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In case nobody's figured it out yet, most of these will be super-spoileriffic.
Spoilers in this post for:
The World Ends with You
Suikoden I
Day 8 - Best soundtrack.
Hands down, The World Ends with You has the best game soundtrack I’ve ever heard.
I’ve turned my DS on just to let the music play multiple times before, and TWEWY is the first game that I’ve been able to appreciate the background music during battles and cutscenes. Normally, I never listen to video game music more than once, but when I start playing TWEWY, I always turn the music on, at least for a little while.
Blending the bubblegum pop one would expect from a game set in modern-day Shibuya with a mainline of pumping techno, pounding rock, cool rap, and a song that’s nothing but a solid three minutes of hands clapping to a beat, the music is absolutely superb. Nothing is better than going into a battle against a cluster of vicious Taboo Noise and hearing the smooth rap of ‘Detonation’ psyching me up for a tough fight, or mellowing out with the dusky, romantic pop of ‘Déjà vu’ after a boss battle. ‘Long Dream’ has a hasty beat and ethereal vocals that make you want to jump up and fight against the system, and ‘The One Star’ is a throwback to the good old days when every boss battle came with hardcore tunes to highlight the power of your enemy and drive a ray of hope through the darkness cast by the evil you must fight. ‘Slam Brothers’ takes that nostalgia even further by returning the player to a more simple time with it’s tinny, looped melody reminiscent of the glory days of 8-bit gaming.
The right tunes come into play at the right time, really bringing out the most emotional moments of the game. The mysterious, confident ‘Calling’ playing during that first meeting with Rhyme and Beat, inspiring one to trust these wayward Players and open their hearts to them, despite Neku’s attitude. When ‘Calling’ makes another appearance in the Dead God’s Pad just before the fight with Kitaniji, it takes on a different tone, rousing the player into action, imploring them to leave their hesitation behind them and fight to protect not only a friend, but the entire city.
When Uzuki appears on the scene in Day Two, Week One, giving Neku the choice of dying or killing Shiki, the threatening atmosphere is compounded by the sounds of ‘Despair’, building the tension until it gets cut off by the pounding sound of Neku’s heartbeat as he strangles Shiki with his psych. When she returns in Day Three, ‘Déjà vu’ sets the tone, the sweet lyrics about being around someone familiar meshing with her reuniting with Neku and his guilt over nearly killing her, despite how hard she tried to help him.
Even the game over music is charged, a somber, dying song that is just as dark as it is bright, a melody in the grey area that allows you to slip into the permanence of death or the shining dawn of a chance to correct your mistakes and live again. The ending song, ‘Lullaby For You’ is the crown jewel of the soundtrack. A soft, emotional piece that is both comforting and sad, you’ll smile through your tears knowing that even though cloudy days and windy nights, everything will be alright.
Day 9 - Saddest game scene.
The saddest game scene I’ve seen was in the first Suikoden. They really knew how to do character death in that game, seriously.
Gremio, loyal and long-time servant of the McDohl family, has been watching over the main character, Tir, ever since he was born. Keeping Tir safe is his highest priority, and he often remarks that he would gladly give his own life to spare Tir’s. The two are close, dear friends, and Tir would never seriously consider allowing Gremio to ever put his life in danger to save him. Unfortunately, such a time does come where it’s the lives of the party- and Tir -or his own life, and Gremio chooses to die to save the person he cares about most.
In an attempt to overthrow Millich, one of the four generals under Emperor Barbarosa, and save an elderly doctor that the resistance force desperately needs the help of, Tir, Gremio, and party infiltrate Millich’s castle. After a trip through the dungeon, they rescue the doctor from his cell and begin heading out. Just as they reach the first floor, Millich corners them, locking them in the room by the dungeon stairs. He smashes a bottle full of man-eating spores on the floor before leaving out of the only door that leads out, which he locks behind him. The only other place they can go is back into the dungeon, but the door down there can only be opened and closed from the outside.
Tir stands by the lever that works the door, planning to be the one to stay behind in order to save his comrades, but Gremio tricks him and pushes him past the door at the last second, slamming it shut behind Tir and the rest of the party. Tir pushes against the door, at first ordering Gremio to open the door and save himself before begging him not to die. Gremio refuses to obey, sadly saying that Tir has finally grown up and that he no longer needs Gremio anymore. He is proud of him, though, and knows he will be a great leader. All while he’s being eaten alive by flesh-hungry plant spores.
When he finally nears death, he tells Tir goodbye, and the camera pans away from him. Shortly after, other members of the resistence come in, having neutralized the spores, and free the party. Tir walks over to what little is left of Gremio- his cloak and his axe -and drops to his knees, crying. It’s the first, and only, time he shows any sort of emotion or grief over another person, and it permanently changes him for the rest of the game. Gremio’s soul stays with him, having been eaten by the Soul Eater Rune on Tir’s right hand, and gives him power, as well as protecting him with the strength of the bond they shared in life.
No matter how many times I see that scene, I can’t help but cry. Even in death, he was satisfied, knowing that he protected the most important person in his life.
Wow, I have a lot more to catch up on, orz.