Giant Bombcast Game of the Year 2017: Best Music

@kishinfoulux: I avoided speaking on Abby's disparaging comments because she has room to grow as someone who didn't grow up thinking about games critically. The Giant Bomb crew (including Ben!) voices their opinions in a thoughtful, respective stance. Except for Abby, but I'm learning to be more patient with her defensive statements that shouldn't really belong in a laid-back discussion about music.

In a medium like video games, it's difficult to separate mechanical feel from the visuals and audio. Abby was frustrated with the gameplay aspect of Nier, and vented these frustrations every time Nier was mentioned during GOTY. It's absolutely okay that she didn't like the game, but it is another thing to be actively discounting everyone else's opinions because it doesn't fit hers.

The GOTY discussions have always been, to me at least, celebratory on aspects of games the staff enjoyed (besides industry drama like the Hot Mess category). This section was lovely because everyone was sitting around a table bobbing their heads to some great music, and I couldn't stop smiling when someone was a little too excited to prod Jason into playing another track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riW6MzWGk6w

Abby sorta ruined this for me. I cannot think of a more ridiculous statement than to call Nier:Automata's OST "generic jrpg music". Really soured me on her video game critic chops. Has she even ever played another JRPG?

But im happy Nier won.

Well that wasn't too bad this year. I don't get what makes Nier's music so compelling for some people but I glad Persona got recognition at least. Abby might want to be more prudent in the future, considering music is such an emotional topic that isn't easy to debate.

Although people wishing Xenoblade got recognition are crazy, because that is EXACTLY the standard jrpg fare than Alex dismisses in the very video, regardless of its quality.

Right choices made all around here. Very glad Persona made it on the list, as some of those tracks are incredible and set the mood for that game, and very glad Neir got recognized for the musical achievement it is. The music makes that game and is an integral part of the themes of the game.

I particularly love the made-up languages in the Neir songs, as those are used to demonstrate how we can find emotion and understanding even in entirely alien beings. They communicate incredibly specific emotions and meanings through otherwise nonsense words and songs. It fits in very well into some of the central ideas of the game. And then they pull out the stops for the ending E finale song with (multiple) human languages turning into a chorus of voices at the pivotal moment.

Not a big fan of BOTW but after passing the 17min mark where they put of botw discussion I hope they don't pass over the Hateno Village theme which is the one track in that game that stands out as amazing.

I'm with Abby, Nier sounds pretty generic too me. Play it randomly, I'd be able to tell you it's JRPG music, but not music from Nier. My top 3 would be Persona 5, Odyssey, Cuphead. All distinct, wonderful and work wonders to enhance the games.

Is this Donkey Kong music?

Persona should’ve won.

It has a song that's just a children choir singing in a made up language that's a mash-up of Japanese, French and what seems to be Portuguese.

I have no idea how people can say it's generic. Baffling.

But I still enjoyed the whole thing. Don't read any of the comments, Abby. You did well, it was fun! Thankfully, I'm not being recorded for 9 hours a day arguing about video games.

Ah, that was fun stuff.

BUT IT DOES IT SO GOOD!

Kidding aside, I think there should be a case for executing a thing at a higher level. Which I feel that Yasunori Mitsuda, ACE, Kenji Hiramatsu, and Manami Kiyota are attempting and sometimes succeeding with Xenoblade 2. I see it in a similar vein in how Brad exclaims that Journey was robbed. Xenoblade 2's music, for me so far, really nails at being a rousing anime epic that make me want to hum along.

When it comes to "generic", I think all of us are maybe missing or forgetting experiences with forgotten games (and other media) that have lesser music. When the phrase "generic JRPG music" was uttered, I couldn't help but think, "Whoa, have you ever heard of Brave Story: New Traveler? That's what generic is!"

And of course, no one (very few) remembers Brave Story: New Traveler. I will welcome the argument that Brave Story: New Traveler's soundtrack is not at all removed from Xenoblade Chronicle 2's soundtrack. And unfortunately for me, I won't have a convincing argument at the moment other than, "but it's so much more and better and cooler and makes me FEEL MORE!"

