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For the next Top 12 from MGS List, I though to add "Best Tracks" in the series...then, between remembering cutscene music, boss themes, main themes, level themes, alert themes, character themes, credits, and everything in between, it just become an act of futility.
...SO, I'll instead break it down into best categories, since there's just too many variations to go around. And to start, we'll go with what MGS is most famous, or perhaps INFAMOUS for, cutscenes! Or rather, cutscene MUSIC!
With all that outta the way, here we go:
12. Snake Finds Chico (Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhPtLbCK69M
PW's soundtrack gave a number of great themes across the board, but I remember the one cutscene track that stuck with me was Snake finding Chico. I'm a huge sucker for Hispanic guitar rifts, and the way it blends so seamlessly with the more traditional swell of Metal Gear music is remarkable. And of all of BB's cutscenes where we see him recruiting personnel, Chico's stuck with me the most, for how cold, but honest and sincere the moment felt, and how beautifully the music captured the scene.
11) Wavelet (Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1745xCsWITU
Yep. Even in 1990, cutscenes. :P
Metal Gear 2's cutscenes consisted of what were basically codec calls without actual voice acting. But of the scenes that take place, perhaps the one that I remember best was the one when Snake and Gustava are alone in the tunnels and just have a little chat with each other, and Gustava fills us in on her story. It's sad, as is the case with short lived supporting characters in Metal Gear games, but it works. And the theme, Wavelet, captures that almost noire feel to Gustava's story. Like two people talking under an overpass in heavy rain. And for a twenty seven year old track, in my humble opinion, this track just captures an incredible amount of emotion with very little, whilst sounding incredibly distinct, in ways a lot of modern games still struggle to manage. Behold the power of the MSX, people! XD
10) Revelation (Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eezN4qCc7k8
I'm not real big on Portable Ops, but I LOVED its' soundtrack, and of the cutscene tracks, this was, by far, my favorite. This is the theme that plays just before the showdown with Cunningham, when we finally learn the truth of what was going on and what the Pentagon planned to do, using the Red Army Rebels and Gene. And BB, against all odds and logic, turns against the government that sent Cunningham, and instead opts to fight for the abandoned soldiers. And the music of this scene captures that sense of betrayal and the growing determination within Big Boss to stop Cunningham and Gene wonderfully, in ways only Norihiko Hibino could manage. And above all else, it just has that excellent blend of soft guitar and heavy war march going for it, true to Cunningham's character and the grandness of the situation itself.
9) Life's End (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p44p9xGp6ak
Really, not much to be said here. We all know when this theme plays, and it just perfectly captures that final moment between Big Boss and The Boss, before the long awaited showdown between mentor and student, friends, and possibly lovers. It's just a really simple yet beautiful theme which captures the bittersweet nature of this final boss fight masterfully, and the unwinnable ultimatum Big Boss found himself in during the climax of the game.
8) Behind the Mirror (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKRItdkES-M
This is the music that plays during the truth reveal at the end of TPP. Polarizing as this scene might ultimately be, I love it, and I think the music complements the visuals and the symbolism behind this scene perfectly. Venom Snake basically learns that everything he believed to be true all journey long was a lie, and accepts that truth with a half hearted smile. The music starts off on a very dark note, before gradually building towards that sense of something greater. And by the end, when it reaches that bombastic sense of finality, we know we've all but lost Venom Snake, and he has all but lost himself, fading into the mist, basically ceasing to exist. This is one of those themes where you don't even need the actual dialogue or visuals to know what's going on because, beat for beat, this track captures this equally tough pill to swallow amazingly well. And come on, the final minute alone is just plain awesome.
7) Enclosure (Metal Gear Solid) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lurN4z-Aezs
I'm pretty sure this track plays a few times in MGS1, but most notably, it's Sniper Wolf's death theme. MGS1 is a kind of soap opera anime in a lot of regards, and this scene is a testament to that, and Enclosure captures that. It's kind of ridiculous that someone who barely appeared in the game at all has this monumental death scene but you can't help but appreciate how beautiful the music of this scene is. It truly conveys that drama and tragedy in a kind of grandiose fashion. As if something we'd hear out of a stage performance. And simply put, it's a really lovely song.
