Musician Slugfest 2005: Koji Kondo vs. Nobuo Uematsu vs. Jun Senoue vs. Chris Huelsbeck

Which of these composers is worthy of being the best there is in the gaming industry?

Koji Kondo (Nintendo)? Nobuo Uematsu (Square)? Jun Senoue (Sega)? or Chris Huelsbeck (Factor 5)?

Cast your vote along with an opinion as to why that person is worthy of being the best composer. Other composers are available to be discussed here (i.e. Toshihiko Sahasi).

 

I've gotta go with Nobuo Uematsu and his works with the Final Fantasy saga. I mean you just can't get any better than One Winged Angel or Vidi Veni Vidci (FF VIII).

 

Who ever the composer for Guild Wars is, his name elludes me as of now.

 

Where is Jeremy Soule?

Thread does not deliver.

I'd have to say a tie between Kondo and Uematsu. The other two aren't worth mentioning compared to them. The choice should be between Kondo, Uematsu, and Jeremy Soule, and maybe Yasunori Mitsuda.

 

First, great idea for a thread Lando_Bubrissian7.

I have to agree with you, Soule's Icewind Dale's score is simply stunning. Like alpha_red said, the main three should be between Kondo, Uematsu, and Jeremy Soule.

As for what would be my favorite, well... I don't know.

I love them all for different reasons, Kondo for his catchy tunes, Uematsu's for his haunting melodies, and Soule for his epic masterpieces.

So as for who is the best, I don't know, sorry.

 

what about John Williams, he composed for many starwars games, some of the music in games arent in movies and made by him

 

Well of course! John Williams' music has been used in the Star Wars games, however they where virtually arranged by the game composers. I am not too familiar with Jeremy Soule. How about Clint Bajakian? His score arrangements in Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb were stunning in my opinion.

So far it seems that there are a couple of ties between Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu. Yasnori Mitsuda also seems to be of great interest. What are some games which had music composed by him? Zero for Chris Huelsbeck. For those who do not know who Chris Huelsbeck is...he is the man behind the Turrican, R-Type, and Star Wars:Rogue Squadron series music. Zero also for Jun Senoue. I mean come on just because he didn't compose the music for the first "Sonic:The Hedgehog" doesn't make him "incomplete"!

Oh, and like I said "feel free" to express your feelings for composers outside of the main arena.

Thank you kopolee11 for your thoughts of my thread.

 

john williams i beleive did music for Indian Jones lol

 

But he didn't write music FOR the games. So he's hardly a game music composer. I'd agree with some posts above and say that Kondo = Uematsu.

 

Out of those choices, I would have to go with Uematsu... even though the Sega guy is a very close second. I bob my head still whenever I play Sonic... great music in all of them.

But as for overall, the guy who did Icewind Dale is great. Is he the same who did it for Baldurs Gate and Neverwinter Nights? If so... he's definately my favorite by far.

 

Judging by the fact that you're alive and posting, I don't suppose you've ever bobbed your head to the "uh oh Sonic is about to drown, find a bubble quick!" theme.

 

lol...

Tell me, is it sad that that song plays in my head whenever I'm rushing to get something done on time?

 

No, I do it too.

 

No problem!

Not exactly. He was responsible for the music in Neverwinter Nights, but he only worked on the console versions of Balder's Gate.

To make it simpler here are the works of Soule, Kondo, and Uematsu.


Here is a list of all of Jeremy Soule video game work.

Here is some of Koji Kondo video game work.

And some of Nobuo Uematsu finest work.


Hope that helps anyone unfamiliar with these great composers.

 

So, then I hear Yasnori Mitsuda is the person behind the Chrono-Trigger series music. Yeah he's not to bad. I think I'll definitely add him to the main arena.

So far Kondo and Uematsu seem to be sticking together, while Mitsuda is rushing in from behind. Senoue gets a vote. Huelsbeck remains zero.

Amazing things I'm hearing since I'm hearing a lot about Kondo and Uematsu which of these songs sounds more relaxing between the two of them "dire,dire,docks"(Kondo) or "Aeris' Theme" (Uematsu)?

 

Probably the Dire, Dire Docks music, considering that Aeris dies.

 

Interesting. And now who's got the better music when it comes to bosses, "Bowser"(Kondo) or "Braska's Final Aeon" (Uematsu)?

So far Koji is now leading by one over Uematsu. Jun Senoue has one. Huelsbeck:0. So since Huelsbeck appears out of the picture...between the remaining three who, by opinion, composes the best jazz-related music? Which of these would be considered the jazziest: "Casinopolis:Sonic Pinball"(Senoue), "Delfino Plaza Hotel Casino" (Kondo) or "Brass de Chocobo" (Uematsu)?

 

I'd have to go with Koji Kondo. I'm a big Nintendo buff and I love all of his work.

 

The song they play when you fight Jecht isn't called Braska's Final Aeon; it's another arrangement of "Otherworld" which is the most hellaciously awesome metal song that anyone ever made up for a video game. Though if they did a live arrangement of the Gothic Bowser theme from Mario 64 it would compare.

Too bad X-2 sucked so atrociously. I played it for about 20 minutes and almost vomited.

Trivia: Jeremy Soule has cited Nobuo Uematsu as one of his favorite composers. Many of you have likely heard his piece, Squaresoft Variation. It's an homage to Final Fantasy VI and was submitted some time ago to OCR. It mainly features Terra's theme. Quite simply, it rules. Jeremy Soule of course also composed for KOTOR. The Final Fantasy crew's favorite movies are the Star Wars saga, as is evidenced by not only their own words on the subject but also the appearance of Ultima Weapon (the sword, not the creature), the presence of Biggs and Wedge, and a bunch of other stuff.

 

Yeah, I in fact found that kind of weird. If you've ever played blitzball the monikers of the characters actually fit since they appear to be sporting Echo Base/Hoth related clothing. I thought it was just coincidence.

Koji is now leading Uematsu by two. Jeremy Soule is arriving at third. As of this weekend status: Huelsbeck and Senoue have not qualified for the finals. It's all Koji and Nobuo now. Let's enter in a few new contenders: Yasnori Mitsuda and Toshihiko Sahasi.

 

Hmm. Between Kondo and Uematsu.

Kondo has 3 real classics with Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox while Uematsu has one franchise in Final Fantasy but 11 plus excellent scores to each. How can you make me choose? But if I must I'll say...........still thinking....... still thinking...... Haven't decided yet..... oh the humanity.....







Uematsu?

 

You know, we should actually get all these guys together, give them swords and other sharp things, and let them actually have a slugfest.

 

I'm surprised Koichi Sugiyama didn't make this poll list. I vote for him anyway His Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior) score was awesome.

 

Dragon Warrior,eh? I've never played that game before. Know any other games he composed music for?

And believe me Mario alone has appeared in over 10 games so Kondo is more than a match for Uematsu,who is, amazingly enough just now composing music for a Square game that is not Final Fantasy, or so I've heard, almost as if Uematsu is finally making the "Zelda" transition, after God knows how many years.

Think of these two composers as classic systems like the Sega Saturn vs. the "Plaything". (Hint: Sega Saturn was better). In other words who had the bigger guns...in compositions.

 

Wow...Kondo and Uematsu....

An easier match would be Ganondorf vs. Sephiroth.