Vigil from Mass Effect. I think it's the song playing when you first get the galaxy map, and playing that game and seeing the world open up while hearing that song really put me in a great mood.
Later found out it's steeped in history as it's a cover/adaptation of a 1943 anti-fascist song written in French by Russian-born Anna Marly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Marly
The perfect synchronicity of the Metal song and the player character pumping their shotgun at the end of the opening sequence of DOOM (2016) when they exit the elevator towards the surface of Mars.
I remember most people thought that the Metallica tune they used for the original doom was Master of Puppets but the devs said it was No Remorse, heavily tweaked of course.
This is at first so beautiful, and later on it just hits so hart. And listening to the other versions, japanese where the performer even cries, and chaos (a fantasy language) (video with spoilers, sadly), this is such a great piece of art. The perfect bittersweet song.
Gareth Coker, Austin Wintory, Darren Korb, Chris Christodolou, and Lena Raine are the absolute gods of videogame composers. Honourable mention for disasterpeace and C418.
Dude! My most unpopular opinion has always been that b track of tetris was more of a banger than the version! I've received dozens of down votes over it!
Gotta say, nobody knows this game and rare are thoses who even played it, can it even be considered as a video game track, but i will say the first theme from Irisu Syndrome!
A lot of the old Apple II game sounds mainly due to just growing up playing on an Apple II. The Ultima series had some of the best music. Ultima IIIUltima IV
Oh actually also the Italy round of Road Rash 3. I once worked in an Italian restaurant and would whistle this without knowing it was taken from some famous Italian opera, and the owner asked me how I knew the music, and I didn't have the heart to tell him.
The whole game is a wild, 2000's anime fever dream and worth checking out even if you're not into bullet hells. The primary mechanic involves building up gems from enemy kills that allow you to activate a power up to slow time. When time is slowed, any enemy you kill has their bullets cancelled and added to your score, so it encourages you to build up insane amounts of bullets on screen before going bullet time and killing everything. With this insane, trance-y soundtrack playing in the background it is a V I B E.
I think this might be at a sweet spot between being a well-known track and an unexpected top choice to answer this question - Kefka's theme is iconic.
I'd still put FF6 as my top game soundtrack, but I'll admit it's easily possible that's just a consequence of me not playing many games the past couple decades.
Aye it's a shame that Jeremy soule won't be doing tes6 iirc there was some kind of meetoo case involving him, then again I don't have my hopes up for tes6 being anything more than all the other tripe Bethesda has put out in recent years
Original music: probably everything Solar Fields did for Mirror's Edge. Not original: No Rest for the Wicked is perfect for Borderlands. Hard choices though, there's a lot of good shit out there.
I'm just gonna say Rainbow Cliffs from the Ty the Tasmanian Tiger OST, just because it has been my ringtone for a few years now and I still can't get enough of it.
Runner up is probably The Reverse Will from the Silent Hill 2 OST (original, not remake)
Towards Utopia (Nova Flare) from Stellaris, but I will say one of my favorite things in a video game is when suddenly a character sings a musical number, like The Great Mighty Poo from Conkers Bad Fur Day or Cosmic I from Psychonauts 2
Probably nostalgia but guild wars 1 specially prophecies ( the first / base game ) had some absolute bangers for an mmorp and specially fitted for zones.
The volumes this song speaks through it's atmosphere is incredible. The raw emotions and feelings of isolation are better conveyed through this song than words ever can in my opinion
My scrobbles say I've listened to this single song for more than 9 hours over the years... I have so many emotions bottled up in this song lol
The track during the balcony scene from the first Blade Runner point-n-click adventure game. Came out in 1997.
It's Vangelis' iconic Blade Runner Blues
Vigil from Mass Effect. I think it's the song playing when you first get the galaxy map, and playing that game and seeing the world open up while hearing that song really put me in a great mood.
Tristram from Diablo
Guile's theme from Street Fighter 2
they still play in my head regularly, 30 or so years later
Mick Gordon and Tex Perkins track from Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, called The Partisan. Fantastic end piece to the game.
https://mickgordon.bandcamp.com/album/the-partisan-feat-tex-perkins
Later found out it's steeped in history as it's a cover/adaptation of a 1943 anti-fascist song written in French by Russian-born Anna Marly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Marly
I have a Mick Gordon from Doom in my regular playlist
To Zanarkand just does something...
There are a lot of good songs, but today I will pick Megalovania by Toby Fox. https://youtu.be/KK3KXAECte4
Red Alert Hell March
https://youtu.be/e3YzmjmAGoI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D0WnZyxp_Wo
The perfect synchronicity of the Metal song and the player character pumping their shotgun at the end of the opening sequence of DOOM (2016) when they exit the elevator towards the surface of Mars.
The soundtrack for that game was absolutely incredible. I still listen to the BFG song on Spotify all the time lol
I remember most people thought that the Metallica tune they used for the original doom was Master of Puppets but the devs said it was No Remorse, heavily tweaked of course.
