Just a fantastic top 25. We're not likely to see what as good ever again...
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The Rest of the Best - A Popularity Contest 50th Anniversary! Week Eighteen - Video Game Soundtracks!
- Thread starter Johnny Unusual
- Start date
-
- Tags
- popularity contest
To elaborate more, this was the contest that made me decide to try one myself, and to really go all in creatively. Which is very exhausting, it turns out! Especially trying to maintain that over three contests. I have to give it up to JBear and Johnny for truly raising the bar and making this one to remember as an upper echelon of the format.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
MY original list
1. Scrabble
2. Dungeons & Dragons
3. Magic: The Gathering
4. Settlers of Catan
5. Trivial Pursuit
6. Scattergories
7. Avalon: The Resistance
8. Revolution
9. Dominion
10. Puerto Rico
11. Coup
12. 7 Wonders
13. Bang
14. Ticket to Ride
15. Shadowrun
16. Pictionary
17. Marvel Legendary
18. Riddle of Steel
19. Carcassone
20. Poker
21. Apples to Apples
22. Chess
23. Tales of the Arabian Nights
24. Paperback
25. Marvel Heroes
In retrospect, I think I would put Paperback higher. I really like Fowers Games. If you haven't played them, they are pretty fun. Burgle Bros is definitely worth checking out. I actually introduced Coup to my afterschool program. It's not the favourite of the games I brought over (I'll get to that in a bit) but this is a hit. The kids like the idea of a game where they can lie.
I swear, the two people who I know OWN Ticket to Ride, the base game at least, just get to a point where they are DONE with it. Luckily, I only played through it a handful of times.
Scrabble is our family game. My family would play it every other night at our family cottage. And my dad usually wins.
1. Scrabble
2. Dungeons & Dragons
3. Magic: The Gathering
4. Settlers of Catan
5. Trivial Pursuit
6. Scattergories
7. Avalon: The Resistance
8. Revolution
9. Dominion
10. Puerto Rico
11. Coup
12. 7 Wonders
13. Bang
14. Ticket to Ride
15. Shadowrun
16. Pictionary
17. Marvel Legendary
18. Riddle of Steel
19. Carcassone
20. Poker
21. Apples to Apples
22. Chess
23. Tales of the Arabian Nights
24. Paperback
25. Marvel Heroes
In retrospect, I think I would put Paperback higher. I really like Fowers Games. If you haven't played them, they are pretty fun. Burgle Bros is definitely worth checking out. I actually introduced Coup to my afterschool program. It's not the favourite of the games I brought over (I'll get to that in a bit) but this is a hit. The kids like the idea of a game where they can lie.
I swear, the two people who I know OWN Ticket to Ride, the base game at least, just get to a point where they are DONE with it. Luckily, I only played through it a handful of times.
Scrabble is our family game. My family would play it every other night at our family cottage. And my dad usually wins.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Host: @Issun
Participants:
@Octopus Prime @Doctor Nerd @Westerhof @Johnny Unusual @Patrick @Daikaiju @conchobhar @spineshark @Peklo @Rascally Badger @WildcatJF @Bulgakov @q 3 @ASandoval @Juno @Purple @dosboot @ajr82 @breakman @madhair60 @Rya @Galadrome @Alpha Werewolf @Yimothy @Taeryn @Lokii @Gerad @Dracula @Adrenaline @MCBanjoMike @Adam @ThornGhost @JBear @muteKi @Ample Vigour @Positronic Brain @Grignr @karzac @Kirin @Torzelbaum @Rivers @Sami @Kishi @Bunk Moreland @4-So @le geek @lilfut @Fonts Sizes
I love video games but there are a lot of blindspots in my modern gaming experience. I feel like I've personally missed a lot of the big games of the 20th century. Still, this list was a delight and I remember having a lot of fun doing it. Issun hosts this one bringing us to a look at the most popular games of what was then 17 years. I definitely played a fair number of them but a lot are on my "to-do" list. I really want to get around to playing most of the Zelda games some day (so far, only original, A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time for me).
What di you all think of this one?
Participants:
@Octopus Prime @Doctor Nerd @Westerhof @Johnny Unusual @Patrick @Daikaiju @conchobhar @spineshark @Peklo @Rascally Badger @WildcatJF @Bulgakov @q 3 @ASandoval @Juno @Purple @dosboot @ajr82 @breakman @madhair60 @Rya @Galadrome @Alpha Werewolf @Yimothy @Taeryn @Lokii @Gerad @Dracula @Adrenaline @MCBanjoMike @Adam @ThornGhost @JBear @muteKi @Ample Vigour @Positronic Brain @Grignr @karzac @Kirin @Torzelbaum @Rivers @Sami @Kishi @Bunk Moreland @4-So @le geek @lilfut @Fonts Sizes
#50: Suikoden III
#49: The Last of Us
#48: Silent Hill 2
#47: Rez
#46: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
#45 World of Warcraft
#44: Overwatch
#43: Etrian Odyssey
#42: Team Fortress 2
#41: Final Fantasy XII
#40: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
#39: Metroid: Zero Mission
#38: Final Fantasy X
#37: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
#36 Valkyria Chronicles
#35 Half-Life 2
#34: Sid Meier's Civilization V
#33: Journey
#32: Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
#31: Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
#30: Warioware, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
#29: Bloodborne
#28: Final Fantasy IX
#27: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
#26: Ōkami
#25: Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan
#24: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
#23: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3
#22: Super Smash Bros. Melee
#21: Mass Effect 2
#20: XCOM: Enemy Unknown
#19: Cave Story
#18: BioShock
#17: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
#16: Shovel Knight
#15: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
#14: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
#13: ICO
#12: Portal 2
#11: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
#10: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
#9: Dark Souls
#8: Katamari Damacy
#7: Resident Evil 4
#6: Undertale
#5: Shadow of the Colossus
#4: Portal
#3: Super Mario Galaxy
#2: Metroid Prime
#1: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
#49: The Last of Us
#48: Silent Hill 2
#47: Rez
#46: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
#45 World of Warcraft
#44: Overwatch
#43: Etrian Odyssey
#42: Team Fortress 2
#41: Final Fantasy XII
#40: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
#39: Metroid: Zero Mission
#38: Final Fantasy X
#37: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
#36 Valkyria Chronicles
#35 Half-Life 2
#34: Sid Meier's Civilization V
#33: Journey
#32: Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
#31: Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
#30: Warioware, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
#29: Bloodborne
#28: Final Fantasy IX
#27: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
#26: Ōkami
#25: Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan
#24: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
#23: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3
#22: Super Smash Bros. Melee
#21: Mass Effect 2
#20: XCOM: Enemy Unknown
#19: Cave Story
#18: BioShock
#17: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
#16: Shovel Knight
#15: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
#14: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
#13: ICO
#12: Portal 2
#11: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
#10: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
#9: Dark Souls
#8: Katamari Damacy
#7: Resident Evil 4
#6: Undertale
#5: Shadow of the Colossus
#4: Portal
#3: Super Mario Galaxy
#2: Metroid Prime
#1: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
I love video games but there are a lot of blindspots in my modern gaming experience. I feel like I've personally missed a lot of the big games of the 20th century. Still, this list was a delight and I remember having a lot of fun doing it. Issun hosts this one bringing us to a look at the most popular games of what was then 17 years. I definitely played a fair number of them but a lot are on my "to-do" list. I really want to get around to playing most of the Zelda games some day (so far, only original, A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time for me).
What di you all think of this one?
