Entry #78 (2012 In Music) FTL: Faster Than Light "Main Theme"

 This week's final track gives me a chiptune fix. FTL: Faster Than Light is a roguelike spaceship simulator, available from various PC outlets including Steam. It was released on September 14th, 2012.
Developer: Subset Games
Composer: Ben Prunty
If you really don't want to get the excellent game/soundtrack on Steam, the soundtrack alone is available on Ben's Bandcamp page.

Entry #77 (2012 In Music) Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance "Dearly Beloved"

 This next track comes from the 3DS title Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. This track literally oozes teenage melodrama, and I like it. It has a bit of corniness that makes it feel special and beautiful, in a weird way.
Developer: Square Enix 1st Production Department
Composer(s): Yoko Shimomura
Takeharu Ishimoto
Tsuyoshi Sekito

Entry #76 (2012 In Music) Skullgirls "Maplecrest..."

 "Maplecrest: The Lives We Left Behind"
 This next track comes from Skullgirls (released on PSN on April 10th, 2012). This track is interesting for a variety of reasons. First, it comes from a fighting game- a genre usually not known for jazz fusion. Second, it has a jazz fusion feel. Third, there is a female vocal solo that comes out of nowhere in the song. It's very good.
Developer(s): Lab Zero Games
Reverge Labs
Composer: Michiru Yamane (according to the Amazon listings, featured below)
This soundtrack is available on iTunes, and Amazon here.

Entry #75 (2012 In Music) Sine Mora "Cardinal Canyon A"

 This next track comes from Sine Mora, the shoot-'em-up released on XBLA on March 21st, 2012. This particular track has a lot of weird sound effects and is compelling in a weird way. It's kind of techno, kind of chiptune, kind of salsa- a very weird, excellent track.
Developer(s): Digital Reality
Grasshoper Studios
Composer: Akira Yamaoka

Entry #74 (2012 In Music) Journey "Apotheosis"

 This next track is part of a beautiful, swelling, orchestral score for the amazing PSN title Journey (released in March of 2012). There is nothing about this track that I could describe with words, just listen.
Developer: thatgamecompany
Composer: Austin Wintory
The soundtrack is available on Amazon here.

Entry #73 (2012 In Music) Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning "Dalentarth"

 This week's first track comes from Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. This game comes from the ill-fated 38 Studios and Big Huge Games (it was released on February 9th, 2012). This particular track has an almost Christmas-y sound, with a heavy emphasis on bells. It also sounds a little bit like a Danny Elfman track which is, again, a complement. 

Developer(s): 38 Studios

Big Huge Games

Composer: Grant Kirkhope 

The soundtrack for this game is available on Amazon both as a physical disc and MP3 download here.

This Week's Topic: 2012 In Music!

 2012 is over. It was a great year for gamers of any type; I've decided to commemorate the year in the best way I can: through video game music tracks. I've compiled a list of six tracks from six games that does not even scratch the surface of what the last year had to offer. Rest assured, I will still play some wonderful tracks from deserved games. Also, since all these games are pretty recent there will be ample opportunity to support the artists highlighted in this focus! 

Enjoy the focus!