Top 10 NES soundtrack Nominations

[Coldguy]

Hello all I am thinking about making a list of the top 10 NES soundtracks (gameplay doesn't count, just the music) and I would like some help. If you have a game or two for me to listen to add it here and after a while make a list of the popular titles to whittle it down to top 10. So suggest away.

[VACRMH]

Shadowgate
Gremlins 2

[-dustburn-]

Mega Man 2
Ninja Gaiden
Two off the top of my head.

[Red Warrior]

Metroid
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos

Honorable Mention: Wizards & Warriors - Gotta love the magic potion jingle. :)

[8bitCaged]

Zelda - Overworld Theme

[ShinobiMan]

1. Mega Man 2
2. Shadowgate
3. Castlevania 3
4. Ninja Gaiden
5. Gremlins 2
6. Batman
7. Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers
8. Mega Man 3
9. Super Contra
10. Duck Tales

[rkotm]

anything in the startropics series.

[DreamTR]

ROFL at the lack of Konami and Sunsoft games.

In no particular order: (and yes, I chose more than 10)

Blaster Master, Journey to Silius, Mega Man 2, Ninja Gaiden, Crystalis, Mr. Gimmick, Metroid, Batman, Castlevania, Mega Man 3, Castlevania III, Gremlins II, Contra, Wizards & Warriors

Sunsoft and Konami by far had the best tunes available. Not knocking Nintendo by any means, but it was pure amazement what Sunsoft did. Heck, even Fester's Quest has a good soundtrack.

[savageone]

Spy Hunter, #1 forever.

[SpaceHarrier]

Super Mario Bros. 3

and seconding Megaman 2

[The Old School Gamer]

In no particular order:
Mario 3
Megaman 2
Batman
Zelda 1
Zelda 2
Metroid
Castlevainia 3
Ninja Gaiden
Double Dragon
Contra
I think I like the Batman and Megaman 2 soundtracks the best, but my favorite single Nes. song is Zelda 1's overworld theme.

[FlufflePuff]

Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros 3
Final Fantasy
Legend of Zelda
Mega Man 2
Castlevania
Startropics

[fergojisan]

Some of my favorites:

Zelda 1 and 2
SMB 2 and 3
Deja Vu
Wizards and Warriors
Final Fantasy
Contra
Double Dragon
Monopoly (yes, really)

[Sudo]

Mega Man 2
Legend of Zelda
Crystalis
Startropics
Final Fantasy
Castlevania
Wizards & Warriors
Metroid
SMB 3
Ninja Gaiden

[Sosage]

A lot of the Ultra (Konami) games had some great soundtracks as well (TMNT and Basewars comes to mind). Just to add to the convo...

[Aussie2B]

In no particular order:

Batman
Castlevania III (I could put the whole series, honestly)
Blaster Master
Dragon Spirit
Astyanax
Battletoads
Crystalis
Metroid
Rygar
Mega Man (as a series; take your pick)

[Push Upstairs]

Lifeforce

[Damaramu]

Metal Storm

[Damaramu]

Additionally, check out this guy's vids on Youtube: HERE (http://youtube.com/profile_play_list?user=garudoh)

[darkhades]

Faxanadu needs to be in this top 10 list.

[Oobgarm]

Not really in any order:

Mega Man 2
Contra
Batman
Super Mario Bros. 3
Shadowgate
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Adventures of Bayou Billy
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Journey to Silius

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Mega Man 2
Super Mario 3
River City Ransom
Castlevania (I,II,III)
Ninja Gaiden II

[thom_m]

Gradius II
Megaman 3
Megaman 4
Tiger Heli (yeah, I know it's basically just ONE song, but I love it!)
Double Dragon III
Monster in my Pocket
Bucky O'Hare
TMNT III
Metroid
Duck Tales

In no particular order...

[ShinobiMan]

Additionally, check out this guy's vids on Youtube: HERE (http://youtube.com/profile_play_list?user=garudoh)

Thanks for the link!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gOSDVFF3ZjU

I don't think anyone can watch this video and NOT think Rescue Rangers had an awesome soundtrack.

[mailman187666]

Mario 1
Castlevania 1-3
Metroid intro music
Zelda overworld music
TMNT 3
one of the megamans has a good song but I forget which one (3 maybe?)

