since it's still the 2nd here i want to do this for the next 30 days
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 1
title screen music:
Solstice (NES) - title
composer: Tim Follin
probably not the only time you'll see a follin song on this list, but this one was too good to pass up
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 2
opening level music:
Touhou Imperishable Night (PC) - Illusionary Night ~ Ghostly Eyes
composer: ZUN
a very good first stage theme that really sets the tone for the game
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 3
8-bit music:
Pokemon Trading Card Game (GBC) - Club Master Duel
composer: IchirΕ Shimakura
i was tempted to go with pc-88 music since that's technically 8-bit, but i decided to instead go with a rather obscure but very good piece of psg music
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 4
music from a console exclusive series:
Ecco the Dolphin (Sega CD) - The Vents
composer: Spencer Nilsen
a rather unique track for the time. in general i find early redbook audio vgm to be experimental but this one is among the best
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 5
hub world or overworld music:
Dragon Quest VIII (PS2) - Strange World ~ Marching through the Fields
composer: Koichi Sugiyama
an overworld theme i never get tired of
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 6
music that makes you feel relaxed:
Sonic Adventure (DC) - Snowy Mountain (Icecap)
composer: Jun Senoue
not much to say about this one, just a very relaxing and atmospheric track from a game i like
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 7
music from an indie game:
Freedom Planet (PC) - Jade Creek B
composers: Woofle, BlueWarrior
this game has so many good songs, it was hard to choose one. this one has a bit of a mega man feel
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 8
music from a shooter (first or third person):
Metroid Prime (GC) - Magmoor Caverns
composer: Kenji Yamamoto
this counts, right? at least i didn't pick music from a shmup for this one
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 9
music from a licensed game:
X-Men Children of the Atom (Arcade) - Avalon
composers: Takayuki Iwai, Syun Nishigaki, Hideki Okugawa
i generally don't like capcom's fighting game music as much as snk's or arika's but this is a very good final boss theme
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 10
rpg battle music
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga - Hunting
composer: Shoji Meguro
feels somewhat unique even for an smt battle theme, and i like it
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 11
puzzle game music:
Cleopatra Fortune - In Game Music
composer: Zuntata
this list has gone long enough without a zuntata track
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 12
music that makes you sad:
Bionic Commando (NES) - Area 5
composer: Junko Tamiya
a have certain associations with this track thanks to listening to it a lot during a certain period of my life, but even on its own it's a standout nes track from a composer that deserves more recognition
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 13
music you like from a game you don't like:
J.J. & Jeff (TG-16) - Field 3
composer: Takeaki Kunimoto
how does a game about toilet humor have a track this good?
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 14
music featuring vocals:
Final Zone II (TG-CD) - Momoko Ring's Theme
composer: unknown (developed by reno)
while final zone 2 features telenet's usual bottom tier english voice acting, both the japanese and english versions of this song are very good
jp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq5A4h3DRYg
us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OBjRp0AaXw
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 15
boss battle music:
Phantasy Star 4 (Genesis) - Laughter
composer: Izuho Numata
it doesn't have to be a normal boss theme, right? this ost in general is one of my favorites, but i love this song in particular because it puts you in the exact mood for fighting the bosses this theme accompanies
30-day Video Game Music Challenge meta
forgot to do this yesterday because i was busy, so i'll do both now
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 16
16-bit music:
Popful Mail (PC-98) - Jungle (Battle)
composer: Falcom JDK
pc-98 is a 16-bit computer, so why not show off the original version of this great track?
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 17
music you never get tired of:
Galaxy Force II (Arcade) - Defeat (Scene B)
composer: Katsuhiro Hayashi
this was a tough one to pick for, so i decided to go with some classic sega jazz fusion. the same composer also did the soundtrack for quartet, which i considered for this list
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 18
music in a game released the year you were born
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSX) - Wandering Ghosts
composer: Michiru Yamane
nearly every track in this game is a classic, so i decided to showcase one of my favorites that isn't among the more commonly talked about ones
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 19
cover of music by a different artist:
Ashane - Ninjascape
cover of Ninja Gaiden II (NES) - act 3-2, composed by Ryuichi Nitta and Mayuko Okamura
probably my favorite ocremix
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 20
music from a racing game:
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune (Arcade) - Stream of Tears
composer: Yuzo Koshiro
you should listen to the soundtracks for all these games, they're amazing
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 21
music you associate with frustration:
Gradius III (Arcade) - Crystal Labyrinth
composers: Miki Higashino, Seiichi Fukami, Kozo Nakamura, Mutsuhiko Izumi, Junichiro Kaneda
the music is probably one of the reasons i love the gradius series but the games are very unforgiving. the crystal stage (found only in the arcade version) is infamous for the cube rush section at the end
30-day Video Game Music Challenge meta
(updated since english wikipedia listed the wrong k. nakamura composer who worked at konami)
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 22
town/village music:
Shining Force II (Genesis) - Town
composer: Motoaki Takenouchi
a very energetic and upbeat town theme we wish got more recognition
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 23
underrated music:
Darius Gaiden (Arcade) - VISIONNERZ ~Hallucinated People~
composer: Hisayoshi Ogura
more zuntata goodness! what makes this track so amazing is how it contains the music used for the first stage, first boss, and second stage and seamlessly flows between all of them
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 24
music you constantly have stuck in your head:
Hyper Duel (Arcade) - Cosmo Babylon
composer: Hyakutaro Tsukumo
the debut soundtrack of the thunder force 5 composer is very good
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 25
music that gets you pumped:
Midnight Resistance (Genesis) - Flood of power
composers: Azusa Hara, Tatsuya Kiuchi, Hitomi Komatsu, Hiroaki Yoshida
arranged by Hitoshi Sakimoto
sakimoto's md soundtracks are legendary, and this one elevates a port marred by awkward control schemes
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 26
music you like from a game you haven't played:
We Love Katamari (PS2) - Katamari on the Swing
composers: Yuu Miyake, Yoshihito Yano
we love katamari has a great and varied soundtrack and we recommend you listen to all the songs on it
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 27
music from a handheld game:
Mega Man Battle Network 2 (GBA) - Internet World
composer: Yoshino Aoki
probably our favorite of the mmbn internet themes
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 28
music that makes you feel nostalgic:
Zelda Ocarina of Time (N64) - Zora's Domain
composer: Koji Kondo
already used a song from sonic adventure so why not have something from zelda instead
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 29
final boss music:
The King of Fighters 95 (Arcade) - Guitar, Omega, and Rugal
composers: Akihiro Uchida, Masahiko Hataya, Yasuo Yamate, Brother-Hige, Pearl Sibakiti
snk fighters are known for their cheap final bosses, but at least they're accompanied by good music. the video linked here contains the original and arranged version of the song, the latter of which contains a sample you may recognize
30-day Video Game Music Challenge day 30
credits music:
Metal Gear Solid 3 (PS2) - Way to Fall
composer: Starsailor
maybe this is cheating since this song wasn't composed for a video game, but it's too good not to use and gives a fitting mood to the end of a prequel starring a future villain
