Let's see... I love the Baldur's Gate series music, the Elder Scrolls music (especially the theme with the arc sound that goes through Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim), Icewind Dale series had some nice tunes. Here are some others.
Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer had few tracks and looped a lot, but they got stuck in my head. Particularly this one:
I don't generally listen to videogame music outside of the game itself, but I think there are many many tunes from games throughout the years that I just love. I'm especially fond of some old school game tunes like Double Dragon's main theme and a bunch of stuff from Revenge of Shinobi or Metal Gear Solid 2's main theme and Snake Eater's title song. There are many others but that's just off the top of my head.
I absolutely adore this music. I regularly have this track playing while I'm doing other things. I also like the 8-bit version, but not as much. For some reason, I'm not as keen on Skyrim's track; I can't quite put my finger on what it is, exactly - but it has grown on me since its release.
I suddenly have the urge to play Morrowind. Again.
@troodon80 yeah, i know what you mean about skyrim. sure i got super excited when i listened to the chants and realized that it was this song, but it just didn't give me the same feeling, but that is because they had to fit skyrims theme. in morrowind this is calming, majestic, and adventurous. in skyrim it is warlike.
It Is Finished, Mother 3. Released in japan only with an amazing translation mod for the GBA emulators. Recommend it if you're looking for an emotional roller-coaster ride.
I suddenly have the urge to play Morrowind. Again.
I can't precisely explain why Morrowind evoked a stronger, more visceral response from me than Oblivion or Skyrim...but it did...and by a bit of a margin.
I can't precisely explain why Morrowind evoked a stronger, more visceral response from me than Oblivion or Skyrim...but it did...and by a bit of a margin.
Exactly the same with me. I just prefer it over Skyrim and Oblivion. I can't even say what exactly it was. Some games just hit the spot, so to speak.
A part of what I like about some games is the music. It's not vitally important to the overall game, but I feel more immersed in a game that has music I like rather than not. I also appreciate when music fits a theme. I couldn't name all the tracks I've listened to, some just click.
Ocarina of Time is an example of this. Funny enough, I consider some of the fan-made music to be better than the originals, but we can't forget that back in the day they were restricted to less than 64MB on a cartridge (I think. It might have been less than 32MB). There are a number of games that get fan-made renditions, but still comparatively small when considering the overall number of games available.
This is one example of videogame music being performed; Minuet of Forest, Legend of Zelda:
Were I to put ALL my favorite tracks, the list would be far too long (because on the top there is something like 50 tracks, mostly unmentioned here)
I'll drop off two from a game, since I'm in the mood for them and since it's a game that is largely underrated because of its speculated difficulty (which is not exactly true), the game being Dark Souls.
Firstly, the Iron Golem Boss Fight track :
-- Imagine entering a fort, the only obstacle remaining between the land of human and land of gods. You fight off many perils, traps and foes, some of which are hidden (and are likely to instantly kill you, because let's be honest, Japanese games tend to overdo it sometimes). As you reach the top of the fort, you seem to have achieved the impossible... only to find a 60 feet tall iron monster wielding a gigantic axe sending shockwaves... yeaaah (the boss itself is easy, but the setting is just badass) --
And secondly, Knight Artorias, the Abysswalker's track :
-- Due to the lord of the Abyss' mad ambition, you are taken to the past, where you face off the legendary Artorias, one of the four knights of Gwyn, god of Sunlight. He himself here being corrupted by the abyss, wielding only his greatsword, with the other hand broken and without his greatshield. You are left wondering how strong the abyss is, if even the only person being able to walk it, fell to it.--
This one's a rondo, from Heroes of Might and Magic One, with the most delightful English horn work I've ever heard in one of the trios, and "black stick of death" clarinet in another trio, together with some of the best horn, oboe, bassoon, organ, and string bass work I've had the delight of hearing in a game soundtrack:
This one is a delightful rearrangement with the same electronic rescoring, from Homm I, of a delightful and mostly unknown Gavotte in D Minor from Bach's "English Suite for Harpsichord". It's also a winner for making students want to play oboe, flute, and bassoon. Sorry, "black stick of death" players, I don't hear you here, but I still love you. Btw, all these soundtracks make everybody who hears them want to play harpsichord, classical guitar, and harp, if not flute, oboe, clarinet, or bassoon! And strings, strings for everyone who wants to be in the celestial choir behind the soloists!
