Line #61 Main/OrchestralVersion


1	A VideoGame tune, sometimes the BackgroundMusic, is turned into a huge orchestral version by the game developers. (Or, in some cases, another band.) It is not often used within the game or series and is only available online or in stores, though there's a chance it could show up in a remake or sequel, depending on the budget.
2
3	This is usually done because the game itself has limitations on the quality of the music if it is an 8-bit, 16-bit, etc. game.
4
5	The music is not always the same thing, and is sometimes extended. [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks It may also be worse than the original music depending on who you talk to.]]
6
7	Not always limited to video game music, but is rarely seen in other media.
8
9	Not to be confused with OrchestralBombing. See also BossRemix.
10	----
11	!!Examples:
12
13	[[foldercontrol]]
14
15	[[folder:Action Adventure]]
16	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' with most songs.
17	** The group Zelda Reorchestrated rearranged each one of the game soundtracks. For a starter, here's the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOAchv3GUBg Light World dungeon theme]] from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]''.
18	** Then there's Nintendo's own ''[[http://zeldawiki.org/The_Legend_of_Zelda_25th_Anniversary_Special_Orchestra_CD 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra]]'' album included with the SpecialEdition of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword''.
19	* Done with many ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' themes, such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5auAouxoq4 "Entrance Hall & Chandeliers"]] from ''VideoGame/SuperCastlevaniaIV''.
20	* The themes from ''VideoGame/{{Astyanax}}'''s first two stages (NES version) were arranged into [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCb86UauH7U an orchestral suite by DCT and GrayLightning.]]
21	* Blake Robinson orchestrated the ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' soundtrack as ''[[https://soundcloud.com/blaketothefuture/sets/super-metroid-symphony Super Metroid Symphony.]]''
22	** The ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' series features orchestral versions of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxSkZ8ySo1o "Samus's Appearance"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1tyK9BCSL0 "Item Acquisition"]] fanfares, "Brinstar"(in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mziw3FQkZYg Tallon Overworld]]), "Lower Norfair"(in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQCZIb0fbt8 Magmoor Caverns]]), and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unkrc1saV2A "Escape."]]
23	** Ridley's theme has a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLLjibR_c4Q techno version]] in ''Prime'', and a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fje8t9Jyy-o proper orchestral version]] in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM''.
24	* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjv45LtdLs UM Gamer Symphony]] did this for ''VideoGame/KidIcarus''.
25	* ''VideoGame/BlasterMaster: Overdrive'''s soundtrack consists almost entirely of orchestrations of the original game's music. The only unique music piece is the final boss theme.
26	* ''VideoGame/BionicCommando1988'''s NES soundtrack was given a techno update in its ''Rearmed'' [[VideoGameRemake remake]]. On the other hand, the 2009 sequel uses actual orchestral arrangements.
27	* ''VideoGame/ActRaiser'', scored by the legendary Music/YuzoKoshiro, had a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PVMJnUK-_w&list=PL506A52733E3A5CE3 "Symphonic Suite"]] orchestral soundtrack released in Japan in 1991. The score was also orchestrated for the 2021 remake.
28	* The 2017 remake of ''VideoGame/WonderBoyIIITheDragonsTrap'' has an orchestral soundtrack arranged by Michael Geyre, along with the original Platform/SegaMasterSystem PSG music by Shinichi Sakamoto.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Adventure Game]]
32	* The original ''VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry'' [[http://www.allowe.com/Larry/musicdownload.htm theme song]] was composed for the PC speaker - which can only produce single-tone sine waves. For the seventh game they redid it as a full-blown professional jazz recording.
33	** The sax was played by none other than Larry Laffer's spiritual father: Al Lowe. Get the intro from [[http://www.allowe.com/Larry/musicdownload.htm#Larry7 here]], and all of the other tunes from the game(s).
34	* ''VideoGame/TheSeventhGuest'''s in-game music is MIDI-based, but the bundled soundtrack CD features orchestral arrangements of the major songs, including a rock version of the main theme, "The Game".
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Fighting Game]]
38	* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
39	** The soundtracks for ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee Melee]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]]'' do this for lots of older Nintendo themes.
40	** Also a literal orchestra version. Several of the ''Melee'' themes have been performed by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and released as an album called ''Smashing...Live!''
