I read about that a few days ago.  That's a big lose for Rare.  He made such great music for the Rare games.  Hopefully someone will pick him up soon so he can start creating music again.

You know... I really loved DK Country back in the day, but I can hardly remember any of the music from it, while I can still remember the music to Super Mario World or Goldeneye. Was it really good at the time? (honest question)

It would be great if he came to work at Nintendo alongside Koji Kondo, but I think that's unlikely.

" You know... I really loved DK Country back in the day, but I can hardly remember any of the music from it, while I can still remember the music to Super Mario World or Goldeneye. Was it really good at the time? (honest question) "

He made some pretty rad music. Nintendo and/or Square Enix outta try and snag him up, he'd make an alright fit at either studio. But I suspect Nintendo will be the one to do it.

" @Adamantium said:

" You know... I really loved DK Country back in the day, but I can hardly remember any of the music from it, while I can still remember the music to Super Mario World or Goldeneye. Was it really good at the time? (honest question) "

They all had decent music, but I think DKC2's music was definitely head and shoulders above the other two games. "

Man. The music in Donkey Kong Country (Original, never really played/liked the other ones) was like 1/3 of the reason I loved that soo much. It's a shame there's no oppertunities for him in mordern day Rare.

I'd say the bigger shame is that he stuck around Rare so long after their prime. Rare was known for 4 three things, to me at least; their occasionally brilliant music, their occasionally brilliant shooters, their occasionally laughable art style, and their platformers. The section of the company responsible for Goldeneye and (the good) Perfect Dark are long gone, their music guy is gone, and their platformer guys are just, idunno, detached from what people are looking for now in platformers? So you just have these weird looking okay games.

  @Adamantium said:

" You know... I really loved DK Country back in the day, but I can hardly remember any of the music from it, while I can still remember the music to Super Mario World or Goldeneye. Was it really good at the time? (honest question) "

I can't remember any tunes in particular right now but the music in DK was pretty fucking rad. It's a shame that he's left Rare since they're such a great company. Wonder where he'll go now?

That makes me sad. I used to love Rare back when nintendo didnt suck.

"   @Adamantium said:

" You know... I really loved DK Country back in the day, but I can hardly remember any of the music from it, while I can still remember the music to Super Mario World or Goldeneye. Was it really good at the time? (honest question) "

Dude, check out the awesome below. "

My personal favourite (and probably the reason why I am into Ambient music these days) is the music from the water stages. The fidelity is incredible for a SNES game. I guess he used recorded sounds for that, it sure doesn't sound like the usual MIDI stuff.
 
I think he will be fine, assuming he is not mentally stuck in the 16-bit era and went with the times.
 

Do not miss this great tune with some added rap.
 

A real sad moment, although I could see it coming since Dave hadn't been given any noteworthy titles to compose scores for in  a long time. I think it's clear that the company just hasn't been the same management-wise since the Stampers left, thus you see a lot of the old composers - Grant Kirkhope, then Steve Brand and now Dave Wise - leaving to achieve better things.
 
For those who only remember Dave's work on the original Donkey Kong Country, here's some more of his better and more recognisable pieces. I'd say his best was the entire score of Donkey Kong Country 2. Even if some don't view that game as highly as the original, the music he composed for it solo was phenomenal.
 

That's too bad, but I was more disappointed when the Banjo_Kazooie / Viva Pinata guy left Rare. Or was it the same guy, who's just now leaving? (I'd heard Nuts & Bolts was his last game).

Really?  I though he left back when nuts and bolts came out.  huh...

Rare has had it rough and the thing is the games they have put out since being bought by Microsoft are awesome just..no one buys them :(

Considering RARE has never made a bad game (All of them are pretty much perfect) I see this as being a terrible decision on his part. I suggest he teams up with Frank Klepacki and creates the most amazing musical score ever.

" That's too bad, but I was more disappointed when the Banjo_Kazooie / Viva Pinata guy left Rare. Or was it the same guy, who's just now leaving? (I'd heard Nuts & Bolts was his last game). "

" Considering RARE has never made a bad game (All of them are pretty much perfect) I see this as being a terrible decision on his part. I suggest he teams up with Frank Klepacki and creates the most amazing musical score ever. "

I love how all his music feels so organic. I have the soundtracks to DKC1-3 on my computer. Love it. Sounds like nothing else around that time and even now it still sounds so unique and real.
 
And just for good measure, I'll throw in a couple of my favorite tracks that haven't been posted yet. 

Man! Well, hopefully his talents end up being used by another great company. DKC had some classy stuff.

You think maybe he left to work on this new DKC?

I hope he went to Retro, it would give me a lot of hope for the new game.