I'm partial to the original Dwarf Fortress music
A classic! I do also love Simon Swerwer's work on the official steam DF OST
Cassette Beasts OST is amazing. "Wherever we are now" is probably my favorite.
Hard to pick just 1, so here's a list of ones I deem notable from a few different games:
Sonic 3: Ice Cap Zone Act 1
Yes the old one. I don’t know what they decided to replace it for origins.
Plok - Beach
Some really good beats packed into the SNES.
NieR: Automata - Weight of the World
This is at first so beautiful, and later on it just hits so hart. And listening to the other versions, japanese where the performer even cries, and chaos (a fantasy language) (video with spoilers, sadly), this is such a great piece of art. The perfect bittersweet song.
Chemical Plant Zone, Sonic 2.
There were some bangers in that game, Mystic Cave and Metropolis had killer tracks also
A lot of good music on the Genesis Sega games.
The Great Sea from Wind Waker.
I'm sure nostalgia plays a part, but I'm a sucker for those classic Kondo tracks.
Dragon roost island had such a hooking melody
The entire Megaman 2 soundtrack.
Double Dragon
Punch Out
Ocarina of time - lost woods
MegaMan X soundtrack
MegaMan 3 was the one that did it for me.
Super Glove Ball on NES had a banger soundtrack as well
I have a new obsession: Sea of Stars
https://youtu.be/Xer_vasWKGQ
FTL
Easily Mythic Power from Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. Especially in the context in-game the track is first dropped, it's incredible.
This is gonna be an old cut but Paperboy the arcade by Atari frickin slaps.
Chiptunes hit different
Too many to list.
Bonus:
Gareth Coker, Austin Wintory, Darren Korb, Chris Christodolou, and Lena Raine are the absolute gods of videogame composers. Honourable mention for disasterpeace and C418.
David Wise would like a word. And Koji Kondo. Also I hate to say it but Jeremy Soule too.
You're right, all 3 of them were absolutely monumental in their haydays
There it is... now I've got Tetris tune stuck in my head! Thank you good sir for this great gift! x)
To me it's always been the B version of the original Tetris. This and most of Megaman X
Dude! My most unpopular opinion has always been that b track of tetris was more of a banger than the version! I've received dozens of down votes over it!
Well many people can be wrong at the same time!
The Boomer Kuwanger theme is a banger. This might be my favorite version though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqMqOIa9vnk
Nice!
Ooh...I have an entire playlist of my favorite OSTs. Long term, I'd have to say One-Winged Angel, specifically the remake. Also worth mentioning:
Dark Soul 3 main theme
Feel from Lies of P
Dependent Weakling from Nier, specifically this version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePXlfGufSjk&t=0
Gran tursimo 4 menu music.
Gotta say, nobody knows this game and rare are thoses who even played it, can it even be considered as a video game track, but i will say the first theme from Irisu Syndrome!
I don’t know about “absolute favorite”, but the Spanish Waltz / Shop theme from Castle Crashers routinely loops in my head
https://youtu.be/dLchXp8FCbI
A lot of the old Apple II game sounds mainly due to just growing up playing on an Apple II. The Ultima series had some of the best music. Ultima III Ultima IV
Metroid Prime OST, too many good options to pick just one.
Metal Gear Solid ending theme, the best is yet to come.
25 years later, it still gives me goosebumps and tears.
Thank you M. Kojima.
Humm hard to pick, my recent top two favourites are
The Legacy of Bhaal (BG3) https://youtu.be/kbQQAg3IPM8
Lord of Frenzied Flame (Elden Ring SOTE) actually, this whole OST is insanely good. Base game slaps as well
https://youtu.be/SHwLbyDlqG0
Menu screen for crackdown
Keke animation on top
It's a deep cut but I used to play a ton of The Incredible Machine as a kid and the Zydeco song has always been a banger.
Higher quality remixed version from the 3DO version
It has to one of these two for me, hard to pick: The Chersonese soundtrack from Outward or Fear Not This Night from Guild Wars 2.
The Outward one hits especially hard while adventuring through Chersonese!
Edit: typo
The outward soundtrack is something different.
I don't know why my brain refuses to let it go, but Graeme Norgate's Astrolander from Timesplitters 2 is short and very sweet.
Also theres the opening theme from Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters.
Oh actually also the Italy round of Road Rash 3. I once worked in an Italian restaurant and would whistle this without knowing it was taken from some famous Italian opera, and the owner asked me how I knew the music, and I didn't have the heart to tell him.
Well jeez, I didn't expect to find an Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters reference here, especially this late to the party.
Here's another good source if you're interested.
The stage one music is a banger too.
Mass Effect 3 - Leaving Earth
Scored by the great Clint Mansell, also check out The Fountain OST.