This was my first Top 50 I ever ran, and it was a lot of fun, and a lot of work, as these tend to be. I got my first look at the behind-the-scenes, so to speak. Spreadsheeting is a task, but it was interesting watching the list take shape, and there's always a sense of anticipation as you get ready to post each entry, waiting to see the reactions and conversation around them.
This was a great list, too. There were games I hadn't played that I finally got around to playing mainly because of it (Link Between Worlds springs immediately to mind), but there are others I still need to get around to playing. It would be interesting to do this list again sometime, with 7 years and a new console generation under our collective belt. Would Breath of the Wild still be #1, I wonder?
This was a great list, too. There were games I hadn't played that I finally got around to playing mainly because of it (Link Between Worlds springs immediately to mind), but there are others I still need to get around to playing. It would be interesting to do this list again sometime, with 7 years and a new console generation under our collective belt. Would Breath of the Wild still be #1, I wonder?
My list would change, but not by as much as I'd have hoped, as I just haven't gotten around to a ton of new games. I would belatedly add BotW, though, lol. Also I'd be forced to put Pokemon GO on, as it's definitely where the biggest chunk of my play time has gone over the last seven years.
I notice I put We <3 Katamari at #3 on my original list - it's a bit more refined than the first game and the one I'd rather replay, but if I'd voted more strategically on name recognition I maybe could've bumped Katamari up a rank or two on the Top50.
Other things I ranked highly that didn't make it: World Ends With You, Retro Game Challenge, Bravely Default, DQ IX.
I notice I put We <3 Katamari at #3 on my original list - it's a bit more refined than the first game and the one I'd rather replay, but if I'd voted more strategically on name recognition I maybe could've bumped Katamari up a rank or two on the Top50.
Other things I ranked highly that didn't make it: World Ends With You, Retro Game Challenge, Bravely Default, DQ IX.
- Life is Strange
- Okami
- Undertale
- Portal
- Dark Souls
- Shadow of the Colossus
- Final Fantasy X
- Hotline Miami
- ICO
- BioShock
- Civilization IV
- Red Dead Redemption
- Mass Effect 2
- Far Cry 3
- The Walking Dead
- Journey
- Final Fantasy IX
- Bastion
- Portal 2
- Shovel Knight
- The Last of Us
- Castle Crashers
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Games that would have been eligible at the time that would be on my list now: NieR: Automata, Super Mario Galaxy 2, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Inside, Night in the Woods, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.
Games that have come out since that would be on there: Red Dead Redemption 2, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Eastshade, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, What Remains of Edith Finch, Sea of Stars.
Wow, that's half my list changed. I know Last of Us, Skyrim and MGS 3 would fall off. Not sure what the others would be.
Hey, I found my list!
Wild to think some of these would count, like CvS2 and Skies of Arcadia Legends, haha.
Would definitely be different now:
1) Beyond Good & Evil
2) Persona 4
3) Zelda: Breath of the Wild
4) Hotel Dusk: Room 215
5) XCOM: Enemy Within
6) Resident Evil 4
7) Splatoon
8) Skies of Arcadia (Legends)
9) Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
10) Portal
11) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
12) Dead Space 2
13) Shovel Knight
14) Ghost Trick
15) Deus Ex: Human Revolution
16) The Last Story
17) Fire Emblem: Awakening
18) Metroid Prime
19) Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
20) Okami
21) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
22) Capcom Vs. SNK 2
23) Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
24) Sly 2: Band of Thieves
25) Dead Space
2) Persona 4
3) Zelda: Breath of the Wild
4) Hotel Dusk: Room 215
5) XCOM: Enemy Within
6) Resident Evil 4
7) Splatoon
8) Skies of Arcadia (Legends)
9) Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
10) Portal
11) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
12) Dead Space 2
13) Shovel Knight
14) Ghost Trick
15) Deus Ex: Human Revolution
16) The Last Story
17) Fire Emblem: Awakening
18) Metroid Prime
19) Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
20) Okami
21) The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
22) Capcom Vs. SNK 2
23) Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
24) Sly 2: Band of Thieves
25) Dead Space
Wild to think some of these would count, like CvS2 and Skies of Arcadia Legends, haha.
Would definitely be different now:
1) Beyond Good & Evil
2) Fire Emblem: Three Houses
3) Resident Evil 4 (2023)
4) Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
5) Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
6) Skies of Arcadia (Legends)
7) Hotel Dusk: Room 215
8) XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
9) Metroid Dread
10) Splatoon 3
11) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
12) Ghost Trick
13) The Ninja Warriors Once Again (Ninja Saviors)
14) Spiritfarer
15) Portal
16) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
17) Unicorn Overlord
18) Dead Space 2
19) Untitled Goose Game
20) Celeste
21) Another Code: Recollection
22) Capcom Vs. SNK 2
23) The Last Story
24) Street Fighter 6
25) Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope (specifically)
2) Fire Emblem: Three Houses
3) Resident Evil 4 (2023)
4) Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
5) Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
6) Skies of Arcadia (Legends)
7) Hotel Dusk: Room 215
8) XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
9) Metroid Dread
10) Splatoon 3
11) Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
12) Ghost Trick
13) The Ninja Warriors Once Again (Ninja Saviors)
14) Spiritfarer
15) Portal
16) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
17) Unicorn Overlord
18) Dead Space 2
19) Untitled Goose Game
20) Celeste
21) Another Code: Recollection
22) Capcom Vs. SNK 2
23) The Last Story
24) Street Fighter 6
25) Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope (specifically)
Yeah one of my first thoughts when this list came up was “hang on, Suikoden III is 21st century??”
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Yeah, apologies. I forgot to give myself time for this so I'll take the L and do this one next week. Sorry folks (because this is a good one).
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Host: @Lokii
Participants: @Falselogic @Doctor Nerd @JBear @Bulgakov @Johnny Unusual @Daikaiju @Issun @ajr82 @Dracula @Kirin @Gerad @WildcatJF @Kishi @breakman @RT-55J @Torzelbaum Galadrome @Octopus Prime @Mogri
Lokii outdid himself with this one, a top-notch list that not only had art for every entry but art for a ton of bonus entries. Even the characters he doesn’t like. Very clear he doesn’t like Geno. Me, I’ll defend Waluigi. I don’t really follow the memes, I just like copies of copies of copies until it mutates beyond anything normal. But the whole thing is just filled with the most delightful art you can imagine from one of our favourite Talking Time artists. I definitely remember this being a highlight and it is followed by a sequel down the line we’ll get to. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must have been to do. And in under a month, no less. The Talking Time of 2017 was a different place and as much as I like Talking Time of now, I do miss the days where we had way too much time on our hands.
Anyway, this art rules.