6) Concerning the Infection (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aveXBEgabgE
Whenever I've ever heard anyone call MGSV's soundtrack generic or "Too Hollywood," I immediately wanna shove this track into their earholes and set it on loop. This is the theme that plays during the helicopter ride to the Quarantine Zone before the start of Mission 43, after having bared witness to that Resident Evil Diamond Dogs footage. If I could describe this track in three words, it'd be, "Beautiful but hopeless." There's an inherent beauty to this track, and to the peculiar sunset in the sky as the track plays captures that closing hour quite well. But there's something sad and futile beneath the surface. Like an uncertainty as to whether or not these men and women can still be saved. It's somber, and borderline haunting, and for such a harrowing scene, this is perhaps one of a few tracks that I find myself listening to more than any in the series.
5) Final Battle (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOhNMgPK_c4
Breaking away from emotions, here, we have one of those "HELL YEAH!" songs that MGS cutscenes are ripe with. This is the theme that plays just before the final showdown with Volgin on the Shagohod. And really, I don't know what to say that the track doesn't. It's intense. It's loaded with determination. And honestly, I kinda wish this theme was an actual boss theme in and of itself, but 'Takin' on the Shagohod' is a pretty solid substitute. :P
4) Mobs Alive (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kBdnO_k6I
I have...mixed feelings about MGS4's soundtrack, and MGS4 in general really. But there's no denying some truly powerful moments across this game and its' many, many, MANY cutscenes. And accompanying some of those scenes, are equally powerful tracks to underscore them. 'Mobs Alive' is one that not only stuck with me, but almost overwhelms me. It's one of the definitive "Last Stand" tracks I've heard in games. You feel a sense of finality and war raging on, and as bombastic as it is, it still manages to feel personal. Like this is a track that could underline a full fledged war, or a long overdue mano-y-mano showdown. And in some respects, that's kind of the case. It's Snake, Eva and the rebels against Liquid Ocelot, the PMC's and the system. It's larger than all of them, and smaller at the same time. And pretentious ramblings aside, it's just freakin' AWESOME sounding!
3) Comradeship (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NKpQDxrtGA
Going back to emotions for a moment, we have one of most iconic moments in MGS cutscenes, and the track that perfectly captured that scene from start to finish. Snake, Raiden and Otacon teaming up to take the fight to Solidus and his men after EE's passing. This track is a perfect representation of the scene. It's full of stylistic determination, which we feel in that badass slow motion march. But more importantly, it uses the original Main Metal Gear theme to highlight the truest friendship in the series, between Snake and Otacon. Yeah, that bro-shake is SUPER dorky, but it's immediately followed with these complete opposites hugging it out in a surprisingly touching fashion. What I love about this track is that it doesn't feel like it's about the story so much as it is about these two guys; the two main characters of the Solid Snake trilogy, and how much they've both been through together. It's a track that's got both badass determination, heart, and ends on a more vulnerable note. One of Norihiko Hibino's biggest strengths as a composure was how virtually every track he made could be completely without any context, and it could still paint a story in your head. This was one of his finest examples of that.
2) OKB Zero (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66CLefw2qOI
Here not only one of my favorite tracks in the series, but possibly one of my favorite tracks in gaming to date. When I think, "All for Revenge," I think of this track right here. It's a heavy hitting track, like the drums of war raging on, as Diamond Dogs has finally gotten the upper hand, and plans to take Skull Face down once and for all. The first half is very much, "Drums of War," and while that never once lets up in the second half, it's in the second half that this track truly comes to life for me. It's here where I just feel like everything's built to this moment, and that it was finally time to make Skull Face pay for everything he'd done......that didn't happen, but dammit, this track is still just so incredibly badass and fueled by sheer determination. This is a track that makes me feel just as ready to go to war against XOF as the characters, arguably even more so. Another one that, rearranged, could've made an awesome boss theme (Skull Face's), but taken on its' own, is just an incredibly powerful and intense track. One that sticks with me more than almost any track to have come from a game in 2015 that wasn't 'Undertale.' And I can't describe what that instrument is at 1:23, but by God, is it beautiful...
But not as beautiful as number one.
1) Debriefing (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3zNUeDghe4
Okay, come on, like there was ANY doubt of what number one would be? I'll keep this simple. Debriefing is, in my personal opinion, the best piece of cutscene music ever made. Now, that SOUNDS like some incredible hyperbole, but hear me out. It's a story in and of itself, but one that, mixed with the somber visuals of MGS3's ending, captures the sheer pain and sense of loss that Big Boss suffers. The mixture of betrayal at the hands of those he once called allies, realizing who his TRUE ally was...after he'd already killed her.
