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An album with the title of "The Greatest Video Game Music" is never going to be a smashing success unless it is broken up into dozens of volumes. Video game music has evolved from simple bleeps and bloops to fully-orchestrated works on par with the best of film and television, with styles that vary widely. And while "The Greatest Video Game Music" doesn't cover all of its bases, it does a good job of mixing some of the more recognizable classics with the more modern hits.
The songs you grew up with, namely the themes of "Super Mario Bros.", "The Legend of Zelda", "Tetris", and "Final Fantasy" are all here, forming the backbone of the album. The classics aren't represented as well as they could have been (Sonic, Phantasy Star, Chrono Trigger or Cross, and countless others have been neglected), but a collection of 22 songs that is trying to cover 30 years of gaming music can be forgiven if it doesn't hit every major contribution. It is to be expected.
Games from the past ten years, and the last five specifically, fill out most of the album. These tracks cover modern classics like "Halo 3", "Fallout 3", "BioShock", "Uncharted", and "Oblivion", but also include a few of the better tracks from the generation prior, such as the stirring "Sons of Liberty" theme from Metal Gear Solid 2, and a track from the ambitious but flawed "Advent Rising". The newest wave of gaming, those played on mobile cell phones, also receive a nod with a charming and surprisingly loving rendition of the ubiquitous "Angry Birds."
The arrangements are universally wonderful, playful when called for while suitably dramatic at other times. Since most people who buy this album will know the melodies, the quality of the works is what most of the value comes down to, and it is without question a wonderfully executed body of work. There is a bit of sameness to some of the tracks, as military-themed games (and their patriotic, stirring themes) dominate the cash register as well as this collection, and the collection could have been more well-rounded (Kirby's Epic Yarn would have been perfect here, and fighting games don't show up at all), but it's a fun collection that shows off how good game music can be. The target audience for this collection will likely already own at least a handful of these songs, but the album is still a good a value for cherry-picking some of the more outstanding themes from soundtracks one might not want in entirety. It is my hope that this album does well, because this could become a great series for game and score fans alike, and there is still so much yet to cover.
PS - Amazon is also offering a $1 credit off the album through the end of November 2011, so don't forget to claim this before purchasing
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It really doesn't matter if you're a fan of video games or not (I am) ... you'll more than likely find the music on this collection wonderful. I especially like to don the headphones and listen to music while at work, and this album will be played over and over again, I can assure you. Highly enjoyable, and the price is quite reasonable, too. Pick it up today and see for yourself. The London Philharmonic Orchestra interpretations of these gaming classics are a delight for the ears!
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Top reviews from other countries
marc spudsy
such a great cd, theres 3 of these, i have all 3 i wish there were more!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 13, 2022S. Lake
Who says video game music has to be all bleepy.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 29, 2013
M Curtis
Fantastic album. I heard it on Spotify
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 17, 2015