And remember…
Participants: @Falselogic @Doctor Nerd @JBear @Bulgakov @Johnny Unusual @Daikaiju @Issun @ajr82 @Dracula @Kirin @Gerad @WildcatJF @Kishi @breakman @RT-55J @Torzelbaum Galadrome @Octopus Prime @Mogri
50. Reznor
49. Bowser Jr. - tie
49. Funky Kong - tie
48. Dry Bones - tie
48. Culex - tie
47. Mr. L
46. Geno - tie
46. Wart - tie
45. Rawk Hawk - tie
45. Lady Bow - tie
44. Mallow
43. Iggy Koopa
42. Doopliss
41. Koopa Troopa - tie
41. Captain Syrup - tie
40. Unagi the Eel
39. Lemmy Koopa
38. Big Boo
37. The Axem Rangers
36. Kuribo's Shoe - tie
36. Roy Koopa - tie
35. Piranha Plant
34. Angry Sun
33. Tatanga
32. Goomba
31. Donkey Kong
30. Wendy O. Koopa
29. Mouser
28. Vivian
27. Princess Daisy - tie
27. Ludwig Von Koopa - tie
26. Pauline
25. Raphael the Raven
24. Kamek
23. Hammer Bros.
22. Thwomp
21. Booster
20. Bullet Bill
19. Fabulous
18. Mario
17. Boo
16. Goombella
15. Phanto
14. Captain Toad
13. Toad
12. Bob-Omb
11. Rosalind
10. Chain Chomp
9. Lakitu
8. Birdo
7. Yoshi
6. Waluigi
5. Shy Guy
4. Princess Peach
3. Wario
2. Bowser
1. Luigi
49. Bowser Jr. - tie
49. Funky Kong - tie
48. Dry Bones - tie
48. Culex - tie
47. Mr. L
46. Geno - tie
46. Wart - tie
45. Rawk Hawk - tie
45. Lady Bow - tie
44. Mallow
43. Iggy Koopa
42. Doopliss
41. Koopa Troopa - tie
41. Captain Syrup - tie
40. Unagi the Eel
39. Lemmy Koopa
38. Big Boo
37. The Axem Rangers
36. Kuribo's Shoe - tie
36. Roy Koopa - tie
35. Piranha Plant
34. Angry Sun
33. Tatanga
32. Goomba
31. Donkey Kong
30. Wendy O. Koopa
29. Mouser
28. Vivian
27. Princess Daisy - tie
27. Ludwig Von Koopa - tie
26. Pauline
25. Raphael the Raven
24. Kamek
23. Hammer Bros.
22. Thwomp
21. Booster
20. Bullet Bill
19. Fabulous
18. Mario
17. Boo
16. Goombella
15. Phanto
14. Captain Toad
13. Toad
12. Bob-Omb
11. Rosalind
10. Chain Chomp
9. Lakitu
8. Birdo
7. Yoshi
6. Waluigi
5. Shy Guy
4. Princess Peach
3. Wario
2. Bowser
1. Luigi
Lokii outdid himself with this one, a top-notch list that not only had art for every entry but art for a ton of bonus entries. Even the characters he doesn’t like. Very clear he doesn’t like Geno. Me, I’ll defend Waluigi. I don’t really follow the memes, I just like copies of copies of copies until it mutates beyond anything normal. But the whole thing is just filled with the most delightful art you can imagine from one of our favourite Talking Time artists. I definitely remember this being a highlight and it is followed by a sequel down the line we’ll get to. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must have been to do. And in under a month, no less. The Talking Time of 2017 was a different place and as much as I like Talking Time of now, I do miss the days where we had way too much time on our hands.
Anyway, this art rules.
And remember…
I also did not vote for Geno. I did vote for Samus, though, since she sorta shows up in the same game he's from.
My #3 was the Pile-Driver Micro Goomba, just because, and I was pleased as punch that Lokii did a runner-up entry for it.
No love for MIPS the rabbit though.
My #3 was the Pile-Driver Micro Goomba, just because, and I was pleased as punch that Lokii did a runner-up entry for it.
No love for MIPS the rabbit though.
Every time I try to give him a big ol' snuggly-huggly he runs away!
- Booster (Super Mario RPG)
- Kuribo's Shoe (Super Mario Bros. 3)
- Bowser (Various)
- Pidgit (Super Mario Bros. 2)
- Percy (Super Talking Time Bros.)
- Mario (Various)
- Jimmy T. (Wario Ware, Inc.)
- Wario (various)
- Yoshi (Various)
- Big Boo (Various)
- Major Burrows (Super Mario Galaxy)
- Goombella (The Thousand Year Door)
- Luigi (Various)
- Rosalina (Super Mario Galaxy)
- Peach (Various)
- Lucas (The Wizard)
- Kamek (Yoshi's Island)
- Wendy O. Koopa (Various)
- Shuyguy (Various)
- Culex (Super Mario RPG)
- Vivian (The Thousand Year Door)
- Bouldergeist (Super Mario Galaxy)
- Luwig von Koopa (Various)
- Raphael the Raven (Yoshi's Island)
- Waluigi (Mario Kart Series)
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Week Eighteen! Top 50 Video Game Soundtracks!
Host: @conchobhar @Positronic Brain
Participants: @Lokii @Yimothy Rya @Rascally Badger @4-So @WildcatJF @ozacrot @Peklo @Zef @JBear @Hazama Kuro @Dracula @Johnny Unusual @pudik @Taeryn @Daikaiju @Thraeg @Issun @Kirin
Sadly, we don’t do a lot of music based top 50 lists around here. There’s, like, 4 out of 51 (soon to be 52) and even then, one of them stopped at 47. We’ll talk about that later this summer, I imagine. But as it is, there’s not a lot of big surprises from the Talking Time family; JRPGs (especially Square Enix), Castlevania, Megaman. Much less Mario representation than I was expecting to be honest. One thing I liked in this list was the discovery of Gitaroo Man, which rules. But it was a fun list and Positronic Brain and Conchobar were great hosts. Positronic continues to have a presence on the Discord but I don’t think he’s on the forum anymore (unless he changed his user name and I missed it).
This list was a lot of fun and I’m curious with the 7 years since what people might put on their lists now. I feel like mine might hue a little less to nostalgia than before.
Host: @conchobhar @Positronic Brain
Participants: @Lokii @Yimothy Rya @Rascally Badger @4-So @WildcatJF @ozacrot @Peklo @Zef @JBear @Hazama Kuro @Dracula @Johnny Unusual @pudik @Taeryn @Daikaiju @Thraeg @Issun @Kirin
49. Vagrant Story
49. Legend of Mana
48. Cave Story
47. Bastion
46. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
45. Saga Frontier
44. Xenoblade Chronicles
43. Super Mario Galaxy
42. Gitaroo Man
41. ICO
40. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
39. Metroid
38. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
37. ActRaiser
36. Super Mario Bros.
35. Final Fantasy XII
34. DuckTales
33. Final Fantasy VIII
32. Ys I & II
31. Super Metroid
30. Suikoden II
29. Ys III
28. Okami
27. Skies of Arcadia
26. Suikoden
25. Streets of Rage 2
24. Final Fantasy VII
23. Nier: Automata
22. Persona 5
21. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
20. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 / Persona 4 Golden
19. Mega Man X
18. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
17. Mega Man 3
16. Shovel Knight
15. Xenogears
14. Earthbound
13. Super Castlevania IV
12. Nier
11. Final Fantasy Tactics
10. Final Fantasy IV
9. Mega Man 2
8. Secret of Mana
7. Shadow of the Colossus
6. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
5. Chrono Cross
4. Undertale
3. Katamari Damacy
2. Final Fantasy VI
1. Chrono Trigger
49. Legend of Mana
48. Cave Story
47. Bastion
46. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
45. Saga Frontier
44. Xenoblade Chronicles
43. Super Mario Galaxy
42. Gitaroo Man
41. ICO
40. Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
39. Metroid
38. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
37. ActRaiser
36. Super Mario Bros.
35. Final Fantasy XII
34. DuckTales
33. Final Fantasy VIII
32. Ys I & II
31. Super Metroid
30. Suikoden II
29. Ys III
28. Okami
27. Skies of Arcadia
26. Suikoden
25. Streets of Rage 2
24. Final Fantasy VII
23. Nier: Automata
22. Persona 5
21. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
20. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 / Persona 4 Golden
19. Mega Man X
18. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
17. Mega Man 3
16. Shovel Knight
15. Xenogears
14. Earthbound
13. Super Castlevania IV
12. Nier
11. Final Fantasy Tactics
10. Final Fantasy IV
9. Mega Man 2
8. Secret of Mana
7. Shadow of the Colossus
6. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
5. Chrono Cross
4. Undertale
3. Katamari Damacy
2. Final Fantasy VI
1. Chrono Trigger
Sadly, we don’t do a lot of music based top 50 lists around here. There’s, like, 4 out of 51 (soon to be 52) and even then, one of them stopped at 47. We’ll talk about that later this summer, I imagine. But as it is, there’s not a lot of big surprises from the Talking Time family; JRPGs (especially Square Enix), Castlevania, Megaman. Much less Mario representation than I was expecting to be honest. One thing I liked in this list was the discovery of Gitaroo Man, which rules. But it was a fun list and Positronic Brain and Conchobar were great hosts. Positronic continues to have a presence on the Discord but I don’t think he’s on the forum anymore (unless he changed his user name and I missed it).
