Post by occamsblazer on Jun 10, 2013 14:20:45 GMT -6
All the music used in the pokemon games is scored by small team at Game Freak, the company that has create all the Pokemon games. Junischi Masuda, Go Ichinose and a few others at Game Freak are responsible for creating all music for the past 20 years the Pokemon franchise has existed. Together they have been able to create memorable music with limited music resources, and have been able to adapt their style as video game music has changed and improved over the years. The music used when encountering wild pokemon is an instructive way of seeing how Pokemon music has evolved (pun <i>very</i> intended) and comparing the music between various pokemon games.
Wild pokemon battles are the functional unit of any pokemon game. In any given game, you will get into dozens and dozens of wild pokemon battles. It’s the means by which to catch ‘em all (or at least catch enough to progress through the game in a reasonable fashion.) However, despite the omnipresence of pokemon battle throughout the course of a game, these events only take a one or a few turns. This is reflected in each of the songs, which range from 1-2 minutes in total. (Some of the linked videos are 5-7 minutes long, with the song being looped a few times.) These songs are by no means unique to their respective games, and can frankly be ignored or even annoying due to shear repetition. That being said, these songs do a great job of wonder, joy and whimsy of facing and possessing powerful magical dragons, serpents, and a bird that looks and acts like Santa Claus. The music here is not essential, but can be fun and catchy in its own way.
Programming notes: For convience, these songs are sorted into generations, from Generation I began with the release of Pokemon Red and Blue in 1997, to Generation V, which is the present. The release of a certain new set of pokemon games marks the start of a new generation, with each generation lasting from about 3-5 years. The pokemon games also occur in a specific region, with some gems spanning over two regions. Each region corresponds to a certain set of games..
Section title guide:
Gen #, games released during generation, playable regions within generation, main game platform
Gen I: Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow, Kanto region, Gameboy
The original!
Soak in the 8-bit chiptuniess of this. Back in the (relatively) old days there was only one song for encountering all pokemon, ranging from battling small, defenseless caterpillars (Caterpie) to genetically modified super beasts. (Mewtwo) And yet it somehow works! Some things to notice from this theme are the fast pace as well as nearly constant back beat. These are aspects that will be seen throughout all the music presented here. Also, this song has been the remixed the most of any song being presented here. Much of the reason is due to it being first, but the relative simplicity of this song lends itself to being redone well.
Gen II: Gold/Silver/Crystal, Johto and Kanto regions, Gameboy Color
Johto wild pokemon
This follows the same general structure as the theme presented previously, with all the chiptune that can be handled! This is largely due the the Gameboy and Gameboy Color having very similar sound rendering capabilities. A fast pace and constant are present in this theme like heard before. However, there is music is a bit more complex than the Gen I theme, with a few more flourishes and changes in pitch. It is a very good theme that is significantly different than the original, but is just as good at being fun and excited.
Kanto wild pokemon #2
Remix! This is a new rendition of the first song presented here. Like any good remake, it stays true to the spirit original material, while also offering something fresh as well. My favorite part is at 0:47 where the flute-sounding part begins. It brings a sense of wistfulness, perhaps even a tad nostalgia in this theme more than in the original. This is likely a result of makers themselves, who originally intended these for these games to be the end of the Pokemon franchise as a whole. (How wrong they turned out to be.)
Gen III: Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and FireRed LeafGreen, Hoenn and Kanto regions, Gameboy Advance
Hoenn wild pokemon
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald were very different than what came before, and that is reflected in this music. These games brought in a new region (Hoenn), new pokemon and several other alterations to gameplay. The transition in game platform from Gameboy Color to Gameboy Advance was a key step in the evolution of pokemon music. The percussion elements, including both drum and timpani beats as well as the brass elements are particularly memorable and are representative of the soundtrack used in these games. This theme is an example of the songs in these games that are still some of my favorites of any video games, even after 10 years since the release of these games.
Kanto wild pokemon #3
The music for FireRed and LeafGreen, and the style is significantly different than the previous theme from the same generation heard above. This theme is a pretty straightforward remix of the original theme. This music style is hard to describe. It’s kind of.....clangy? That sounds negative, but I can’t think of anything else. I don’t hate it by any means, but it is certainly one of the most unique themes of all the ones presented here, even if it is a remake.