[Vectorman0]

Cheetahmen II is the only one I can come up with that hasn't already been mentioned.

[ccovell]

Don't mean to sway anybody's votes, but I also conducted an NES music poll many years ago (2001, I think), and if you're interested in the results, you can see them here:

http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/poll.html

[ShinobiMan]

Don't mean to sway anybody's votes, but I also conducted an NES music poll many years ago (2001, I think), and if you're interested in the results, you can see them here:

http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/poll.html

Not a one Sunsoft game on that list. That's pretty sad. Well, we're here to change that. :-D

[PresidentLeever]

Blaster Master
Batman
Castlevania 1-3
Faxanadu
Guardian Legend
Gremlins II
Journey to Silius
Lifeforce
Mr. Gimmick
Mega Man 1-3
Robo Warrior
TMNT 1-3
Wizards & Warriors

[ccovell]

http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/poll.html


Not a one Sunsoft game on that list. That's pretty sad. Well, we're here to change that. :-D

What on earth are you talking about? :eek 2:
In "best overall", Sunsoft games tied for 6th, 7th (twice), 8th position...
In "best individual", Sunsoft games got seven votes.
In my personal vote, Journey to Silius is #1, and Batman is #4.

I don't see anything sad here...

[Drixxel]

Some unmentioned favourites, in addition to the classics already spoken of:

Code Name: Viper - a fun, jazzy and memorable work.

Gauntlet - some of the most catchy NES tunes ever.

Gun-Nac - high-energy and perfectly matched to this shmup's quirky mood.

Kabuki Quantum Fighter - a soundtrack of icy sci-fi class.

Kirby's Adventure - such a cheerful, bouncy and sprawling collection of tracks.

Legacy of the Wizard - a great Yuzo score. The opening of the game's underworld is the stuff of NES music legend.

Moon Crystal - simply great tunes; one of my most-listened-to NES soundtracks.

Nightshade - atmospheric, slightly goofy and completely fitting.

Super Dodge Ball - a neat variety of regionally-flavoured tunes with an appealing & whimsical feel.

Uninvited - each of the Kemco-Seika NES point-'n-clicks have winning soundtracks, but this is my definitive favourite of the three.

[t2kd2k]

Journey to Silius
Pac-Mania
After Burner
Zen
Life Force
Toobin'
Star Soldier
Marble Madness
Super Mario Bros.
Rolling Thunder

if I can, I'd like to add 4 more
Gradius
Rad Racer
Road Runner
Gun*Nac:sob:

[Drixxel]

Thus far, the following games have received 2 or more nominations:

Batman
Blaster Master
Castlevania
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Castlevania III
Contra
Crystalis
Double Dragon
Duck Tales
Faxanadu
Final Fantasy
Gradius II
Gremlins 2
Gun-Nac
Journey to Silius
Legend of Zelda, The
Life Force
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Metroid
Mr. Gimmick
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Shadowgate
StarTropics
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
TMNT III: The Manhatten Project
Wizards & Warriors
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link

[guitargary75]

Kid Icarus

[AMG]

Metroid
Legend of Zelda
CastleVania
CastleVania II
CastleVania III (the best soundtrack on the NES IMO)

[Rob2600]

In general, Capcom, Konami/Ultra, Nintendo, and Tecmo had the best NES soundtracks. Some of the best are:

Blades of Steel
Castlevania
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
Contra
Double Dragon
Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode
Jackal
The Legend of Zelda
Legendary Wings
Life Force
Mega Man II
Metal Gear
Metroid
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden II
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2 (U.S.A.)
Super Mario Bros. 3
Tecmo World Wrestling
Track & Field II

I haven't played enough Sunsoft games to comment about the soundtracks.


EDIT: Some of Rare's games had pretty good soundtracks, too:

Anticipation
Marble Madness
R.C. Pro-Am
Wizards & Warriors

[GM80]

Jackal (http://youtube.com/watch?v=cuEkmyd-DUY) (YouTube link). Almost universally underrated, including driving soundtrack that never lets up.

[Rob2600]

Jackal (http://youtube.com/watch?v=cuEkmyd-DUY) (YouTube link). Almost universally underrated, including driving soundtrack that never lets up.

