Video Game Music

[Crazybuddha56]

I just recently bought Banjo-Kazooie from XBLA, my personal favorite game on the N64, and I started thinking how great the music is in the game. It is very recognizable and fun to listen to, as well as sets the tone of each world. I got me wondering, how many other people really notice music in video games and think that good music really enhances a game experience, like me. I love it when the Gears of War or Halo music starts playing when I am. I also love classics like the Mario and Zelda themes. Your thoughts?

 

[CoverYourHead]

I have the Mass Effect album on my iPod. Very relaxing.

 

[Blair Bennett]

I have every single song from the Silent Hill series on my iPod. Part of why I enjoy the soundtrack is because it has a chance of standing on it's own, like, if released in the correct time period, Akira Yamaoka could have released the songs on their own merits.

 

[Flying-Emu]

The Kirby's Dreamland song always gets me pumped.

Some music is just incredibly moving, especially when you develop a bond with the characters portrayed in the game.

 

[Dys]

I always loved the music from LoZ: ocarina of time.
Also the doom and jazz jackrabbit had cool music, from back when I was small.

 

[VaioStreams]

I've been listening to The World Ends With You music lately.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

I've got songs from LittleBigPlanet, GTA IV, Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2, WoW, Ratchet and Clank Future, Starfox Adventures, Starfox: Assault, Starfox: Command, SSBM, SSBB, Earthbound, Portal, Gears of War, Mirror's Edge, Super Mario Galaxy, Halo 3, Twilight Princess, Final Fantasy VII and X, Okami, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, Shadow of the Colossus, Sonic Advance 2 and 3, Sonic Mega Collection, Katamari Damacy, Resident Evil: Outbreak, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and Neverwinter Nights 2 on my iPod.

Yeah, I really like OSTs.

 

[new_age_reject]

I freaking love Gameboy musics.

 

[georgeyboy654]

MGS2 onwards in the series.

Some of, if not the best game soundtracks ever.

 

[jezz8me]

I have the Mass Effect album on my iPod. Very relaxing.

M4, Pt II by Faunts is a brilliant song. Tis game had some of the best ambient electronica i have ever heard.

I have a bunchof songs from the MGS series (the jazzy ones) and some Final Fantasy music.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

MGS2 onwards in the series.

Some of, if not the best game soundtracks ever.

Indeed.
Chrono Cross also had some great music.

 

[hippieshopper]

Final Fantasy 7-9, Xenogears, Parasite Eve, and EVE online.

I love the ambiance of the EVE music.

 

[J-Man]

Mass Effect, Deus Ex, Oni, Just Cause, and some Far Cry 2.

 

[windfish]

Video game music generally peaks at around the same place movie music does - it's largely background music, and many franchises depend on rather generic themes. That said, the best stuff adds to the experience as much as the gameplay does, and includes memorable (not "catchy") and moving themes. When you say you like a piece of music from a video game, it's likely you're talking about a theme, which usually doesn't go through the development necessary to make a complete listening experience when taken alone (even though it easily could, if the composer is ambitious enough - this is usually in the end credit music, when the composer is finally allowed to write some foreground stuff), and at best passes for "ok". As in, you listen to it, but you're also doing something else like homework or chatting or reading. There are only a few video game pieces that stand alone (outside of visuals and gameplay) for pure listening purposes. Even my favorites (Zelda: Twilight Princess music based entirely on developing 3 lietmotifs, Link's Awakening Song of the Windfish, Golden Sun, and the main theme from FFVI) don't function as well as music-for-the-sake-of-music when played alone. When I listen to video game music, I'm probably also doing something else (hopefully, playing the goddamn GAME). When I listen to Stravinsky or Theofanidis or Mahler, I CAN'T do anything else.

 

[WingedFortress]

Metal Gear Solid(The whole series) has always has some great music, likewise with the very first Halo game. My personal favorite though, has always been the music from Sonic 2. Its the soundtrack to the beginning of my life.

 

[Spleeni]

I've found that the stuff by Frank Klepacki was pretty kickass he's the guy who did (most) of the Command and Conquer RTS music. He has his own site with his own music there.

For FREE.

On a jukebox of course, but hey, free is free.

Www.frankklepacki.com
(the box is at the bottom of the page)

HELL MARCH FTW

 

[MSORPG pl4y3r]

I liked the music in Jak 3, to this day I'v been loking for the music that plays over the end credits, I loved that music I used to wander the wasteland just to listen to it. I liked the music in HL2E1. I also liked the Spyro the dragon back ground music, Fable had some good background stuff too, the industrial music in Legendery I thought was good,theres moe but I cant remember it all. I like game music alot.

 

[kezla]

I've recently got into some game soundtracks, Devil May Cry 4, all the FF games (piano versions) and themes from the classics i played when i was younger evoke such memories, alex kidd especially !

 

[Crazybuddha56]

thank you all for appreciating good video game music that is memorable, not catchy.(sorry windfish).