Game BGM and Soundtracks Are Awesome

I suddenly felt urged to talk about something nerdy.

Have you ever paid attention to the music playing in the background while gaming? BGM can elevate scenes, create atmospheres, and evoke various emotions. Since I was young, I’ve been exposed to numerous games and their music thanks to my dad.
Listening to game music brings back vivid memories of the scenes and emotions I experienced. Today, let me share some of my favorite game music with you.

I’d love to hear about your favorite tracks too!

01. “The Stains of Time (Maniac Agenda Mix)” - from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

The high-tempo speed metal, combined with high-pitched vocals and shouts, makes this track unforgettable. It’s used during a mid-game boss fight.
This boss was surprisingly challenging to beat. The game’s mechanics were a bit tricky too, making for some tough battles. If you’ve played this game, you’ll probably know exactly what I’m talking about lol.

The Metal Gear Series, known for its protagonist Snake, is a famous series by Konami. However, Metal Gear Rising features Raiden, the protagonist from Metal Gear Solid 2, as the main character again. It was released on the PlayStation 3 in Japan.

This song plays during a pivotal boss fight, marking a turning point for the protagonist. The lyrics focus more on Raiden than the boss. Meme-worthy!

A unique feature of the game’s music is that boss fight tracks start as instrumental versions and naturally crossfade into vocal versions as the fight progresses, adding to the excitement! The soundtrack includes both vocal and instrumental versions, but I vividly remember my younger self playing and thinking, “What’s the Coulomb force?”
This game features metal combined with electronic instruments, fitting its metal gear and cyborg themes. Other cool tracks include “Rules of Nature” and “Red Sun”. Give them a listen!

Game: “Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance”

02. “Lazy Afternoons” - from the Kingdom Hearts Series

＜ Kingdom Hearts -HD 2.5 ReMIX- Original Soundtrack ＞

“Lazy Afternoons” - YouTube

You might not recognize the song just by its name, but anyone who has played this game will instantly know it. Honestly, until writing this article, I thought the title was “Twilight Town.”

It’s a very calm and soothing piece of music. However, if you’ve played Kingdom Hearts, it can evoke feelings of loneliness and sadness. It’s a piece that especially resonates this time of year, stirring emotions deeply. I’d love to go to the beach with someone who feels the same. My summer vacation is over.

The game is set in the perpetually twilight world of Twilight Town. The music loops throughout the town’s everyday life. This melancholic track embodies the feelings of Roxas, the protagonist of Kingdom Hearts II. I first played Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, so it took me some time to grasp the overarching story. However, this made me deeply empathize with Roxas in Kingdom Hearts II.

By the way, the cover image with multiple people who look the same isn’t a mistake but it contains significant spoilers. If you’re interested, definitely play the game! The moment Hikaru Utada’s “Hikari” plays at the end of Kingdom Hearts will give you goosebumps for sure!

The composer, Yoko Shimomura, is a legend in game music, not just for the Kingdom Hearts Series but also for Xenoblade, Street Fighter II, and Super Mario RPG. If you’re a game music enthusiast, you definitely know her work. Be sure to listen to her other tracks as well.

Games: “Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories”, “Kingdom Hearts II”, “Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days”, “Kingdom Hearts III”, “Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory”

03. “Battle! Champion” - from Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

The music composed by Junichi Masuda for the Pokémon games ranges from exhilarating to slightly melancholic. Many fans might find that listening to these tracks brings back memories of their own Pokémon teams.

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Masuda composed the Champion battle theme. This track, perfect for the final battle, incorporates elements that build excitement while also using dissonant chords to create a sense of unease.
The best experience comes from listening to this track together with the prelude, “Champion Cynthia”. Unlike many Pokémon BGM, this is a piano solo piece (although it requires multiple pianos to play in reality), perfectly setting the stage for the upcoming tough battle.

Back then, many players struggled with Cynthia’s Spiritomb, as it had no type that could be effective. In the remakes, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, her team remained the same, but the addition of the Fairy type made the battle a bit easier.

