Game music of the day: Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
GR's ongoing tribute to the beloved world of videogame music
Game: Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
Song: Release of the Far West Ocean
Composer: Falcom Sound Team jdk
Above: Release of the Far West Ocean from Ys VI
Are you ready to have your FACE SHREDDED OFF BY CRUNCHING J-ROCK AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!
Ahem. So yeah, Ys has had consistently rockin' music ever since its late '80s debut. It's a tad excessive and hopelessly cheesy, but hot damn is it ever exciting. This song plays over the game's opening movie, and even though the game itself is a sluggish, hack and slash grind through repetitive enemies and bland environments, its speedy thrashing always got my heart racing. Add a little flute interlude and a soaringfinal guitar riffand boom, you've got one of therockingest introsof all time.
Above: The actual intro, song included. GET READY YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAHH
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Above: Ruins of Amnesia is much slower, but fits its dank cave setting quite well
Above: And then Quatera Woods helps send you on your adventure with a rousing fantasy tune
The Ys series isn't for everyone, but if you can stomach a lot of mindless slashing and power-leveling, each one is a remarkably fun escape from the glut of way-too-serious FPSes and M-rated RPGs. Ys VI isn't a great introduction though - horrid load times murder the PSP version, and even the PS2 version isn't the best way to get your feet wet. I'd suggest PSP's superior Ys Seven, or forgiving that, the recent Oath in Felghana. Solid tunes in every single one of 'em!
Place of Reticent Lava by jdk band
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Praying Hands by Funauchi
Far Away by Jose Gonzalez
A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE.