Favorite Video Game Songs

[ghigareda]

I read the following article the other day:

http://prototypestudios.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/my-favorite-video-game-songs/

and it left me thinking: The music in the original games I liked was freaking amazing!!! (like anyone would disagree?) So what would you guys say were your favorite tracks (in-game tracks) from the good old days. I can't believe they have the galaga little thing on here as an Icon, Freaking love that game :)

[bb_hood]

anything from megaman 2 sounds great on electric guitar, woodman and the opening theme especially

[Scotterpop]

Pitfall 2 has always been my favorite video game theme song. Insanely catchy and it fits the adventuring theme of the game perfectly. And given the limitations of the 2600 I'm surprised that the programmers could pull off such amazing background music. I also love the music for the gauntlet and castlevania series. Also, being a Journey fan, I'm kinda partial to the 8-bit version of "Don't Stop Believin" that plays during the start up screen for Journey Escape :)

[Graham Mitchell]

Back in the day some of my favorites were always the Metroid games and the Castlevania games (particularly the red book audio from Rondo of Blood. Soooo amazing.) I also really dug almost anything by Yuzo Koshiro (the Streets of Rage games in particular, and the arranged Y's soundtracks for the Turbografx CD.)

Now as I'm older, I've been investigating more imports and I've found some amazing soundtracks that never hit our shores when their respective consoles were around. Specifically, Nazo no Murasamejou for the Famicom Disk system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2z4eWVLq4M

Radiant Silvergun for the Saturn/Sega ST-V arcade hardware (360 version shown)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmbtRW0noRw

...and Sin and Punishment, particularly stage 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5-wqVc_FmQ

[bb_hood]

azo no Murasamejou for the Famicom Disk system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2z4eWVLq4M

Radiant Silvergun for the Saturn/Sega ST-V arcade hardware (360 version shown)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmbtRW0noRw
[/url]


Radiant does have an excellent soundtrack. It reminds me alot of the music from Final Fantasy Tactics (which isnt a bad thing).

[ghigareda]

anything from megaman 2 sounds great on electric guitar, woodman and the opening theme especially

I super agree :)

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I super agree :)

*looks at link in first post*

Okay, I'll ask.

Can't help but notice that there's a decidedly retro-looking action game in development on that (your?) "blog".

I assume you're a driving force behind it?

Personally, I'd be interested in you sharing more about that project in a separate, dedicated thread.

As long as you're not here to spam/shill and you genuinely want our opinions go ahead, we won't bite.

[BricatSegaFan]

Lords of thunder has an amazing soundtrack, but I rarely see any do covers of it and if they do its pretty bad.

elemental master has excellent music as well, especially the tracks called "like the wind" and "blood stained lake".

[bb_hood]

Lots of thunder has an amazing soundtrack, but I rarely see any do covers of it and if they do its pretty bad.

elemental master has excellent music as well, especially the tracks called "like the wind" and "blood stained lake".

Lords of thunder is really awesome. My favorite tracks are the snow and forest levels, I forget the names. Really excellent

[recorderdude]

The stuff you already know:

DKC2...Just DKC2. Bramble Blast and Forest Interlude are the strongest for me, but every single song in DKC2 is mindblowing in quality and atmosphere.

Many of the songs from the Sonic series...tops for me would be Star Light Zone in Sonic 1, Casino Night in Sonic 2, Hydrocity+Marble Garden in Sonic 3 and Sky Sanctuary in Sonic and Knuckles (I know they're both really sonic 3 ssshhh)

OK, time to be the guy who orgasms over sunsoft bass and sakimoto's genesis expansion chip.

SUNSOFT

Mr Gimmick - Easily, EASILY the best sounding game on the NES that's still got 8-bit sound (Lagrange Point doesn't count). Catchy music programmed with a super-advanced chip makes it a great listen any day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuIywOYzLD4

Ufouria - Not QUITE as amazing as Gimmick, but that main theme. My GOD, that main theme. It's liquid nostalgia even if you've never played the game before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QIIqfHsUG0

At least we got that main theme in the US through Genesis Lemmings...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ubHJx-fTn0

Batman Revenge of the Joker - Probably the best-looking and sounding NES game to actually make it to the US. That first level theme is catchy as fuck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bNCGR1D9WE

SAKIMOTO

Devilish - Pinball quest, but with breakout!...unfortunately, it doesn't work as well as it could, but the music is some of the best on the genesis.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB-FMsdT7f0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT6pYvAkJcA

Master of Monsters - OK, I love me some shining force II, but this is the best-sounding (not necessarily best composed, but best sounding) orchestral music on the genesis. EASILY.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvplH7wVfes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH-Q5Yc2Jfk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUfShCLcipk

Gauntlet IV - Now here's the one more people know about. Still not a big hit by any means, but much more popular than both Devilish and Master of Monsters could ever hope to be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOagvSmosBg

Now, as much as I absolutely LOVE sakimoto's genesis work, every time I listen, I'm slightly saddened by it.