This list was a lot of fun and I’m curious with the 7 years since what people might put on their lists now. I feel like mine might hue a little less to nostalgia than before.
I hadn't played NieR: Automata at this point, so that would definitely get a spot on my list. I had also somehow forgotten DKC 2 when making my list, so that would get a spot. The other two games I for sure would have on my list now, Sayonara Wild Hearts and Sea of Stars, hadn't come out at the time of this Top 50.
Dug up my list:
In the 7 years since, there's been so many amazing soundtracks I would add to this...I'm about to do a video on my top soundtracks in the near future, actually, so if anyone's interested I can share it here (might be a few weeks out tho).
1) Chrono Trigger (SNES) (Yasunori Mitsuda, Nabuo Uematsu) - Memories of Green
2) Beyond Good & Evil (GC) (Christophe H ral) - Home Sweet Home
3) Okami (PS2) (Masami Ueda, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Hamada, Rei Kondoh, Akari Groves) - Shinshu Plains I & II
4) Skies of Arcadia (DC) (Yutaka Minobe, Takayuki Maeda) - Lower Valua
5) Batman (NES) (Naoki Kodaka, Nobuyuki Hara) - Level 1
6) Dragon Quest VIII (PS2) (Koichi Sugiyama) - Strange World ~ Marching Through the Fields
7) Splatoon (Wii U) (Toru Minegishi, Shiho Fujii) - Maritime Melody
8) Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2) (Shoji Meguro) - Heartbreak, Heartbeat
9) Secret of Mana (SNES) (Hiroki Kikuta) - Into the Thick of It
10) Mega Man 3 (NES) (Yasuaki BUNBUN Fujita, Hajime Fujita) - Protoman's Whistle Concert
11) Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U) (Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata) - Riding (Night)
12) Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (DS) (Yuhki Mori, Satoshi Okubo) - The Last Sleep
13) Castlevania (NES) (Kinuyo Yamashita, Satoe Terashima) - Wicked Child (Level 3)
14) Contra (NES) (Hidenori Maezawa, Kiyohiro Sada, KONAMI KuKeiHa Club) - Level 3 (Waterfall)
15) Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (way too many to list) - Full Steam Ahead
16) Journey to Silius (NES) (Naoki Kodaka) - Stage 3
17) Age of Mythology (PC) (Steven Rippy, Kevin McMullen) - chocolate outline
18) Heroes of Might & Magic IV (PC) (Paul Romero, Rob King, Steve Baca, Paul James) - Rough Lands Theme
19) Super Mario 64 (N64) (Koji Kondo) - Dire Dire Docks (Water Theme)
20 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) (Koji Kondo) - Title Theme
21) Metroid (NES) (Hirokazu Hip Tanaka) - Brinstar
22) Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) (ACE+, Yoko Shinomura, Yasunori Mitsuda, Manami Kiyota, Tsutomu Narita, Tetsuya Takahashi, Lisa Gomamoto, Sarah Lim) - Gaur Plains
23) Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (DS) (Michiru Yamane, Yuzo Koshiro) - Jail of Jewels
24) Freedom Planet (Wii U) (Leila Wilson, Stephen DiDuro, Shane Ellis) - Dragon Valley 1
25) Sonic CD (USA) (PS3) (Spencer Nilsen, David Young, Mark Crew, Pastiche) - Sonic Boom (opening)
2) Beyond Good & Evil (GC) (Christophe H ral) - Home Sweet Home
3) Okami (PS2) (Masami Ueda, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Hamada, Rei Kondoh, Akari Groves) - Shinshu Plains I & II
4) Skies of Arcadia (DC) (Yutaka Minobe, Takayuki Maeda) - Lower Valua
5) Batman (NES) (Naoki Kodaka, Nobuyuki Hara) - Level 1
6) Dragon Quest VIII (PS2) (Koichi Sugiyama) - Strange World ~ Marching Through the Fields
7) Splatoon (Wii U) (Toru Minegishi, Shiho Fujii) - Maritime Melody
8) Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (PS2) (Shoji Meguro) - Heartbreak, Heartbeat
9) Secret of Mana (SNES) (Hiroki Kikuta) - Into the Thick of It
10) Mega Man 3 (NES) (Yasuaki BUNBUN Fujita, Hajime Fujita) - Protoman's Whistle Concert
11) Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Wii U) (Manaka Kataoka, Yasuaki Iwata) - Riding (Night)
12) Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (DS) (Yuhki Mori, Satoshi Okubo) - The Last Sleep
13) Castlevania (NES) (Kinuyo Yamashita, Satoe Terashima) - Wicked Child (Level 3)
14) Contra (NES) (Hidenori Maezawa, Kiyohiro Sada, KONAMI KuKeiHa Club) - Level 3 (Waterfall)
15) Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (way too many to list) - Full Steam Ahead
16) Journey to Silius (NES) (Naoki Kodaka) - Stage 3
17) Age of Mythology (PC) (Steven Rippy, Kevin McMullen) - chocolate outline
18) Heroes of Might & Magic IV (PC) (Paul Romero, Rob King, Steve Baca, Paul James) - Rough Lands Theme
19) Super Mario 64 (N64) (Koji Kondo) - Dire Dire Docks (Water Theme)
20 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64) (Koji Kondo) - Title Theme
21) Metroid (NES) (Hirokazu Hip Tanaka) - Brinstar
22) Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) (ACE+, Yoko Shinomura, Yasunori Mitsuda, Manami Kiyota, Tsutomu Narita, Tetsuya Takahashi, Lisa Gomamoto, Sarah Lim) - Gaur Plains
23) Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (DS) (Michiru Yamane, Yuzo Koshiro) - Jail of Jewels
24) Freedom Planet (Wii U) (Leila Wilson, Stephen DiDuro, Shane Ellis) - Dragon Valley 1
25) Sonic CD (USA) (PS3) (Spencer Nilsen, David Young, Mark Crew, Pastiche) - Sonic Boom (opening)
In the 7 years since, there's been so many amazing soundtracks I would add to this...I'm about to do a video on my top soundtracks in the near future, actually, so if anyone's interested I can share it here (might be a few weeks out tho).
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
My list:
1. The Legend of Zelda: The Orcarina of Time
2. Super Mario Bros. 3 Just jaunty and fun.
Overworld 2 Theme
3. Super Mario Bros.
4. Final Fantasy VI
5. Super Mario Bros. 2 - I love the ragtime tone of the this soundtrack. Though I wish it was a little less repetitive. Overworld Theme
6. The Legend of Zelda - Man, that original theme feels so adventurous and exciting even within the limits of 8-bit
7. Super Smash Bros. Melee - Boring pick, I know. Mostly just new arrangements of classic themes. But they are all really good. Opening Theme
8. Megaman 2
9. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game Really great chiptunes by Anamanaguchi in this one. Another Winter
10. Megaman 3
11. Umjammer Lammy - Aw, no love for a game that's also a musical. Well, it is pretty short, but still, it has some fun songs. Keep Your Head Up!