But that alone isn't why I consider this the BEST of the best. No, the reason for something else entirely. It was through the music alone that made this scene did for me what no other game had done up to that point; it made me feel an emotional reaction. Even if I didn't 100% buy Big Boss's relationship with The Boss, this final scene, and more specifically, this utterly masterful piece of music, oozing emotion, sold me. It's somber, powerful, tragic but not in a melodramatic soap opera way. I always knew MGS had an amazing soundtrack, but this was honestly the first time I genuinely remembered a soundtrack evoking actual emotions from me in my life. And for that, Debriefing earns its' spot on number 1 for me.
Some honorable mentions:
Freedom to Decide (MGS2) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-KItkiX6Gc
KGB vs GRU (MGS3) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2SRPI1z14
ICBMG (MPO) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNNYEJVqn84
Love (MGS4) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGf2b1H91JA
Rain of Bane (PW) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sn4ueiEIrc
The Fall of Mother Base (GZ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVMtBkko9bA
The Last Road (MGSV) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH50CDzr60A
...SO, I'll instead break it down into best categories, since there's just too many variations to go around. And to start, we'll go with what MGS is most famous, or perhaps INFAMOUS for, cutscenes! Or rather, cutscene MUSIC!
With all that outta the way, here we go:
12. Snake Finds Chico (Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhPtLbCK69M
PW's soundtrack gave a number of great themes across the board, but I remember the one cutscene track that stuck with me was Snake finding Chico. I'm a huge sucker for Hispanic guitar rifts, and the way it blends so seamlessly with the more traditional swell of Metal Gear music is remarkable. And of all of BB's cutscenes where we see him recruiting personnel, Chico's stuck with me the most, for how cold, but honest and sincere the moment felt, and how beautifully the music captured the scene.
11) Wavelet (Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1745xCsWITU
Yep. Even in 1990, cutscenes. :P
Metal Gear 2's cutscenes consisted of what were basically codec calls without actual voice acting. But of the scenes that take place, perhaps the one that I remember best was the one when Snake and Gustava are alone in the tunnels and just have a little chat with each other, and Gustava fills us in on her story. It's sad, as is the case with short lived supporting characters in Metal Gear games, but it works. And the theme, Wavelet, captures that almost noire feel to Gustava's story. Like two people talking under an overpass in heavy rain. And for a twenty seven year old track, in my humble opinion, this track just captures an incredible amount of emotion with very little, whilst sounding incredibly distinct, in ways a lot of modern games still struggle to manage. Behold the power of the MSX, people! XD
10) Revelation (Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eezN4qCc7k8
I'm not real big on Portable Ops, but I LOVED its' soundtrack, and of the cutscene tracks, this was, by far, my favorite. This is the theme that plays just before the showdown with Cunningham, when we finally learn the truth of what was going on and what the Pentagon planned to do, using the Red Army Rebels and Gene. And BB, against all odds and logic, turns against the government that sent Cunningham, and instead opts to fight for the abandoned soldiers. And the music of this scene captures that sense of betrayal and the growing determination within Big Boss to stop Cunningham and Gene wonderfully, in ways only Norihiko Hibino could manage. And above all else, it just has that excellent blend of soft guitar and heavy war march going for it, true to Cunningham's character and the grandness of the situation itself.
9) Life's End (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p44p9xGp6ak
Really, not much to be said here. We all know when this theme plays, and it just perfectly captures that final moment between Big Boss and The Boss, before the long awaited showdown between mentor and student, friends, and possibly lovers. It's just a really simple yet beautiful theme which captures the bittersweet nature of this final boss fight masterfully, and the unwinnable ultimatum Big Boss found himself in during the climax of the game.
8) Behind the Mirror (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKRItdkES-M
This is the music that plays during the truth reveal at the end of TPP. Polarizing as this scene might ultimately be, I love it, and I think the music complements the visuals and the symbolism behind this scene perfectly. Venom Snake basically learns that everything he believed to be true all journey long was a lie, and accepts that truth with a half hearted smile. The music starts off on a very dark note, before gradually building towards that sense of something greater. And by the end, when it reaches that bombastic sense of finality, we know we've all but lost Venom Snake, and he has all but lost himself, fading into the mist, basically ceasing to exist. This is one of those themes where you don't even need the actual dialogue or visuals to know what's going on because, beat for beat, this track captures this equally tough pill to swallow amazingly well. And come on, the final minute alone is just plain awesome.
