Your Favourite Composer & You

[Tsukishima]

My first ever post beside my introduction, and i wanted to make sure it was something i was extremely passionate about, and its videogame composers.

Is there a story behind a composer whose sound you may be entranced with? Their compositions, spiritually healing you and getting excited whenever you hear they themselves are included in a videogame upon research?

Mine is Junya Nakano.
I first heard his compositions in Final Fantasy X, which he helped to produce alongside another newcomer, that being Masashi Hamazu along the time and since then those two have done some incredible work together.

But another game i encountered with Nakano is Threads of Fate (otherwise known as Dewprism in JP) and their work on the game had me in a trance. Locked, with the key thrown away, the title screen theme rolls and his melodies are creeping into my soul already with every single note.
The prologue begins and it starts playing Bonds with Claire and it's sorrowful composition that starts with a melody that you gradually realise as the game progresses will become a very powerful theme as Nakano-san masterfully reworks the theme into more stronger styles to get your blood pumping.

Although, the reason why i heard of Threads of Fate in the first place, was due to scrolling KHInsider and innocently clicking random song until a sound i like came up as that's how i like to discover videogames.
It played the theme of the last dungeon, known as 'To the Ultimate Relic'.
This masterpiece of a song struck a chord with my heart, and began my lifelong adoration for Nakano and his works, i've played numerous games simply because he did the soundtrack for it, like Musashi Samurai Legend, who he joint composed with Hamazu again.

I love how this song begins, those unique PSX soundfonts start becoming so noticeable with how Junya composed it and it's a dead-ringer for songs that feel long, but are never quite exhaustive in that regard and keeps you on the move. The rhythm the percussion sets alongside that beautiful melody is a powerful emotion i don't quite know how to put into words.

with that in mind, who's your favourite composer and most importantly, your story with them, did you follow their career and cheer whenever you read their name on a soundtrack?

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

Big fan of Matt Furniss. Don't even have to look up who the composer is to know it was him, the sound he was able to achieve on the Mega Drive is very recognizable and unique. Lost Vikings, Hulk and Mortal Kombat I/II where some of the first games I played on the system, so you could say I'm a little attached to his style.

 

[Sheepy765]

I’m a diehard Yoko Shimomura fan ever since listening to her work on Kingdom Hearts Union Cross. I really enjoy her more calming or relaxed tracks and I think they’ve stuck with me a lot more over the years. Unfortunate that she made a bunch of music for Kingdom Hearts Missing Link only for it to get cancelled, the soundtrack is really good.

 

[Viviana Santos]

There are many game composers that I really love, but if I had to choose just one, I would definitely pick Hidehito Aoki, a former composer at Atlus who tragically passed away in 2002 (He was on his way to a business trip in 2002, he was driving on an ice-covered mountain, in which his car lost control and he ended up falling to his death)

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Persona 1 (PSX) has one of my favorite soundtracks in all of gaming, and so many of them are thanks to Hidehito Aoki ; like the Police Station, Underground Passage, Deva Yuga, and Kama Palace themes. That’s not to discredit the other incredible composers who worked on the game, but Hidehito’s work especially stands out to me.

His music has this otherworldly, clean, distinctly '90s feel to it. Despite the limitations of the PS1, it feels performed, and with soul. It’s honestly too beautiful for my ears.

He also composed for Majin Tensei I and II, which both have incredible soundtracks that push the SNES soundchip to its limits!

One thing I love about older Megaten games is how they used multiple composers instead of just relying on one name like in more recent titles. That variety brought such richness and texture to the soundtracks, and it's part of why they still hold up so well! That atmosphere, built through different musical voices always pulls me, no matter what you think of the game itself.

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It’s kind of frustrating though, when people talk about Persona 1’s music, they usually bring up tracks like A Lone Prayer or Bloody Destiny. And hey, they’re catchy, but the original in-game tracks are on another level. It genuinely hurts that all that effort got swept away in a remaster that, while more faithful in some ways, lost so much of its original soul. (I'm very upset that Meguro decided to make a new soundtrack for the PSP remaster that simply doesn't fit with the original game and is only there to appeal to people who like Persona 3 and 4, especially considering that Aoki died a few years before the release of the Persona 1 remaster)

When I learned about Hidehito Aoki’s death, I felt a heavy sadness I wasn’t expecting. He passed away so young, only 32. It really makes you think about how many brilliant, creative people we lose before they truly get a chance.

Here's some of my favorite tracks from him:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0TZ0NEchpcM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kmvj07U96Og https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FGrmzk03Cts

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Hidehito Aoki's death/retirement from music-making is an unparalleled tragedy. His music was some of the most unique in the industry; I struggle to think of a composer who even compares. It's such a shame that a) he stopped composing while he was still alive, and b) that such a talent is gone so soon.