Gen IV: Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and HeartGold/SoulSilver Sinnoh and Johto/Kanto regions, Nintendo DS
Sinnoh wild pokemon
A shift in game platform from the Gameboy to the DS was another major shift for the Pokemon franchise, and the music was no exception. Diamond/Pearl/Platinum brought a new region with new mons, and their wild pokemon theme for these games is fairly straightforward, but nice and energetic piece. The piano-like elements and use of a strong base beat are a nice touch and change from previous styles seen in the last generation. Even with these stylistic changes, there were some continuity between this theme and previous ones. This theme also shows there was a bit of a learning curve in the rendering the music for an entirely new game platform, but it is not bad by any stretch.
Johto wild pokemon #2 and Kanto wild pokemon #4
These re-mastered wild Pokemon themes from HeartGold and SoulSilver are a noticeable improvement from the previous music from this generation. These two themes fully flesh out the music from Generation II with a relentlessly fast and upbeat pace combined with great subtle musical touches. The chime-like effects in the Johto theme and the xylophone in the Kanto theme help make these songs both playful and vibrant. Both stay true to the melodies of the original, but add elements that make them examples of the best music in any pokemon game.
Gen V: Black/White and Black 2/White 2, Unova region, Nintendo DS
Unova wild pokemon and Rare Unova wild pokemon
These themes are from Pokemon Black and White and illustrate how Pokemon games have grown and changed stylistically. These themes, as with the full soundtrack to Pokemon Black and white have more of an electronic sound than the previous music. The first theme has one of the calmer introductory parts and overall the theme is a bit less intense than those from previous generations. The second piece, as the name suggests, rare pokemon (Essentially Audino, and goddamn Basculin and Emolga. So much <i>hate</i> for those two.) and other special circumstances. It’s very much like the previous normal wild pokemon theme, but with a distorted sound that reflects a sense of feeling surprise when encountering something unexpected.
Unova wild pokemon #2 and Rare Unova wild pokemon #2
These song are for Black 2 and White 2. These games serves as something between a sequel and a director’s cut of the Black and White games. As such, these themes are very similar to the two described before, with some improvements overall music quality.
I don't really know how I've spent so many words describing these simple tunes. These songs are certainly not a pinnacle of artistic achievement or craftsmanship. Perhaps is this posts speaks to the great power music can have regardless of form. How music can transcend the relatively rudimentary means of creation and expression found in these games. With very limited resources the composers at Game Freak were able to create some memorable tunes that were part in making the wide world of Pokemon a fun face to explore.
Wild pokemon battles are the functional unit of any pokemon game. In any given game, you will get into dozens and dozens of wild pokemon battles. It’s the means by which to catch ‘em all (or at least catch enough to progress through the game in a reasonable fashion.) However, despite the omnipresence of pokemon battle throughout the course of a game, these events only take a one or a few turns. This is reflected in each of the songs, which range from 1-2 minutes in total. (Some of the linked videos are 5-7 minutes long, with the song being looped a few times.) These songs are by no means unique to their respective games, and can frankly be ignored or even annoying due to shear repetition. That being said, these songs do a great job of wonder, joy and whimsy of facing and possessing powerful magical dragons, serpents, and a bird that looks and acts like Santa Claus. The music here is not essential, but can be fun and catchy in its own way.
Programming notes: For convience, these songs are sorted into generations, from Generation I began with the release of Pokemon Red and Blue in 1997, to Generation V, which is the present. The release of a certain new set of pokemon games marks the start of a new generation, with each generation lasting from about 3-5 years. The pokemon games also occur in a specific region, with some gems spanning over two regions. Each region corresponds to a certain set of games..
Section title guide:
Gen #, games released during generation, playable regions within generation, main game platform
Gen I: Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow, Kanto region, Gameboy
The original!
Soak in the 8-bit chiptuniess of this. Back in the (relatively) old days there was only one song for encountering all pokemon, ranging from battling small, defenseless caterpillars (Caterpie) to genetically modified super beasts. (Mewtwo) And yet it somehow works! Some things to notice from this theme are the fast pace as well as nearly constant back beat. These are aspects that will be seen throughout all the music presented here. Also, this song has been the remixed the most of any song being presented here. Much of the reason is due to it being first, but the relative simplicity of this song lends itself to being redone well.