12. Parappa the Rapper - See above. Lammy only slightly edged out Parappa. Mouselini's Rap
13. Red Dead Redemption - I love Ennio Morricone, so a game that uses his style is way up my alley. Horseplay
14. Chrono Trigger
15. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - I know, it is mostly for the aggregated licenced music, but a good aggregation makes for a lot.
16. Shadow of the Colossus
17. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
18. Super Mario World Title Theme
19. Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 - More aggregated music, this time a collection of j-pop songs in the charts. Still a lot of fun.
20. Street Fighter 2
21. Megaman IV (I owned it, so it still means a lot to me.
22. Double Dragon Neon
23. Risk of Rain
24. Pokemon Red/Blue
25. Tetris
I feel like my list would be rather different today. Still a good list but I feel like I might include some other stuff. As I was writing this I was just getting back into gaming again so I feel like I have a lot more to draw from, especially in the realm of Nintendo.
1. The Legend of Zelda: The Orcarina of Time
2. Super Mario Bros. 3 Just jaunty and fun.
Overworld 2 Theme
3. Super Mario Bros.
4. Final Fantasy VI
5. Super Mario Bros. 2 - I love the ragtime tone of the this soundtrack. Though I wish it was a little less repetitive. Overworld Theme
6. The Legend of Zelda - Man, that original theme feels so adventurous and exciting even within the limits of 8-bit
7. Super Smash Bros. Melee - Boring pick, I know. Mostly just new arrangements of classic themes. But they are all really good. Opening Theme
8. Megaman 2
9. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game Really great chiptunes by Anamanaguchi in this one. Another Winter
10. Megaman 3
11. Umjammer Lammy - Aw, no love for a game that's also a musical. Well, it is pretty short, but still, it has some fun songs. Keep Your Head Up!
12. Parappa the Rapper - See above. Lammy only slightly edged out Parappa. Mouselini's Rap
13. Red Dead Redemption - I love Ennio Morricone, so a game that uses his style is way up my alley. Horseplay
14. Chrono Trigger
15. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - I know, it is mostly for the aggregated licenced music, but a good aggregation makes for a lot.
16. Shadow of the Colossus
17. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
18. Super Mario World Title Theme
19. Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 - More aggregated music, this time a collection of j-pop songs in the charts. Still a lot of fun.
20. Street Fighter 2
21. Megaman IV (I owned it, so it still means a lot to me.
22. Double Dragon Neon
23. Risk of Rain
24. Pokemon Red/Blue
25. Tetris
I feel like my list would be rather different today. Still a good list but I feel like I might include some other stuff. As I was writing this I was just getting back into gaming again so I feel like I have a lot more to draw from, especially in the realm of Nintendo.
I didn't know this thread was a thing! I'll reminisce about the stuff I participated in, and comment whether a pick would stay or not if compiled now. But like... probably whenever I feel up to it.
1. Dorohedoro by Q Hayashida - Stays. In the midst of yet another reread right this moment, in fact. Still as enthused about it as I ever was, and probably even more so now that garbage rip-offs like Chainsaw Man exist.
2. The New Mutants by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz - Stays, but amended to encompass the full Claremont run and likely Simonson's too until the Liefeldening. I like the characters and their long-term development and dynamics too much to just isolate it to one landmark chunk.
3. Wandering Son by Takako Shimura - Dropped like a brick. I hadn't finished reading the series at the time because the Fantagraphics publishing of it went bust halfway through, and I really just dislike how it legitimizes the trans girl's narrative but the trans boy's identity is walked back with a shrug. Can't do that shit when he's the only trans guy in the narrative and the message that sends in a coming-of-age yarn. Read better Shimura stuff instead, like Sweet Blue Flowers or especially Even Though We're Adults.
4. The Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont - Stays. Too vast and formative to ignore.
5. Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel - I only read the material once, a long time ago now, so I'd like to revisit it. Fun Home and Are You My Mother? are the Bechdel works I actually own and could easily place on a list like this.
6. A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori - Stays. It's still ongoing and I'm not caught up, but it's an undeniable work.
7. Emma by Kaoru Mori - Stays. I return to this frequently and it's always a blast.
8. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki - Stays. Not that fond of Miyazaki as a creator, but this is his magnum opus, in a medium he's not known for.
9. Angela by Marguerite Bennett and Kieron Gillen - Dropped, probably. Feels like a recency pick; I don't think about this much anymore, despite being into it at the time. It was just novel to see anything close to a positive trans character in a Marvel book, in lesbian love with an edgelord lady protag.
10. Excalibur by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis - Dropped, even though I like it. Even I'm a little taken aback how samey the picks I made at the time are, topic-wise. I try to diversify whenever composing any kind of personal preference lists these days, and Claremont is hogging these spots more than he needs to.
11. A Drunken Dream and Other Stories by Moto Hagio - Stays. Works as a representative of Hagio's catalogue as well as anything, and stuff like Iguana Girl are obviously masterworks. The included 20-something page interview Rachel Thorn conducted with Hagio on her career is worth the price of admission on its own.
12. All My Darling Daughters by Fumi Yoshinaga - Stays, probably. There's some pretty weird stuff in places, but the overall throughline is very strong. Yoshinaga deserves it, anyway.
13. With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child by Keiko Tobe - Stays. I still haven't talked to or even observed anyone else who's read this comic. It carries a different context for me now that I'm on the other side of my own adulthood diagnosis, but it's only more resonant for it. I call this "my Berserk" in being a work that I cared about that was cut short by the author's passing, leaving it unfinished.
14. Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! by Kate Leth and Brittney Williams - Dropped. Another recency thing. I had a resurgent Marvel period in the mid-2010s or so, picking up at the time contemporary books that interested me, and while this one is another solid one... I haven't returned to it and it doesn't stand out as particularly meaningful in retrospect.
15. Cross Game by Mitsuru Adachi - Stays. I waver on whether I "need to" read more Adachi, because the dude has been making the same comic for 40 years. This iteration of the eternal recurrence is the one that happened to cross my path first and which clicked with me despite my reservations about some of his particular tics as a creator.
16. Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona - Dropped, probably. Another book I just don't return to much, or could argue passionately in favour of despite being cognizant of the strong points about it.
17. Limit by Keiko Suenobu - Stays, I think. I pick it up occasionally and it's a lean, mean read every time.
18. X-Men: Season One by Dennis Hopeless and Jamie McKelvie - Dropped. Yeah, all this X-stuff needs to calm down. This is a good, great book even--I just don't have a particularly personal angle to justify it with.
19. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - Stays, even though I haven't returned to it... but the work being what it is, it's difficult to forget or discount.
20. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and Erica Henderson - Dropped. It's fine, but I'm not sure I particularly need North's tone and punchlines in a narrative serial format.
21. Buddha by Osamu Tezuka - Stays. I don't think one read of this is sufficient to unravel everything it's doing... so having a few more under my belt at this point, I like it all the more.
22. Captain Marvel by Kelly Sue DeConnick - Dropped. I think this placed because of fondness for the character more than the run itself, which I'd be hard-pressed to recall anything about.
23. The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie - Dropped, both because I haven't finished reading it (as it hadn't concluded yet when this list was made), and because in retrospect I think I was more enamored with McKelvie's art than anything else, and that I was superficially happy to see mythic figures utilized in media like this without consideration for much beyond the bare representation.
24. She-Hulk by Charles Soule and Javier Pulido - Dropped. Yet another goes-down-smooth contemporary pick with not enough staying power to evangelize about thereafter.