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P.S. Go check out the soundtrack to Seijuu Maden: Beasts & Blades; Aoki did about half of that one (the other half was handled by the one and only Tsukasa Masuko).

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Hidehito Aoki was such a talented composer and it shows. His music sounds like it was performed instead of sounding like it was made in midi. It’s truly impressive what he did, especially with Majin Tensei I and II and Persona 1. his music is truly masterful.

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Rest in peace, Hidehito Aoki. You’ll always be remembered through your music.

1970-2002

 

[Tsukishima]

I’m a diehard Yoko Shimomura fan ever since listening to her work on Kingdom Hearts Union Cross. I really enjoy her more calming or relaxed tracks and I think they’ve stuck with me a lot more over the years. Unfortunate that she made a bunch of music for Kingdom Hearts Missing Link only for it to get cancelled, the soundtrack is really good.

I really feel you with Yoko's work, in my musical course in college i had to write a piece about a specific musician made you feel. I didn't know Junya back then, so i picked Yoko.
I wish I knew about her work on Parasite Eve because i would have gone to town with how much i love her work there.
And of course, her work on KH is sublime, thank you so much for introducing me to her stuff on Missing Link.

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Persona 1 (PSX) has one of my favorite soundtracks in all of gaming, and so many of them are thanks to Hidehito Aoki ; like the Police Station, Underground Passage, Deva Yuga, and Kama Palace themes. That’s not to discredit the other incredible composers who worked on the game, but Hidehito’s work especially stands out to me.

His music has this otherworldly, clean, distinctly '90s feel to it. Despite the limitations of the PS1, it feels performed, and with soul. It’s honestly too beautiful for my ears.

Hidehito Aoki composed Kama Palace??? If I ever had to describe the soundtrack of my train that flies through space, my cosmo odyssey's soundtrack would have that song playing in a loop that almost lasts forever. That composition is simply divine to me and there is nothing quite like it.

I can't believe such a savant of the craft met his end like that and i'm deeply remorseful over the affair, but thank you so much for making me more knowledgeable about the man who i owe a lot too with Kama Palace.

 

[Viviana Santos]

Hidehito Aoki composed Kama Palace??? If I ever had to describe the soundtrack of my train that flies through space, my cosmo odyssey's soundtrack would have that song playing in a loop that almost lasts forever. That composition is simply divine to me and there is nothing quite like it.

I can't believe such a savant of the craft met his end like that and i'm deeply remorseful over the affair, but thank you so much for making me more knowledgeable about the man who i owe a lot too with Kama Palace.

He was truly a brilliant mind, a one-of-a-kind composer

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Another song from Persona 1 (PSX) that I absolutely love is the final boss theme of the game, Pandora

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This song has such an oppressive and ominous tone, like a feeling that you truly may not even be capable of winning this fight, but you picked it anyway because it was the right thing to do, you’re essentially facing the nihilistic out of control god of Maki’s world (Herself) in a desperate attempt to stop it from destroying the entire world.

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There's this unpredictable, constantly shifting quality to it and yet the flow throughout the different sections feels so deliberate and perfect. The way it serves as a capstone for the Kandori leitmotif is also brilliant. There's just no other final boss theme quite like it.

 

[Heidegger of Shinra]

I replayed this recently, I forgot how good the music was.

 

[partymembervii]

The whole world of Castlevania would feel empty if not for the compositions of primarily Michiru Yamane, she even worked on a smaller metroidvania a couple years ago called Nine Years of Shadow. Another who comes to mind is Motoi Sakuraba, who gave us the soundscapes of the entire Dark Souls trilogy, along with every single Tales game. I often find myself going back to many of the soundtracks written by these two.

 

[Tsukishima]

The whole world of Castlevania would feel empty if not for the compositions of primarily Michiru Yamane, she even worked on a smaller metroidvania a couple years ago called Nine Years of Shadow. Another who comes to mind is Motoi Sakuraba, who gave us the soundscapes of the entire Dark Souls trilogy, along with every single Tales game. I often find myself going back to many of the soundtracks written by these two.

I'm familiar with Yamane's work specifically with Gungage since i haven't dabbled into Castlevania much outside of SOTN and Aria of Sorrow. She's got a real bombastic vibe in that soundtrack. The Road for Underground is such an amazingly suspenseful tune composed by her. I seriously adore how that industrial sound collides with that bassline and only encroaches further. Something enigmatic is about to happen, and your only option is to face it.

