All the GTA games have fantastic radio soundtracks. Often I've gone for an ingame drive just to peacefully listen to the radio.
It's actually introduced me to bands I went on to buy albums from, in addition to having great radio hosts and bitingly satirical adverts.
It's not quite like having a score that sets the scene for the game, but it feels as real as the world it takes place in. Playing San Andreas and listening to Straight outta Compton while cruising the 'hood, or classic rock while you pilot a cropduster - it's amazing.
I'm obviously conflating my enjoyment of the song with my enjoyment of the game (well, who isn't?), but I especially love this piece from Bioshock: Infinite:
It's a Christian hymn in its original form, but the lyrics have a poignant double meaning within the context of the game, as well as the "is a better home awaiting in the sky?" reference to Columbia supposedly being a utopian floating city. I find it surprising how well it fits the game; even the fact that it's a Christian hymn suits the game's strong focus on religion and redemption.
Did anyone play Rock & Roll racing on the SNES back in the day? It had instrumental versions of Paranoid by Black Sabbath, the Peter Gunn theme, Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf and a couple of others.
I had no idea who the bands were back then, but I get a warm fuzzy feeling of familiarity when I hear them now.
Though one of the most memorable pieces of game music is from way back, from the C64 times, the title track to "Nemesis The Warlock" by the C64 wizard of music Rob Hubbard:
Nemesis the Warlock from the comic 2000AD had a game? How'd I miss that?
Admittedly my age was in low single digits on release but I must be slipping.
The music was better than the game, alas - it was a hack-and-slash platformer. Quite a difficult one too, if I remember correctly. I mostly played it for the opening music.
Thomas Was Alone is a fantastic game with an amazing soundtrack. The game brought me to tears, the soundtrack still brings them to my eyes whenever I listen to it:
Don't know why I haven't posted this yet. Lords of Magic Special Edition Order's Theme (and coincidentally the theme to the game, at least one part of the song) XD
Just BG1's final battle, and OBVIOUSLY, ToB main theme. Then, maybe Majesty's GeneralQuest song... And, Darth Traya's Theme from KotOR2TSL, besides Battle at The Station.
There is a real guitar version of that song on a CD that came with the Dragon Edition of Ultima IX:A, which is really fantastic, but I always liked the version you can hear on youtube, too.
Well.. actually it's most stuff of Jeremy Soule (esp. IWD 1-2, Oblivion, Skyrim OSTs), that I like, as he's my favorite composer if it's about games, but I also would like to add lot's of tracks from Mass Effect 1-3, Heroes of Might & Magic series, Might & Magic X, ...
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It's actually introduced me to bands I went on to buy albums from, in addition to having great radio hosts and bitingly satirical adverts.
It's not quite like having a score that sets the scene for the game, but it feels as real as the world it takes place in. Playing San Andreas and listening to Straight outta Compton while cruising the 'hood, or classic rock while you pilot a cropduster - it's amazing.
Pools of Darkness:
Stronghold:
It's a Christian hymn in its original form, but the lyrics have a poignant double meaning within the context of the game, as well as the "is a better home awaiting in the sky?" reference to Columbia supposedly being a utopian floating city. I find it surprising how well it fits the game; even the fact that it's a Christian hymn suits the game's strong focus on religion and redemption.
And something slightly more uplifting :P
Final Fantasy II - Battle Scene B
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - Heavens Divide
Arcanum
Icewind Dale
Dark Souls
And sticking to the racing theme, original F-Zero Mute City:
And for bonus points here's a fun SMB cover:
I had no idea who the bands were back then, but I get a warm fuzzy feeling of familiarity when I hear them now.
Dragon Age
Though one of the most memorable pieces of game music is from way back, from the C64 times, the title track to "Nemesis The Warlock" by the C64 wizard of music Rob Hubbard:
Considering that this was done on a machine with the fraction of a the power of a modern cell phone, that's impressive!
Admittedly my age was in low single digits on release but I must be slipping.
Lots of music from Chrono Trigger, but in my personal opinion, Chrono Cross was Yasunori Mitsuda's magnum opus:
Chronopolis:
Dragon God:
Thomas Was Alone is a fantastic game with an amazing soundtrack. The game brought me to tears, the soundtrack still brings them to my eyes whenever I listen to it:
Finally, an honorable mention to Winter Voices, a terrible game with a beautiful soundtrack:
Burn:
Street Fighter 2: Ken Theme
Street FIghter 2: Fei Long Theme
Streets of Rage: Intro
Draken: The Ancients' Gates (Main Theme)
Deus Ex: UNATCO
Deus Ex: Hong Kong (Streets)
That was like reliving my childhood! I have not heard a few of those themes for years.
Then, maybe Majesty's GeneralQuest song...
And, Darth Traya's Theme from KotOR2TSL, besides Battle at The Station.
Final Fantasy IV - Final Battle Theme
Final Fantasy VI - Decisive Battle (Boss Theme)
Final Fantasy IX - Kuja's Theme (Final battle)
Chrono Trigger - Magus Theme
Chrono Cross - Scars of Time (Opening Theme)
Chrono Cross - Radical Dreamers (Ending Theme)
Baldur's Gate - Main Theme (Really need a link for that?)
Baldur's Gate - From Out of the Storm (Final battle/Sarevok's Theme)
Baldur's Gate II - Bhaalspawn Battle theme
Baldur's Gate II - Throne of Bhaal Final Battle/Melissan's Theme (DOOM AWAITS THEE!)
Icewind Dale - Lysan's Lair
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir - Beach Battle (Surprisingly good)
Breath of Fire IV - A Warring God
Valkyrie Profile - To the Last Drop of My Blood
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Festival of Servants (boss battle) LOVE this one.
As you can see, I have a thing for boss battle themes, heh.
WoW is one the best games ever made. Cata and MoP ruined it for me but even with that it's still the greatest mmorpg.
Baldur's Gate 2
Civilization 3
Civilization 4
Breath of Fire 3
Lords of Magic
I only wish the combat music didn't interrupt the beautiful music every time
NWN2:MOTB - Astral Plane
IWD - Kuldahar
VTM:B - Santa Monica Theme
GK 3 - Nocturne (Montreaux' Study)
GW:F - Luxon Theme
IWD:HOF - The Town of Lonelywood
ULTIMA VI:TFP - Character Creation
There is a real guitar version of that song on a CD that came with the Dragon Edition of Ultima IX:A, which is really fantastic, but I always liked the version you can hear on youtube, too.
Well.. actually it's most stuff of Jeremy Soule (esp. IWD 1-2, Oblivion, Skyrim OSTs), that I like, as he's my favorite composer if it's about games, but I also would like to add lot's of tracks from Mass Effect 1-3, Heroes of Might & Magic series, Might & Magic X, ...