7) Enclosure (Metal Gear Solid) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lurN4z-Aezs
I'm pretty sure this track plays a few times in MGS1, but most notably, it's Sniper Wolf's death theme. MGS1 is a kind of soap opera anime in a lot of regards, and this scene is a testament to that, and Enclosure captures that. It's kind of ridiculous that someone who barely appeared in the game at all has this monumental death scene but you can't help but appreciate how beautiful the music of this scene is. It truly conveys that drama and tragedy in a kind of grandiose fashion. As if something we'd hear out of a stage performance. And simply put, it's a really lovely song.
6) Concerning the Infection (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aveXBEgabgE
Whenever I've ever heard anyone call MGSV's soundtrack generic or "Too Hollywood," I immediately wanna shove this track into their earholes and set it on loop. This is the theme that plays during the helicopter ride to the Quarantine Zone before the start of Mission 43, after having bared witness to that Resident Evil Diamond Dogs footage. If I could describe this track in three words, it'd be, "Beautiful but hopeless." There's an inherent beauty to this track, and to the peculiar sunset in the sky as the track plays captures that closing hour quite well. But there's something sad and futile beneath the surface. Like an uncertainty as to whether or not these men and women can still be saved. It's somber, and borderline haunting, and for such a harrowing scene, this is perhaps one of a few tracks that I find myself listening to more than any in the series.
5) Final Battle (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOhNMgPK_c4
Breaking away from emotions, here, we have one of those "HELL YEAH!" songs that MGS cutscenes are ripe with. This is the theme that plays just before the final showdown with Volgin on the Shagohod. And really, I don't know what to say that the track doesn't. It's intense. It's loaded with determination. And honestly, I kinda wish this theme was an actual boss theme in and of itself, but 'Takin' on the Shagohod' is a pretty solid substitute. :P
4) Mobs Alive (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3kBdnO_k6I
I have...mixed feelings about MGS4's soundtrack, and MGS4 in general really. But there's no denying some truly powerful moments across this game and its' many, many, MANY cutscenes. And accompanying some of those scenes, are equally powerful tracks to underscore them. 'Mobs Alive' is one that not only stuck with me, but almost overwhelms me. It's one of the definitive "Last Stand" tracks I've heard in games. You feel a sense of finality and war raging on, and as bombastic as it is, it still manages to feel personal. Like this is a track that could underline a full fledged war, or a long overdue mano-y-mano showdown. And in some respects, that's kind of the case. It's Snake, Eva and the rebels against Liquid Ocelot, the PMC's and the system. It's larger than all of them, and smaller at the same time. And pretentious ramblings aside, it's just freakin' AWESOME sounding!
3) Comradeship (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NKpQDxrtGA
Going back to emotions for a moment, we have one of most iconic moments in MGS cutscenes, and the track that perfectly captured that scene from start to finish. Snake, Raiden and Otacon teaming up to take the fight to Solidus and his men after EE's passing. This track is a perfect representation of the scene. It's full of stylistic determination, which we feel in that badass slow motion march. But more importantly, it uses the original Main Metal Gear theme to highlight the truest friendship in the series, between Snake and Otacon. Yeah, that bro-shake is SUPER dorky, but it's immediately followed with these complete opposites hugging it out in a surprisingly touching fashion. What I love about this track is that it doesn't feel like it's about the story so much as it is about these two guys; the two main characters of the Solid Snake trilogy, and how much they've both been through together. It's a track that's got both badass determination, heart, and ends on a more vulnerable note. One of Norihiko Hibino's biggest strengths as a composure was how virtually every track he made could be completely without any context, and it could still paint a story in your head. This was one of his finest examples of that.
2) OKB Zero (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66CLefw2qOI
Here not only one of my favorite tracks in the series, but possibly one of my favorite tracks in gaming to date. When I think, "All for Revenge," I think of this track right here. It's a heavy hitting track, like the drums of war raging on, as Diamond Dogs has finally gotten the upper hand, and plans to take Skull Face down once and for all. The first half is very much, "Drums of War," and while that never once lets up in the second half, it's in the second half that this track truly comes to life for me. It's here where I just feel like everything's built to this moment, and that it was finally time to make Skull Face pay for everything he'd done......that didn't happen, but dammit, this track is still just so incredibly badass and fueled by sheer determination. This is a track that makes me feel just as ready to go to war against XOF as the characters, arguably even more so. Another one that, rearranged, could've made an awesome boss theme (Skull Face's), but taken on its' own, is just an incredibly powerful and intense track. One that sticks with me more than almost any track to have come from a game in 2015 that wasn't 'Undertale.' And I can't describe what that instrument is at 1:23, but by God, is it beautiful...
But not as beautiful as number one.
