# Good Video Game Music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391 "2009-12-08T01:24:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/21 "2009-12-08T21:52:28Z")
I always loved the Wave Race 64 music. It was filled with lots of really elaborate strings flourishes, power chords and Brian May-esque tri-tones, and Philip Glass-style arpeggios. My friends and I used to get totally stoned and just listen to the Wave Race music from the Sound Options menu. [Main Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96SxennxcXM&feature=related) [Sunset Bay](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rILQFjMxUYo&feature=related) (the Main Theme on amphetamines.) [Drake Lake](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyqbCDSB26U&feature=related) (maybe one of the most interesting tunes musically.) The synth arpeggios and then the string flourishes part used to really hypnotize us when we had smoked two bowls of potent herb. [Twilight City](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lEG-c6lv0k&feature=related) (awesome bass line on the bridge at 0:27) ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/22 "2009-12-08T21:54:18Z")
You guys might enjoy the [Videogame Music Preservation Foundation](http://www.vgmpf.com/Index.php), a database of game scores/composers, together with sound clips. I forgot to mention that one of my favorite scores is from [Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold](http://www.vgmpf.com/Game.php?Id=BlakeStone-DOS), a 3D shooter that came on the heels of Wolfenstein 3D but utterly failed to make any splash. But it was good fun and the music, despite being MIDI-only, rocked. My favorite tracks on the above linked page are Meeting, Dark Hall, Theme, and Jungle, although the whole soundtrack is a hoot. Jazzy, funky and James Bondish. Good work from Bobby Prince, who also scored other greats like Commander Keen, Doom and Wolfestein/Spear of Destiny. (How can you not love a guy who writes a track called “Jazzin’ Them Nazis”?) ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/23 "2009-12-09T02:42:56Z")
Say what you wish about the game itself, but **Age of Conan** had some of the best scoring I’ve ever heard for a video game. I would often stop what I was doing just to stand around and listen to the music. [The Dreaming - Ere The World Crumbles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41sELZvzD_s&feature=related) [Nighttime Journey Through The Eiglophian Mountains](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GVMEdIfaJQ&feature=related) [Hamlets of Aquilonia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I5a72cYvIs) **Deus Ex** had a great original synth soundtrack. [Synapse (Hong Kong Streets)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gNOBvpytXU&feature=related) [Versalife](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij4eGyrQ0Ds&feature=related) [Battery Park](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er4Kx7rqRn0&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/24 "2009-12-09T05:21:54Z")
> [@Headrush042](#): > > Say what you wish about the game itself, but **Age of Conan** had some of the best scoring I’ve ever heard for a video game. I would often stop what I was doing just to stand around and listen to the music. Indeed…I bought the soundtrack, and I’ve never even PLAYED the game. ---
**Author:** ![Leah\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@Leah\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leah_M)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/25 "2009-12-09T11:13:34Z")
Most of my picks have been mentioned already but I will just have to reiterate: Anything from Castlevania makes me happy. I have Bloody Tears and Vampire Killer as ringtones on my cellphone. My personal favorites are from the old NES ‘Simon’s Quest’ and the PlayStation’s ‘Symphony of the Night’. Also mentioned by someone were Persona 3 and Persona 4. 3 was more hip-hop in nature, while 4 was straight-up pop, but I enjoyed them both. SMT Nocturne’s battle theme is a favorite of mine, also. Final Fantasy 4 and 6 had some majorly amazing soundtracks. Final Fantasy 8’s orchestrated version was also really, really awesome. Final Fantasy piano collections are generally very nice, also, along with the Pray and Potion vocal collections. There’s more than one orchestrated album of Legend of Zelda music out there, from the NES classics to the N64 games. The overworld theme is one of the absolute classics of vg music out there. I’ve never played any Megaman games, but my boyfriend does, and I enjoy the music. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/26 "2009-12-09T15:29:34Z")
The _Homeworld_ [score](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeworld#Musical_score) is incredibly atmospheric. I have the CD. Kharak has fallen (sob!) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/27 "2009-12-09T16:23:36Z")
God Hand had a pretty incredible soundtrack. Check out this [boss fight theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z86E0rxsONA). ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/28 "2009-12-09T17:47:11Z")
[The Original Tomb Raider soundtrack](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gZrnEARFeA). ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/29 "2009-12-09T18:02:03Z")
The late 1980’s space shooter Silpheed had pretty sweet [music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef63lEooUkw&feature=related). I second that Monkey Island has great tunes. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/30 "2009-12-09T19:36:13Z")
**Ys the Vanished Omens**. At least that’s what it was called on my Sega Master System (stop laughing!). Great music for an old 8-bit game. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/31 "2009-12-09T19:46:46Z")
Another favorite of mine was the soundtrack to a computer game called Interstate-76. Set in an alternate 1970s where folks strapped machine guns to their vehicles and dueled. Great 70s style soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/32 "2009-12-10T03:19:29Z")