25. Hanayome wa Motodanshi/The Bride Was a Boy by Chii - Dropped. Very personally important and fond work, yes, but as a comic? It's just fine.
Well, what might show up to replace all the cuts, then? Here are some ideas, numbered only for formatting reasons:
1. Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi - Masterful romcom, and one of the top narratives in portraying grief. Works as a period piece too, and is the one slice in Takahashi's extensive catalogue that hits enough of the character dynamic beats with some level of interiority that I prefer that I can stand fully in favour of it holistically.
2. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood by Hirohiko Araki - When this list was originally drafted, I'd "retired" (lol) from JoJo fandom for the most part, so it took me a while to reassess things and realize I could just like parts of it, and what it opens up with is by far my favourite narrative Araki ever did longform.
3. Appleseed by Masamune Shirow - As a work by a complete and utter freak, this isn't the most "Shirow unleashed" comic there is... but you have to understand what you're asking for if courting a premise like that. As it is, it might be his most coherent, digestible work, with some really tremendous character dynamics in the protagonist pair, and so I love it for all that.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko - It did get me into Gundam, for whatever that's worth. Being exposed to more of the subsequent/earlier works makes the strengths of the original narrative easier to discern.
5. Nicola Traveling Around the Demons' World by Asaya Miyanaga - A terrific, episodic travelogue, as stated. A very funny kid protagonist, beautiful sketched-out art and lots of friendly monsters.
6. Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura - As epics go, yeah it's a good one, and remains on an upward trajectory in its thematic construction. I'm annoyed by the anime being a worse version of the story with more reach and visibility.
7. The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda - My absolute everything, and it's a rare work where I want to embrace both the manga and the anime. Usually there's a clear preference for me either or, but in this case neither is disposable in the least.
8. Yuri Is My Job! by Miman - This is "extremely my shit" as the parlance goes. Is it even good? Not sure, but it's a Marimite riff operating on stock lesbian archetypes thrown into a live performance context, constructed of mugging-at-the-audience, performative-gayness-as-pro-wrestling-promos. It would be the best pro wrestling comic of all time were it not for...
9. Kinnikuman by Yudetamago - I cannot ignore Kinnikuman anymore. It's an absolutely wretched comic for maybe a good ten volumes from inception--horrific, racist and misogynistic journeyman gag comics page-filler--but once it locks into the ultra-dramatic combat sports formula, it does it better--and now actually funnier--than anything else. If you have a love in you for any interminable or excellent tournament arc in boys' comics that came after this point, be aware that they all stole from Kinnikuman--Toriyama's feverish notes are practically imprinted in the margins--and never duplicated the emotional intensity and no-holds-barred absurdity of pro wrestling as performed by supernatural musclemaniacs.
10. Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui - Basically as good as a comic can be.
11. Ikoku Nikki by Tomoko Yamashita - A stellar, introspective adult drama about an author and her recently-orphaned niece cohabitating. Nothing else like it.
12. Skip and Loafer by Misaki Takamatsu - It's the best high school slice of life comic that's ever been written, with an amazing cast of characters.
13. Sorry but I'm Not Into Yuri by Mochi Au Lait - Anyone who's spent time reading Mochi's works knows that she's a one of a kind shooting star in the lesbian comics scene: an irrepressible super-pervert who thrives on taboo and bad taste. Almost all her characters are caught in infinite incest vortexes of their own obsessive making, violating consent, committing crimes and whatever else illicit whim strikes them, but there's always that glimmer of infectious positivity and sheer reciprocal delight in meeting someone just as unhinged as you are and relating to them on that level. As her most long-form work, this is Mochi at her dumbest, at her most prurient, and at her sweetest.
I have more but that's about the number that would theoretically be replaced if filling out the list for what was culled, so I'll end it there.
2. The New Mutants by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz - Stays, but amended to encompass the full Claremont run and likely Simonson's too until the Liefeldening. I like the characters and their long-term development and dynamics too much to just isolate it to one landmark chunk.
3. Wandering Son by Takako Shimura - Dropped like a brick. I hadn't finished reading the series at the time because the Fantagraphics publishing of it went bust halfway through, and I really just dislike how it legitimizes the trans girl's narrative but the trans boy's identity is walked back with a shrug. Can't do that shit when he's the only trans guy in the narrative and the message that sends in a coming-of-age yarn. Read better Shimura stuff instead, like Sweet Blue Flowers or especially Even Though We're Adults.
4. The Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont - Stays. Too vast and formative to ignore.
5. Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel - I only read the material once, a long time ago now, so I'd like to revisit it. Fun Home and Are You My Mother? are the Bechdel works I actually own and could easily place on a list like this.
6. A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori - Stays. It's still ongoing and I'm not caught up, but it's an undeniable work.
7. Emma by Kaoru Mori - Stays. I return to this frequently and it's always a blast.
8. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by Hayao Miyazaki - Stays. Not that fond of Miyazaki as a creator, but this is his magnum opus, in a medium he's not known for.
9. Angela by Marguerite Bennett and Kieron Gillen - Dropped, probably. Feels like a recency pick; I don't think about this much anymore, despite being into it at the time. It was just novel to see anything close to a positive trans character in a Marvel book, in lesbian love with an edgelord lady protag.
10. Excalibur by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis - Dropped, even though I like it. Even I'm a little taken aback how samey the picks I made at the time are, topic-wise. I try to diversify whenever composing any kind of personal preference lists these days, and Claremont is hogging these spots more than he needs to.
11. A Drunken Dream and Other Stories by Moto Hagio - Stays. Works as a representative of Hagio's catalogue as well as anything, and stuff like Iguana Girl are obviously masterworks. The included 20-something page interview Rachel Thorn conducted with Hagio on her career is worth the price of admission on its own.
12. All My Darling Daughters by Fumi Yoshinaga - Stays, probably. There's some pretty weird stuff in places, but the overall throughline is very strong. Yoshinaga deserves it, anyway.
13. With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child by Keiko Tobe - Stays. I still haven't talked to or even observed anyone else who's read this comic. It carries a different context for me now that I'm on the other side of my own adulthood diagnosis, but it's only more resonant for it. I call this "my Berserk" in being a work that I cared about that was cut short by the author's passing, leaving it unfinished.
14. Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! by Kate Leth and Brittney Williams - Dropped. Another recency thing. I had a resurgent Marvel period in the mid-2010s or so, picking up at the time contemporary books that interested me, and while this one is another solid one... I haven't returned to it and it doesn't stand out as particularly meaningful in retrospect.
15. Cross Game by Mitsuru Adachi - Stays. I waver on whether I "need to" read more Adachi, because the dude has been making the same comic for 40 years. This iteration of the eternal recurrence is the one that happened to cross my path first and which clicked with me despite my reservations about some of his particular tics as a creator.
16. Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona - Dropped, probably. Another book I just don't return to much, or could argue passionately in favour of despite being cognizant of the strong points about it.
17. Limit by Keiko Suenobu - Stays, I think. I pick it up occasionally and it's a lean, mean read every time.
18. X-Men: Season One by Dennis Hopeless and Jamie McKelvie - Dropped. Yeah, all this X-stuff needs to calm down. This is a good, great book even--I just don't have a particularly personal angle to justify it with.
19. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi - Stays, even though I haven't returned to it... but the work being what it is, it's difficult to forget or discount.
20. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and Erica Henderson - Dropped. It's fine, but I'm not sure I particularly need North's tone and punchlines in a narrative serial format.