Gen II: Gold/Silver/Crystal, Johto and Kanto regions, Gameboy Color
Johto wild pokemon
This follows the same general structure as the theme presented previously, with all the chiptune that can be handled! This is largely due the the Gameboy and Gameboy Color having very similar sound rendering capabilities. A fast pace and constant are present in this theme like heard before. However, there is music is a bit more complex than the Gen I theme, with a few more flourishes and changes in pitch. It is a very good theme that is significantly different than the original, but is just as good at being fun and excited.
Kanto wild pokemon #2
Remix! This is a new rendition of the first song presented here. Like any good remake, it stays true to the spirit original material, while also offering something fresh as well. My favorite part is at 0:47 where the flute-sounding part begins. It brings a sense of wistfulness, perhaps even a tad nostalgia in this theme more than in the original. This is likely a result of makers themselves, who originally intended these for these games to be the end of the Pokemon franchise as a whole. (How wrong they turned out to be.)
Gen III: Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and FireRed LeafGreen, Hoenn and Kanto regions, Gameboy Advance
Hoenn wild pokemon
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald were very different than what came before, and that is reflected in this music. These games brought in a new region (Hoenn), new pokemon and several other alterations to gameplay. The transition in game platform from Gameboy Color to Gameboy Advance was a key step in the evolution of pokemon music. The percussion elements, including both drum and timpani beats as well as the brass elements are particularly memorable and are representative of the soundtrack used in these games. This theme is an example of the songs in these games that are still some of my favorites of any video games, even after 10 years since the release of these games.
Kanto wild pokemon #3
The music for FireRed and LeafGreen, and the style is significantly different than the previous theme from the same generation heard above. This theme is a pretty straightforward remix of the original theme. This music style is hard to describe. It’s kind of.....clangy? That sounds negative, but I can’t think of anything else. I don’t hate it by any means, but it is certainly one of the most unique themes of all the ones presented here, even if it is a remake.
Gen IV: Diamond/Pearl/Platinum and HeartGold/SoulSilver Sinnoh and Johto/Kanto regions, Nintendo DS
Sinnoh wild pokemon
A shift in game platform from the Gameboy to the DS was another major shift for the Pokemon franchise, and the music was no exception. Diamond/Pearl/Platinum brought a new region with new mons, and their wild pokemon theme for these games is fairly straightforward, but nice and energetic piece. The piano-like elements and use of a strong base beat are a nice touch and change from previous styles seen in the last generation. Even with these stylistic changes, there were some continuity between this theme and previous ones. This theme also shows there was a bit of a learning curve in the rendering the music for an entirely new game platform, but it is not bad by any stretch.
Johto wild pokemon #2 and Kanto wild pokemon #4
These re-mastered wild Pokemon themes from HeartGold and SoulSilver are a noticeable improvement from the previous music from this generation. These two themes fully flesh out the music from Generation II with a relentlessly fast and upbeat pace combined with great subtle musical touches. The chime-like effects in the Johto theme and the xylophone in the Kanto theme help make these songs both playful and vibrant. Both stay true to the melodies of the original, but add elements that make them examples of the best music in any pokemon game.
Gen V: Black/White and Black 2/White 2, Unova region, Nintendo DS
Unova wild pokemon and Rare Unova wild pokemon
These themes are from Pokemon Black and White and illustrate how Pokemon games have grown and changed stylistically. These themes, as with the full soundtrack to Pokemon Black and white have more of an electronic sound than the previous music. The first theme has one of the calmer introductory parts and overall the theme is a bit less intense than those from previous generations. The second piece, as the name suggests, rare pokemon (Essentially Audino, and goddamn Basculin and Emolga. So much <i>hate</i> for those two.) and other special circumstances. It’s very much like the previous normal wild pokemon theme, but with a distorted sound that reflects a sense of feeling surprise when encountering something unexpected.
Unova wild pokemon #2 and Rare Unova wild pokemon #2
These song are for Black 2 and White 2. These games serves as something between a sequel and a director’s cut of the Black and White games. As such, these themes are very similar to the two described before, with some improvements overall music quality.
I don't really know how I've spent so many words describing these simple tunes. These songs are certainly not a pinnacle of artistic achievement or craftsmanship. Perhaps is this posts speaks to the great power music can have regardless of form. How music can transcend the relatively rudimentary means of creation and expression found in these games. With very limited resources the composers at Game Freak were able to create some memorable tunes that were part in making the wide world of Pokemon a fun face to explore.