Official Nontendo Music Thread

You don't have to do "music weeks", Jay. I'd be keen on hearing what your favourites are from X.  

masofdas wrote:

Multiformat games seem to sneak into the Nintendo thread as well don't they Balla.

Where they belong.

It's been a long while, I haven't played anything new that I feel like doing a top five of so I'm going to revisit a game I played ages ago, Ys Seven.  Because when in doubt just cover Falcom music which is rarely anything short of awesome!  So, without any more delay here's my top five themes from psp action rpg Ys Seven!




Number 5: Isolated Island Consigned To Oblivion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE2lwJzbUTA

Ah water dungeons, why must you frequently be some of the most frustrating to play through yet have the most relaxing music?  

Number 4: Desert of Despair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-xGBHMVaig

Some deserts are relaxing places, places of solitude where enemies are scarce and prefer to take you by surprise.  Not so with Altago's desert, filled with all sorts of monsters just begging to chow down on any foolish naive red haired adventurer that comes passing through.  A fitting theme for such a place.

Number 3: Mother Earth Altago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FleAlncLO8I

Ah main overworld themes, why must you be so optimistic and cheerful and upbeat?  Some of the most addictive themes in games are the main field themes, and as far as I'm concerned Ys Seven is no different.  

Number 2: The Place Where Souls Return
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFQy2HbNhKs

It all comes down to this, after travelling the world and defeating countless evils the world is facing complete annihilation, and more importantly the fate of known people are at stake!  This is the final journey!  I'm a sucker for final dungeon themes.  

Number 1: Vacant Interefernce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsNzIsBeyjE

Ys boss themes, yummy delicious things filled with rocky goodness, guitar heaven, and dat violin!  If I'm honest I wasn't all that impressed with Seven's boss themes for the most part, but boy did they hit it out of the park with this one.  Even without playing the game (which I have) it does a fine job depicting a life and death struggle with a fiend from the pit of hell, a must listen for absolutely anyone ever who likes boss themes.  


And as an added bonus there's some arrange versions of some themes, both of which are as godly as vacant interefence.  

Crossing Rage! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eInTbRWs-ak

I was never much of a fan of the original version, but this version, this version has fire!

Mother Earth Altago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfNd74Tx-HE

I would have been upset that ys seven never got any representation in the falcom zanmai range of soundtracks if this rendition didn't exist.  But it does and it is awesome.  Renditions like this are why falcom jdk is one of my favourite rpg soundtrack composers (or group of composers in their case.)


Honourable mentions go to Legend of the Five Great Dragons (particulalrly the arranged version), To Reveal the Way to Go, and Ruined Isle.

You could always do Pokèmon Y...

Seeing no entry for 10 day's, I bring you obscure / forgotten games from well-known people or devs / publishers.


MDK2 from Bioware whom have brought us likes of KOTOR, Jade Empire and Mass Effect


Policenauts from Kojima whom has brought us metal gear solid and zone of the enders


Haunting Ground a spin-off of clock tower which in it's self is a forgotten Capcom series


Rule of Rose the Controversial title which was composed by Yutaka Minobe, who also composed the music
of Skies of Arcadia also ATLUS published it but there no strangers to obscure games


Freedom Force Vs the Third Reich the game was written by Ken Levine who gave us Bioshock

MDK2 was all kinds of brilliant & you can tell the music was totally inspired by The matrix soundtrack, I never did beat the bastard hard (read as:cheap) end boss though.

I love the 80s vibe from that Policenauts track! Good stuff Mas.

I reckon I'll finally start posting music weeks again from tomorrow - I've got a good idea for a few, and if I run out then perhaps someone else could fill in.

Thanks guys, if you do struggle jay for a week I can always think of something like this just been.

Love the Freedom Force music - I really wish I'd bought that game at the time; it's nice it doesn't take itself too seriously.

Apologies for the delay on an update - birthday, moving flats, lack of internet... a myriad of issues combined with the fact I've (whisper it) not been playing many non-Nintendo titles as of late.

But, I'm settled into my new flat, so for the foreseeable future there should be no reason for me to miss a week. Also, I'm going to arrange frequent guest hosts of the Non-Nintendo music weeks as there'll be plenty I've not played that should get a spotlight. Drunka's got a week coming up, and I'm certain that Mas, Athrun and any of you other frequent posters in this thread will be eager to do a week.