The first soundtrack I ever purchased was for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. These games included a feature allowing players to switch the music to tracks from the original Pokémon Gold and Silver after completing the main game. This was incredibly shocking to me. Having played Pokémon Gold and Crystal before the remakes, it felt nostalgic yet refreshing to see the updated graphics with the old music.

Games: “Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum”, “Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl”

04. “Kerwan” - from the Ratchet & Clank Series

One of my top favorite games of all time is the Ratchet & Clank Series. Unfortunately, most of the series, including this track, has not been officially released as a soundtrack.

My favorite entries in the series are the first three games: Ratchet & Clank, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, and Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal. Among these, the BGM for Planet Kerwan, which appears in the first and third games, is particularly dear to me.

Planet Kerwan is inspired by a developed metropolitan city, with a haze due to the gas in the distance, making it a cyberpunk vibe. Since this planet can be visited early in the first game, its image has left a strong impression on me. As a big city, it also appears in several later titles. In the PlayStation 4 remake, Ratchet & Clank: The Game, I was a bit disappointed that a certain memorable character did not appear and the athletic course felt bland. Additionally, this beloved track was absent, making it feel like a different planet altogether. The original track’s power and significance are immense for me, which is why I love it so much.

Games (including arrangements): “Ratchet & Clank”, “Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal”, “Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction”, “Ratchet & Clank: The Game”

05. “No Way Back” - from the God Eater Series

Released as a PSP-exclusive game, God Eater was often dismissed as a Monster Hunter clone at the time. However, anyone who played it with this preconception would sorely regret it.
This game showcases a post-apocalyptic world where humans struggle to survive against gigantic creatures known as Aragami. The story, rich with hope and intrigue, highlights the humans’ fight for survival. The enemy designs are outstanding, each appearing as an almost insurmountable foe, literally evoking a god-like presence. The distinct and well-developed characters quickly draw players into the story.

Within this narrative, an Aragami called Dyaus Pita stands as a formidable nemesis. This is the boss who is a relative of Vajra, the Aragami depicted on the game’s packaging. In the original God Eater, Dyaus Pita serves as a pivotal adversary in the mid-game, driving players’ motivation to defeat it.

The battle against Dyaus Pita features the track “No Way Back”, an arrangement of the game’s main theme song “God Eater”. Elements of its main melody and verses are used in various cutscenes, gradually ingraining the tune in players’ minds before the actual “No Way Back” track plays. The high-speed rock arrangement gives the battle a climactic feel rather than just a final showdown.

The opening animation for God Eater, created by ufotable, the renowned studio behind Demon Slayer and the Fate Series, is visually stunning. The music features “Over the clouds” by Alan, who also performed an ending theme for Inuyasha. The updated version, God Eater Burst, includes “Over the clouds -BURST mix-”, which is equally impressive and worth a listen.

The music for the series is composed by Go Shiina, known for his work on the Tales Series. The insert song “God and Man (Vocal Ver.)” from God Eater was even nominated for the Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2010, highlighting the high quality of the game’s soundtrack.

Games (including arrangements): “God Eater”, “God Eater Burst”, “God Eater 2”

So, in this long article where I shared some of my favorite game tracks and my gaming memories, have you found your favorite?

By the way, have you ever wanted to listen to game soundtracks in high quality? I’ve always wanted to enjoy these tunes with the best sound possible. Since I’m writing this post, I decided to look into it!
*I’m focusing on connecting to a Nintendo Switch this time.

Using a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) is the quickest way to improve sound quality. However, with game consoles like the Switch, direct connection might not always work.

After some research, I discovered a product that can be used in this setting:

Behringer / UCA202 U-CONTROL

The UCA-202 can improve sound quality to some extent on its own, but it also has an Optical Output (digital output) port. By connecting a DAC to this port, you can achieve even better sound quality!

■ Products Equipped with Optical Input

Fostex / HP-A3

RME / Babyface Pro FS

iFI Audio / ZEN One Signature

Also, if you use an adapter that converts optical digital (square terminals) to coaxial digital (RCA type terminals), you can further expand the range of products that can be used!
Please enjoy your gaming experience in a high-quality sound environment!