I often find myself humming a tune of a video game, just because some parts of it was really memorable, and had great atmosphere music. Here are some of my favorites: Final Fantasy XI - Ronfaure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA79eJ8wlhY It really conveys the kingdom of the elves really well. The above is an orchestra performing it. Think of a forest after a rainfall, with the Elvaan castle not far away, and you'll get a sense of why this song fits so well. Street Fighter II - Vega http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TnVjAICzEk A really catchy tune that really fit the Spanish setting. The fact you were fighting a bull fighter in a cage match added to the thrill. It was a good thing this song was so great, as in the beginning, I spent a lot of quarters trying to get past this bastard. He's really the hardest boss in the game, IMHO. Command & Conquer I - Act on Instinct http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez4gPTOxLCc It was a real rush building and watching your six for Nod units. This was my first foray into RTS, and an unforgettable one. The final rush of a hundred soldiers, tanks, choppers, and other units rushing the Nod base and try to take down the nuke is one of my favorite memories of C&C. Final Fantasy 8 - Fithos Lusec http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q09quI356sQ This is one of the most, if not the, most epic intro to an RPG, and maybe video games entirely. The fact it's still one of the best intros, even more than 10 years after it came out, is a testament on why FF8 kicks ass. Grandia 3 - In The Sky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KizxHjOYGsI This song is kitch, but I have so many fond memories of this game. Grandia is one of my favorite game series of all time. If you haven't played this yet, you are missing out on 40-60 hours of awesome fun! I could probably fill this thread up with Street Fighter and Final Fantasy music, but I'd like to hear yours. What are some of your favorite video game tunes?
Wing Commander 2 vengeance of the kilrathi. Cryo Dune game. Knights of the old republic two s ith lords theme. Freespace series
River City Ransom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_wYCaw9ZYc It's my all time favorite video game to boot.
Old school Mega Man music. Legend of Zelda music. Any Castlevania music. SFII. Stuff from the Ultima games.
Star Control II from 1992. Best music I've ever heard in a Game! Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMBxBS0tgwk&feature=related
Agreed!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZLuX49Z22c The first two Halos had outstanding soundtracks. One version of Microcosm (which was available for Sega CD, 3DO and Amiga 32) had a score composed by Rick Wakeman. It had kind of a European techno feel to it.
Oh god.... Maybe I'm in the wrong thread, video game soundtracks have come a long way since then. God of War I, II, & III have full orchestral soundtracks composed by 3-5 different composers. I don't mean to sound like I'm looking down on video game heritage or anything, no... Just no. Here is an example called "Waking the Sleeping Giant" composed by Chris Velasco from GoWII: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpO1cKWPLAs&feature=youtube_gdata
I guess it would be. IIRC, BSG borrowed heavily from Greek mythology. The GoW franchise is about Greek mythology as well. The soundtracks are heavily influenced by ancient Grrek culture.
Yeah, there is a lot of nostalgia involved. But the fact that I still remember the music in SCII says a lot. Also the fact that many people still love it and make remixes of the songs. 18 years later! Check youtube... (No, this game wasn't a big seller. It was more of an underground hit.) Of course, today's music in games is "better". Made by professionals who know their business and are paid a lot of money.
I've never met a video/computer game soundtrack I didn't like. That said, the best I've heard and played are those for Descent (in the MIDI category) and Might and Magic VI (in the orchestral category). That SC music isn't bad. Probably even better in context.
(and now, the painful bit where I feel the need to go on and on about the subject) MMVII wasn't bad, a few of its tracks were better than nearly anything in VI, but overall not as good. (D2 also has one track better than nearly anything in D1. Go figure.) I've wondered what the music in MM8 and MM9 is like, but since we've never owned or even played either game I don't feel entitled to d/l any of the tracks. In the not-so-professional category, there's a sweet little Tetris-style game from the '90's called Gemstorm. I really like its music too. I think there's something about videogame music. It's got an unfair advantage. If you like the game it's tied to, you play the game over and over again. If you don't dislike the music, you leave it on, and you hear it over and over again. Either you cease to hear it or it gets to the point it could easily stick in your head without warning. Not only do you hear it over and over again, you're hearing it while doing something you find fun and engrossing, and so there's a further positive connection for the brain to make. ( It can work the other way too. I took MM VI up again a few years ago just because I had a deep urge to hear the theme music again. )
God damn you. I had Bob Dylan's "Times They Are A' Changin'" in my head as I was getting ready for bed. Now I've got Super Mario Brothers.
I'm sure there's much better out there, but "Tristram" from the Diablo series just sticks in my head for some reason. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2evIg-aYw8
I wasn't going to do this. But, YOU FORCED me. It's your fault. [YT="The best..."]kj3aArNUADk[/YT] [YT="The Greatest...."]65uNCLBTje0[/YT] The best, most iconic video game music ever. Everyone in the world knows it. It can't be reproduced. It IS the greatest.
MM6 - Frozen Highlands MM6 - Arena PlanetDescent.com has sadly been taken offline, but you can find various MIDIs and such not of the tracks to Descent elsewhere. Then there are the remixes/re-instrumentations floating around . . .
Oh man, I forgot about this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pywkwAoENBY I think quite a few of us have played this a few years ago. Very understated, and went with the game's atmosphere very well.
BTW, I'm deliberately avoiding commenting on any tracks I list, beyond the bare minimum context. Not because they aren't worth commenting on, but because I don't want to prejudice (or babble on) needlessly. Anyway, here is the main theme for Descent. Sometimes I come across a version that sounds very off. Inferior, too. That's MIDI for you, I guess.