41	* ''VideoGame/DoubleDragon I'' and ''II'' both have professionally arranged OST albums, whose arrangements were used in the ''[[CompilationRerelease Double Dragon Trilogy]]'' released on Steam and mobile devices. More recently, Jake Kaufman reworked several of the series' iconic tunes for ''VideoGame/DoubleDragonNeon'', including the title theme, "Arrival of the Black Warriors"(City Slum), "The Great Fray"(Industrial Area), "Abobo the Giant Appears"(the Green Abobo cave theme, which gets a literal orchestra arrangement in the Haunted Forest level, and two power metal arrangements for Skullmageddon), "Old Nemesis Willy"(Hideout), "Unleashing The Ogre"(''DD II'' Mission 1), and the Stage Clear and Intermission jingles.
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:First Person Shooter]]
45	* ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}} 1'''s CD edition includes [[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXEvSSFeR10XkQM76gWa5I9bC6L7QIl7&si=jVH6KuETB6YVoUvb RedBook recordings]] of [[ArcNumber seven]] songs from the game's MIDI soundtrack.
46	* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Many tunes from ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' and ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'' were orchestrally remastered in ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'', and the first two games' soundtracks were also reorchestrated by Skywalker Sound for their ''Anniversary'' remakes. The "One Final Effort" and "Halo Finale" arrangements of the main theme are especially awesome.
47	* The original MIDI music to ''VideoGame/{{Descent}}'' was heavily dependent on specific sound card models. Fortunately, the Macintosh version was given [=RedBook=] recorded music, which included awesome arrangements of several of the PC tunes. Compare the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tdKZAFsCaI PC version]] of the Lunar Scilab BGM to its [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRh38kgzh9g Mac counterpart.]]
48	* ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'': [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GonCu2QhD5g "Air Force One is Down!"]] [Crash Site Confrontation Music/OCReMix]
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Platform Game]]
52	* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' The main theme especially gets this treatment, considering how well known it is.
53	** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'' contains orchestral arrangements for the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0WnISE79mU Bowser level]] and main level tunes from ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''.
54	* The ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series has used orchestral rock mixes of the games' main themes as backing music for some of the FinalBoss fights.
55	** ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'': "His World".
56	** ''VideoGame/SonicUnleashed'': "Endless Possibilities."
57	** ''VideoGame/SonicColors'': "Reach for the Stars."
58	** [[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF9F112543AD1E736 The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra]] arranged the soundtracks of the [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 first]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 two]] games.
59	** ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'': "The Final Horizon"'s new final boss has an orchestral version of "I'm Here" accompanying it.
60	* ''VideoGame/BanjoKazooie: Nuts and Bolts'' has many redone versions of old music, including an unused final boss theme.
61	* The original arcade version of ''VideoGame/WonderBoyIIIMonsterLair'' and its Platform/MegaDrive port had tinny FM-synthesized music, but the Platform/PCEngine[=/=]Platform/TurboGrafx16 CD version received a professionally mixed [=RedBook=] soundtrack, which is [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic quite awesome]].
62	* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'' features rearrangements of tunes from the classic games such as "Simian Segue", "Aquatic Ambience", and "Stickerbush Symphony".
63	* The [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic iconic]] Wily Castle Stage 1&2 theme from ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxdgrfqyMVM was bound to recieve at least one of these]].
64	* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76qRF5-qvZM title theme]] of ''VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest'' was [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enOzb5CHTx8 re-recorded]] with fully orchestral instruments for the [[UpdatedRerelease Definitive Edition]].
65	* [[Music/PoetsOfTheFall Markus "Captain" Kaarlonen]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsapsOqc7UI reorchestrated]] his 1991 Platform/{{MOD}} song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkw7l8IgM4g "Space Debris"]] for the soundtrack to ''VideoGame/{{Rochard}}'' in 2011.
66	* The ''VideoGame/DuckTales'' soundtrack was orchestrated by the aforementioned Jake Kaufman for its EnhancedRemake, ''[=DuckTales=] Remastered''. The already epic Moon theme gets two arrangements, a symphonic rock version for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHEifuLCSIY the stage]], and a piano version for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svnhHFtYsnU the end credits.]]
67	* In the Xbox remake of ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'', all of the original's MIDI tunes were re-recorded with live instruments.
68	* Tim "[=CoLD SToRAGE=]" Wright's ''[[https://coldstorage.bandcamp.com/album/amiga-revisited-2011 Amiga Revisited 2011]]'' EP consists of reinterpretations of classic Creator/{{Psygnosis}} tunes, namely "March of the Greentops (Tim 1)" from ''VideoGame/{{Lemmings}}'', the title themes from ''Agony'' and ''Aquaventura'', and the title and funeral themes from ''VideoGame/ShadowOfTheBeast III''.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Racing Game]]
72	* ''VideoGame/GranTurismo 4'''s opening used an orchestral version of the series theme "Moon Over the Castle".