 

[CraigJarrett]

Akira Yamaoka......beautiful, pure beauty

Silent Hill (Original Soundtrack)

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[Tsukishima]

Akira Yamaoka......beautiful, pure beauty

Silent Hill (Original Soundtrack)

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I really love Akira Yamaoka too ... his work is true beauty.
Witchcraft from Silent Hill Homecoming is my favourite song of his, but Alone in the Town from Silent Hill 2 is divine ... oh, and Wounded Warsong from Silent Hill 4: The Room

 

[CraigJarrett]

I really love Akira Yamaoka too ... his work is true beauty.
Witchcraft from Silent Hill Homecoming is my favourite song of his, but Alone in the Town from Silent Hill 2 is divine ... oh, and Wounded Warsong from Silent Hill 4: The Room

I love all his work on the first two games in particular, from the pieces of music to the sound effects. Hauntingly beautiful.

 

[Tsukishima]

I love all his work on the first two games in particular, from the pieces of music to the sound effects. Hauntingly beautiful.

 

[nobitakun]

Kajiura Yuki.

 

[Lokgamer]

Definitely, I choose Akira God Yamaka. I admire how he can compose so beautiful instrumental songs is one hand, while use just noise or the silence itself to generate terror in the other. That's worthy of a true musician

 

[Viviana Santos]

Hidehito Aoki was such a talented composer and it shows. His music sounds like it was performed instead of sounding like it was made in midi. It’s truly impressive what he did, especially with Majin Tensei I and II and Persona 1. his music is truly masterful.

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Rest in peace, Hidehito Aoki. You’ll always be remembered through your music.

1970-2002

Other personal favorite tracks composed by Aoki that I forgot to mention:

 

[Mal]

Of favourite composers i have way to many but if i had to choose one to showcase here it would be Kota Hoshino, the guy most known for armoured core but for me was with:

Utterly Haunting and beautiful, the wierd laugh tracks, the incoeherent chantings, so much wierdness and so much soul into every track.
even when trying to make more upbeat tracks

may his soul blessed for eternity.

 

[Tsukishima]

Of favourite composers i have way to many but if i had to choose one to showcase here it would be Kota Hoshino, the guy most known for armoured core but for me was with:

Utterly Haunting and beautiful, the wierd laugh tracks, the incoeherent chantings, so much wierdness and so much soul into every track.
even when trying to make more upbeat tracks

may his soul blessed for eternity.

Kota Hoshino would have been my second pick, he composed the soundtrack for the Lost Kingdoms games on the Nintendo Gamecube which are in my top 3 list of favourite games in existence. and was the main person responsible for my musical taste today.

 

[Mal]

wait i just found this, dont know his name but of course this is the best composer of all times and the universe eternity :P

 

[casali]

The whole world of Castlevania would feel empty if not for the compositions of primarily Michiru Yamane, she even worked on a smaller metroidvania a couple years ago called Nine Years of Shadow. Another who comes to mind is Motoi Sakuraba, who gave us the soundscapes of the entire Dark Souls trilogy, along with every single Tales game. I often find myself going back to many of the soundtracks written by these two.

You spittin. Yamane's compositions are truly what elevates those games into something special to me. Bangers, all.

For me, it's Masashi Hamauzu.
I found the soundtrack for Final Fantasy X before I played any games in the series. After hearing it, I was super intrigued by what kind of games they could be, based on what I'd heard. Of course, when I finally did play Final Fantasy X, I cried like a baby at the end. That set off an entire obsession with Final Fantasy and its music. Uematsu is a legend of course, but Hamauzu has such a cool, unique way of working with chords and atmosphere. I could ponder life to this song for hours:

Also here's a cool piano album:

 

[Mileena]

Yuzo Koshiro, he’s done music for multiple games and they’re all great but his Streets of Rage music eats everything, what amazing soundtracks.

Dreamer is my favorite video game song ever, what a masterpiece.

2 has the greatest soundtrack of all time.

 

[Tsukishima]

For me, it's Masashi Hamauzu.
I found the soundtrack for Final Fantasy X before I played any games in the series. After hearing it, I was super intrigued by what kind of games they could be, based on what I'd heard. Of course, when I finally did play Final Fantasy X, I cried like a baby at the end. That set off an entire obsession with Final Fantasy and its music. Uematsu is a legend of course, but Hamauzu has such a cool, unique way of working with chords and atmosphere. I could ponder life to this song for hours:

I like that we share two favourite composers who collaborate with eachother quite often. Junya Nakano and Masashi Hamauzu are an amazing pair and their synergy is quite impeccable.

Also, I feel you with Wandering Flame, I've also meditated with that theme in the background for many an hour.

Yuzo Koshiro, he’s done music for multiple games and they’re all great but his Streets of Rage music eats everything, what amazing soundtracks.

Yuzo honestly has an insane track record with how much music he's done AND keeps things as fresh and amazing as he's debuted.

Skyscraper Night is my favourite SOR song by him, I love how sombre it feels. and the five-note string that plays throughout just speaks to my heart.