Why? I like to think of him as the evolution of Sunsoft's musical prowess in the 16 bit era. So, what's bad about that?

Well, Sunsoft made their chips near the end of the Famicom's life, when technology was at its absolute peak and nobody was following the lead because there was no reason to.

Sakimoto's chips existed AT THE START OF IT. As in, before Sonic 1. If only other devs had caught on, or he licensed out use of his sound engine to others (since he moved on to SNES games by '93), NOBODY would talk shit about the genesis sounding like a farting trumpet. Not that I'm saying ALL GENESIS MUSIC MUST USE THIS CHIP, but I can only imagine how much better so many already-great tunes would sound with it, especally for RPGs and Fantasy-Themed titles.

[bb_hood]

Gauntlet IV - Now here's the one more people know about. Still not a big hit by any means, but much more popular than both Devilish and Master of Monsters could ever hope to be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOagvSmosBg

.

Yeah Gauntlet IV is really good, I always forget how good it is. Good catch

I also love the viewtiful joe theme from MvC3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqyk__DyXLY

[BricatSegaFan]

Lords of thunder is really awesome. My favorite tracks are the snow and forest levels, I forget the names. Really excellent

Freezel in the English version for the snow level. Helado in the pc engine version.

Bosque is the forest level.

However they flip flopped the actual song in the Sega CD version with shadow realm.

[kupomogli]

Too many video games have amazing soundtracks. Just about the entire Castlevania series, Final Fantasy series, Ogre Battle series, Wild ARMs, etc.

Here are some of my favorites.

Castlevania 2 Bloody Tears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FshGL3nYpIQ
Ninja Gaiden 2 Parasprinter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UBOsjIWR8U
Tactics Ogre Fortune Teller 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHTVQOhCaUo
Ogre Battle Wall of Defense http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R7K7ESYdMU
Grandia 2 Fight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JurH-KfEW68
Wild ARMs 2 Battle vs Lord Blazer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBuWNO1mxcI

[Archimboldi]

The Valkyrie Profile theme always gets stuck in my head. tons of great music in that game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CdYEUof1S0

[Gunstar Hero]

One of my favorites ever since I was really young and used to play this game with my dad. The memories :)

Space Harrier - Main Theme


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_Tam9lv1KQ

[kupomogli]

^The Space Harrier theme was played during the CAGcast opening this week.

[PreZZ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w5neFPat1w

[PreZZ]

I still remember loading The last V-8 on my c64 when I was a kid just to listen to the opening theme!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4evtSE34xqU

and this one is the best c64 tune! commando on c64 was an awesome port!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrQuR1LHAVI

[FieryReign]

This track from Castlevania:SOTN is haunting and beautiful. The whole soundtrack is amazing but the Royal Chapel music just blew me away.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=u9MZyK-V79M

[Immutable]

I may sound like a noobie for saying this, but I thought the Legend of Zelda series had some of the best soundtracks in the adventure genre. Also, Mighty Final Fight has some electrifying tracks as well.

BTW - if you enjoy music renditions of classic game tracks, I would recommend Geek Army. Their Double Dragon tracks sound stellar! :)

[treismac]

The Double Dragon Theme song forever reigns:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4rLtxzle6k

Galway's opening to the Commodore 64 port of Yie Ar Kung Fu is amazing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCA-0WS5NC4

The Moon theme in Duck Tales on the NES deserves every bit of praise it recieves:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF32DRg9opA

[treismac]

The ending of Bonk on the Turbografx-16 is so atmospheric and perfect for the conclusion of that wonderful Hudson gem:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC5tOmfZRtg

Katamari Damacy's Cherry Blossom Color Season powerfully moves everything that is left in my heart that is pure and magical:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmInyB-7FhA

I could go on and on, but those selections will suffice for now.

[Yago]

For sure Pitfall II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyAH62HT8Q4

Agony on the Amiga 500 (My favorite Intro music of all time) (Not "classic" by any means but most definitely from the "Good old days")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9UTnUcyED0

Sorry, Amiga had some of the best music of any platform so am adding another personal favorite.
Project X on the Amiga 500
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpcO2yMxO3U

[treismac]

Katamari is indeed forever.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKiR7ASuldE

[8-Bit Archeology]

Im pretty partial to Killer Instinct SNES.And Nosferatu for the SNES had an awesome opening theme.

[8-Bit Archeology]

Im pretty partial to Killer Instinct SNES.And Nosferatu for the SNES had an awesome opening theme.