Ah, music. Strokes and folks and all that, yeah.

@twolines: Very well said. I never feel strongly about game soundtracks, but calling the NieR soundtrack generic should be illegal :P And besides the story, it's the thing I will forever remember about that game.

I think my 3 would be Persona 5, Pyre and Super Mario Odyssey. I respect and even occasionally dig Nier: Automata's soundtrack but Cuphead's soundtrack is fucking boring, sorry

This might have been my favorite segment yet. It was a really strong year for games and an incredibly strong year for gaming music!

Now, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the theme for "The Farm" from Destiny 2. Clearly the game was never going to hang in this discussion hearing how passionate people were for the top contenders, but I feel like this track is so much better than it has any right to be for a looter shooter. Also, I think anyone who forgot about this theme can be forgiven since none of us have had a reason to go back to the Farm in months.

Also it's a shame that the track Abby is thinking of (from the Savathun's Song strike) isn't even included on the OST. I really dig the techno stuff they made for the Hive and I find it to be sorely underrepresented on the soundtrack.

I love Abby during the regularly scheduled content, but I haven't heard an argument yet without her jumping in and saying some shit that would have gotten Dan executed by these fellas.

BotW's music is extremely underrated; Hinox theme, Stone Talus theme, Stable music, Hateno Village theme, to name but a few, are some of the best music I've heard in a game in a long time. I also love the fact the location themes have night time variations to them, too. Should have been in the Top3.

To be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand the soundtrack of Nier: Automata.

I don't know how to continue the meme from that, but that's the feel I'm getting from some of these comments and it's maybe the worst thing ever. I personally liked the soundtrack and it was maybe the best thing in that game for me, but oh god, please stop.

Agreed, Nier is turning into the video game version of Rick and Morty for me. Let people like what they like.

Didn't stop an early access game from making other GOTY lists. Man and I just finished 115 hours of Xeno2 I'm a bit bummed now.

Won't listen to this segment just in case there are Nier spoilers (having just received it for Christmas), but I do hope that Odyssey is in the top 3 if only for this Wooded Kingdom tune that may be my favourite bit of music all year. It's just so happy and jaunty :-)

I think Zelda should have totally been in the top 3, for the sole reason that you can do this with the Castle theme.

Yeah, having only listened to the deliberations up to this point I've finally accepted this conclusion. The constant use of superlatives without any real substance makes it hard to have a discussion comparing the aspects of certain games.

And with her limited gaming background you think she'd try to be more receptive of diverse experiences but the way she discounts certain games makes it seems like she goes in looking for reasons not to like something. Instead of just taking a back seat like Dan does with certain gaming experiences.

"Generic jrpg music." Wow. I haven't played the game but just from the arguments made I could understand Nier's use of music was something special.

I'm Mr. King Dice. I'm the baddest in the land. I never play nice!...

Final Fantasy XIV got snubbed.

Holy shit, I immediately downloaded the mummy demastered soundtrack and it fucking riiiiiiiiips.

baffled by the zeldapinions of both the gb crew and some of the people ITT

yeah i mean like a large part of that ost is very underscored and light, but how can you forget that BotW has one of the most iconic and recognizable main themes of the entire series:

skip to ~1:00 if you don't know what i'm talking about

@eribuster: I generally agree, but lets be honest that room is a bit prejudiced against that style.

That said, it's just music opinions from mostly people aren't specialized in music criticism, so it's pointless to get to worked up about it. (Even if I'm still salty about Tropical Freeze disrespect!)

Yakuza 0 is easily my favorite soundtrack of the year, with Persona 5 being a very close second and Nier in third. Can't fault them for their pick, and Cuphead seemed pretty good though I never played the game.