73	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU-PV_MNKs8 A suite of the Rainbow Road themes]] from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioKart'', ''VideoGame/MarioKart64'', and ''VideoGame/MarioKart7''.
74	* ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' gave this treatment to the [[NostalgiaLevel retro courses]].
75	* ''VideoGame/OutRun 2'' and''[=OutRun=] 2006: Coast to Coast'' both include reworks of the original ''[=OutRun=]'''s FM chiptunes. For example, compare the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEl7JuAI0nM original]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUJMKWshoH0 modern]] versions of "Magical Sound Shower".
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Role Playing Game]]
79	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games get this a lot. Square Enix has released orchestral albums of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI and [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyII II]]'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', and there are several CD's based on orchestral concerts.
80	** ''Videogame/FinalFantasyVII'' in particular--there's an orchestral version of virtually the entire soundtrack...
81	** Orchestrated themes for the actual game soundtrack are pretty commonplace for the series post-VII.
82	** Yoko Shimomura's "Drammatica" provides another album of orchestrated versions of soundtrack pieces from Square Enix games ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'', ''VideoGame/LegendOfMana'', ''VideoGame/FrontMission'', ''VideoGame/LiveALive'', and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV''.
83	* The original ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' had a soundtrack CD that, rather than containing the NES games' eight bit melodies, reproduced them as fully orchestrated and vocal songs.
84	** Tropers may know its first song, "Pollyanna," from the fact that it's the official unofficial theme song of the SugarWiki/SugarWiki.
85	* Music/OverClockedRemix has ''Chrono Symphonic'', a retelling of ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'''s soundtrack entirely in orchestrations.
86	* The original soundtrack for ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' was fairly normal, but in the US release, every track was replaced with an orchestrated version of the original.
87	* The ''VideoGame/{{Ys}}'' series has redone several major themes in full orchestra.
88	** Konami's [[Platform/PlayStation2 PS2]] port of ''VideoGame/YsVITheArkOfNapishtim'' was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen originally going to have an entirely orchestral soundtrack]], but fortunately [[AuthorsSavingThrow they decided at the last minute]] to keep the signature SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic from the PC version and instead used the orchestrated tunes for the {{Bonus Dungeon}}s.
89	** ''VideoGame/YsTheOathInFelghana'' has a particularly [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic awesome]] example in the form of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTp8qHnE7sQ "Chop!!"]], which combines Chester's {{leitmotif}} with the midboss theme from the [[Platform/SharpX68000 X68000]] version of ''VideoGame/YsIIIWanderersFromYs'', the game's predecessor.
90	* Music/{{Aviators}}, better known for his ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' [[FilkSong filk music]], has produced an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXwthPlJDBg orchestral suite]] incorporating songs from ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'', ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'', ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'', and others.
91	* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''[='s=] 5th anniversary was celebrated with a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srZdDAJbHfc livestreamed concert]] by Music Engine in which a Japanese orchestra gives Toby Fox's soundtrack the grand orchestral treatment. (And yes, the encores were performed by Toby Fox himself.)
92	* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' had several pieces from the game's first soundtrack orchestrated by one of Creator/TypeMoon's composers Hideyuki Fukasawa and performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra for a special concert.
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Shoot Em Up]]
96	* The fans of the ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' are quite fond of making orchestral remixes of ZUN's [[AwesomeMusic/TouhouProject already awesome music]]. For example, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajoRqqc6kII Emotional Skyscraper~Cosmic Mind.]]
97	* ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}} V'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgPwhLPHfKg Stage 2 & 8 BGM]] begins with an orchestral version of the first few notes of "Challenger 1985", [[Level1MusicRepresents the first game's Stage 1 music]]. The previous games' boss themes, including the well-known [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDbGrpBZ2WM Aircraft Carrier]], were also reorchestrated for the returning bosses.
98	* ''Franchise/StarFox'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qy5Yn5aMrI orchestra medley]].
99	* Russell Cox from Music/OverclockedRemix orchestrated ''VideoGame/TheGuardianLegend'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QrTvNl8NuQ title theme]] as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMGax7FkevM "Naju Overture."]]
100	* ''VideoGame/{{Raiden}} 1'' got this treatment in its Platform/PCEngine CD port, and several of ''Raiden II'''s songs, along with the first game's boss theme, were updated for ''Raiden IV''.
101	* Magical Trick Society orchestrally arranged ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}'''s main theme, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sKhd0Bnc1M "Ideal"]], while Aojiro did likewise for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9XYN0W5y6c "Butsutekkai"]], the boss theme.
