Year: 2000
Type: Gamerip
Composer(s): Tadashi Ikegami
Number of tracks: 17

★★★★★

SomeCity

Originally, I wanted to write my review of the fourth part of the SimCity series today and thus my entry point into the world of city-building simulations. Unfortunately, my pedantry got in the way once again. A quick check on the net revealed that there was another, lesser-known offshoot of the series between SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4: SimCity 64.

The number at the end can be a little confusing. But just as its predecessor did not catapult us into the distant future, in SimCity 64 we are not playing in ancient times. Instead, the number indicates the release platform: The Nintendo 64DD, a floppy disk expansion for Nintendo's flagship at the time, which flopped magnificently and sold just 15,000 units. The ten games that were developed for this console are therefore rather unknown - including SimCity 64.

SimCity 2000 (1993)

SimCity 3000 (1999)

SimCity 64 (2000)

SimCity 4 (2003)

SimCity 4: Rush Hour (2003)

As a result, we should not expect an OST or the return of familiar melodies. As the game was primarily programmed for the Japanese market, it was not developer Maxis who was responsible for it, but the venerable game studio HAL Laboratory (EarthBound, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land). Logically, they did not hire a Western composer, but Tadashi Ikegami.

It quickly becomes apparent that he is more at home with Nintendo's other major brands such as Smash Bros. or Kirby . Instead of the more sedate, 'realistic' style of Jerry Martin, the 17-track-long gamerip evokes memories of brightly colored cuddly games à la Animal Crossing (SimCity 64 1, City 3) or typical Nintendo games such as The Legend of Zelda (City 5, Disaster).

The music has few accents and mostly plods along, making you wonder whether you're listening to the development of a city or narcolepsy. All in all, the score has very little to do with the actual SimCity-series - just like SimCity 64. However, it would fit in very well with a mediocre JRPG, as the music is more reminiscent of Chrono Trigger instead of Sims. A curiosity for sure, but not a remarkable one.

No.	Title	Artist(s)	Ratings
01	Dr. Wright	Tadashi Ikegami	3
02	Title Screen	Tadashi Ikegami	3
03	SimCity 64 1	Tadashi Ikegami	2
04	City 1	Tadashi Ikegami	2
05	City 2	Tadashi Ikegami	2
06	City 3	Tadashi Ikegami	3
07	City 4	Tadashi Ikegami	3
08	Ending	Tadashi Ikegami	2
09	City 5	Tadashi Ikegami	2
10	Transport	Tadashi Ikegami	3
11	Disaster	Tadashi Ikegami	3
12	City 6	Tadashi Ikegami	3
13	City 7	Tadashi Ikegami	2
14	City 8	Tadashi Ikegami	3
15	SimCity 64 2	Tadashi Ikegami	3
16	Success	Tadashi Ikegami	3
17	Casino	Tadashi Ikegami	2