The next two are from Homm II, Price of Loyalty (NOT the original release!) which adds opera. This first is another harp-filled, flute, and now alto-saxophone filled soprano aria in F major. "Peace to they who come!" The sorceress' castle is pure heaven in this game:
This one is a Wagnerian baritone solo. The text is from the German Lutheran Bible. I still need somebody to help me figure out what the biblical text is here. It is very fitting for a theme of "death, mayhem, dies irae" and the like. After the Wagnerian introduction, I almost can't help singing along with this baritone singer, using the best German I can hear in it. The only clear word I hear is "auferstehen". So, there are influences of Mahler here as well, I suppose.
Comments
Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer had few tracks and looped a lot, but they got stuck in my head. Particularly this one:
Wizardy 8 was game that I didn't care for, but I still ended up with soundtrack.
And last, but by no means last, one of my first favorite themes ever: Myst. Gah, all those soundtracks were amazing.
Also, while not being nowhere near my favourite, this songs just describes my life:
Deflektor.
Impossamole.
Turrican 2.
Portal (Still Alive).
Time (a little known Amiga title).
and many more!
No doubt I'll think of one I've missed quite soon.
I suddenly have the urge to play Morrowind. Again.
It Is Finished, Mother 3. Released in japan only with an amazing translation mod for the GBA emulators. Recommend it if you're looking for an emotional roller-coaster ride.
The Opened Way, Shadow of the Colossus. If you haven't played this game, you're doing it wrong
A part of what I like about some games is the music. It's not vitally important to the overall game, but I feel more immersed in a game that has music I like rather than not. I also appreciate when music fits a theme. I couldn't name all the tracks I've listened to, some just click.
Ocarina of Time is an example of this. Funny enough, I consider some of the fan-made music to be better than the originals, but we can't forget that back in the day they were restricted to less than 64MB on a cartridge (I think. It might have been less than 32MB). There are a number of games that get fan-made renditions, but still comparatively small when considering the overall number of games available.
This is one example of videogame music being performed; Minuet of Forest, Legend of Zelda:
Which is from this.
Oh, and this one; Morrowind orchestra:
I love orchestra.
Having said that, with all this calming music abound, here's something to break it up a little.
F-Zero X, Big Blue (also known as Decide in the Eyes):
I'll drop off two from a game, since I'm in the mood for them and since it's a game that is largely underrated because of its speculated difficulty (which is not exactly true), the game being Dark Souls.
Firstly, the Iron Golem Boss Fight track :
-- Imagine entering a fort, the only obstacle remaining between the land of human and land of gods. You fight off many perils, traps and foes, some of which are hidden (and are likely to instantly kill you, because let's be honest, Japanese games tend to overdo it sometimes). As you reach the top of the fort, you seem to have achieved the impossible... only to find a 60 feet tall iron monster wielding a gigantic axe sending shockwaves... yeaaah
And secondly, Knight Artorias, the Abysswalker's track :
-- Due to the lord of the Abyss' mad ambition, you are taken to the past, where you face off the legendary Artorias, one of the four knights of Gwyn, god of Sunlight. He himself here being corrupted by the abyss, wielding only his greatsword, with the other hand broken and without his greatshield. You are left wondering how strong the abyss is, if even the only person being able to walk it, fell to it.--
Rome Total War - Divitus:
very peaceful music, despite war as theme of the game
Battlefield Vietnam - menu music:
full of suspense.
This one is a delightful rearrangement with the same electronic rescoring, from Homm I, of a delightful and mostly unknown Gavotte in D Minor from Bach's "English Suite for Harpsichord". It's also a winner for making students want to play oboe, flute, and bassoon. Sorry, "black stick of death" players, I don't hear you here, but I still love you. Btw, all these soundtracks make everybody who hears them want to play harpsichord, classical guitar, and harp, if not flute, oboe, clarinet, or bassoon! And strings, strings for everyone who wants to be in the celestial choir behind the soloists!
Here's more Bach in D minor. I want to know which harpsichord suite it's from, since I still can't identify it:
This one's for the harp fans out there (harp starts at :25 seconds:
The next two are from Homm II, Price of Loyalty (NOT the original release!) which adds opera. This first is another harp-filled, flute, and now alto-saxophone filled soprano aria in F major. "Peace to they who come!" The sorceress' castle is pure heaven in this game:
This one is a Wagnerian baritone solo. The text is from the German Lutheran Bible. I still need somebody to help me figure out what the biblical text is here. It is very fitting for a theme of "death, mayhem, dies irae" and the like. After the Wagnerian introduction, I almost can't help singing along with this baritone singer, using the best German I can hear in it. The only clear word I hear is "auferstehen". So, there are influences of Mahler here as well, I suppose.