102	* ''VideoGame/RType'''s [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] [[Platform/PCEngine PC Engine CD-ROM]] port appropriately gives the already epic soundtrack a [=RedBook=] {{techno}} [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLirSddeMOYZ5mf8ES7QLIhVPbqsjKXzLa makeover]].
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Sports Game]]
106	* The famous fight theme for ''VideoGame/PunchOut'' was completely redone by a rock band (with awesome horn section) for the Wii remake.
107	* The Light Plane theme from ''VideoGame/{{Pilotwings}}'' received a [[https://youtu.be/birOrlW9tWk funk arrangement]] in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' and ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate''.
108	[[/folder]]
109
110	[[folder:Stealth-Based Game]]
111	* The ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' title theme got this treatment in ''The Omega Strain'', ''Dark Mirror'', and ''Logan's Shadow''.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Survival Horror]]
115	* This trope is actually inverted in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5''. The in-game tracks are performed by 20th Century Fox Studio's Hollywood Studio Symphony, but the soundtrack features less refined, digital versions of "An Emergency", "A Big Despair", "Wind of Madness", "Deep Ambition", and "Plan of Uroboros".
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Visual Novel]]
119	* The ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series has had multiple orchestral remix albums dedicated to it, titled "Gyakuten Meets Orchestra", further amplifying the already prevalent MundaneMadeAwesome aspect of the series.
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	!!Non-video game examples:
123
124	[[folder:Anime]]
125	* ''[[Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya Suzumiya Haruhi no Gensou]]''. Creator/AyaHirano and Creator/MinoriChihara actually gave the vocals for four of the songs performed ("Bouken Desho Desho", "God Knows", "Lost My Music", and "Yuki Muon Madobe Nite").
126	* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', one of Nanoha's {{Leitmotif}}s, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ysWdBTT4J8 "Raising Heart, Set-Up!"]] was later updated with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR-vzNA1d0Q "Raising Heart, Set Up! (The Magical Orchestra)."]] When TheMovie came, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzRnGEWmeaU another Orchestral Version of the song was created]], and one of the the [[LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition Limited Edition DVD/Blu-Ray]] bonuses show that they hired an actual orchestra to perform it along with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2UVZNqDbhU other]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnTg6PzZy9c similar]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9aDEx5gaN0 updates]] to the Season 1 soundtrack.
127	* [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries The Pokemon anime]] has a number of orchestral versions of music based on [[{{VideoGame/Pokemon}} the corresponding games]]. Sometimes it is mixed with rock/pop style as well.
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Live Action TV]]
131	* ''Series/ThreeTwoOneContact'''s theme tune inverts this trope, originally being recorded with a full orchestra, but switching to an electronic arrangement in the last couple seasons.
132	* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' theme was originally created by Delia Derbyshire and the Radiophonic Workshop through samples of test-tone oscillators, white noise and a single bass string (later arrangements of the theme in the classic series used synthesisers). The 1996 TV Movie had a fully orchestrated version. For Nu Who, Murray Gold combined samples of the original with conventional instruments, and also had a full orchestra version by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for special occasions.
133	[[/folder]]
134
135	[[folder:Theatre]]
136	* The original cast album of the "play about a musical" ''Say, Darling'', which had songs by Jule Styne and Creator/ComdenAndGreen, replaced much of the two-piano accompaniment used in the production with orchestrations by Sid Ramin. Ramin and his then-uncredited assistant Robert Ginzler went on to orchestrate Styne's next musical, ''Theatre/{{Gypsy}}''.
137	* The original off-Broadway production of ''Theatre/{{Assassins}}'' was done without a real orchestra, but Music/StephenSondheim's score was orchestrated by Michael Starobin for the original cast album.
138	* ''Theatre/CloserThanEver'' had only a pianist and bassist to accompany the four singers in its off-Broadway production. The cast recording was orchestrated by Michael Starobin using seven additional musicians.
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	[[folder:Web Original]]
142	* WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd's theme tune has an orchestral version floating around on Website/YouTube, by the fans. It was later used in his videos.
143	* As an homage to the Future Crew megahit demo ''Second Reality'', Remedy's ''Final Reality'' benchmark demo has a cityscape sequence with a remastered version of Skaven's [[Platform/{{MOD}} S3M]] music from the former demo.
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Western Animation]]
147	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtHJ8lFUrWI Evening Star's orchestration]] of the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' theme.
148	[[/folder]]
149
150	[[folder:Real Life]]
151	* There exist quite a number of traveling productions that exclusively perform re-orchestrated versions of video game songs. The most notable ones are probably ''Video Games Live'' and ''[=PLAY!=]''.
152	[[/folder]]

Context Main / OrchestralVersion