Been getting into bullet hells lately and the OST for Espgaluda slaps so hard, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJSlYmeW_es&list=PL6N1UyX9iZqvHkgNTslgU0ivl2jiLjNk2&index=6
The whole game is a wild, 2000's anime fever dream and worth checking out even if you're not into bullet hells. The primary mechanic involves building up gems from enemy kills that allow you to activate a power up to slow time. When time is slowed, any enemy you kill has their bullets cancelled and added to your score, so it encourages you to build up insane amounts of bullets on screen before going bullet time and killing everything. With this insane, trance-y soundtrack playing in the background it is a V I B E.
I remember the Re/Volt track. All their track kinda got me into electronic music growing up.
I think this might be at a sweet spot between being a well-known track and an unexpected top choice to answer this question - Kefka's theme is iconic.
I'd still put FF6 as my top game soundtrack, but I'll admit it's easily possible that's just a consequence of me not playing many games the past couple decades.
I'm partial to Terra's theme, but yeah, that whole OST is amazing.
My mind landed on Stickerbush Symphony from Donkey Kong Country 2 and kinda settled there. David Wise is damn good at composing video game music.
I really love the Soundtrack from Yoshis Island. Especially the beginning from the second Level. That bass is Burnt into my memories.
Three way tie:
The Last of US : Horizon Zero Dawn: Morrowind
Morrowind title song is etched forever in my brain, bom bom bom bom tuuh duuh duh tuuh duuh duh plays and the yearn for adventure starts
I love how slowly it builds too.
Aye it's a shame that Jeremy soule won't be doing tes6 iirc there was some kind of meetoo case involving him, then again I don't have my hopes up for tes6 being anything more than all the other tripe Bethesda has put out in recent years
That is a really bad sign. The music of Morrowind just set the mood perfectly!
And I agree with you on Bethesda recent offerings.
Original music: probably everything Solar Fields did for Mirror's Edge. Not original: No Rest for the Wicked is perfect for Borderlands. Hard choices though, there's a lot of good shit out there.
“Duh nuh nuh naaaaaah! Dun nuh nuh naaaaah! Dun nuh nuh naaaah!….”
The early sneaking into the castle during the rain music from the beginning of A Link to the Past?
The Halo warthog run music.
Max Payne 2: ”Late Goodbye” by Poets of the Fall.
https://youtu.be/GYLdQZQ0YT8 Distant Worlds II: The Prelude, if that counts as a video game track.
https://youtu.be/STPnXPSirT0 With this as continuation.
https://youtu.be/lndBgOrTWxo Otherwise Stickerbush Symphony.
"I wanna take ya for a riddee~"
Skyrim OST "unbroken road". It fits the open world vibes perfectly.
Expedition Society theme from Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon. Has some commie marching song vibes.
Riversong - Tonto's Expanding Head Band (Universal Paperclip)
Ordinary from NFS:Hot Pursuit 2
I'm just gonna say Rainbow Cliffs from the Ty the Tasmanian Tiger OST, just because it has been my ringtone for a few years now and I still can't get enough of it.
Runner up is probably The Reverse Will from the Silent Hill 2 OST (original, not remake)
Razorback - motorstorm Pacific rift
Stoic Porridge (Grit Gate) - Caves of Qud OST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLXwXzYheUg
Solace.
Towards Utopia (Nova Flare) from Stellaris, but I will say one of my favorite things in a video game is when suddenly a character sings a musical number, like The Great Mighty Poo from Conkers Bad Fur Day or Cosmic I from Psychonauts 2
race against fate from metro exodus
Fortress of Doors from the American McGee's Alice OST.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz8dOeZCMjE&list=PLE6593A6F00DB9E4B&index=4
Missing You - Kingdom Hearts II
Probably Coalescence from Risk of Rain 1
Laura Shigihara - Everything's Alright from To The Moon.
That game made me weep like a baby, so even now, some ten years after playing it for the first time, that song still stirs up those feelings.
And for much the same reason, Daniel Lanois - That's The Way It Is from Red Dead 2.
If you've played it long enough to hear that song, you understand.
Probably nostalgia but guild wars 1 specially prophecies ( the first / base game ) had some absolute bangers for an mmorp and specially fitted for zones.
https://youtu.be/Xi3uIEEhxo8
Justin E Bell - All Gods from pillars of eternity
https://youtu.be/2bqVB1MCN2c
Rusted apart from the unravel. That music is just too good
Metal gear solid- the best is yet to come
Just one?
Portal - Self Esteem Fund by Kelly Bailey
The volumes this song speaks through it's atmosphere is incredible. The raw emotions and feelings of isolation are better conveyed through this song than words ever can in my opinion
My scrobbles say I've listened to this single song for more than 9 hours over the years... I have so many emotions bottled up in this song lol
Dearly Beloved
The track during the balcony scene from the first Blade Runner point-n-click adventure game. Came out in 1997. It's Vangelis' iconic Blade Runner Blues
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 OST Carrotus