The Video Games Orchestra returned to Boston bigger, and better than ever. Instead of the partial orchestra that attended last year, the group came with their full orchestra. The expanded instrument set also allowed for an expanded set list, which spanned a number of genres from rock to heavy metal to big band. The night started with a rendition of Super Mario Galaxy's Good Egg Galaxy, before moving on to familiar territory with Silent Hill's Theme of Laura and a Chrono Trigger medley, which were played at last year's show. A number of new pieces, such as a heavy metal composition of Castlevania's Vampire Killer and an operatic Myst piece (donated by Video Games Live) added fresh content to the show. A few pleasant surprises dotted the night, such as the orchestra's rendition of Kingdom Hearts 2's My Santuary, in which the vocalist opted to perform the Japanese vocals for the song. The performance could have given Hikaru Utada herself a run for her money.

Since Nobuo Uematsu is attending Anime Boston as a guest, the orchestra opted to play a number of his favorite pieces, several of which were from the XBox 360 RPG Blue Dragon. They performed Waterside, the game's opening, and Eternity, the boss battle theme. While Waterside was absolutely stunning in its rendition, Eternity seemed to be lacking something. The music itself was fantastic, with shredding guitar licks and a fantastic percussion set. The vocals, however, didn't seem to have the same impact, especially when compared to Ian Gilliam's original work. Also in the tributary set was a Chrono Trigger medley, which blended together Premonition, Guardia Millenial Fair, Yearnings of the Wind, Frog's Theme, and Chrono Trigger. This was quickly followed up by beautiful takes on Time's Scar, the opening to Chrono Cross, and Radical Dreamers, from the same title.

The fans provided an extra layer of fun to the show, as they really got into the material. Some cheered on the percussionist as he cured their fever with more cowbell, er... wood block. Others rose and saluted at the end of the Metal Gear Solid piece. And still others let out a resounding "Hah!" at key moments in the Chrono Trigger piece.

The true highlight of the event, though, came about in the final track - the Final Fantasy medley. Despite previous reports otherwise, rumors persisted that Uematsu himself would perform at the show. While many expected that he'd be a no show, it was still a disappointment to many that he didn't show up on stage. The mood quickly changed, however, halfway through the medley, when the band stopped momentarily, to monstrous applause. One of the musicians excitedly exclaimed "Nobuo Uematsu!" as the legend took the stage. The crowd roared in excitement, and literally everybody in the crowd was scrambling to get a glimpse as he took his position at a piano. The cheers and excitement didn't stop as he played with the orchestra on two songs: One Winged Angel and a short closing piece.

The entire experience is beyond what words can describe — to see one of the masters of video game music doing what he does best. It's akin to a baseball fan seeing Ted Williams play, a comic book fan meeting Jack Kirby, or a music buff watching The Smiths. To put the situation frankly: It was mind-blowing. A perfect end to a night of wonderful music.