check it out!
**Daily VGM Shoutout**
6. Going Loud / Control Room
It’s easy to forget that Hanz Zimmer composed the music for Modern Warfare 2, which is arguably the (early) peak of the franchise. Boasting high production value and classic cinematic intensity, this track is especially memorable!
Seems like we arrived at the same conclusion tho! Haha
That does it for this critique! The critic mask has come off — 🥸
In all honesty, it’s a great OST. I love the game as well. Fun to be a critic for once though. See ya next time 👍
…punctuate long plodding phrases, and in doing all of this, it muddies its own message. First levels are everything in a roguelike, and while a rhythmic cacophony is certainly *a* message to send, I’d double check if it is *the* message to send. Energy and purpose are best when together, not apart.
It’s intent is clear enough - to create an exciting, hyper, shouting jamboree to keep the player in a trance state of focus during the first level - it succeeds at this. But more doesn’t always mean more. I can discern no standard form of the piece, no returning motifs, save one-off “hooks” that…
Chaos, pure chaos is the governing force in this track. Countless elements jumble together to create a vaguely cohesive mesh of modern pop harmony and frenetic syncopation that does more to disorient than engage. After listening to the piece I’m not sure I listened to any piece at all.
More below:
>>Weekly VGM Critique<<
Hello! Today, I’m gonna put a mask on: the mask of a critic. Why, you ask? Because it’s fun!
“Grr I’m sick of being so appreciative all the time! Time to be critical!” I could say!
So the piece I’m critiquing this week is…
5. Lead Lord’s Keep - from Enter the Gungeon
^^Daily VGM Shoutout^^
4. Borderlands 2 - Southern Shelf Combat
Acting as the introduction to the gameplay of one of the most iconic shooters of all time, this track isn’t anything flashy, and you may not even remember it, but it’s dripping with character, and it’s stunningly well produced.
Welcome to the piano club!
You’re in luck bc every track in BotW sounds great on piano. This one would definitely be exciting to play tho!
Best of luck 🎹
^^Daily VGM Shoutout^^
3. Riding - Day - LoZ: Breath of the Wild
A jubilant mix of speed and serenity. And a genius composition. This piece raises the bar for what VGM can be - inspired, contemporary, and fun all in one!
Full send it! Do the contestants have to create the games underwater as well? 🤿
From my research, within big AAA teams there always seems to be a “film/tv-composer to game-composer” pipeline. The result is it gets you composers who are sure competent, but they may not have played a video game in decades! Call me crazy, but a video game composer should be game-obsessed!
As someone who writes music for games>>> say it louder!! Every single game you’ve ever played has had a soundtrack, made by someone with care. Even the games where music is secondary, like Call of Duty for example, someone, or a team maybe, did their darndest to enhance the experience! Great points!
