Game info: Wikipedia
Listening: YouTube, extracted audio
Credits
Audio Lead: Clark Wen, Scott Petersen
Sound Support: Frank Bry, Danetracks, Matthew Piersall, Todd Simmons
Music: Kenji Yamamoto
Info
If you guessed from my last post that because I don’t like Kenji Yamamoto as much as other composers, I’d like the Prime soundtrack that he solely composed the least of the trilogy, you’d be correct! This has always been my least favorite soundtrack of the three, feeling kind of like the other games but with a lot of the interesting bits filed off. In comparison with the first game in particular, I’d say that I like the super ambient area themes less and the battle themes a lot less, but I do actually prefer the normal area themes a bit more here. And the game still inherits that inherently good Metroid Prime sound, so I can’t hate.
I generally like the more sinister sound design and ambience of the Dark Aether music more than the light Aether versions, which is, well I assume it’s not a surprise to anyone at this point. Dark Aether is a cool hell world. The soundtrack’s also useful as a rare direct window into Kenji Yamamoto’s style, especially with its incorporation of stuff not seen in Prime 1 like electric guitar shredding in a couple of tracks.
Recommended tracks:
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“Temple Grounds” has a super big metallic clank sound with just the right amount of dissonance to it
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“Ing Battle” is the only battle theme from the game I really like, the synth bit at 0:48 is cool
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“Dark Agon Wastes” is my favorite showcase of the general Dark Aether sound design
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“Sanctuary Fortress” I’ve always had a big soft spot for, love that chirpy arp
(track titles are from the Trilogy sound gallery)
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