Yay, I get to mention both of the two I came in here to mention! They’re both games from the original Xbox. The first is **Voodoo Vince** , a delightfully wacky game where you control a voodoo doll who defeats enemies by harming himself. The music, which is available as a soundtrack CD, was written and largely played by the incomparable Steve Kirk. Here’s a sample: [Main Street](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfmZs5_-rZA&feature=related). It’s a great jazzy piece that’s reminiscent of Django Reinhardt. Another favorite from the game is [Zombie Guidance Counselor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGynmO9j1Ss&feature=related), a raucous call-and-response tune that puts me in mind of a New Orleans jazz funeral. On a less evangelistic note, the orchestral score for the dogfighting game **Crimson Skies** is wonderfully cinematic. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/33 "2009-12-10T03:47:50Z")
**Ace Combat 6** is full of orchestra goodness. The track \*[Liberation of Gracemeria](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXQDKictvZQ&feature=related) \*is one of the best highlight of the soundtrack ---
**Author:** ![Saitou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Saitou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saitou)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/34 "2009-12-10T15:16:39Z")
The first video game music I remember really liking is Rob Hubbard theme for International Karate, I love this [orchestral version](http://www.myspace.com/c64orchestra). One of my all time favorites is Clint Bajakian’s score for [Outlaws](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leX9GLacmUU), done in the style of Ennio Morricone. Some of my other favorite soundtracks have been already been mentioned: The Secret of Monkey Island, Final Fantasy VII, Shadow of the Colossus, Interstate '76. Let me add: [Xenosaga](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIyVtEz25wU),[Grim Fandango](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT4A-MSQgoI), [Chrono Cross](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn4fzRK8Ze8), [Okami](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imjtRgkqA6w&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/35 "2009-12-10T16:04:43Z")
> [@HookerChemical](#): > > **Ys the Vanished Omens**. At least that’s what it was called on my Sega Master System (stop laughing!). Great music for an old 8-bit game. The Ys series as a whole (there are a surprising lot of them, released over a bizarre scattershot of platforms over the ages. I played one of them (no idea which, really) on my PC years ago) have [quite](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDm9LaJeN9w) [noteworthy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4ebZxDz0xo&feature=related) [music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQIJqPiOJ5c). I’m going to provide a small shout out to Phantasy Star IV, with the [Land Rover Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiawRIxngbA&feature=PlayList&p=65A2D1DE8BC68116&index=25), the [Machine Center theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKWJXQtYpC4&feature=PlayList&p=65A2D1DE8BC68116&index=24) and the [Phantasy Star 1 dungeon remix](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-T-c99mx4U&feature=PlayList&p=65A2D1DE8BC68116&index=27). I also feel that some fighting games need some love here. [Ken’s Theme from Street Fighter 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai4y6qrIQc8). [Nakoruru’s theme from SS1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVt1WsogTcI). And to start getting pretty obscure, [Musafar’s Theme from Galaxy Fight](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syPI7IYApTo). For newer stuff, anything from Okami. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![sohvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sohvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sohvan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/36 "2009-12-11T08:25:42Z")
[Fantasy General had some amazing music well fitting into the fantasy strategy theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_C_LCPi-cI) ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/37 "2009-12-11T23:34:37Z")
Dated I guess, but the thread reminded me of the music from [Starcraft](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ1EbYoDifc) for the Terran campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/38 "2009-12-11T23:41:33Z")
Bah, didn’t get a chance to edit and add that [Total Annihilation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Annihilation#Soundtrack) had some nicely orchestrated pieces of music that reminded me of all sorts of SF shows and movies. Yes, I know, I did have a chance but didn’t take it, 5 minutes and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/39 "2009-12-12T00:29:13Z")
> [@Saitou](#): > > [Grim Fandango](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT4A-MSQgoI) Ha, thanks for this, I haven’t heard that in too long. Grim Fandango is one of my favorite games ever. I’m not even a huge fan of that type of adventure game but Grim Fandango was just magic. I need a balloon worm now… To add to the Final Fantasy love, this was always my favorite. [Final Fantasy Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9J91NDX_HI). I love hearing the new versions of it as the series goes on. ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391/40 "2009-12-12T01:30:10Z")
> [@Terraplane](#): > > Ha, thanks for this, I haven’t heard that in too long. Grim Fandango is one of my favorite games ever. I’m not even a huge fan of that type of adventure game but Grim Fandango was just magic. I need a balloon worm now… > > **To add to the Final Fantasy love, this was always my favorite. [Final Fantasy Theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9J91NDX_HI). I love hearing the new versions of it as the series goes on.** I remember after beating Garland and rescuing the princess and hearing the theme at the _real_ start of the game. At the time, that was the coolest idea ever: Even though I just beat the first boss, the game was only just starting! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-video-game-music/520391.md?page=3)