Octopath Traveler: Reimagining Game Music

The orchestral soundtrack of Octopath Traveler is deeply rooted in the classic 8- and 16-bit melodies of golden age JRPGs. Let's explore how Yasunori Nishiki created the most memorable game OST of 2018.

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The transcriptions for the main theme were kindly provided by 8-Bit Music Theory.
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Music used in this video. All tracks are from the Octopath Traveler OST and were composed by Yasunori Nishiki, unless otherwise stated:

0:00 - A Settlement in the Red Bluffs
0:45 - The Flatlands
1:27 - Beneath the Surface
1:42 - The Frostlands
2:39 - Wind Scene (from Chrono Trigger, composed by Yasunori Mitsuda)
3:03 - Light and Darkness (from Terranigma, composed by Miyoko Takaoka and Masanori Hikichi)
5:17 - Cobbleston, Nestled in the Hills
6:16 - Decisive Battle I
6:54 - Dark Caverns
7:26 - Ophelia, the Cleric
7:40 - Alfyn, the Apothecary
8:08 - River of Life
8:44 - Octopath Traveler Main Theme
9:39 - Victory Fanfare
11:03 - Tranquil Days

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Games featured in this video:

0:06 - Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (2018)
0:07 - Shadow of the Colossus (2018)
0:08 - Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
0:15 - AM2R: Another Metroid 2 Remake (2016)
0:18 - I Am Setsuna
0:21 - Secret of Mana (2018)
0:25 - Chrono Trigger (1995)
0:29 - Sonic Mania (2017)
0:34 - Shovel Knight (2014)
0:39 - Bravely Default (2012)
0:42 - Octopath Traveler (2018)
2:30 - Final Fantasy VI (1994)
2:59 - Secret of Mana (1993)
3:03 - Terranigma (1995)
3:33 - The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
4:13 - Final Fantasy IV (1991)
4:20 - Breath of Fire II (1994)
5:37 - Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius (2015)

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Other footage used in this video:

"Introducing the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition" from Nintendo, via YouTube
   • Introducing the Nintendo Entertainmen...  

"Project Octopath Traveler (Working Title) - Behind the Music - Nintendo Switch" from Nintendo, via YouTube
   • Project Octopath Traveler (Working Ti...  

"Diggin' in the Carts - The Rise of VGM- Ep 1 - Red Bull Music Academy Presents" from Red Bull Music & Culture, via YouTube
   • The Rise of VGM | Diggin' in the Cart...  

"The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses - Dungeons of Hyrule - Live" from Nintendo UK, via YouTube
   • The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the ...  

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Game Score Fanfare is a show that celebrates music in video games, an aspect so overlooked as that's often the point: to work without you even realising it's there. I look at games through the lens of its score, discovering the unique perspective and roles that music can bring.