The very best menu themes.

[Barbas]

Do you have any favorites when it comes to video game menu music? Are there any tunes you look forward to when you start up a game for the first time on any particular day? preferably something that has really grown on you over the months or years since you first heard it and now has special significance to you.

Here are two of mine:

Spoiler: Company of Heroes 2.

I think it is a suitably mournful theme for the Eastern Front.


The Freelancer example is one of several themes that plays when you start up the game - each time, you will see one of a number of different shots of the various star systems in the game. The Kusari systems, which took influences from Japan, were among the most serene and jaw-droppingly beautiful in the game. Every bright blue dwarf or dust cloud seemed more benevolent than it was.

* * *​

You can also include any music from those old-world auto-play menus you get before you start up a game. Here's one example that I think used to play when you put in the CD for Half-Life: Opposing Force, though I may have confused it with something else (it was a long time ago):

Spoiler: Burn.

So, go on, then - what holds a special place in your heart?

 

[OneCatch]

Morrowind gets first mention, because it's just epic and fits the feel of the game perfectly. I think the fact that variations on that theme have been used in every subsequent TES release for the last decade speaks for itself.

Also, the Crysis 3 menu theme. It's rather mellow and contrasts nicely with the rather frentic audio that accompanies gameplay!

Spoiler

The Crysis 2 one is rather viciously good as well:

Spoiler

Oh, also, The Metro game menu themes. Suitably dismal and somber. Unfortunately the full version doesn't play in the game, just the first, quiet bit.

Spoiler: video contains some minor gameplay spoilers

 

[shrekfan246]

Spoiler: Halo 2

It's a collection of other tracks from the game, but just... gorram, it's one of the few that has stuck with me over the years, partly because the music continued to play while you were loading up your campaign, and the loading times on the console were pretty long.

Also

Spoiler: Kingdom Hearts

If ever there were a single musical track that exemplified everything I love about the magic and wonder and mystery of video games, it would be "Dearly Beloved". And the fact that they take it and remix it around a bit for each new game just... it's so sublime. It brings back the nostalgia every time, while preparing me for the next adventure I'm going to take. Kingdom Hearts is the only franchise where I've turned the game on and purposely left the main menu running just to listen to the music.

 

[Blitsie]

*ahem*

Spoiler: THE WIIINNND IS PUSHING MEEEEEE

I jest I jest. I've always enjoyed the menu music found in Saboteur, its got this nice classic 50's tone to it with black and white Paris as the backdrop, Nazi's patrolling the place, smidgens of red here and there, just overall perfectly setting the game up for you to sink into. Certainly not the best I've ever encountered, but for some reason I can't think of an example now.

Spoiler: Here ya go

 

[Sean Hollyman]

Mass Effect 2 has 'Suicide Mission' as it's menu theme. I freaking love it. Words cannot describe enough how awesome it is.

And I guess it counts as a menu theme since it plays if you leave it at the menu long enough:

 

[Glongpre]

Oh, that Halo 2 music takes me back

I nominate

Spoiler: Lost Odyssey

Spoiler: FF12

 

[Thedutchjelle]

Skyrim:

Spoiler

Civilization 4, without expansions has Babba Yettu from Christopher Tin. I believe it won some kind of award as well:

Spoiler

Deus Ex 1 and..

Spoiler

..it's successor, Deus Ex: Human revolution:

Spoiler

Slightly older, Allied Assault. Very nice orchestral tune, as soon as I heard it nostalgia hits:

Spoiler

And for a more retro one, Illusion of Gaia/Illusion of Time for the SNES

Spoiler

Such good themes that sometimes I used to just linger and listen to the menu music.

...I hope I didn't just use up all the good themes in one post >_>

 

[Pseudonym]

Well, I feel this needs to be in this thread:

Spoiler: Papers Please

The music is just so perfect for the game.

And lets not forget:

Spoiler: Metroid Fusion

And halo, of course:

Spoiler: Halo, all five of them

 

[Bad Jim]

I think the Lord of Destruction expansion for Diablo 2 should get some appreciation here.

Spoiler

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

Raptor: Call of Shadows. Such a good game. I still play my GOG copy.


