GAMES composer Tommy Tallarico said he created Video Games Live (VGL) because he wanted to prove to the world how culturally significant and artistic games have become.

But really he was preaching to the converted.

Performing some of the best game themes to more than 2,000 people at Manchester Apollo, there was a roar of approval as guitarist Tommy and the Hungarian Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra played the first few notes of each song.

The concert, the first in the north west in VGL's 10-year history, proved two things – that video games culture has very much become mainstream and that the soundtracks to games can be as powerful and accomplished as anything you might hear on Classic FM.

In fact, it would have been really interesting to fill the room with classical music fans who had never played a game in their life. My bet is they would have loved it.

With a full orchestra and choir led by renowned composer Emmanuel Fratianni, who worked on the music for The Amazing Spider-Man and Avatar, the calibre could not have been much higher.

An appreciation of games obviously helps though.

In between songs there was video greetings from the likes of Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear Solid and Yuji Naka, creator of Sonic the Hedgehog as well as comedy mash-ups like 'Mortal Kombat vs Donkey Kong'.

Tommy, who is the cousin of Steve Tyler of Aerosmith, was a natural showman with the Legend of Zelda crest emblazoned on his guitar.

It was clear he had a lot of time and respect for his audience which was demonstrated by the set list, largely chosen by fans on Facebook, and the 'meet and greet' after the show.

Among the highlights was the music from the sci-fi action series Halo.

Halo's soundtrack has orchestral, choir and guitar elements so it fit in perfectly as cut scenes from the games were blasted onto the big screens.

Fantasy role-playing game Skyrim's music was just as epic as its visuals and the music from Street Fighter II brought back memories of misspent youth.

There was also a nod to the beloved 16-bit era of gaming with the likes of Sonic and Earthworm Jim, which Tommy wrote the music for himself.

And there were a few surprises like performer Riva Taylor coming on stage to sing part of Journey's sweeping soundtrack as well as Still Alive, Jonathan Coulton's tongue-in-cheek end credits song for Portal.

Riva's new single, The Creed, came out this week and features in the trailer for Assassin's Creed Liberty.

Rock band Random Encounter also travelled from America at their own expense to be part of the show – and it was worth it. Their enthusiastic rock tributes to the Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy were inspired.

DAVID MORGAN