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Super Mario Galaxy & The Wind Garden Music

Soundtrack, while doesnt matter SO much in some games, is one of things that make Super Mario Galaxy Best Game Ever.
And Wind Garden Music is one of best compositions in gaming history, if not the best ever
 
I don't own a Wii, but have played SMG and I must say that althought the soundtrack is very, very well composed, I think it's not the best game soundtrack ever, but it comes close. FFXII, DQVIII and SOTC also have some very good orchestral music.
 
It's up there. I do feel like, however, there were other great soundtracks from last year that got totally shunned because of Galaxy's soundtrack. (At least here; they got their due elsewhere.)

See: these two tracks

http://youtube.com/watch?v=swM2fWu9cnA
-This song in particular had the best implementation I think I've ever seen in a game. It kicked in at the perfect moment and absolutely made the scene.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ziFdpLRwyps
-Mandatory posting. Everyone always hates on this game's soundtrack for God knows what reason. I understand that tastes will differ and that some will prefer Mario's soundtrack over this, but I think you guys need to at least recognize they aren't so far apart in quality that one winning an award over the other isn't some huge travesty.
 
Alaluef said:
Yup, a Wii Classic Controller modeled after the SNES one. Pure win.
Click to expand...

Play Asia claims they're going to be going on sale in April.

I will buy.
 
It's okay, but it's not special.

There are other games with music more meaningful to its story (well I guess SMG never had one really).
 
WoWcraft said:
It's okay, but it's not special.

There are other games with music more meaningful to its story (well I guess SMG never had one really).
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I'm not sure I follow how story (or the lack of) takes away from the musical quality of a track.
 
traveler said:
I'm not sure I follow how story (or the lack of) takes away from the musical quality of a track.
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Because music in a game suppose to mean something for the game. If it's just there for the sake of being there, it's not even a part of it.
 
WoWcraft said:
Because music in a game suppose to mean something for the game. If it's just there for the sake of being there, it's not even a part of it.
Click to expand...

Well, yeah, but the music can be there for a reason other than story. (i.e. ambience, to create a mood- which I believe is the aim of Galaxy's music- to represent the stage it's played in, etc.)
 
WoWcraft said:
Because music in a game suppose to mean something for the game. If it's just there for the sake of being there, it's not even a part of it.
Click to expand...

The atmosphere music sets is far more important than it what it can do for story. In this respect, Galaxy's soundtrack passes with flying colors.
 
WoWcraft said:
Because music in a game suppose to mean something for the game. If it's just there for the sake of being there, it's not even a part of it.
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While I agree having an awesome piece of music tied to a great moment in the story, going as far as you is nothing short of clinical insanity.

*is proudly listening to Katamari music right now*
 
WoWcraft said:
Because music in a game suppose to mean something for the game. If it's just there for the sake of being there, it's not even a part of it.
Click to expand...
Yeah. That something is to enhance the mood and atmosphere of the current situation, which SMG does really well.
 
Rancid Mildew said:
The atmosphere music sets is far more important than it what it can do for story. In this respect, Galaxy's soundtrack passes with flying colors.
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Atmosphere for what? For jumping around? In order for there to be atmosphere, there must be a setting. And in order for there to be a setting, there must be a story.
SnakeXs said:
While I agree having an awesome piece of music tied to a great moment in the story, going as far as you is nothing short of clinical insanity.

*is proudly listening to Katamari music right now*
Click to expand...
That's a good example. Katamari music is completely apart from the gameplay if they minimal story wasn't set. There is a story in Katamari no matter how strange it is. Roll up the world and shoot the katamari into the sky is very strange story indeed. So it's supported by quirky, strange music.
 
Subscribing to listen later. Going by reactions here, the song must have been written by the heavens and recorded by the gods. Well see.
 
WoWcraft said:
Atmosphere for what? For jumping around? In order for there to be atmosphere, there must be a setting. And in order for there to be a setting, there must be a story.
Click to expand...

That is complete crap. In this game Mario jumps around in ice fields, lava pits, and obscure places in outer space. The mood created by the setting is independent of a storyline, and the different changes in music accompany that. Play the battlerock theme in the space junk galaxy, or the Ice portion of the freezeflame galaxy in the fire part, and see if it meshes well.
 