One Must Falls menu theme. SO MUCH NOSTALJAH!!!

 

[Cowabungaa]

My all-time favourites are these two:

Spoiler: The Zelda: Wind Waker main theme. Still my favourite Zelda game to date, yes, the folky direction the music went to really did help.

Spoiler: Metroid Prime menu theme, because it's so alien and badass and, well, it needs no explanation.

I often just listened to these for a while before actually starting the game. I would've included Deus Ex: Human Revolution but that's been mentioned already. Same with Baba Yetu.

And here's some others I happen to really like:

Spoiler: The menu music of Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura because I'm an absolute sucker for string instruments.

[/youtube]

Spoiler: Red Alert 3 for awesome communist music.

Spoiler: Red Alert 2 more badass perhaps with more guitars, but not so much of a MOTHERLAND feel.

Spoiler: Tl_V8dMViKM

Same goes for the Duke Nukem 3D main theme, dem guitars yo. Especially the proper Megadeth version.

I would also count most of the Team Fortress 2 music, because that has tracks of it randomly popping up in its menu and they're always fantastic.

 

[GundamSentinel]

*ahem*

Spoiler: THE WIIINNND IS PUSHING MEEEEEE

I jest I jest.

I must say, that one really did grow on me. I actually missed it in Dark Arisen. ^^

Some other menu songs I'd note:

Spoiler: FFX-2. I didn't like the game and never got past the first two hours, but the main menu was worth the purchase.

Spoiler: Armored Core: For Answer. You wouldn't guess this was a game about giant robots. Beautiful.

Spoiler: Metal Gear Solid IV. Whatever Ron Perlman may say, war has changed.

 

[Candidus]

I'm surprised this thread could go three posts without Odin Sphere.

Spoiler

 

[DSK-]

Do you have any favorites when it comes to video game menu music? Are there any tunes you look forward to when you start up a game for the first time on any particular day? preferably something that has really grown on you over the months or years since you first heard it and now has special significance to you.

Here are two of mine:

Spoiler: Company of Heroes 2.

I think it is a suitably mournful theme for the Eastern Front.


The Freelancer example is one of several themes that plays when you start up the game - each time, you will see one of a number of different shots of the various star systems in the game. The Kusari systems, which took influences from Japan, were among the most serene and jaw-droppingly beautiful in the game. Every bright blue dwarf or dust cloud seemed more benevolent than it was.

* * *​

You can also include any music from those old-world auto-play menus you get before you start up a game. Here's one example that I think used to play when you put in the CD for Half-Life: Opposing Force, though I may have confused it with something else (it was a long time ago):

Spoiler: Burn.

So, go on, then - what holds a special place in your heart?

I'll see your Kusari Space and raise you Liberty and Omicron Space!

Spoiler: Liberty Space

Spoiler: Omicron Space

And these are some faves.

Spoiler: Starcraft 1/Brood War

Spoiler: Deus Ex: Human Revolution (pause menu)

Spoiler: Battlefield 2

Spoiler: Unreal Tournament 2003

Spoiler: Unreal Tournament

Spoiler: TES:Oblivion

Spoiler: Civ V

Spoiler: Civ V Gods & Kings

 

[Headsprouter]

Time to strike!


Time to split!


Time to- erm...

I really like this one, too.

 

[FPLOON]

Well, besides Kingdom Hearts,

Spoiler: Persona 3 FES

Spoiler: Persona 4

Spoiler: Tales of Symphonia

Spoiler: Sonic 2006

Spoiler: BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend

these are the one's that come to mind the most when I think of [main] menu themes I like in video games...

 

[josemlopes]

Always liked the theme from GTA 2, all smooth and shit.

The menu theme from Hitman Contracts is also great (it has a slow start bu once it goes its just great)

Also the menu from Splinter Cell Chaos Theory played multiple songs from its soundtrack and since the soundtrack is pure gold I guess you can count that in

 

[Randoman01]

Command and Conquer Black Dawn theme is awesome.

 

[Kinitawowi]

Same as last time this came up (although that thread was more screens than music, admittedly); Barry Leitch's glorious menu music of the Amiga classic, Supercars 2.

And, in as much as there is of a menu in Cannon Fodder...