WaveBack Music Podcast

Episode 159 – 2022 WaveBack Awards

The best of the best in VGM from 2022

1 year ago

Show Notes

Matt and Kris proudly present the return of the WaveBack Awards, featuring the best of the best in VGM from 2022. 

The intro music for this episode was Cyclic Oscillations from Super Mega Zero by DDRKirby. Our team tragically overlooked this game until it was too late, so it unfortunately wasn’t given any considerations for this year’s awards. It’s a phenomenal soundtrack though, so we’ve linked to it here. Super Mega Zero by DDRKirby

And the nominees are: 

Best Menu/Map Music Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration - Menu Theme by Bob Baffy Atari Mania - Museum Theme by Pascal Lamarche Nintendo Switch Sports - Menu Theme by Haruko Torii and Takuhiro Honda Vampire Survivors - Dust Elementals by Daniele Zandara Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Iris Network by Manami Kiyota 

Best Game Opener Blossom Tales II - Title Screen by Josie Brechner Donut Dodo - Funhouse Fiasco by by Sean Bialo Infernax - A Good Day to Be Alive by Olivier Couillard Tunic - Memories of Memories by Lifeformed and Janice Kwan Yars Recharged - An Army of One by Megan McDuffee 

Best Stage/Area Music Atelier Sophie 2 - Distant Lightning by Kazuki Yanagawa, Daisuke Achiwa, Tatsuya Yano, and Ryudai Abe Donut Dodo - Construction Site Chaos by Sean Bialo  TMNT: Shredder's Revenge - Mutants Over Broadway by Tee Lopes featuring Anton Corazza Vampire Survivors - Forest Night Fever by Filippo Vicarelli  Yars Recharged - Zorlon Cannon by Megan McDuffee

Best Cinematic/Event Music Blossom Tales 2 - Story by the Campfire by Josie Brechner God of War: Ragnarok - Gjallarhorn (With His Sound) by Bear McCreary Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Kirby and the Mysterious Vortex Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - A Life Sent On (Unison) by Yasunori Mitsuda Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Weight of Life by Yasunori Mitsuda, arrangement by Kenji Hiramatsu 

Best Shop Music Blossom Tales 2 - Shopping! by Josie Brechner Cuphead DLC - Porkrinds Provisions by Kristofer Maddigan Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Waddle Dee's Weapons Shop by Hirokazu Ando Return to Monkey Island - Fish Shop by Michael Z. Land, Peter McConnell, and Clint Bajakian Shovel Knight Dig - Overground (Hoofman's Shop Layer) by Jake Kaufman 

Best Boss Music Cuphead DLC: Bouree on the Board by Kristofer Maddigan Infernax - Test Your Might by Jason Letourneau  Shovel Knight Dig - The Forger by Jake Kaufman TMNT: Shredder's Revenge - Clash of the Outcasts by Tee Lopes Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Mobius Battle by TOMOri Kudo 

Best Soundtrack from a Remake or Remaster Chrono Cross by Yasunori Mitsuda Crisis Core FF7 Reunion by Takeharu Ishimoto Live a Live by Yoko Shimomura Sonic Origins by Sonic Team Turrican Anthology by Chris Huelsbeck

Best Original Song Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration - Menu Theme by Bob Baffy Kirby and the Forgotten Land - A Trip to Alivel Mall by Hirokazu Ando Pokemon Legends: Arceus - Jubilife Village by Go Ichinose, Hitomi Sato, and Hiromitsu Maeba Shovel Knight Dig - Spore Judgement by Jake Kaufman Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Weight of Life by Yasunori Mitsuda, arrangement by Kenji Hiramatsu

Best Original Soundtrack Infernax by Jason Létourneau, Jules Conroy, and Olivier Couillard  Shovel Knight Dig by Jake Kaufman TMNT: Shredder's Revenge by Tee Lopes Tunic by Lifeformed and Janice Kwan Xenoblade Chronicles 3 by Yasunori Mitsuda, Et al

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