Halftime: Video Game Music Edition

Maybe it’s because I’m a big nerd but I find a lot of music writers woefully lacking when it comes to knowledge of video game music. You could apply this logic to other media like movies or TV, but VGM specifically has woven itself so thoroughly into the fabric of the medium, whether it be orchestrally, programmatically or curationally, that there should be more of an emphasis on going past the requisite Dark Souls and Legend of Zelda’s of the world and diving deeper toward weird, obscure games that for some reason, have an insanely hard soundtrack. So, here’s 10 soundtracks from niche games that deserve to stand alongside popular music in its own right.

Hiroyuki Yanada - Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible III (Super Famicom/1995)

A cousin of the Persona series, this spinoff of Atlus’ flagship RPG franchise was never released in the West, and was only just translated into English in 2018. It’s a classic Super Nintendo RPG at its finest, with the soundchip utilized excellently, a myriad of styles and tones enveloping each world.

RIYL: Yasunori Mitsuda, Nobuo Uematsu, Yoko Shimomura, Squaresoft

Neil Voss - Tetrisphere (Nintendo 64 /1997)

Deeply strange 3D version of Tetris that Nintendo developed. I’ve no clue about how the game plays, however I do know this soundtrack absolutely rips. Neil Voss said that he was inspired by Herbie Hancock, Wendy Carlos, Mouse on Mars and Aphex Twin when composing this, and their influences are evident and well-done.

RIYL: Future Sound of London, Aphex Twin, Herbie Hancock, Isao Tomita

Kenchiro Fukui - Einhander (Playstation/1997)

Keeping it in the fifth generation of consoles, Kenchiro Fukui’s soundtrack for Einhander is absurd. Why does a sidescrolling shooter need a club-ready progressive house mix, extremely greedy work. Regardless, it goes wondorously hard.

RIYL: Yuzo Koshiro, Wipeout, Carl Craig, Leftfield

Masafumi Takada - killer7 (Nintendo Gamecube/2005)

Insane, sexy, baffling, unique, provocative, insane, insane, really fucking insane. Yup, that’s a suda51 game alright. I encourage to experience the game itself first, but soundtrack is a delectable icing for a wholly inscrutable cake. To think, Takada is more known for Danganronpa.

RIYL: God Hand, Earth Defense Force, Sergio Badalamenti, The Chemical Brothers

Soichi Terada - Futari no Fantavision (Playstation 2/2001)

The mad lad Terada is probably better known for his Ape Escape soundtracks or the delicious Sumo Jungle record he put out in 1996, but his other compositions are no lesser than. No offense to the other region’s composers, but any American who bought this game should’ve got a refund because Terada didn’t do the PAL and US soundtracks. Sony you had us fucked up.

RIYL: Nelson Riddle, Ape Escape, Super Monkey Ball, DDR

Aubrey Hodges - Doom 64 (Nintendo 64/1997)

The classic ideal of Doom music is pulsating thrash metal—masculine fantasy stuff that aids Doomguy crushing skulls and kicking ass. Aubrey Hodges took the Nintendo 64 port in a vastly different direction; ambient cries and moans from demons creating an atmosphere of pure dread. You’re in hell, don’t die.

RIYL: Prurient, Akira Yamaoka, Throbbing Gristle, Nurse With Wound

Namco Sound Team - Ridge Racer Type 4 (Playstation/1998)

The Namco Sound Team composed all these hitters, but special shoutout to New Jersey’s own Kimara Lovelace for her belting vocals over the beats. No wonder Namco tapped her with hits working with Urban Soul and Lil Louis. This soundtrack is Japan’s ode to American club house.

RIYL: Lil Louis, David Morales, Crystal Waters, Ron Trent

The X-ecutioners - NFL Street (PS2/Gamecube/Xbox~2004)

Turntablism feels all but extinct in the modern cultural purview, and growing up with this game, that makes me sad. The X-ecutioners’ in-game soundtrack (the menu has licensed music) feels like pure street shit, complete with big scratches and sample shifts every time someone scores or if there’s a turnover. It’s an incredible example of gaming form matching function.

RIYL: DJ Shadow, Dilated Peoples, DJ Krush, Linkin Park

Mason Lindroth & Chuck Salamone - Hylics 2 (PC/2020)

Weirdo indie rock soundtracks a world we cannot comprehend with some of most beautiful animation in any video game. Mason Lindroth is a master at personifying and identifying disassociation in its amorphous forms, and the Hylics 2 soundtrack stands as a testament to his craft.

RIYL: Trumans Water, Haroumi Hosono, Swirlies, Mac Demarco

Various Artists - Ghost in the Shell (Playstation/1997)

For my last entry, I gotta showcase what could be in the pantheon of techno records in 1990s—no small feat considering the competition. But Ghost in the Shell’s soundtrack for their tie-in Playstation game is simply remarkable, with a star-studded roster featuring Claude Young, Takkyu Ishino, Derrick May, Dave Angel and more. It’s a Murderers Row of techno legends, in service of one of the coolest anime of all time.

RIYL: techno, duh

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