# Favorite soundtrack from video games **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 14, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587 "2015-11-14T20:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/21 "2015-11-17T20:22:16Z")
One of the catchiest background songs was from a Flash game called, “Magic Pen”. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/22 "2015-11-17T20:51:26Z")
Final Fantasy VI, hands down. No game before or since has made such effective use of leitmotif in its score. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/23 "2015-11-17T20:57:35Z")
[Super Castlevania IV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sySkD2Nfwok) [Super Adventure Island for the SNES](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBamvF8H4ho) [The 1991 remake of the first Leisure Suit Larry game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1C3r3-cfOc) …and too much Mario stuff to list but [Beep Block Skyway from 3D World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuEiQvG9X54) is a favorite of mine for that funky guitar and bass. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/24 "2015-11-17T20:58:15Z")
Bastion. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/25 "2015-11-17T21:26:05Z")
I would also nominate the music in the Monkey Island games, especially Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge, which was the first game to feature iMUSE, a methodology for matching the action on the screen to music. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/26 "2015-11-17T23:07:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I would also nominate the music in the Monkey Island games, especially Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge, which was the first game to feature iMUSE, a methodology for matching the action on the screen to music. Pretty much anything Michael Land is gold. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/27 "2015-11-17T23:11:20Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Pretty much anything Michael Land is gold. Shit–I had his name in my original post, but somehow I edited it out before finalizing it. Yes, Michael Land is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/28 "2015-11-18T02:32:15Z")
[Chrono Cross](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=923fVDDwaHo) [Okami](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFj_v1DrLDc) ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/29 "2015-11-18T03:01:14Z")
The soundtrack from _Guitaroo Man_ is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/30 "2015-11-18T03:51:20Z")
Einhander had a good soundtrack. More recently, I actually bought the Bloodbourne soundtrack, even though I know I’d never even think about trying a Souls-type game. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/31 "2015-11-18T08:30:57Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > _Civilizations IV_ and _V_ have great soundtracks but they probably exclude themselves on the basis that they are mostly made up of pre-existing classical music and world music pieces. _Civ IV_ had one of the best tracks ever composed for a video game: the Grammy award wining “[Baba Yetu](https://youtu.be/IJiHDmyhE1A)”. ---
**Author:** ![F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/32 "2015-11-18T13:32:42Z")
The soundtrack from _Bastion_ is amazing, though I’m also partial to the soundtracks from _Braid_, _FTL: Faster Than Light_, and _Shovel Knight_. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/33 "2015-11-18T14:51:17Z")
I was never a Sega fan, but it’s possible that [Streets of Rage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXjaCkPWpvU) had the best soundtrack of any game prior to the CD era. The Genesis/Mega Drive had a lot of great soundtracks, though; something to do with having a more powerful sound chip than other cartridge systems (including the SNES). That said, _F-Zero_ had a phenomenal soundtrack and the [Big Blue theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtSmoxiwcAs) might be my favorite piece of video game music of all time. It got even better in [the sequels](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvwgkhjVM7w), where they were able to use real guitars. The Amiga had some amazing soundtracks too. Apidya springs to mind, particularly [Sewers Blast 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYyBG714mE8&list=PL583BAD0220338DE6&index=14). There’s a remix of it by Chris Huelsbeck, the original composer, using keyboards and a harpsichord that is still in my main MP3 playlist (just called “Apidya Level 3”). Can’t forget [Shadow of the Beast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bgm-9yLsLo) either. Considering what other games of the era looked and sounded like I could basically just sit in front of a computer running the intro for hours. The same was true of [Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn-Khszi-V4). It sounds awful now, but the Wagner piece Gremlin used leading into the guitar-rock structured MIDI theme song was amazing. As far as taking MIDI-composed music as far as it could go, [Lotus Turbo Challenge 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQSsq7HCNHw) basically set the standard. I still haven’t figured out how they were able to do that without real instruments (though I don’t like the tune itself as much). > [@ekedolphin](#): > > Metroid Prime, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Sonic Adventure were all extraordinary. As was Final Fantasy X, especially the Mount Gagazet theme, which really drove home the point of snowy isolation. +1 for _Metroid Prime_ and _Twilight Princess_. I still clearly the remember the first time I played Metroid Prime and got chills just listening to the [intro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ED1oGjFUo4). Damn, I need to order a copy of that game. I guess it wasn’t really a surprise, because the theme song from [the previous Metroid game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVRi3JNuBCo) also gave me chills. > [@Quimby](#): > > Going old school, I still listen to music from the driving game Outrun even though I haven’t played it in like 30 years. Yes! I’ve never forgotten the [Magical Sound Shower](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEz1BVeGO2o) theme. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/34 "2015-11-18T15:42:33Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > _Civ IV_ had one of the best tracks ever composed for a video game: the Grammy award wining “[Baba Yetu](https://youtu.be/IJiHDmyhE1A)”. I never fail to be astonished that there are actually people who like “Baba Yetu.” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/35 "2015-11-18T16:24:50Z")
It’s kind of uplifting in an Enya-ish way. I’d probably kill myself if it played throughout the game. Never got into Civ after II, for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/36 "2015-11-18T16:54:27Z")
Final Fantasy 7 or Metroid Prime. There’s some awesome reimagining of the soundtracks to Japanese games that got an official release. I love this from a Jazzy version of the Chrono Trigger soundtrack: Parasite Eve was pretty damn good too. Edit: And this is the original of the Chrono Trigger tune: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3TYCTtGA1PY/hqdefault.jpg "Outskirts of Time (credits theme) - Chrono Trigger music") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TYCTtGA1PY) ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/37 "2015-11-19T10:55:33Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > I never fail to be astonished that there are actually people who like “Baba Yetu.” I didn’t say anything negative about your favorite soundtrack. Why do you feel the need to put down _my_ favorite soundtrack? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/38 "2015-11-19T15:31:50Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > I didn’t say anything negative about your favorite soundtrack. Why do you feel the need to put down _my_ favorite soundtrack? Because his soundtrack was good ;). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/39 "2015-11-19T15:43:16Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I still clearly the remember the first time I played Metroid Prime and got chills just listening to the [intro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ED1oGjFUo4). Damn, I need to order a copy of that game. … so I did. Amazon has same-day shipping in Orlando now! Damn you all for making me waste rewards points. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587/40 "2015-11-19T16:07:11Z")
I’m just playing through Star Control 2 (aka The Ur-Quan Masters) right now and realized that’s another game with a great soundtrack to it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-soundtrack-from-video-games/737587.md?page=3)