I agree, Jackal is one of my favorites. It's a great two-player co-op game...great soundtrack, too. See my list above. :)

[Dr. Morbis]

Not knocking Nintendo by any means, but it was pure amazement what Sunsoft did. Heck, even Fester's Quest has a good soundtrack.
Yeah I remember beating Journey to Silius and watching like 5 names scroll by for music. How many games in the 8 bit era had FIVE guys working on the audio for one game? Not getting the Terminator license must've just killed them...

[Nescollector]

Blaster Master
Xexyz -great tunes in this game.

[DreamTR]

I almost forgot about Guardian Legend and Zanac. Amazing tunes as well for those two.

[Coldguy]

Let me check the suggestions so far

*forum thread crashes on top of me*

Damn there is a lot of good suggestions on here, so I am going to cut of the primary suggestions next Wednesday. I will then rank them by votes and you can debate what should move on and what should leave the list.

So one week to go keep on with those suggestions.

[Graham Mitchell]

Don't know that I have much new o add, but I want to voice my choices.

Blaster Master
Journey to Silius
Spelunker (the title theme is brilliant)
The Guardian Legend
Deadly Towers (yes, you read that correctly)
Mega Man 2
Castlevania II
Ninja Gaiden II
Xexyz
Willow
Bionic Commando
Metroid
Kid Icarus
King's Knight
Goonies II

[ShinobiMan]

http://www.disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/poll.html



What on earth are you talking about? :eek 2:
In "best overall", Sunsoft games tied for 6th, 7th (twice), 8th position...
In "best individual", Sunsoft games got seven votes.
In my personal vote, Journey to Silius is #1, and Batman is #4.

I don't see anything sad here...

Honesty, I don't know how I missed those.

[PixelSmasher]

I always thought Ultimate Stuntman and Micro Machines had some awesome music that sounded way different than other titles. Who was the developer?

[Rob2600]

I always thought Ultimate Stuntman and Micro Machines had some awesome music that sounded way different than other titles. Who was the developer?

Camerica

[jerkov]

I really probably need to do more research, but off of the top of my head (and not really in a particular order - and mostly repeats):

Blaster Master
Batman
Shadowgate
Rygar
Guardian Legend
Maniac Mansion
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 6
Castlevania 2
Journey to Silius (might be a top 10 game - I admit I probably haven't heard a lot of the music since I suck badly at it)

A few "bonus" picks:
TMNT 2
Kirby's Adventure
Double Dragon
Little Samson
Ninja Gaiden
M.C. Kids
Swordmaster
Vice: Project Doom
Deja Vu
Jackal
Super Spy Hunter
Dragon Warrior series
Gyruss
Crash N The Boys
Felix the Cat
Star Wars

[Smashed Brother]

:bawling: How could no one mention Battletoads? The music for the surfing level and the ice cavern is classic. And the 'pause' jingle.... I'm surprised that that hasn't been sampled in a P. Diddy song yet :p

Also...

Maniac Mansion
Snake Rattle & Roll
Wizards & Warriors (especially the lava level)
Ninja Gaiden 2
Double Dragon

[PixelSmasher]

I love making lists of stuff.

Hey, let's make a list of our favorite forum threads that were about making lists! This is definitely one of my favorite "make a list" threads.

Then I'll also manage to conspicuously shoehorn into the conversation some brags about what I own while discussing it! ;)

[Graham Mitchell]

I love making lists of stuff.

Hey, let's make a list of our favorite forum threads that were about making lists! This is definitely one of my favorite "make a list" threads.

Then I'll also manage to conspicuously shoehorn into the conversation some brags about what I own while discussing it! ;)

Hey! I don't go to your work and slap the dick out of your mouth! If you don't like the thread, don't read it and don't participate.

[PixelSmasher]

Hey! I don't go to your work and slap the dick out of your mouth! If you don't like the thread, don't read it and don't participate.

That might actually be a clever insult if my comment were somehow geared towards someone's job or workplace. As it stands, you're just easily excitable and I think you need a juice box and a nap.

[RJ]

If we're talking catchy tunes then Gyromite has to be listed.

Yeah, I said it.