Who is the best videogame composer of all time?

Soundtrack Sunday considers videogame music not as a garnish but as an essential ingredient that shapes emotion and memory.

An early memory highlighted is the theme for Killer Instinct Gold on the Nintendo 64 — the metal anvil smack and a ripping guitar solo left a lasting impression and helped spark a love of both fighting games and game soundtracks.

JRPGs are praised for mixing delicate, emotional pieces with bold battle themes; tracks like Kingdom Hearts' Simple and Clean and Final Fantasy 7's Aerith's Theme are singled out for their power. Nobuo Uematsu is described as one of the greats — responsible for the chocobo theme, One Winged Angel and Prelude — while Masayoshi Soken's work on Final Fantasy 14 is mentioned as a close second.

Who would you crown as the ultimate videogame composer? Which discography is packed with tracks that elevate games, hit you in the feels, or get you ready to fight some baddies? Leave a comment with your pick and why.

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