15 Best Gaming OSTs I've Encountered

[Paragon Fury]

Last week I brought you 15 Things I Learned While Playing Half-Life [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.266293-15-Things-I-Learned-While-Playing-Half-Life#10165014]. While I would like to continue that, due to technical difficulties (translation: I haven't finished the game I want to do yet), I can't.

So this week, I'm doing something different.

Here are the Top 15 Gaming OSTs I've Encountered.

Please note that these can be both single games and game series, not just one or the other. So don't go getting confused.

Now, in no particular order.....

1: Megaman X OST - Perhaps some of the best robot busting music ever assembled.

Storm Eagle's Theme



2: Bayonetta - One of the best soundtracks to any game ever; it can be weird, awesome and motivating, often all at the same time. That and, and Bayonetta does a pole dance to "Fly Me to The Moon", so that counts too.

Greatest Jubilee

Let's Dance Boys!

3: Gears of War - EPIC has an awesome audio team, and no series better demonstrates that better than Gears of War.

Gears 2 - Armored Prayer


4: Halo - Martin O'Donnell is hands down of the most, if not the most talented sound person in gaming today. There is almost no more recognizable audio than that of the Halo games, and it's due to him.

Halo Theme - MJOLNIR MIX


5: World of Warcraft - For an MMO, it has some the best music, particularly for capital cities.

Burning Crusade - The Dark Portal

6: Mass Effect - Mass Effect is an epic game, made more epic by the music. Its pretty much just perfect whenever you need it to be.

Mass Effect 2 - The End Run

7: Battlefield - Though they seem unlikely, the at DICE does a fairly good job with the audio for their games. The classic Battlefield theme is instantly recognizable, even when altered, say for the 2142 opening.

Battlefield 2142 - Opening Theme

8: Assassin's Creed - Something about the OST for ASC is just....moving. Or maybe its just the assassinations getting to me. Either way, its good.

ASCII - Ezio's Family

9: Capcom vs. - The Capcom vs. games have always had....memorable soundtracks. None more so than Marvel vs. Capcom 2. Need I remind of-

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 - I Wanna Take You For A Ride

10: Half-Life - The Half-Life universe has some interesting music. And A lot of it is quite good.

Team Fortress 2 - Playing With Danger

Half-Life 2 - Guard Down

Portal - Still Alive

11: Command and Conquer - Its an RTS, but it has some of the most memorable music around. And none more so than the Red Alert series.

C&C: Red Alert 3 - Soviet March

12: Call of Duty - Though Call of Duty isn't known for its expansive soundtrack, over recent years its earned its own place with more than a few good pieces in its OSTs.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Retreat and Reveille

13: Borderlands - There isn't much better music to treasure hunt to, period. Unless you're Indy.

Borderlands - No Heaven (Champion)

14: Frontlines: Fuel of War - FoW might be a relatively-unknown game, but that doesn't stop the music from being awesome.

FoW - Closer to Home

15: Final Fantasy - Last, but not least. You all knew this was coming; FF would wind up on this, simply because it has like 8,000 @#$#$%@#$ entries. But that doesn't stop it from delivering some suitably epic soundtracks.

Final Fantasy XIII - Battle Theme

Final Fantasy 7 - One Winged Angel

 

[BlindMessiah94]

Cool, can't really say I agree with a lot of them, but it's your opinion.

Thanks for Megaman X on their. People underestimate how awesome their soundtracks are.

I would've personally chosen Sonic the Hedgehog (1,2 or & Knuckles), Chrono Trigger, and Prince of Persia SOT in my list.

 

[Zhukov]

Cool. Some worthy choices there.

Although I couldn't listen to the FFXIII theme for more then 30 seconds without getting horrible flashbacks. Noting wrong with the music per se, but I just can't help but associate it with 16 hours of crushing boredom.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I still think Clint Mansell won't be able to top the ME2 music and the ME3 soundtrack will be cold, bleak and harsh sounding in comparison.

Nice list there, I like a lot of the stuff on it.

That version of the Halo theme is hideous though.

 

[repeating integers]

I would have put the "Heretic, Hero" or maybe "High Charity Suite" up there for Halo's example track, but that one's good too.

I also would have put Homeworld in there:

<youtube=OIUxwEJ-GXI>

But I don't suppose you've played it.

 

[Zhukov]

That version of the Halo theme is hideous though.

Agreed. I clicked that and went, "Ahh, that awesome Halo mus... wait, what the fuck is this?!"