1) Debriefing (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3zNUeDghe4
Okay, come on, like there was ANY doubt of what number one would be? I'll keep this simple. Debriefing is, in my personal opinion, the best piece of cutscene music ever made. Now, that SOUNDS like some incredible hyperbole, but hear me out. It's a story in and of itself, but one that, mixed with the somber visuals of MGS3's ending, captures the sheer pain and sense of loss that Big Boss suffers. The mixture of betrayal at the hands of those he once called allies, realizing who his TRUE ally was...after he'd already killed her.
But that alone isn't why I consider this the BEST of the best. No, the reason for something else entirely. It was through the music alone that made this scene did for me what no other game had done up to that point; it made me feel an emotional reaction. Even if I didn't 100% buy Big Boss's relationship with The Boss, this final scene, and more specifically, this utterly masterful piece of music, oozing emotion, sold me. It's somber, powerful, tragic but not in a melodramatic soap opera way. I always knew MGS had an amazing soundtrack, but this was honestly the first time I genuinely remembered a soundtrack evoking actual emotions from me in my life. And for that, Debriefing earns its' spot on number 1 for me.
Some honorable mentions:
Freedom to Decide (MGS2) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-KItkiX6Gc
KGB vs GRU (MGS3) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd2SRPI1z14
ICBMG (MPO) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNNYEJVqn84
Love (MGS4) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGf2b1H91JA
Rain of Bane (PW) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sn4ueiEIrc
The Fall of Mother Base (GZ) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVMtBkko9bA
The Last Road (MGSV) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH50CDzr60A
Category All / Miscellaneous
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1215 x 1088px
File Size 1.11 MB
I have to admit, when you told me you were planning to make this list, I was...bemused. Not worried, or indifferent, or anything, simply...bemused.
When people count music for games, they usually ignore the cutscenes. I mean...they're cutscenes. We're usually paying attention to the story and characters, not the music. But then I started thinking, and I realized two things: one, cutscenes are basically miniature movie clips; in fact, a video game, at least generally speaking, is essentially a movie in which the player is the star. That's part of why we love them, and part of why games have only become more and more cinematic over time! (With mixed results.) And the music in a film is very important; it sets a tone, and heightens the emotion. It can be used to create contrast or build mood and suspense. So, in a cinematic game, special cutscene music is very similar, and has to feel like it's coming from the same world as the music throughout the rest of the game.
And then there's the second thing: as you pointed out, MGS is sort of known for their cutscenes. As much as I love the Kingdom Hearts games, for example, or the American McGee's Alice games, much of the music used in those franchises for the cutscenes is repeated frequently. The same track can be used in multiple places throughout the game, both in the gameplay and in other cutscenes. But because MGS has so many cutscenes, and so many LONG cutscenes... (eye twitches) ...These games have to work a little harder to keep your attention, and keep the ride going, so to speak.
With all that said: I...really don't think I can disagree with anything here. The choices, their placement, your reasoning for each..this is probably about as perfect as it gets. There's...really nothing more for me to ADD, let alone argue.
So...yeah. Fine list, my friend. Bravo. (thumbs up)
Sincerely,
The Cheshire Cat's Master
When people count music for games, they usually ignore the cutscenes. I mean...they're cutscenes. We're usually paying attention to the story and characters, not the music. But then I started thinking, and I realized two things: one, cutscenes are basically miniature movie clips; in fact, a video game, at least generally speaking, is essentially a movie in which the player is the star. That's part of why we love them, and part of why games have only become more and more cinematic over time! (With mixed results.) And the music in a film is very important; it sets a tone, and heightens the emotion. It can be used to create contrast or build mood and suspense. So, in a cinematic game, special cutscene music is very similar, and has to feel like it's coming from the same world as the music throughout the rest of the game.
And then there's the second thing: as you pointed out, MGS is sort of known for their cutscenes. As much as I love the Kingdom Hearts games, for example, or the American McGee's Alice games, much of the music used in those franchises for the cutscenes is repeated frequently. The same track can be used in multiple places throughout the game, both in the gameplay and in other cutscenes. But because MGS has so many cutscenes, and so many LONG cutscenes... (eye twitches) ...These games have to work a little harder to keep your attention, and keep the ride going, so to speak.
With all that said: I...really don't think I can disagree with anything here. The choices, their placement, your reasoning for each..this is probably about as perfect as it gets. There's...really nothing more for me to ADD, let alone argue.
So...yeah. Fine list, my friend. Bravo. (thumbs up)
Sincerely,
The Cheshire Cat's Master
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