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Let's talk about Pokemon OSTs.

K.Sabot

Member
Haven't played a pokemon since Gold and the twitch plays pokemon stream is making me want to crack this copy of Y open. The music is infectious.
 

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
R/S/E is mostly meh, but some good stuff is in there. D/P/P is meh, don't remember a single thing about them. B/W is just terrible. R/B was good but G/S/C(the remakes fucked it up though) is the best. Goldenrod city>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> everything. Not sure about X/Y.

I feel almost completely different.

R/S had some gems but meh, true. D/P had some great stuff and B/W had some of the best tracks even if in general it was a slight step down from HG/SS. R/B are classics, and X/Y has some decent stuff.

My favoritism towards Gen 4 might be because I really dig piano, though. So classy.
 

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
Diamond, Pearl and Platinum's OST was the best. So jazzy <3 I miss that generation...

FireRed and LeafGreen were 8 years after the originals, HeartGold and SoulSilver were 11 years after... It's already been almost 8 years since Diamond and Pearl... BELIEVE
 
I think Gen IV as a whole (Encompassing D/P/Pt and HG/SS) has my favorite OST.

That nighttime Pokemon Center theme, man.

Ho-Oh's theme in HeartGold and SoulSilver is probably my favorite theme in the series, though. Blew me the hell away the first time I heard it. Some seriously awesome instrumentation going on there.
 

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
So, I just (re-)discovered that the Game Corner in Diamond/Pearl is balls-out amazing. Like, seriously, how can it be so good?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaF-QdRhvrE

I started playing the video and then I was just stunned. I thought it was a joke at first, that music like that was even in a Pokemon game. It legitimately sounds like some kind of Euro dance anthem or something. The only semi-lame part is the remix of the OG Game Corner, I think.
 

Slermy

Member
RSE had the only soundtrack that was both moody and catchy throughout so it wins by default for me. It is true though that about 80% of the soundtrack for RSE is just TRUMPETS.

Route 113 in particular is really evocative and fits the setting perfectly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hGWPmW4OxI

I can't believe it took so long to post this one. One of my favorites.

Here's a cool accordion cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlyiuiTzw1E

Aside from this, I particularly love Diamond/Pearl/Platinum's OST in its entirety. I also love the original Gen I, but that could just be nostalgia.
 
Accordion Route 113 is the best thing I'll hear today, lol.

Percussion's one of the reasons the GBA Pokémon games sound so unique, and they've fared better with the base than the brass samples.
 
Route 11 from RBY is my favorite pokemon song. To me it captures the spirit of the adventure best.

Overall Gen 2's soundtrack is my favorite. Good melodies and the general sounds used for the music were a big improvement from Gen 1.

Gen 3 I was not a big fan of. The melodies were fine but I absolutely hated the noises/instruments used.

Have not played enough of later gens to offer an informed opinion.
 
DPPt's battle themes are mostly mediocre, and some of the worst compared to others in the mainline series. Water Spirits' and Cynthia's tracks are great, though.
 
DPPt's trainer battle theme goes from being the most hype shit to kinda shit as it progresses which is sort of impressive, did love the Team Galactic battle theme though.
 
I still think Gen 4 was the pinnacle in the main series games. It was really mellow and jazzy. And still managed to have good battle themes and fitting location themes.

Eterna Forest
Jubilife City (Night)
Dialga/Palkia Battle
Cynthia Encounter
Distortion World
Frontier Brain Battle
Mt. Coronet <--- to whoever it was that said Pokémon lost it's atmospheric and instrumental chops post-gen3, this one is for you
Route 216 day
Pokemon League (Day)
Pokemon Center (Night)
Hall of Origin

Same here! Super underrated. I was gonna dig up a post where I listed some of the great tunes in this game, good to know lots are already listed.

g4 > g3 > g2 remakes = g6 > g5 = g1 remakes IMO

it's basically euro-Hoenn where all the horns are pianos instead

Route 203 Day <-- I mean cmon this shit is gold
Route 216 night
Solaceon Town Night
Team Galactic Battle
Route 225 Night
Wild Battle

Only real standout issue with its soundtrack is some of the boss battle themes... and it really could have used an improved soundfont
 

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
I still think Gen 4 was the pinnacle in the main series games. It was really mellow and jazzy. And still managed to have good battle themes and fitting location themes.

Eterna Forest
Jubilife City (Night)
Dialga/Palkia Battle
Cynthia Encounter
Distortion World
Frontier Brain Battle
Mt. Coronet
Route 216
Pokemon League (Day)
Pokemon Center (Night)
Hall of Origin

Pokemart

wAvFoG6.png
 
Solid stuff, but it took the B2/W2 mix to make me love it.

