# Video game music that sends chills up your spine **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 23, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676 "2017-06-23T12:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/21 "2017-06-24T00:30:47Z")
My brother was lucky enough to snag a Nintendo Classic during the few weeks they were available. I’ve played it a few times and the nostalgia is pretty powerful. Last weekend, I was there for Father’s Day (he lives with my folks) and put in a good few hours on the thing. Lots of music has really taken me back, even with only the couple dozen games this system offers. In no particular order: Punch Out, title bout cut scene; SMB2, desert tune; SMB3, toad house; Metroid, when you collect a new weapon or ability. The title screen theme is great, too; Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest, mansion music; Tecmo Bowl, between quarters; If I had to pick the most spine tingling, it would be that weird, wobbly song that plays when a Reaper spots Pit in Kid Icarus. Side note, this game is a lot harder than I remembered. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/22 "2017-06-24T01:31:39Z")
The Cosmo Canyon theme from FFVII. Eyes On You, from FFVIII. There’s a lot of great music in other games, but those are the only two I can think of that stir any emotions other than general happiness or ‘gogogogogo!’ ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/23 "2017-06-24T02:20:21Z")
_Defcon_, from Introversion Software, has a eerily effective soundtrack; it was available on iTunes, and I got it. _Imperium Galactica II_ had an awesome soundtrack, if you like electronica in the least bit. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/24 "2017-06-24T04:09:33Z")
[People of the North Pole](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E4iAuw70cQ) from _Final Fantasy X,_ as the party climbs Mount Gagazet. [Besaid Island](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2SHDFt8pSc) from the same game. Really, the entire FFX soundtrack is phenomenal. ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/25 "2017-06-24T07:06:28Z")
The soundtrack for Horizon Zero Dawn is simply amazing. Like, [Hollywood-blockbuster-oscar-winning-quality amazing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjIZiU2fxq4). My favourite is #39, [A Wanderer’s Work](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUIsDwlGpQs). ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/26 "2017-06-24T07:11:27Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > From Eternal Darkness: > I wouldn’t really call this music but it’s really spooky: > > There’s also some music they play when you start going insane that’s quite creepy as well. > > The music they use in Shadowman when he’s going though the “kindergarten” is creepy as well. Now that is a creepy piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/27 "2017-06-24T07:48:45Z")
This occurred to me: Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin as played in [Civilization IV.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e0Qelqp-Cc) ---
**Author:** ![Covfefe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/28 "2017-06-24T11:19:49Z")
Some of the Ecco the Dolphin soundtrack, [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJOMQkiBdEA) being the crown jewel ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/29 "2017-06-24T14:16:55Z")
[Troubled Souls](http://macintoshgarden.org/games/troubled-souls) had amazing background music. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/30 "2017-06-24T18:56:05Z")
[Melodies of Life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__tgvpiKTfE) from Final Fantasy IX. There are many renditions but this particular piano recording is the only version, I think, that really captures the essence of the piece. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/31 "2017-06-25T06:19:10Z")
Red Dead Redemption: “Far Away” ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2017, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/32 "2017-06-26T05:11:33Z")
[Planescape: Torment.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXF9I6OykBc) All of it, really. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/33 "2017-06-27T16:59:20Z")
In terms of actual chills (as opposed to just “video game music that you like”), I submit: The full soundtrack to [Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImFA7F571TA) [This song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR5KSkifbXk) from Valkyrie Profile ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/34 "2017-06-28T00:18:34Z")
The first PC game that was released solely on CD-ROM was [The 7th Guest](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yhgme8Wufo); it even came with a second (music) CD of just the theme. This should bring back some memories! ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/35 "2017-06-28T01:45:24Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > From Eternal Darkness: > I wouldn’t really call this music but it’s really spooky: > > There’s also some music they play when you start going insane that’s quite creepy as well. > > The music they use in Shadowman when he’s going though the “kindergarten” is creepy as well. That is one of my favorite games, sad that the design team and the sequal fell apart so badly ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/36 "2017-06-28T03:18:20Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > This occurred to me: Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin as played in [Civilization IV.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e0Qelqp-Cc) +1. It’s an amazing piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/37 "2017-06-28T03:43:22Z")
I love Christopher Tin’s music in Civilization. Civilization VI’s [opening theme](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjOkZa8z9_UAhVOyWMKHdriBHQQtwIIKzAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dy2aB_uXLVSA&usg=AFQjCNGuw05vunura5mnCaeSH-ECDz7OBw) makes me want to go out and plant my flag in a heretofore undiscovered continent. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/38 "2017-06-28T03:58:15Z")
When I was little I found the music to Marble Madness scary, but I guess that’s not what you’re asking. ---
**Author:** ![gladtobeblazed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@gladtobeblazed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gladtobeblazed)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/39 "2017-06-28T05:21:50Z")
The entire soundtrack of **Ori and the Blind Forest** was amazing. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/76qRF5-qvZM/maxresdefault.jpg "Ori and the Blind Forest – Main Theme [Menu Music]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76qRF5-qvZM) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaiJKLROq5M) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676/40 "2017-06-28T05:29:09Z")
This is a cheat, but on the spine-chilling scale nothing beats Barber’s [Adagio for Strings](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQsgE0L450), which appeared in _Homeworld_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-game-music-that-sends-chills-up-your-spine/789676.md?page=3)