Top 5 Rare Serene Symphonies
Locked in a world of rigorous shooter fare and compound usage of popular obscenities, it’s easy to see how an outside viewer might mistake us gamers for an uncultured and intellectually stunted group of Neanderthals. But like the people trying to put us d-down as The Who have stated reverently in their song My Generation, we’re not really this way, it’s just we’re tragically misunderstood. There’s so much more to the gamers mind than aiming and shooting, as we’re well aware; there’s also camping and hogging ammunition crates as well. But if we’re to really escape the daunting stereotypical image of shouting curses at preteen brats over Xbox Live well into the night, we’ll have to venture out prove that we enjoy games for more than just headshots and multikills, and that we’re actually kinda deep, y’ know man? To drive this point home, we’re prepared to turn to our emotional gamer sides and ascribe to the serene symphonies and relaxing tunes in a variety of Rare‘s titles that could put us at ease in no time. These are the Top 5 Best Rare Serene Symphonies.
#5. SHOWDOWN TOWN NIGHT – BANJO-KAZOOIE: NUTS & BOLTS
Showdown Town or Confrontation Village / Conflagration Violet as it was so aptly dubbed in the Scribes, is the sprawling HUB world for Banjo-Kazooie: Nut’s & Bolts complete with shop fronts, and massive factory overlooking its entire reaches in the center. Sticking to true Banjo-Kazooie tradition, each areas musical score seamlessly transitions into the next once you’ve traveled into its respective area. There’s everything from the Docks theme, which features clanking machinery and a xylophone rendition of Rusty Bucket Bay, to the Uptown District theme which features a fanciful violin quartet and assorted strings. Venture into the worlds dotting the town however, and there’s a chance you’ll re-emerge after night has fallen, which brings with it a beautiful melody played out on harps with a sorrowful French horn solo. There really is something soothing about it as you ride around the dimly lit town in your glorified shopping trolley.
#4. PEACE IN THE ENCHANTED KINGDOM – KAMEO: ELEMENTS OF POWER
Taking place just after a fleeting moment of peace when the Troll King, Thorn, is resurrected and proceeds to lay waste on the whole of the Elfin Empire a second time, Kameo of the titular Elements of Power is tasked with utilizing her transformation abilities to take on the entire army and restore peace to the Empire. While you’re free to return to the Enchanted Kingdom where Kameo’s adventure began, there’s less of a calming melody and more of a sense of wonder that coaxes you back to your adventuring, especially when the soundtrack gets downright eerie near the end, indicating there’s much to do before the Enchanted Kingdom is entirely barricaded against Thorn’s malicious intent. Once you’ve had your face-off with Thorn and sister Kalus above an airship however, returning to the Enchanted Kingdom will reward you with a triumphant and tranquil symphony that will put your spirit at ease as peace returns to the war-torn Kingdom.
#3. BANANA FAIRY ISLAND – DONKEY KONG 64
You could be forgiven in thinking that Donkey Kong 64‘s score embodies the rumble of the jungle with its fast-paced Bonus Barrel tunes, catchy jazz rhythm of Jungle Japes and hot beats of Angry Aztec. Dig a little deeper however, and you might surprise yourself when you stumble upon some of the most gentle and soothing scores in the entire series. It was extremely difficult to give Donkey Kong 64 just one entry on this list, as there are so many notable themes that are equally beautiful. Crystal Caves, Scoff ‘n’ Troff’s Theme and The Mermaid’s Palace were all considered and contested, but the one that came out on top was the Banana Fairy Island Theme, which can be found just off the shores of the upbeat DK Isles. Venturing inside the sanctioned sanctuary with Tiny Kong will reveal a torch lit shrine complete with cascading waterfalls. If you can ignore the persistent sobs of the Banana Fairy Queen, it’s absolute bliss.
#2. BED TIME STORY – VIVA PIÑATA: TROUBLE IN PARADISE
Looks can certainly be deceiving, and this addage certainly rings true for the papery menagerie of the Viva Piñata series, which tasks players with overseeing a sprawling garden and its colorful array of candy-filled residents. You wouldn’t suspect then, that the music you’ll hear during these exploits are soft and powerful pastoral tunes that are administered like a shot to the heart. While the first Viva Piñata title established its peaceful compositions, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise perfected it, with swooning scores to be found in plenty supply throughout the title. The track below entitled Bed Time Story embodies the perfect elements of both melancholy and hopefulness that merge to create a brilliantly sad piece. So much so in fact that composer Grant Kirkhope found himself getting a bit choked up after attempting to thank the Philharmonic Orchestra who used the song to finish their spectacular recording session.
Composed by Grant Kirkhope
#1. AQUATIC AMBIANCE – DONKEY KONG COUNTRY
Donkey Kong Country set the bar high with its graphically charged ACM modeling technique, but the SNES also delivered unprecedented audio quality. If the bass boosting beats of DK Island Swing or the lingering echoes from Cave Dweller Concert wasn’t enough to immerse you in the games atmosphere, a quick trip to Coral Capers and its respective score, Aquatic Ambience submerged you into the waters alongside the Prime Apes and never let you resurface. Drifting through the endless sea just beyond the labyrinth of coral was the perfect accompaniment to this mellow melody that still gives us goosebumps to this day. As a testament to its endearing legacy, Aquatic Ambience has been remixed to fit Donkey Kong Land on Game Boy, Animal Antics in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, a retooled title theme of Donkey Kong Country 3 and both ports of Donkey Kong Country on Color and Advance.
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