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A Night at the Symphonii

by Andrew Brown - December 20, 2012, 5:02 pm EST
Total comments: 12

The top 10 list of Wii game soundtracks, according to mii. Uh, me.

I love music, especially game music. The soundtrack to any game is a huge part of the experience for me, possibly even more so than graphics or art style.

In personal opinion, a game should have a captivating score that sets the stage and provides a melodious accompaniment to the on-screen action.
A game, to me, is far less memorable if the music isn't as likely to pop into my head years down the track and inspire me to give it another play through for old time's sake.

Nintendo music strikes a particular chord in the gaming industry, pun certainly intended; the success of the recent Zelda concerts are a testament to that. On top of the stellar lineup of games the Wii had during its lifespan, I like to think this console in particular collectively featured some of the all time best soundtracks in video game history. Thus, as a kind of dual-purpose farewell serenade to the Wii and holiday gift to you, dear readers, I've put together a list of my top 10 game soundtracks on the console, with some handy little music players to sample some of my personal favorite tunes.

Keep in mind that this list is in no particular order and no other NWR staffer was involved in the selection of this music. It's just a sample of my own personal taste for you guys to enjoy. Feel free to share your thoughts and your own favorites in the talk back thread below.

But for now, click on the contents links to the right, plug in your headphones and hum along!

Credit for the painted title pic goes to Noura.

Talkback

FreudianLemurDecember 20, 2012

You must have, at some point in this list, the soundtrack from FF Chrystal Chronicles (only the first one, on the GC).

Disco StuDecember 20, 2012

Oh man, the Puzzle Plank Galaxy music from SMG2 is the perfect, quintessential Mario music to me.

joshnickersonDecember 20, 2012

I'd love to hear the original Galaxy soundtrack someday, if only just to hear what could have been.

RazorkidDecember 20, 2012

I absolutely feel the same way about videogame music. It's a huge detriment to me if the music doesn't pop or add significantly to the experience. I haven't gone through your list Andrew, but I look forward to it. I'm always super curious about the tastes of other fellow videogame music lovers and whether mine overlaps at all.

Pixelated PixiesDecember 20, 2012

Some of my stand out soundtracks on Wii are Xenoblade (so good it hurts), the Galaxy games, Epic Yarn, Twilight Princess, House of the Dead: Overkill, the No More Heroes games, Metroid Prime 3, Muramasa, and of course Beat the Beat (Rhythm Heaven Fever).

On the digital front there's also the Bit.Trip games, Light Trax, the Lost Winds games, World of Goo, Cave Story, Mega Man 9 & 10, and Max & the Magic Marker (way underrated as a soundtrack).

I have to share this again. It's just too good. Too good I say!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPCDGVy9SS8&list=PLA6AC2E758E22B09B

Evan_BDecember 21, 2012

Hey, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: the Crystal Bearers has fantastic music, too. The game is the Skyward Sword before Skyward Sword and jam-packed with minigames, but the themes hit just the right balance of that laid-back adventuresome idea and more classy, jazzy material.

joshnickersonDecember 21, 2012

All these articles are doing in making me wish Nintendo would make these soundtracks available to us in the states in one form or another! Y'know, instead of making me track down some rather shady online sources... :-X

I had no problem with Fi; I actually found her quite amusing, once I noticed similarities between her and Vulcans (constantly talking about percentages and logic). I was actually rather touched with her final scene towards the end of the game.

(I did think she looked a tad goofy singing, though ;) )

FreudianLemurDecember 24, 2012

When I listened to the Xenoblade title music, suddenly all my feelings of awe and wonder for the game came rushing back, and I realised how long it is since I last played it. I've not even finished it! Why do I do this with great games? I play a decent way in, and then for some reason I won't play it for ages, to the point where I almost forget about it. *facepalm*

azekeDecember 26, 2012

Judging from the list author hasn't played Rhythm Heaven Fever.

Because it would be #1 if he did.

LittleIrvesDecember 28, 2012

Great stuff, Andrew! Love the sepia-toned logos, too....  I'd add Kirby'd Epic Yarn to the list, and my own personal take on "Ode to Joy" from Wii Music, but I understand how you might have missed that one, ha.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQsxThVKdmo&feature=player_embedded

I totally forgot to add Other M's Ridley theme in the Honorables too. Oh well, next time :D

EasyCureJanuary 04, 2013

I can't get the DKCR sound track on my mp3 player :( stupid formats...

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