Still, Yakuza 0 is fucking rad and the music is amazing. The lead up to the final fight, and then blasting Twin Dragons at you, is so good. The combat music changing with styles was fantastic, the Karaoke songs, everything.

@glots: If Abby hadn't thrown so much shade at it I don't think the community would be so riled up about it. If somebody had made the argument that the music felt forced or the madeup language didn't click or the arrangements didn't gel with them I don't think you'd see people up in here crying foul. Somebody threw the first stone and it wasn't rando's on the board.

That the Nier music is supposedly tacked on is one of the wildest statements I have ever heard.

Not to repeat what the echo chamber is saying (which I agree with), but I do want to toss my hat in and say that I appreciate Dan having a more open mind these days. Good on him.

I like the Nidhogg 2 soundtrack...

Generalizations about any specific topic from people who don't have knowledge/experience in said topic is unfortunately all-too-common.

(NOTE: not dissing you at all, just reminding everyone that this phenomenon happens everywhere. See people supporting a Net Neutrality repeal for a recent example of generalizations/misinformation)

Nier music was god-tier. Yakuza 0 had some of the most hype-inducing tracks I have every heard. I adored Cupheads music. I need to play Persona 5 :(

Best menu music ever?! Come on man:

I really appreciate Ben's enthusiasm. As the original staff have gotten older I feel like they make a point to not get too excited about anything, as to not sound like a bad critic. Seeing Ben get pumped remembering a game is great.

Ben is quickly becoming one of my favorite staff members. His anti-joke humor, tastes, and passions are great. I don't love fighting games but he talks about them in a way that makes them interesting, by talking about the nuances that make them intriguing in a way a non-player can follow.

On an unrelated note, I see the knives already came out in these comments re: Abby's Nier diss, so I'll put mine back in the drawer (though man, I had some salt there).

She says near the end that she doesn't play a lot of other JRPGs, and is explicit about trusting the judgment of others in this case because of that. This happens across genres - if we don't have the experience in a genre, we will make generalizations about the genre because that's how we categorize it. I think Abby is doing great. She's speaking up when she feels it's right, and I appreciate that. Finally, this is a music discussion with a room of non-music-critics. That's not to take away from their opinions - certainly, Alex has a respectable breadth of musical knowledge - but they don't all have the vocabulary to speak about music succinctly, and that's completely fine with me. I don't necessarily think that their discussion of the music should be a reflection of their game criticism, although I think it was a good, fruitful discussion.

That wasn't the Waluigi music. Yakuza got screwed. They didn't even play the good tracks.

Having now listened to the full cuphead soundtrack i am even more baffled by her arguments. If any soundtrack i heard this year feels "tacked on" it's that one. The only song which stood out for me was the King Dice one with lyrics, the rest was serviceable background fodder made in the old style to not ruin the amazing visuals this game has to offer.

Thanks for some new soundtracks I can listen to, GB! :-D

“Two Dragons”, the final fight theme of Yakuza 0, is ALWAYS in my workout playlist. If I need a power song to get me through a tough mile, this song IS. IT.

"best soundtrack? in a game with INVISIBLE WALLS ROFL LMAO" how high was Abby at this point in her argument.

Niddhog 2 was robbed.

I'm glad Nier won and all, but I'm just sad a musical gem like Gravity Rush 2 wasn't in the conversation. Guess launching in January let it be forgotten by year's end.

Only Jason had any real hands-on experience with it, and the gameplay (based on the Quicklook) may have left him too sour to recall the soundtrack. Honestly, some of this stuff gives Cuphead's soundtrack a run for its money.

Gravity Rush 2 - Pleasure District

Nier would be better if some of the songs didn't sound like a "soundtrack" type of song or portion of that song. Many original songs on a soundtrack have a certain structure, in whole or part, that is similar. I think they should've made some more arguments for ruiner.

@bacongames: I just want you to know that I agree with you and Nidhogg 2 has one of the most bumpin soundtracks I’ve ever heard in games.

Tropical Freeze is just the best soundtrack to any video game ever.