So, what I'm proposing here is a sort of official launch of the Non-Nintendo Music Weeks (we'll call my earlier infrequent postings a trial run), and I'm going to make a deliberate double post following this update to make an index of this and all future music weeks (Balla, if you could link that post in the OP of the thread, that'd be smashing).

So, without further ado, let's reset!

The Non-Nintendo Music Weeks

Week One: Shovel Knight



Okay - so we're sort of cheating here, considering this game is on a Nintendo platform over in the States right now. However, considering we're still awaiting a release date here in the UK, I figured I could preview some of the gorgeous music in this game to get you all hyped for its eventual release. I'll keep my context posts spoiler-free, but I'd advise against looking in the comments of any of the linked videos!



Strike the Earth is the theme that plays in the game's opening stage, and jesus, it's a fantastic sign of things to come. As you may already know, Shovel Knight is somewhat of a love letter to NES platformers, and the soundtrack reflects that with some of the best chiptune music I've heard in a videogame. This rousing theme really makes the opening level a treat, and really enhanced the way you power through the opening stage, getting to grips with Shovel Knight's abilities. I'm particularly fond of the section beginning at 1:16 - it's a lovely part of a great theme.



After every level, Shovel Knight settles down by his campfire and rests - the Starlit Wilds plays as he slumbers. It's a cozy scene that plays out each time, with crickets chirping as Shovel Knight dreams...



La Danse Macabre plays in a graveyard level early on. It's probably my favourite level theme in the game, and I've found myself humming it walking about the flat. There's definitely unavoidable Castlevania overtones in this theme, as you'd expect from a graveyard level, but I think it plays quite nicely into the love letter to the NES. On a related note, each boss theme includes a more intense part of their respective level theme - you can hear parts of La Danse Macabre at 0:31 in this theme.

So, that's a brief look at Shovel Knight - it's an unashamed love letter to NES platformers and you're going to love it.

Next week: a game that no-one's played.

Non-Nintendo Music Weeks Index

Week One: Shovel Knight - PC (JayMoyles)

Week Two: Digimon World - PS1 (JayMoyles)

Week Three: Mass Effect Trilogy - PC/360/PS3 (Drunkalilly)

Week Four: Scott Pilgrim VS The World The Game - PS3/360 (JayMoyles)

Week Five: Mary Kate & Ashley Sweet 16 - PS2 - and the Zelda CDi games (Masofdas)

Week Six: Double Dragon Neon - PC/360/PS3 (JayMoyles)

Week Seven: Halo 3: ODST - 360 (JayMoyles)

Week Eight: Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy - PS2 (JayMoyles)

Week Nine: A smattering of WayForward games (Masofdas)

Week Ten: Super Street Fighter 2: Turbo HD Remix - 360/PS3 (JayMoyles)

Week Eleven: Final Fantasy VII - PS1 (JayMoyles)

Week Twelve: Dark Souls - PS3/360/PC (Drunkalilly)

Week Thirteen: Undertale - PC (JayMoyles)

Week Fourteen: Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake - MSX (Drunkalilly)

Week Fifteen: Metal Gear Solid - PS1 (JayMoyles)

Week Sixteen: Metal Gear Solid 2 - PS2 (Masofdas)

Week Seventeen: Metal Gear Solid 3 - PS2 (Drunkalilly)

Week Eighteen: Metal Gear Solid 4 - PS3 (JayMoyles)

Week Nineteen: Metal Gear Side Games - Various (Masofdas)

Week Twenty: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - PSP/PS3/360 (JayMoyles)

Week Twenty-One: Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain - PS3/PS4/360/X1/PC (Drunkalilly and Venom Drunkalilly)

Balla will kill you putting SK here.

Good idea to change the OP, could put like JayMoyles Week whatever shadow of the colouss, shovel knight under your name and do same with me and whom ever else who's posted.

It's not out here on Ninty consoles yet, that's my reasoning.

What did you think of the tracks, Mas?

And yeah, that's the plan! I've not included any of my other weeks - just considering them trial runs/scrapped attempts.

