Angela Dec 22, 2009 (edited Jan 11, 2012)
And the end-of-year top listings keep on coming. Not to be confused with the top video game soundtracks of 2009 (of which Adam had proposed he'll eventually be heading up), this one is inspired by SonicPanda's "Top Earworms" topic in this thread.
So your favorite, standout, and/or most listened to video game music tracks of 2009. They can be from official original or arranged soundtracks, fan-made contributions, or from games that never even got an album release. The only requisite is that they HAVE to have been released this year.
I'm using a top ten model personally, but your mileage can vary. And though it's not absolutely necessary, try and supply music links if possible. Share the love, yeah?
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TOP 10 VIDEO GAME SONGS OF 2009:
10) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Castle - To me, this sounds like the bastard child of Super Mario World's Castle theme and A Link To The Past's Hyrule Castle -- which can result in nothing less than pure awesomeness. Like NSMB DS's Castle, there's also a keen militaristic tone, which drives the adventurously determined and moody setting. These castle levels are an absolute joy to romp through in the game; the music just makes it that much better.
9) Silent Hill Shattered Memories / Acceptance - As I've written before, Acceptance is a track that managed to move me more than any of the other featured songs on the Shattered Memories soundtrack. The lyrics are telling, its melody familiar on a very subconscious level. It reminds me of a lost emotion of a long forgotten experience that I may have deliberately locked away years ago. That, to me, is what makes the song so hauntingly compelling; it hews close to my own reality, which is a genuinely chilling prospect.
8) The Adventures of Duane & BrandO / Pac Man - As the D&B faithful continue to wait for the full length LP album to arrive, their music videos continue to be a great source of entertainment. This one in particular really benefits from the visuals: watching the cat and mouse chasing between the Waka King and the variety-voiced ghosts to such ridiculously clever lyrics is absurdly enjoyable. I can't help but yell out, "Oh shit, it's a ghost! Nooooo!" each and every time.
7) Street Fighter IV / Theme of Abel - Of all the new stage and character themes in SFIV, Abel's for me is the most striking. The pounding five note drumbeat, pulsing techno-electronica backdrop, and the wailing lead guitars paint a world warrior who isn't here to mess around. The twinkling synths that chime in midway then reveals a man who's grappling with a tortured soul, ever driven to discover his true identity. Yes, El Fuerte certainly wins out on the fun, but he can't touch Abel in terms of sheer edge and badassery.
6) Gyakuten Kenji / Mikumo Ichijo ~ The Great Truth Burglar - As Ace Attorney fans patiently wait for the upcoming Investigations, I've continued to while away the remaining days listening to Iwadare's and Yamada's most excellent score. Though she'll eventually be known as Kay Faraday to most, her musical persona will remain the same across all regions: brash, bombast, Japanese, and simply a barrel load of fun. Much like a certain samurai of the steel variety.
5) Shatter / Amethyst Caverns - Everyone will undoubtedly have their favorites on Module's across-the-board excellent Shatter soundtrack. For me, Amethyst Caverns takes top accolades. The cleverly-integrated synthetic voice sample is an element that really adds that tangible flair to the piece. In addition, it's an incredibly immersive song, with a sweet moderate tempo and well-utilized gapper effects.
4) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves / The Monastery - Greg Edmonson's heavily influenced East Asian sound for Uncharted 2's score is fully represented in The Monastery. It is both menacingly mystical, and indescribably beautiful. The musical combination of ethnic percussion, woodwinds and the erhu is nothing short of breathtaking.
3) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves / Take That! - This is another Edmonson favorite of mine; the orchestration's mood-building staccatos, powerful crescendos, and driving tribal percussion befit the thrilling escape through the rain-soaked streets of Nepal.
2) Ys SEVEN / To Reveal The Way To Go - To be honest, I'm not completely vested in the whole Ys SEVEN soundtrack just yet, save for a handful of excellent standouts like Mother Earth Altago and Extensive Forest Green. But "To Reveal The Way To Go" is the absolute best. Someone get me a lifesaver, because I am drowning in this wonderful ocean of Falcom-induced nostalgia. The moment I press play, I'm instantly transported back to those golden days of VGM yesteryear, and it is glorious.
1) Punch-Out!! (Wii) / Major Circuit Match Suite - The original NES themes rank as legendary in the Catalog of Angie Classics, and the guys over at Next Level Games totally knock this arrangement out of the ballpark. Not only is the Major Circuit the best of the several featured variations in the game, but it may very well be the best arrangement of the Fight/Opponent Downed/Get Up! themes I've ever heard; no small feat, given the many incredible fan renditions we've seen over the years. The rousing, determined-to-win feel of the original is on full display, and the rockin' riffs are pitch-perfect. The slight, accentuated changes to the original Fight melody really gives the theme a stylized shot in the arm, and the rolling synth that accompanies the Opponent Downed/Get Up! portion, I swear, is one of the greatest things I've ever heard.