Annual Game Music Awards 2012: Best Score Winners
We are proud to present the winners of the Annual Game Music Awards 2012. These panel-voted officially recognised awards provide a thorough and wide-reaching recognition of achievement in game music over the last year.
Best Score — Eastern :: Kid Icarus: Uprising
Spirited, diverse, and detailed, the score for Nintendo's Kid Icarus: Uprising blends bold new orchestrations with tributes to the franchise's 8-bit roots. The best of several outstanding 3DS productions released this year, and an example of an ensemble score done right.
Runners-Up
| Bravely Default: Flying Fairy | Rhythm Thief & The Emperor's Treasure |
Other Nominations
|
Ciel Nosurge Etrian Odyssey IV Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ragnarok Odyssey |
Resident Evil: Revelations Robotics;Notes SoulCalibur V |
Best Score — Western :: Journey
Whether appreciated in-game or on-disc, Journey is a wondrous aural experience that ascends to the realm of the spiritual and mystical. Austin Wintory's much-decorated soundtrack is a major artistic breakthrough for game music.
Runners-Up
| Torchlight II | Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two |
Other Nominations
|
AirMech Borderlands 2 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Double Dragon: Neon |
Hitman: Absolution Mass Effect 3 Skylanders: Giants |
Best Score — Orchestral / Cinematic :: Torchlight II
The dynamic, sprawling music of Runic Games' Torchlight II constantly offers new combinations of timbres and moods, yet remains focused and well-integrated. One of the best fantasy soundtracks in years, and the culmination of Matt Uelmen's work to date.
Runners-Up
| World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria | Call of Duty: Black Ops II |
Other Nominations
|
Blade & Soul Darksiders II Kinect: Star Wars Of Orcs and Men |
Resident Evil 6 SoulCalibur V The Secret World |
Best Score — Contemporary / Alternative :: Armored Core V
The soundtrack for From Software's Armored Core V is filled with eclectic sounds and audacious experiments. Clearly not constrained by convention, Kota Hoshino's mechanised hybrids sound unlikely on paper, but are wonderful in execution.
Runners-Up
| Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward | Touch My Katamari |
Other Nominations
|
AirMech Anarchy Reigns Binary Domain Dead or Alive V |
Max Payne 3 Painkiller: Hell & Redemption Tekken Tag Tournament 2 |
Best Score — Retro / Remixed :: Retro City Rampage
The soundtrack for Retro City Rampage, just like the game itself, is an entertaining, fun homage to NES action favourites. Jake Kaufman, Matt Creamer, and Leonard Paul all impress with their stylistic versatility and virtuosic handling of NES hardware.
Runners-Up
| Kale in Dinoland | Nintendo Land |
Other Nominations
|
FEZ Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Mighty Switch Force! Oracle III |
SEGA & All-Stars Racing: Transformed Spy Hunter Ys: Foliage Ocean in Celceta |
Best Score — Independent :: Dust: An Elysian Tail
Dust: An Elysian Tail boasts an imaginative soundtrack from Northern Ireland's HyperDuck Soundworks and guest contributor Alexander Brandon. Despite its vast scope and eclectic approaches, the entire soundtrack has a very warm, personal centre.
Runners-Up
| Oh! Samurai Girls! S | Azkend 2 |
Other Nominations
|
Awesomenauts Chaos Code Face Noir Retro / Grade |
Skullgirls Supermagical Vectros |
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