I know the music shouldn't make that much difference, but now I REEEAAALLLLY want to be playing Shovel Knight. (on my WiiU though. Patience)

Having second thoughts about offering to index the thread now. But yes, due to the fact that this is going to be released on Nintendo consoles, I'm not going to listen to the musics yet. Leave them for the inevitable Ninty release. When there will be a music week in THE BEST music thread and this one will be put to shame. SHAME I SAY!

I even purposefully omitted some great tracks from later in the game! You'll have a blast with it though Balla - it's cracking. Oh, and cheers for putting the index in the OP!

Said he'd moan, The Official Nintendo bit can be confusing like the time with Jimbob (I think) as the game he put here was a SNES game but from Nintendo. Some might take it as it's got to be a official Nintendo game or at least exclusive but we do get what you want Balla I think if it's on a Nintendo systems put in there.

So Mass Effect 3 week coming soon then

Also jay you've has some great weeks don't put yourself down, you putting Hotline Miami got me really excited for it when it came to PS4.

masofdas wrote:

Also jay you've has some great weeks don't put yourself down, you putting Hotline Miami got me really excited for it when it came to PS4.

Thanks Mas. I hope you enjoyed Hotline Miami too.

I don't think I'll add my old weeks to the index though - I'd rather make this a new beginning of sorts, especially considering it's going to be a collaborative effort of sorts. Speaking of which - if you'd like to do a week anytime, then fire me a PM. I'll be reaching out to people if I'm struggling and nobody's asked too.

I've got the next month or so fully planned out, including a guest post, so I'm glad to get this running.

masofdas wrote:

The Official Nintendo bit can be confusing like the time with Jimbob (I think) as the game he put here was a SNES game but from Nintendo.

Don';t go by what I do - I am an idiot. My brain discarded all words except "game" and "music".

What I've played of Hotline has been good but have got distracted by other things.

Balladeer wrote:

masofdas wrote:

Multiformat games seem to sneak into the Nintendo thread as well don't they Balla.

Where they belong.

Where was this attitude when I innocently posted the Normandy music for slave week?

I'm afraid ME just didn't have enough slaves in.

Non-Nintendo Music Weeks

Week Two - Digimon World



If any if you have played this, I'll be surprised. Nevertheless, this PS1 game is a surprisingly complex RPG. It differs from Pokemon in that you don't capture any Digimon, but rather you're given a Digimon to begin and based on its stats and other parameters, it'll Digivolve to a more powerful Digimon. After a certain period of in-game time, your Digimon will die and be reborn as an egg to begin the cycle anew. Your goal is to fight other Digimon in the field and convince them to return to the hub city, where there'll perform certain services. It's pretty fun, if somewhat grindy. ANYWAY I DIGRESS - music time!



The hub city is called File City, and I really like its night theme. This game invokes a sense of nostalgia in me like no other, purely because of the hours I spent on this on a child, never getting really far but enjoying it all the same. This song brings about that sentimental nostalgic feeling in me more than any other track in this game. There's a daytime variant too, but I prefer the nighttime version for the reasons stated above.



A common theme in this update is that I much prefer the nighttime variants in this game. Gear Savanna's nighttime theme is just brilliant. It really does a great job of evoking images of a sprawling plain, the section beginning at 0:53 in particular accomplishing that best. Having said that, the daytime version of this area does the aforementioned job quite well too. I guess I'm just a sucker for more calming tunes.



I suppose it'd be remiss of me not to include a battle theme, and I really must get away from waxing lyrical about nostalgia. So here's the boss battle theme. It's probably the best battle theme in the game bar the final boss theme, and the obvious signs of PS1 sounds aside, I think it's a solid battle theme. Having said that, I don't recall it too well, considering most of the boss battles are spent chucking floppy disks at your Digimon to heal it and cursing when it gets hit by attacks instead of dodging and ugh the AI in this game is HORRIBLE at times.

That'll do it for this week!

Next week - a drunken challenger approaches!

Cool Digimon, The World games were really good.

Ah, have you played it? I've only played the first game, but I thought it was a solid RPG with some archaic elements to it.

Yep I've played Digimon World, Digimon World 3, Digimon Rumble Arena, Digimon Rumble Arena 2, Digimon Digital Card Battle.