WoWcraft said:
That's a good example. Katamari music is completely apart from the gameplay if they minimal story wasn't set. There is a story in Katamari no matter how strange it is. Roll up the world and shoot the katamari into the sky is very strange story indeed. So it's supported by quirky, strange music.
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The reason I used it as an example is because they're so similar.

We'll ignore SMG's cut scenes for a moment. Now let's proceed.

The music in each is finely crafted and fits the mood.

Period.

Katamari's is, as you said, quirky, strange, floaty, and unique, just like the concept, just like the gameplay.

Mario's is just the same. It's whimsical, it's magical, it's happy. Just like the settings, just like the gameplay. The fact that it's music which has been etched by the gods simply takes it to another level.
 
traveler said:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ziFdpLRwyps
-Mandatory posting. Everyone always hates on this game's soundtrack for God knows what reason. I understand that tastes will differ and that some will prefer Mario's soundtrack over this, but I think you guys need to at least recognize they aren't so far apart in quality that one winning an award over the other isn't some huge travesty.
Click to expand...
nah. i really liked bioshock's soundtrack but the main theme is so shamelessly... uhm... "inspired" by penderecki and pärt it's not even funny.

WoWcraft said:
In order for there to be atmosphere, there must be a setting. And in order for there to be a setting, there must be a story.
Click to expand...
ha. ha. ha. ha. ha. ha. no.
 
WoWcraft said:
Atmosphere for what? For jumping around? In order for there to be atmosphere, there must be a setting. And in order for there to be a setting, there must be a story.

That's a good example. Katamari music is completely apart from the gameplay if they minimal story wasn't set. There is a story in Katamari no matter how strange it is. Roll up the world and shoot the katamari into the sky is very strange story indeed. So it's supported by quirky, strange music.
Click to expand...

Howabout the actual level's ambience? Story doesn't really factor in here, but the music still has to play to the relevance of the world you're in, right?

Spooky music in the haunted mansion
Whimsical music in gusty garden
Menacing music on mini-boss levels
Dramatic music for the harder end levels
 
WoWcraft said:
Atmosphere for what? For jumping around? In order for there to be atmosphere, there must be a setting. And in order for there to be a setting, there must be a story.
Click to expand...

A setting is just a place. A story is not essential. I think the best counter example has to be the haunted house galaxy. According to you, any track would have fit since there is no story but that simply isn't true.

Dark Octave said:
Subscribing to listen later. Going by reactions here, the song must have been written by the heavens and recorded by the gods. Well see.
Click to expand...

Preferences for music are totally subjective. You may not like it but some people do and their enthusiastic reactions would still be fine.
 
jarosh said:
nah. i really liked bioshock's soundtrack but the main theme is so shamelessly... uhm... "inspired" by penderecki and pärt it's not even funny.
Click to expand...

Care to link me to this Penderecki? I'm not familiar with him and more Bioshock-like music is always welcome.
 
tnw said:
why is 'epic' suitable to a mario game?
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Hmm... well I know that I use 'epic' as a descriptor for 'awesome'

eg: "That was totally epic, did you see that fall, EPIC"

and I know MANY people who do the same, epic doesn't mean what it used to (just like how AIN'T became a word ^-^ even spell checkers accept it)
 
kinggroin said:
Howabout the actual level's ambience? Story doesn't really factor in here, but the music still has to play to the relevance of the world you're in, right?

Spooky music in the haunted mansion
Whimsical music in gusty garden
Menacing music on mini-boss levels
Dramatic music for the harder end levels
Click to expand...

and FUCKING EPIC music for levels like the Good Egg Galaxy.
 
WoWcraft said:
Atmosphere for what? For jumping around? In order for there to be atmosphere, there must be a setting. And in order for there to be a setting, there must be a story.
Click to expand...
dude, gtfo

you're talking about exposition. exposition can contain themes, characters, settings, but they don't necessarilly need a story to bring it together. especially when a game like SMG isn't designed for such a linear/singular purpose.
 
And for the fact of the matter (or the matter of the fact) Galaxy has about as much story as Katamari does anyway (although Katarmari's is slightly more formed across the game) so even if music somehow required story your assertion that Galaxy doesn't have a story therefore a bad soundtrack is still wrong.
 