PS. I pray you are wrong about ME3's music. That would be horrible. However, I hear this Mansell fellow has a pretty good record. So fingers crossed eh?

I also would have put Homeworld in there...

Oh yeah. How could I forget about Homeworld?

One of the few games I have seen that managed to nail that feeling of space as the infinite and unknowable void.

 

[repeating integers]

I also would have put Homeworld in there...

Oh yeah. How could I forget about Homeworld?

One of the few games I have seen that managed to nail that feeling of space as the infinite and unknowable void.

Agreed. The music contributed a lot towards the superlative atmosphere of that game (though I think the visuals helped a lot here too - the Karos Graveyard in particular...)

*cough* [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Homeworld-fans-group] - actually, you know what, screw it with the sneaky "cough" links, I'd love it if you joined the Homeworld Fans Group.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

Hmm, not sure if I'd have used the one for Halo that you did, I'm rather enamored with Winter Contingency atm, but it's an OK list. I loved the music in Assassin's Creed. Deos anyone think that they would have been good for the new Dragon Age?

Spoiler: Winter Contingency EDIT: And New Alexandria

 

[Valkyrie1981]

Yeah this is missing Ace Combat 4 Ace Combat 5 Ace Combat: Zero, and Ace Combat 6.... All have some of the best soundtracks ever made, Especially Ace Combat: Zero!!!!! So go listen to the Zero on the Ace Combat: Zero Soundtrack and if you think it doesn't belong on this list go shoot yourself in the head because you just had a epic fail!

 

[JS ibanez]

A good list you've got going here. I liked the assassins creed track. I always liked that one too.

My favorite soundtrack will probably always be Shadow of the Colossus though.

 

[Timmibal]

How the fuck are Inon Zur and Kurt Harland not in this list?

 

[Zhukov]

Agreed. The music contributed a lot towards the superlative atmosphere of that game (though I think the visuals helped a lot here too - the Karos Graveyard in particular...)

Yup, those backgrounds were bloody gorgeous. Well, the backgrounds in HW2 anyway. I never played the original. But I assume it had a similar aesthetic.

Was the Karos Graveyard the one with the blue-ish colour scheme and the huge (huuuuuge) derelict in the background? If so, then yes, agreed. That one really stuck in my mind. Gave a most agreeable feeling of... I dunno... history? Basically, It made me feel like an insect picking through the crumbling remnants of something ancient, immense and infinitely greater then myself.

...

This post is turning into outright fan-wank. I'll shut up now.

 

[Xaositect]

Mass Effect 2 doesnt deserve to represent the series with music.

A load of mostly bland character themes and a few crappy musical segements cant really compete with the variation of themes from the first game. That games soundtrack really stuck to the influences of the Mass Effect universe well, and had amazing storyline moments to back it up.

ME2 is mostly themes to shoot mooks to.

Plus no Icewind Dale or Total Annihilation kinda disappoints as well. On the whole I cant say I agree much with the list, but its personal, so what the hell.

 

[sylekage]

I actually love most of the stuff on your list, I have a bunch of game songs in my music collection. Speaking of mega man, have you heard the Passing of the Blue Crown? Awesome, awesome song. Great list.

 

[GeorgW]

I've always loved game OSTs.
I agree with you for a lot of these. However, I HATE your nr 9, MvC 2. That damn infinite loop used to drive me insane.
I feel you missed Homeworld, Civilisation and Heroes of might and magic though.

 

[T8B95]

Agreed. I clicked that and went, "Ahh, that awesome Halo mus... wait, what the fuck is this?!"

PS. I pray you are wrong about ME3's music. That would be horrible. However, I hear this Mansell fellow has a pretty good record. So fingers crossed eh?

One of the few games I have seen that managed to nail that feeling of space as the infinite and unknowable void.

If by has a good record, you mean composed one of the most instantly memorable strings orchestra's in the 20th century.

Can't seem to get video to upload, so here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSY4Yi2ypno

 

[Xaositect]

If by has a good record, you mean composed one of the most instantly memorable strings orchestra's in the 20th century.

Can't seem to get video to upload, so here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSY4Yi2ypno

Yeah, well keep in mind that for some its not instantly memorable because of its quality, but because its like dogshit: its everywhere you look.

Personally that song has never done anything for me bar piss me off at how many times people insist on playing it.

 

[JS ibanez]

Gotta thank you OP! Reminded me how much I quietly and subconsciously enjoyed the Assassins Creed 2 soundtrack. Downloaded it now and giving it my full attention. Its so beautifully done.