On the wind down...

Following hot (or actually more lukewarmly) on the heels of the critically acclaimed A change of pace, (OK maybe not critically acclaimed, but pretty damn decent!) we have yet another playlist with which to chill your video gaming soul.

In attempt to showcase video game music in it's purest form and display just how splendid it can actually be, this collection consists of nothing but regular ol' background music. There are no piano, orchestral or acoustic versions present...just fantastically produced and engineered in-game music. For those unaware or perhaps even uninterested in video game music, I would urge you to give this playlist a listen and see if it helps to change your opinion.

Once again, the RPG features heavily with pieces from some of the musical heavyweights of the genre (Mitsuda, Uematsu, Kikuta etc), but there are also a couple of surprises waiting and a certain David Wise flying the flag for England.

Anyways, here is the complete track listing and for anyone who's interested in having a listen, the download link can be found below.

VGM Unwinding Vol II: BGM Galore

1. Frontier Village Dali - Final Fantasy IX OST
2. Lost Fragments - Chrono Cross OST
3. The Treasure Which Cannot be Stolen - Xenogears OST
4. Interrupted by Fireworks - Final Fantasy VII OST
5. Underwater Exploration - Super Mario Sunshine OST
6. Fear of the Heavens - Secret of Mana OST
7. The Village of Chirping Birds - Genso Suikoden II OST
8. Forest Interulde - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest OSV
9. Angel Culture - Grandia OST
10. Peaceful Days - Chrono Trigger OSV
11. Hope - Wild Arms OGS
12. Heart Softening (Ode to Nanami) - Genso Suikoden II OST
13. Stickerbrush Symphony -  Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest OSV
14. Singing of the Gentle Wind - Xenogears OST
15. Dream of the Shore (Boarding Another World) - Chrono Cross OST
16. Brinstar Sector 2 - Super Metroid OSV
17. Epilogue (To Good Friends) - Chrono Trigger OSV
18. Good Egg Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy OST
19. Balrog - Street Fighter II Turbo OSV
20. Find Ilia - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
21. A Peaceful Time Together: - Legend of Dragoon OSV
22. Mining Melancholy - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest OSV
23. Celes - Final Fantasy VI OST
24. Requiem of Grief - Genso Suikoden II OST
25. Everyday Dream - Legend of Mana OST
26. Marin sings the Ballard of the Windfish: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

I own physical and official copies of all albums/games this music was taken from

Download VGM Unwinding Vol II: BGM Galore

Once again, feedback and/or suggestions for future uploads are more than welcome. There are another 30 or so of these on the way so...happy listening!

Gaming's great intros part III: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

I think it would be fair to say that the majority of Nintendo fans will forever remember their virgin experience with the colossal Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Rarely has a game so massively hyped delivered so comprehensively, and rarely has one game singlehandedly revolutionised not only a single genre, but also the games industry as a whole. Within days of it’s release in 1998, Ocarina of Time had cemented itself in the hearts of gamers across the globe as one of the most revered titles in video game history.

Something else that most fans will doubtless remember is the first time that they fired this game up and witnessed the majesty of Link in full polygonal glory, sat astride Epona, as she gallops through the stunning vista of Hyrule Field. Watching as the two of them are bathed in the glorious pink light of dawn...even today, is a sight to behold, and then as the camera sweeps by we get a glimpse of Hyrule Castle, resplendent in all it's grandeur. By this point it was clear to most people that this game would be beyond special.

Nintendo’s controversial choice of cartridges as storage medium infamously left the N64 unable to produce the outrageous CG and FMV sequences that were proving so popular on the CD based consoles (PSX and Saturn) of the time. On the plus side however, this decision left Ocarina of Time without the unnecessary burden of CG costume jewellery, and gave it the ability to show off it's (very) ample assets in a more subtle and natural light. Nintendo's almost minimalist approach here gently alluded to what awaited the player and ensured that no gamer would be left downhearted by a flashy looking intro that the game itself couldn't hope to match...(cough Dragon Valour...cough).

The storage space (or lack thereof) afforded by cartridges did have a large effect on the N64's ability to produce quality music, and it's games were often criticised for containing very basic tunes that looped much sooner than their CD counterparts. Step in veteran Nintendo composer and all round genius; Koji Kondo, who somehow managed to eke out a soundtrack of genuine class and an intro aria fit to rival almost anything from Square, Capcom or Enix. The simple yet elegant piano and the unmistakable melody of the now series signature ocarina, make for a delicate and intensely warm harmony...in short, there was very little at the time to better it.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time showed the world and proved to Nintendo's critics that even without huge storage space, the N64 could produce cut scenes that were simply without superlative. And even though today the character models are beginning to look a little dated and the backgrounds look even fuzzier, this intro sequence is still beautiful in every way I can think of. More importantly and perhaps more impressively though, it still gives me that massive buzz of anticipation at just what is waiting to begin...and as any serious gamer will tell you, that is all too rare.