21. Buddha by Osamu Tezuka - Stays. I don't think one read of this is sufficient to unravel everything it's doing... so having a few more under my belt at this point, I like it all the more.
22. Captain Marvel by Kelly Sue DeConnick - Dropped. I think this placed because of fondness for the character more than the run itself, which I'd be hard-pressed to recall anything about.
23. The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie - Dropped, both because I haven't finished reading it (as it hadn't concluded yet when this list was made), and because in retrospect I think I was more enamored with McKelvie's art than anything else, and that I was superficially happy to see mythic figures utilized in media like this without consideration for much beyond the bare representation.
24. She-Hulk by Charles Soule and Javier Pulido - Dropped. Yet another goes-down-smooth contemporary pick with not enough staying power to evangelize about thereafter.
25. Hanayome wa Motodanshi/The Bride Was a Boy by Chii - Dropped. Very personally important and fond work, yes, but as a comic? It's just fine.
Well, what might show up to replace all the cuts, then? Here are some ideas, numbered only for formatting reasons:
1. Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi - Masterful romcom, and one of the top narratives in portraying grief. Works as a period piece too, and is the one slice in Takahashi's extensive catalogue that hits enough of the character dynamic beats with some level of interiority that I prefer that I can stand fully in favour of it holistically.
2. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood by Hirohiko Araki - When this list was originally drafted, I'd "retired" (lol) from JoJo fandom for the most part, so it took me a while to reassess things and realize I could just like parts of it, and what it opens up with is by far my favourite narrative Araki ever did longform.
3. Appleseed by Masamune Shirow - As a work by a complete and utter freak, this isn't the most "Shirow unleashed" comic there is... but you have to understand what you're asking for if courting a premise like that. As it is, it might be his most coherent, digestible work, with some really tremendous character dynamics in the protagonist pair, and so I love it for all that.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko - It did get me into Gundam, for whatever that's worth. Being exposed to more of the subsequent/earlier works makes the strengths of the original narrative easier to discern.
5. Nicola Traveling Around the Demons' World by Asaya Miyanaga - A terrific, episodic travelogue, as stated. A very funny kid protagonist, beautiful sketched-out art and lots of friendly monsters.
6. Vinland Saga by Makoto Yukimura - As epics go, yeah it's a good one, and remains on an upward trajectory in its thematic construction. I'm annoyed by the anime being a worse version of the story with more reach and visibility.
7. The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda - My absolute everything, and it's a rare work where I want to embrace both the manga and the anime. Usually there's a clear preference for me either or, but in this case neither is disposable in the least.
8. Yuri Is My Job! by Miman - This is "extremely my shit" as the parlance goes. Is it even good? Not sure, but it's a Marimite riff operating on stock lesbian archetypes thrown into a live performance context, constructed of mugging-at-the-audience, performative-gayness-as-pro-wrestling-promos. It would be the best pro wrestling comic of all time were it not for...
9. Kinnikuman by Yudetamago - I cannot ignore Kinnikuman anymore. It's an absolutely wretched comic for maybe a good ten volumes from inception--horrific, racist and misogynistic journeyman gag comics page-filler--but once it locks into the ultra-dramatic combat sports formula, it does it better--and now actually funnier--than anything else. If you have a love in you for any interminable or excellent tournament arc in boys' comics that came after this point, be aware that they all stole from Kinnikuman--Toriyama's feverish notes are practically imprinted in the margins--and never duplicated the emotional intensity and no-holds-barred absurdity of pro wrestling as performed by supernatural musclemaniacs.
10. Delicious in Dungeon by Ryoko Kui - Basically as good as a comic can be.
11. Ikoku Nikki by Tomoko Yamashita - A stellar, introspective adult drama about an author and her recently-orphaned niece cohabitating. Nothing else like it.
12. Skip and Loafer by Misaki Takamatsu - It's the best high school slice of life comic that's ever been written, with an amazing cast of characters.
13. Sorry but I'm Not Into Yuri by Mochi Au Lait - Anyone who's spent time reading Mochi's works knows that she's a one of a kind shooting star in the lesbian comics scene: an irrepressible super-pervert who thrives on taboo and bad taste. Almost all her characters are caught in infinite incest vortexes of their own obsessive making, violating consent, committing crimes and whatever else illicit whim strikes them, but there's always that glimmer of infectious positivity and sheer reciprocal delight in meeting someone just as unhinged as you are and relating to them on that level. As her most long-form work, this is Mochi at her dumbest, at her most prurient, and at her sweetest.
I have more but that's about the number that would theoretically be replaced if filling out the list for what was culled, so I'll end it there.
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1. Drakengard (PS2) "Ending C" - Still number one. For whatever my opinion of Yoko Taro has done over time, Drakengard remains a really stunning exercise in commitment to an aesthetic, largely because of the strength of the concept and execution of the soundtrack. For as much aplumb that's been given to nier soundtracks, each of them sit as disappointments for me, aside from the Virgin Babylon remix disc with the World's End Girlfriend track. sanodg is one of the best for me, should have kept him and Aihara on the team.
2. Opoona (Wii) "Blue Desert Hotel" - Basiscape members hold plenty of spots on this list and part of this feels cermonious, but still a fabulous soundtrack. Everything about Opoona is really strongly considered, reflected here as mostly a set of motifs and shared melodies with a variety of arrangements. A lot of fun.
3. Secret of Mana (SNES) "The Oracle" - Still up there. Great soundfont, a lot of great ideas. The gamelan inspirations and other jauntiness is really attractive. About to start a playthrough on cart and CRT, because of the strength of the aesthetics, and the soundtrack is key part.
4. Final Fantasy XII (PS2) "Phon Coast" - Remember doing a writeup for it, probably hold the same opinion. It's just great.
5. Jet Set Radio Future (Xbox) "Sweet Soul Brother" - Still great, though I'm probably not as much into it. I really like this kind of sample heavy breakbeat, and maybe my estimation of it has cooled a bit the more i listen to similar stuff, but this still rips.
6. Earthbound (SNES) "The Sky Walker" - Great soundfont, which is a large deciding factor of a lot of these choices. Still great.
7. DoDonPachi: Daifukkatsu Black Label (Xbox360) "Zatsuza" - The track pick is a big signal here. I love when it's frenetic and noisy. Still great, it's really crunchy, still top 10 for sure.
8. Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis) "Never Return Alive" - Feels a bit like a legacy pick, but I still really like this. It's just not something i listen to a lot (which is true of a lot of these tbh)
9. Tail of the Sun (PSX) "Odottepon!" - Probably a little inflated due to the novelty, but this is still great. Just kind of short and too compact.
10. Killer 7 (Gamecube) "Sweet Blue Flag" - I often forget how good the soundtrack is. Might give the game a replay sometime soon, going to give the soundtrack a relisten after this.
11. Battle Garegga (Arcade) "Underwater Rampart" - Classic. Will probably always like this.
12. Flower, Sun, Rain (PSX) "Children's Corner" - Probably a bit inflated, maybe just what I was into at the time. I still like it, but if you're going to make me think about a soundtrack that reinterprets classical music, refer to number 1.
13. SMT III: Nocturne (PS2) "Talk" - Good, I've got not much to say except it's just another great atmosphere laden game and soundtrack.
14. FFV (Super Famicom) "Decisive Battle" - I think it's easily the best of the midi final fantasy choices. The percussion is stellar and enough has been said that I shouldn't bother, but this will be on a list like this forever for me.
15. Devil Crash (PC Engine) "Bonus Stage 2, 5" - Funny inclusion, don't think I'd think to include it if i remade the list today, but this is great. Good job past me
16. The Path (PC) "Forest Interlude 2" - Cool soundtrack that I just can't get too excited about. Jarboe doing a soundtrack was always more exciting then the end product would be, but I'm gonna give this a relisten because I really might admire it more today.
