What about the Yankees?
Though many of the songs posted on this blog have been from Japanese games, that doesn’t mean that only the Japanese can produce a great soundtrack. Here are a few tracks from American titles that I have loved since I first heard them.
Martin O’Donnell & Michael Salvatori - Opening Suite Halo Original Soundtrack You’d be hard-pressed to find an American gamer who hasn’t at least heard of Halo. Though opinions over the game vary greatly, I can say that I loved the soundtrack. A more atmospheric arrangement than many Japanese titles, this song not only is a beautiful piece, but can evoke a lot of emotion in those who have played the game.
Stan Lepard, Northwest Sinfonia - Vendetta Suite Crimson Skies: High Road To Revenge Original Soundtrack This piece has epic written all over it. The minute it starts, you are thrown back to the classic air-battles of hollywood, with bi-planes and dogfights. You can almost feel the cold sting on your face as you picture yourself in the open cockpit of a fighter plane, maneuvering around an enemy, trying desperately to get a good shot at him.
Jack Wall - Dawn Star Theme Jade Empire Original Soundtrack While the game was very hit or miss for most gamers out there, the soundtrack did a wonderful job of capturing the atmosphere by using classic Chinese instruments and arrangements. This song in particular is one of the more upbeat pieces and is quite enjoyable to listen to. Though the game’s soundtrack didn’t quite have the masterful sound that movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon were able to produce (Thanks to the amazing talents of Yoyo Ma), Jack Wall still was able to produce one that was not only bearable, but actually worth listening to. It’s more than can be said for other American composers who venture into the realm of Chinese classical.
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One Response to “What about the Yankees?”
I love Halo, and I love the music from it. I also played Jade Empire, and though it didn’t strike me as extremely memorable, I do remember having fond, rather than unpleasant memories of it.