4. Toby Fox - Undertale (2015) Yeah, this game is that good and lives up to the hype. And its soundtrack is equally as good, which says TONS. Fox apparently made his name remaking EarthBound tracks/game itself. While I haven’t played that game despite its after the fact hype, it shows that he is fully aware of VG soundtracks as a result. [nerdout][
[be wary of possible spoilers, i tried to not spoil] Fox reprises themes with two characters, the main menu and another theme, two other similar stages and so on. Nel says a bit more in the VG thread here
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=42202.1925. So on one hand, the reoccurring themes and motifs are absolutely awesome. But he also masks it too, and will slow down tempos on some so it's hard to tell. Someone on that Tube site did a comparison.
But it goes beyond that. Fox blends in real instruments in and out between chip tunes, often piano as that is his instrument. I know he had a guitarist play both acoustic and electric on a few tracks At times to me, it blends so well that at times I lose the concept of chiptune vs. real. Which actually probably fits right into what Fox was trying to do with the game's story IMO. Fox actually used Mario Paint to fully compose one song. The thing is, it didn't turn out too bad. It fits with the character! ("Dogsong")
He created a tapestry of music that fits this game exactly. Never have I heard a soundtrack do what this one does. Even when you are going through in a certain style of play, he distorts the music. Then he makes it go away, and places something else if you were successful. Incredible.
He also makes you feel uncomfortable/fearful when he needs you to do (True Lab - "Here We Are", "You Idiot," Unnecessary Tension," or no sound), relaxed when he needs you to be ("Fallen Down," "Ruins,") jovial/goofy/odd when he needs you to be ("sans," Nyeh Heh Heh!," "Temmie Village"), inspired ("ASGORE," "Don't Give Up," "Hopes and Dreams") and melancholy ("His Theme" among many others) when he needs you to be. If this game wasn’t so new, me being new to it, and it being “over-hyped,” I very well may have put this at the top. This will probably be my longest write up. I just cannot leave this game alone, and it has made me think so much on many levels, and made me feel so much. The soundtrack just colors it all.
A good chunk of the songs are being remade already- "Spider Dance"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqghKVU23Wc&index=7&list=PLE9NBypnb2JnDYh7Z5OQAo9MjDj2Eef9mAs a result, I have been playing the heck out of this soundtrack. Every track brings up memories of those scenes where things happened, with those characters and scenes. Fox knocked the ball out of two parks with this soundtrack. [/nerdout]
[/spoilers]I know I hyped the fock out of this, and will do the same in my top 25 VG list. But please do not ignore this game because of the hype- it is that great of a game and soundtrack. This is my first independent game ever, so I'm not a fanboi of smaller developers or something. If you cannot ignore the hype, come back to the game after it has died down.
…Stage 6-2, have fun Hayabusa…