Have We Already Witnessed the Best?

I look at it this way: For me to pick up a game nowadays and be amazed enough by the music to want a soundtrack for it is an extreme rarity. In contrast, this was never an issue back during the 8, 16 and 32 bit eras, where it happened on a seemingly weekly basis.

I also look at this way: The current gen is full of composers that I either used to really to enjoy and I feel have either burned out or just stopped trying or...well, when a company like Square -long known for its' guild of quality composers- has a talentless hack like Takeharu Ishimoto among the ranks as one of its' primary composers working on one of its' most renowned franchises (seriously...this dude couldn't even get Dissidia right, which should have been a dream soundtrack for everyone involved), it does make a bit of a statement about the current composer scene. Overall, my attitude towards game music has shifted from quality releases being at least 50/50 to more like an extreme rarity or sweet tributes to the past (Yuzo's Etrian Odyssey, Contra 4, Rockman 9, etc) when they actually happen. And...yeah, I wasn't going to bring up the subject of American VGM at all, but I definitely agree with wf's post above on that front. OUCH!

One thing is pretty non-debatable though: The golden era for arranged albums is definitely passed. Way fewer in number and listening to stuff like King of Fighters 2003 Arrange, Valkyrie Profile 2, Gradius Tribute and all 3 of the newer Rockman arranges make me wonder if the arrangers even tried making an attempt. Compare those to stuff like the Konami Battle Albums, the Falcom Perfect Collections, Uncharted Waters, etc. Leaves the door wide open for the fanmade arrange scene though (although to make a case for the golden era of all VGM being over...what tracks are usually the fodder for aspiring arrangers? Think about that for a second...)

Jam it back in, in the dark.