Annual Game Music Awards 2012 :: Best Album Winners

SEMO is proud to present the winners of the 'best album' category 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 Album - Arrangement :: Piano Opera Final Fantasy I / II / III

Followers of this site have waited for a decade for a piano album dedicated to the NES trilogy of Final Fantasy games. Jam-packed with favourites, rich with lavish stylings, and boasting virtuosic performances, Piano Opera Final Fantasy I / II / III from Hiroyuki Nakayama is well worth the wait.

Runners-Up

Final Fantasy XII Piano Collections
Symphonic Odysseys - Tribute to Nobuo Uematsu

Other Nominations

Eternal Daughter 10th Anniversary Original Soundtrack
Etrian Odyssey Super Arrange Version
Final Fantasy XI Vana-Con Anniversary Concert
Metal Gear 25th Anniversary Music Collection
Okami Goju no Onchou
Steins;Gate Symphonic Material
The Greatest Video Game Music 2

Best Album - Remix :: Falcom Boss Zanmai

Blistering rock performances, epic cinematic orchestrations, jazz and funk improvisations, and nostalgic FM tributes all combine on Falcom Boss Zanmai. This diverse, well-produced tribute to Falcom's iconic battle themes is certain to entertain.

Runners-Up

Rockman 25th Anniversary Rock Arrange Version
Zone of the Enders ReMix Edition

Other Nominations

Battle SQ
BlackLute -Monster Hunter Guitar Arrange-
Crush 40 Live!
Keynote -Key Sounds Remix Album-
Romancing SaGa Battle Arrange -Re:Birth II-
Tekaru Mechanical
The Scythian Steppes: Seven #Sworcery Songs Localised for Japan

Best Album - Fan-Arranged :: Kanto Symphony (Pokémon Reorchestrated)

Braxton Burks' Kanto Symphony combines nostalgic melodies licensed from the Pokémon games with classically-styled cinematic orchestrations. With mature arrangements, polished implementation, and numerous highlights, it stands among the highest-quality albums ever produced by a fan.

Runners-Up

Hero Musik Vol. 1 (K-Murdock)
101% Run (Shinesparkers)

Other Nominations

A Tribute to Jochen Hippel (Fraggers aus Leidenschaft)
Blast from the Past (S.S.H.)
Euphoric Tears (signum/ii)
Intergalactic Continuum (The OneUps)
MABORO (Sound Holic)
Mega Man X: Maverick Rising (OverClocked ReMix)
Touhou Gensou Shiten 9 -Joker- (Sound Sepher)

Best Album - Chiptune :: Preschtale (C-jeff)

While Ubiktune released many excellent albums this year, it was the progressive solo album by founder Dmitry Zhemkov (aka C-jeff) that left us awestruck. Brilliantly composed and implemented, Preschtale takes listeners on an epic journey jam-packed with exhilarating, tear jerking, and revelatory moments.

Runners-Up

FX4 (virt)
Sans Titre (4mat)

Other Nominations

In Death a Dream of Color (Brother Android)
mosaik (xyce)
Roots (Danimal Cannon)
Rhythms 'n' Bits (Yoann Turpin)
Schism Method (Kurt James Werner)
Soundshock 2 -FM Funk Terrror!!- (Ubiktune)
The Daydream Elevator (bubu)

Best Album - Original :: Aria of the Spilled Sand (Haruka Shimotsuki)

The final instalment in Haruka Shimotsuki's Tindharia trilogy is a feat in storytelling and music creation alike. Combining colourful compositions, beautiful vocal performances, and an engaging narrative, this concept album is magical and emotional from start to finish.

Runners-Up

Black Ocean (Imeruat)
Driven' De:st-ructure2 (fang)

Other Nominations

A Warrior's Odyssey (Penka Kouneva)
Circle of fifth (Shinji Orito)
COZMO Futue Disc (ZUNTATA)
El Viento (George Oldziey)
OneBigAlbum (Various Artists)
ongaku (Jun Wakita)
Songs of Anagura (Takayuki Nakamura)

Best Album - Compilation :: Streets of Rage Original Soundtrack

The Bare Knuckle Original Soundtrack is the latest in a well-produced series of compilation albums from SEGA. It includes the complete soundtracks in the Streets of Rage trilogy, extensive exclusive content, and a well-presented booklet featuring a foreword by Yuzo Koshiro.

Runners-Up

COZMO Limited Edition
Emil Chronicle Online 6th Anniversary Soundtrack

Other Nominations

Game Arts Best Collection
History of Sonic 20th Anniversary Edition
Naxat Shooting Collection
Rockman Sound E Can
Shinji Hosoe Works -Dragon Spirit-
Slipstream Volume One
Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collector's Set