PantherLotus said:
Wait a sec, is that guy arguing that SMG music isn't good because it doesn't have a story?

REALLY?
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No he is saying that an appropriate setting (including music) must have a story to accompany it.
 
So is the music inappropriate for the setting, or irrelevant because it has no story? Both are inane comments and have no basis in reality, whether in terms of taste, musical criticism, or actual music theory. Absurdity to the third power.
 
J. M. Romeo said:
If you haven't done so already, I suggest you try to listen to the Katamaris (I count the second one as a very good one too) soundtracks while you ride a bike. Maybe it was just me, but for some reason there is a "rolling" atribute to the songs that reacts synaesthetically (is that even a word?) with the act of biking. I am not shitting you. If you try it, get back to me to call me a fool or to share the experience.
Click to expand...

Can't say biking is in my nature (NYC and all).

That said, Katamari music is perfect for when I'm moving about on a nice warm breezy spring day. It's happy music. :lol
 
Well whatever you guys want to think. But this track isn't anything special. The tune is simply overplayed by have too many instruments playing it in unison and it drowns the background rhythm.

I'm a huge orchestral buff. I don't feel anything particular to this track. There's not enough layers to it and too much instruments in unison. If someone wants to talk about best music in the past two years, this would be it. Although it most of it is remixed, it shows what really good orchestral music should be. Instruments that support and blend together very well and many, many layers of music.

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=s29Jtcpp4Vg
 
Rancid Mildew said:
Preferences for music are totally subjective. You may not like it but some people do and their enthusiastic reactions would still be fine.
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:lol Calm down man. I haven't even heard it yet. I'm just saying that the reactions are a little out there (but when aren't they). When I get home later today I'll check the song out and maybe I'll be doing backflips like the rest of you.
 
Threi said:
No he is saying that an appropriate setting (including music) must have a story to accompany it.
Click to expand...

Personally I'd ignore anyone who says Super Mario Galaxy's soundtrack is "not special". Fuck's sake, even Drinky Crow proclaimed it to be "orgasmic".
 
Dare I ask whether you actually like the game? It may have an impact on whether you like it or not.

and yeah, that FFVIICC music is excellent.
 
traveler said:
Welp, fun times ahead for this thread.

Edit: This is totally off topic, but it's better than the story debate we're about to have- I was just making my usual once a month, remix rounds (thanks to this thread) and came upon this-

http://dod.vgmix.com/past/feb08/01tie-MusicallyInspired,Jabo-Kirby-Help-DoD.mp3

which is a friggin awesome remix of several of the best tracks in vg history.
Click to expand...

You could've at least posted this one, a medley of SMG and Wind Waker: :P

http://dod.vgmix.com/past/jan08/22-HaleBopp-Medley-Tales-DoD.mp3
 
traveler said:
Care to link me to this Penderecki? I'm not familiar with him and more Bioshock-like music is always welcome.
Click to expand...
should be easy to find on itunes. his full name is krzysztof penderecki, he's a polish composer. check out "als jakob erwachte" / "the awakening of jacob" or "de natura sonoris" 1 and 2. arvo pärt can also be found on itunes. of course the 30 second samples suck - but i honestly don't know where to find longer samples, sorry :/
 
jarosh said:
should be easy to find on itunes. his full name is krzysztof penderecki, he's a polish composer. check out "als jakob erwachte" / "the awakening of jacob" or "de natura sonoris" 1 and 2. arvo pärt can also be found on itunes. of course the 30 second samples suck - but i honestly don't know where to find longer samples, sorry :/
Click to expand...

I'm checking out the youtube clips linked above right now. The mood is definitely similar (thought that's kinda to be expected- creepy setting = violins) but I haven't heard anything similar to the main theme of Bioshock yet. Still, I could see the influence.

Edit: At first, I thought that CC track was just a remix- but, holy crap, this is excellent.
 
Dark Octave said:
:lol Calm down man. I haven't even heard it yet. I'm just saying that the reactions are a little out there (but when aren't they). When I get home later today I'll check the song out and maybe I'll be doing backflips like the rest of you.
Click to expand...

You said that based on the reactions in this thread, you expect the music to be heavenly. I'm not upset but I thought I'd share my point of view. I think expectations of music based on another's reactions is wrong.
 
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