Favorite Video Game Music

[Citruspunch]

Now, the only time I remember hearing this music was during the credits and when I was connecting to certain Half-Life mod servers (especially Zombie Panic, which beats the shit out of ZP:S) but it's awesome either way.

This music plays when you FINALLY reach the surface and get attacked by the Opposing Forces.

[Drinking with Skeletons]

I always feel bad about doing so on the PC gaming forum, but there are too many great console soundtracks to not bring them up. Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Ocarina of Time are tied in terms of catchy tunes. The Super Mario Galaxies are both excellent, and they each have some nods to the franchise's previous tunes without being beholden to them. Okami is full of fantastic pieces, and Shadow of the Colossus and Monster Hunter 3 are tied in terms of epic boss music. Kirby's Epic Yarn has a surprisingly good soundtrack, and the best Christmas-themed levels I've ever encountered in a game. Squaresoft simply cranked out great soundtracks back in the PS1 days. Legend of Mana, Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, and Chrono Cross all have utterly fantastic music, much of it quite different from the norm. The recent re-release of Tactics Ogre on the PSP features a soundtrack similar to Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story (unsurprising giving they share a large portion of team members), except fully orchestrated (you need to get some headphones to appreciate it).

On the PC side of things, I've always loved the soundtrack to Master of Orion 2, Civilization IV, Rise of Nations (and to a lesser degree Rise of Legends), and Curse of Monkey Island. Neverwinter Nights 2 had some good tracks, and while I can't say they've stuck with me I remember really enjoying the tracks from Total Annihilation. Titan Quest made good use of its main theme, as did Morrowind (Oblivion didn't use its main theme outside of the title screen, and it was compromised by being a little too similar to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme). The radio stations from Fallout 3 and New Vegas deserve some praise for reminding all of us that big band music and old school country can be pretty awesome if done right, as well as reminding us all to watch out for Butcher Pete, who don't care whose meat he carves.

[squareking]

Atom Zombie Smasher's soundtrack from The Volcanics is divine.





Also, Machinarium, Osmos and virtually everything released on the NES.

[Citruspunch]

First off, thanks to those who've posted, reminding me of some greats I'd forgotten.

Let's see now:
Monkey Island
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i3dB0qEcG20" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Tetris
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hj8nUernaKE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Zelda
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lPjdF_QFa6c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Xenon 2
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E6jNosHmHG8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Escape from Colditz
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VHyJEmEqkC0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Full Contact intro
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uOU5RphhFc8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Supercars 2 - could only find the mono version. may mess with your head if you're wearing headphones.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jQFYiD6t5us" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Call of Duty - Pegasus bridge. So powerful. Speaks to a victory won in the name of freedom, but forlorn at the cost of so many lives.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V0ZlMXkzUqI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Halo Theme
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L6lL5QWf8tI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
There are likely better versions out there, but this is the original so it will do nicely.


I've a soft spot for how amazingly immersive the Anarchy Online soundtrack is. sure a couple of the tracks are dud's, but the music captures the games vision from location to location. Even the loading music is forboding but with the promise of hope and salvation.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MXjurbQnc6A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you can track down all the separate pieces then do so. Wonderful stuff from the original, not sure about the add ons..
Seascape makes you feel alive - quality not very crisp on this vid.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fBqYdCGaNEw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Battlescape - life and death combat music, it could go either way!
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LP5eLBeB1tE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Lost in the desert's of Tir.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1RvWeuNftkM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Portal 2's soundtrack, which was given away free around the web someplace, is suitably gritty and dystopian with some great 'urgency' pieces.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sER1rSv5bd8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

And of course 'Still Alive' is memorable to the end of time. Here's a typographical version.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NCt2nZF2nLk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
And the kids choir version
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/02n2yYBwHXo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


MW1 - menu music. Very backgroundy ambient, but I like.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uamh1l_tmeI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The 2nd one, less so.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wmTf1VhAn-o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

anyhow, enough from me.

[icemann]

A few that spring to mind:

Castlevania: Symphony of The Night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPvbJAzJspc

Chrono Trigger:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDANk9wjw3k

Crusader No Remorse:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmqoFpDWCYY

Full Throttle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jx3Vz6cpXY

Mechwarrior 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C42xCauM9jU

Starcraft:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H11vawG_eJI

Super Castlevania 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sX3fjpkFwk

System Shock 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcLs9...eature=related

Terra Nova:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oua6VYSs8b0

Unreal 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLrsIc2HGqM

Warcraft 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLQsVrH9V8o

All of these are easily games soundtrack playlist worthy.

[Gergin]

I'm a bit of a sucker for orchestral works. These are the games I can think of that have had very good, experience enhancing soundtracks for me:

System Shock 2
Diablo
Fallout 1 & 2
Machinarium
Shadow of the Colossus
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Red Dead Redemption
Supreme Commander (Original and FA)
Total Annihilation
EVE Online
Sins of a Solar Empire
Dragon Quest VIII
Independence War II: Edge of Chaos
Sacrifice
Morrowind
King Arthur: The Role Playing Wargame
Warcraft 2
People's General (There's only 3 songs but they're all awesome)

Yeah, I listen to A LOT of video game soundtracks, almost to the exclusion of everything else.

EDIT: Can't believe I forgot Demon's Souls. That was easily one of the most atmospheric soundtracks I've ever heard.

[Berzee]

Daikatana!

Also Transport Tycoon had amazing music. I particularly like Sawyer's Tune.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wjvUZ7gXtAU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[NecroKnight]

Hm, lets see.

Assassin's Creed 2 & Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Bastion
Braid
Machinarium
Metro 2033
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.:Call of Pripyat
The Whispered World
The Whitcher 1 & 2
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2

[RamboJ3sus]