17. Nier: Automata (PS4) "Fortress of Lies" - Surprised I included this, maybe a little recency. The good tracks in this are great, but I'm generally adverse to the popular opinion on what the "good tracks" are in this thing. Basically, don't like most of the vocal tracks, and much prefer the eerie atmospheric stuff, or the 8 bit remix stuff
18. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii) "Angel's Scream" - Good stuff, everyone likes silent hill soundtracks
19. FFIX (PSX) "Final Battle" - Good stuff, everyone likes final fantasy soundtracks
20. God Hand (PS2) "Broncobuster" - I liked and still like Masafumi Takada. Maybe I should switch this and flower sun rain for a more accurate list.
21. Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES) "No Assembly Required" - Fun and frenetic. Deserving a spot.
22. No More Heroes (Wii) "Stop Hanging DJs" - More Takada. I probably don't like these games as much now, but the soundtrack is still strong.
23. Xenogears (PSX) "Shevat" - Should have selected Knight of Fire, probably should place it higher too. This might have been a casualty of "games that will get votes should be lower"
24. Chrono Trigger (SNES) "World Revolution" - Surprised it's on the list. Obviously a good soundtrack (it won), but it's the kind of thing i don't feel enough personal affinity for to overcome the desire to add lesser known or lesser appreciated stuff like the following
25. Dolucky Sandlot Baseball (Super Famicom) "Love de Peace" - strange choice. I'm sure I came across it just looking for old baseball games because i like them. it's pretty good though.
2. Opoona (Wii) "Blue Desert Hotel" - Basiscape members hold plenty of spots on this list and part of this feels cermonious, but still a fabulous soundtrack. Everything about Opoona is really strongly considered, reflected here as mostly a set of motifs and shared melodies with a variety of arrangements. A lot of fun.
3. Secret of Mana (SNES) "The Oracle" - Still up there. Great soundfont, a lot of great ideas. The gamelan inspirations and other jauntiness is really attractive. About to start a playthrough on cart and CRT, because of the strength of the aesthetics, and the soundtrack is key part.
4. Final Fantasy XII (PS2) "Phon Coast" - Remember doing a writeup for it, probably hold the same opinion. It's just great.
5. Jet Set Radio Future (Xbox) "Sweet Soul Brother" - Still great, though I'm probably not as much into it. I really like this kind of sample heavy breakbeat, and maybe my estimation of it has cooled a bit the more i listen to similar stuff, but this still rips.
6. Earthbound (SNES) "The Sky Walker" - Great soundfont, which is a large deciding factor of a lot of these choices. Still great.
7. DoDonPachi: Daifukkatsu Black Label (Xbox360) "Zatsuza" - The track pick is a big signal here. I love when it's frenetic and noisy. Still great, it's really crunchy, still top 10 for sure.
8. Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis) "Never Return Alive" - Feels a bit like a legacy pick, but I still really like this. It's just not something i listen to a lot (which is true of a lot of these tbh)
9. Tail of the Sun (PSX) "Odottepon!" - Probably a little inflated due to the novelty, but this is still great. Just kind of short and too compact.
10. Killer 7 (Gamecube) "Sweet Blue Flag" - I often forget how good the soundtrack is. Might give the game a replay sometime soon, going to give the soundtrack a relisten after this.
11. Battle Garegga (Arcade) "Underwater Rampart" - Classic. Will probably always like this.
12. Flower, Sun, Rain (PSX) "Children's Corner" - Probably a bit inflated, maybe just what I was into at the time. I still like it, but if you're going to make me think about a soundtrack that reinterprets classical music, refer to number 1.
13. SMT III: Nocturne (PS2) "Talk" - Good, I've got not much to say except it's just another great atmosphere laden game and soundtrack.
14. FFV (Super Famicom) "Decisive Battle" - I think it's easily the best of the midi final fantasy choices. The percussion is stellar and enough has been said that I shouldn't bother, but this will be on a list like this forever for me.
15. Devil Crash (PC Engine) "Bonus Stage 2, 5" - Funny inclusion, don't think I'd think to include it if i remade the list today, but this is great. Good job past me
16. The Path (PC) "Forest Interlude 2" - Cool soundtrack that I just can't get too excited about. Jarboe doing a soundtrack was always more exciting then the end product would be, but I'm gonna give this a relisten because I really might admire it more today.
17. Nier: Automata (PS4) "Fortress of Lies" - Surprised I included this, maybe a little recency. The good tracks in this are great, but I'm generally adverse to the popular opinion on what the "good tracks" are in this thing. Basically, don't like most of the vocal tracks, and much prefer the eerie atmospheric stuff, or the 8 bit remix stuff
18. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii) "Angel's Scream" - Good stuff, everyone likes silent hill soundtracks
19. FFIX (PSX) "Final Battle" - Good stuff, everyone likes final fantasy soundtracks
20. God Hand (PS2) "Broncobuster" - I liked and still like Masafumi Takada. Maybe I should switch this and flower sun rain for a more accurate list.
21. Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES) "No Assembly Required" - Fun and frenetic. Deserving a spot.
22. No More Heroes (Wii) "Stop Hanging DJs" - More Takada. I probably don't like these games as much now, but the soundtrack is still strong.
23. Xenogears (PSX) "Shevat" - Should have selected Knight of Fire, probably should place it higher too. This might have been a casualty of "games that will get votes should be lower"
24. Chrono Trigger (SNES) "World Revolution" - Surprised it's on the list. Obviously a good soundtrack (it won), but it's the kind of thing i don't feel enough personal affinity for to overcome the desire to add lesser known or lesser appreciated stuff like the following
25. Dolucky Sandlot Baseball (Super Famicom) "Love de Peace" - strange choice. I'm sure I came across it just looking for old baseball games because i like them. it's pretty good though.
I think the list is still a pretty good reflection. I could add some other stuff, G-Darius would be in the top 5, but I still like most of this stuff.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
The Flame in the Flood
The Flame in the Flood is a rogue-like where you play as a young girl called Scout who must survive an apocalyptic flood on a small boat as she floats down the river. The soundtrack contains folk music created by Chuck Ragan and it's sad yet hopeful music is perfect for the tone of this game as you must gather resources to survive including food, clothing and traps. It's a really good game and I highly recommend it. And I find the soundtrack especially effective.
I had Chrono Cross as my #1, that soundtrack just blew me away, though I do of course love Trigger's as well. Legend of Mana at #2, love me some Yoko Shimomura. Then Katamari where this time I wisely voted for the first as a stand-in for the whole series - though the first may actually be my fave, it had some of the wildest picks in its track list even though the sequels came up with some really fun stuff also.
The only two in my top 10 that didn't make the list were Bravely Default and World Ends With You, both full of bangers. I also voted for Link Between Worlds, really liked the arrangements and elaborations on old Zelda themes in that one. For some old-school MOD-tracking action I had Star Control II in the middle of my list, and even down near the end my entries are still full of fave tracks, rounding out with Wild Arms, Rez, and Space Channel 5.
There's just a lot of good game music out there, huh?
The only two in my top 10 that didn't make the list were Bravely Default and World Ends With You, both full of bangers. I also voted for Link Between Worlds, really liked the arrangements and elaborations on old Zelda themes in that one. For some old-school MOD-tracking action I had Star Control II in the middle of my list, and even down near the end my entries are still full of fave tracks, rounding out with Wild Arms, Rez, and Space Channel 5.
There's just a lot of good game music out there, huh?