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Game music worth putting on your iPod

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Game music worth putting on your iPod

Not all game music sucks. Check out these beauties

Words: Justin Towell, GamesRadar UK

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Dec 6, 2007

With Super Mario Galaxy being critically acclaimed not only for its timeless platforming gameplay but also for its brilliant musical score, we got to thinking about other games that had great music. In fact, music so good it's worthy of listening to in its own right, outside of the context of a game.

Now, we must stress that musical opinion is different for every single person, so you may disagree entirely with the examples we've got here. But, with the variety we've got on offer, you may also find something new (like we did in the process of researching this feature) that you absolutely fall in love with. So, without further ado, let's get some tunes on.

Jet Set Radio (Dreamcast, 2000)
Forget the Xbox pseudo-sequel, it's the original that gets the mix of audio and visual style absolutely right. This tune 'Everybody Jump Around' from games music man Richard Jacques is just one of a multitude of awesome tracks in the game. With some funky guitar and genuinely phat beats, this really is cool, without sounding like it's trying to be. Check out the mp3 clip below:

JetSetRadio_EverybodyJumpAround.mp3

NOTE: Firefox/Quicktime users may want to open each clip in a new window. If you're using Windows Media Player, it opens automatically so you can listen and read at the same time. Bonus.

Above: Look, everyone, it's Professor K! But would you stop playing with that radio?

15 Comments

rasty - 2 months 23 days ago

Diablo's OST was AWESOME.It had music form evreything-from peaceful desert towns to the swampy jungle.Unfortunately Matt Ulemen left Blizzard and now Diablo 3 will sound like crap.Even the music from the trailer and gameplay reminds me of that.

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zabu_san - 2 months 14 days ago

Utada Hikaru rocks out loud!!
And i am so glad to see others appreciate Jet Set/Grind Radio.
I was able to find the OST for those games and i am in live all over again with that series and am begging Sega to make a sequel for PS3 or Wii or something...

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Cynwyddon - 2 months 14 days ago

OH SNAP! Master Onion was the shit.

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smallberry - 2 months 13 days ago

Huzzah! For Hikaru Utada. Wish that video was still available.

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GamesRadarJustinTowell - 2 months 13 days ago

@smallberry - there's a poorly-synched version still on YouTube. Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RefdhRjRSM
It's well worth it - what an amazing performance :)

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KHfan - 2 months 7 days ago

ah yeah simple and clean rocks

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jackf-11 - 1 month 22 days ago

Still Alive is possibly the greatist video game song ever, but when I got my friend to download it on rock band (ps3) and his dad sung it horribly.

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tayls - 1 month 22 days ago

When I was a young lad, maybe 13 or so, Soul Blade came out for the PSX. I found myself so pumped up by the intro that I called my mom and baby sister up to see "how amazing this video is." If you've ever been excited around someone who's idea of gaming is what they've gathered from sit-coms, you know: it totally doesn't get them excited and also, coincidentally, sucks ass.

My mom spent the entire time laughing hysterically because it wasn't like "Toy Story" but was made using a similar technique. The idea of 3D animation being used for something other than Pixar movies was just laughable to her. I ended up going to school to be a 3D animator, and now she's paying my student loans back. I like to think it's my way of getting back at her for that day.

Anyway, awesome tune!

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tayls - 1 month 22 days ago

When I was a young lad, maybe 13 or so, Soul Blade came out for the PSX. I found myself so pumped up by the intro that I called my mom and baby sister up to see "how amazing this video is." If you've ever been excited around someone who's idea of gaming is what they've gathered from sit-coms, you know: it totally doesn't get them excited and also, coincidentally, sucks ass.

My mom spent the entire time laughing hysterically because it wasn't like "Toy Story" but was made using a similar technique. The idea of 3D animation being used for something other than Pixar movies was just laughable to her. I ended up going to school for 3D animation, and now she's paying my student loans back on a monthly basis. I like to think it's my way of getting back at her for that day.

Anyway, awesome tune!

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troglydyte - 1 month 22 days ago

if you look at the parappa the rapper picture, in the right hand corner it says "u rappin awful!"

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Weasel - 1 month 22 days ago

What, no Gitaroo Man? Travesty! That whole game is worth tracking down the soundtrack for! Well, maybe not that song vs. the giant shark mech thing, but the rest is awesome!

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Motherload - 1 month 18 days ago

you missed a bunch. i've never played most of those games but i like Sonic Adventure music. infact all the music in Sonic games on the Dreamcast and up is pretty good! i haven't played Sonic for the 360 or PS3 though so i'm not sure for that.

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