[Epic] A Collection of Game Music to Enjoy with an Orchestral Sound

Prologue ~To the Ancient Land~Ootani Miyuki

Prologue ~To the Ancient Land~

The moment the game boots up, a majestic orchestra resounds as if the doors of an ancient ruin were opening.

This piece, which graces the opening of Shadow of the Colossus—released in October 2005 for the PlayStation 2—is the pinnacle of Koh Ohtani’s symphonic scoring.

The weighty harmonies woven by the low strings and brass, layered with choral resonance, brilliantly convey the protagonist’s resolve and apprehension as he steps into a forbidden land.

Though it carries the grandeur of a Hollywood film, its faintly mournful melody tightens the chest.

Included on the album Shadow of the Colossus: Roar of the Earth, this track became a key piece underpinning the game’s world—a title that won five awards at the 2006 Game Developers Choice Awards.

It’s a masterpiece I highly recommend to anyone drawn to epic adventures and mythic tales.

Main themeZeruda no Densetsu

The Legend of Zelda Main Theme (Orchestra) - The Legend of Zelda – Main Theme (Snare Drums)

Which Link will you think of? It’s the main theme from Nintendo’s popular series The Legend of Zelda.

The piece has been used since the very first game and was composed by Koji Kondo, who also did the music for Super Mario Bros.

It really makes you think that great composers create great masterpieces.

Now, as for The Legend of Zelda’s main theme, an orchestral sound couldn’t be a better fit.

You can feel its fantastical, grand world just from the sound alone.

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Araki Jakkan

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Proof of a Heromonsutā hantā

Proof of a Hero

It’s dynamic, large-scale game music with an opening that gradually closes in and leaves a strong impression.

The main theme of the Monster Hunter series, “Proof of a Hero,” has remained a fan favorite ever since its release in 2004.

There are many orchestral arrangements of famous game music, but this one was originally written as an orchestral piece.

After the struggle of defeating a gigantic monster, listening to this track and sinking into the feeling of “I really did it…!”—I imagine many people have had that experience.

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Araki Jakkan

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Overturedoragonkuesuto

Symphonic Suite Dragon Quest I Overture - BRASS EXCEED TOKYO

A piece often described as the very emblem of Dragon Quest—the masterpiece RPG Japan proudly presents to the world—that continues to captivate fans whenever a new sequel is announced.

Composed by Koichi Sugiyama, who passed away in 2021, it also drew attention for being used during the athletes’ entrance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Its grand melody, celebrating the adventure about to begin, seems to reveal its true brilliance through the rich depth of a full orchestra.

This is BGM loved beyond the realm of video game music—something almost every Japanese person has likely heard at least once.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Gensokyo Millennium ~ History of the MoonTōhō Project

Touhou Eiyashou [JApan Game Music Orchestra (JAGMO)]

The theme song of Eirin Yagokoro, the Stage 6A boss in the shooting game “Touhou Eiyashou ~ Imperishable Night.” by Team Shanghai Alice, is “Gensokyo Millennium ~ History of the Moon.” The original track is characterized by its piano and synth lead melody.

In the orchestral version, the clarinet melody and the drum-driven beat create a jazz-like atmosphere reminiscent of a big band.

It’s a fast-paced piece, so it’s also a great recommendation for wind ensembles!

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Hamada Takuya

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