I find the campaigns of these games rather dull, but I love discovering the music.
I never expected this post from you, lol.

From least favorite to most: RBY, GSC, FRLG, XY, HGSS, B2W2, DPPt, BW, RSE. DPPt in particular is definitely underrated as far as these scores go, though not as a whole (I could say the same for XY).
 

JB2448

Member
Time to quote this post again, with the addition of X and Y's "Route 18" and "How About a Song? 'Jubilife City'" for strictly in-game tracks:
I know the anime has already been mentioned, but I truly believe its soundtrack is its greatest merit, with some tragically underappreciated original work and arrangements of the games' soundtracks. Here are some of my favorites:
Arrangements:
The Road to Cerulean City - From Mt. Moon
The Sea ver.2
Cycling
The High-speed Liner
Route 26
Ecruteak City
Oldale Town
Abandoned Ship
Cross the Sea (Hoenn Surfing Theme)
Twinleaf Town
Route 201

Anime Original Songs:
Legend ver.2 (this one's my ringtone)
A Future Hope
Life's Purpose
...Such Sweet Sorrow
Enter Turtwig, Piplup and Chimchar!!

I could go on, but this is supposed to be only one or two songs already, so I'm pushing the envelope way too much as it is. These are what I consider to be some of the best songs to come out of Pokémon, most of them being arrangements of music from the games (the only on topic ones, technically :p). I wish Shinji Miyazaki could lend his talents to the games for a proper orchestral soundtrack, but until that (probably never) happens, this is the best we've got in terms of orchestral Pokémon music.
I'm excited to see where future Pokémon games take the franchise's musicality.
 

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
The X/Y bicycle theme is astoundingly good, possibly my favorite track from those games. I try to make sure I don't go into Camphrier Town when hatching eggs just so I can keep listening to it.
 

MrBadger

Member
I can't talk for Crystal since I started playing at Gen 3, so everything I say doesn't apply to before R/S/E. Pokemon OST's are funny for me, they always work ingame but I never really listen to, or even remember much of the music after I'm done playing. It's been a while since I last played Diamond and Pearl, but I couldn't tell you how any of the music went.

And then there are certain tracks that take me by surprise, like the emotion theme from Black and White, and the power plant, Team Flare boss and champion themes from X/Y, which just sound great.

Over all, I wouldn't say Pokemon is a franchise that's well known for its memorable music, but there are definitely some fantastic tracks to be found.
 
X/Y's bicycle theme is the modern-day Gen II biking jig: candy-cane exuberance with some depth and little development. The themes for the past three generations are so much better it's not even funny. Holy shit...I understand the hype and vehemently disagree! And there are some choice moments in this score, like Anistar City and Kalos Power Plant.
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
X/Y's bicycle theme is the modern-day Gen II biking jig: candy-cane exuberance with some depth and little development. The themes for the past three generations are so much better it's not even funny. Holy shit...I understand the hype and vehemently disagree! And there are some choice moments in this score, like Anistar City and Kalos Power Plant.

But Gen II bike is just Goldenrod theme sped up!

XY felt like a slice of life anime opening and somehow it fits in a bike theme.
 

Regiruler

Member
Man I love the Legendary Battle theme in XY. Reminds me of medieval theme with some Arthurian music.

I didn't know court bards had access to synthesizers. This is one of the most electronic legendary themes in the history of the series (that I've heard and remember). Hell, when I first heard it I had to double check it wasn't Starlight Carnival from sonic colors.
 

Boss Doggie

all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Whaaaaaaaaat

mind blown.

Hahaha you didn't notice that?

I didn't know court bards had access to synthesizers. This is one of the most electronic legendary themes in the history of the series (that I've heard and remember). Hell, when I first heard it I had to double check it wasn't Starlight Carnival from sonic colors.

It just feels fitting for some odd reason. I guess French?

I'm a big fan of the boutique theme in X/Y. So damn catchy.

Oh man that too. I also love their rendition of Pokemon Center. French indeed.
 

cafemomo

Member
How I see it

RSE > RBGY > GSC > BWBW2 > DPPt

Hoenn's music just fits the region well and it's well composed. Ichinose and Masuda should be proud.

RBGY/GSC is just muh nostalgia

XY had a lot of great moments. It also fit the region well

BWBW2 had some moments (GIIMMMMEE WHAT I NEEEEEEED)

DPPt is just bundled up garbage like the region and games themselves
 
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