soundtracks

[plastic_window]

Has anyone noticed how good gaming soundtracks are getting? I'm not talking about things like Rock Band and GH - even though it is nice to see the trust the music industry is placing in games these days - I mean games like Oblivion, Halo or Bioshock that have some proper, purpose-built music that pulls you deeper into the really high-octane moments or just enhance something you see to make it truly beautiful. Recently I looked through my games library and came out with a generous selection of games that really impressed me with their music. I could give you that list, but I'm kinda hoping the games I'm thinking of are the games you might be thinking of too. It just makes me pleased to see the effort people are putting into making games sound truly brilliant, even when you're listening to them away from the game itself.

Has anyone got an opinion of the greatest soundtrack to accompany a game? (This is also open to the track-lists from the instrumental games)

 

[Stammer]

Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy XI, and both Dark Cloud games.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

Must. Resist. Urge. To. Say. Audiosurf.
Screw it, Audiosurf

 

[Lazy Lemon]

Metal Gear Solid games always have awesome soundtracks. Apart from the James Bond style song on Snake Eater. At first I thought that was just meant to be a joke, given that the game is set in the 60s and is about spys. But now I'm starting to realise that they were being serious. Max Payne 1 & 2 also have good ones. Fits in very well with the noir style of the games.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

You may want to have a look at this discussion [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.62008?page=1] of original soundtracks. Some interesting titles got mentioned there.

One I forgot to mention in that thread, though, is the old arcade stand-by Outrun. It was an excellent marriage of style and gameplay.

-- Steve

 

[Phowks]

Katamari Damacy anyone?

 

[Silver]

It's not a new phenomenon that soundtracks are good and immersive. Age of Empires (1), Diablo (1) and many other old games have amazing soundtracks.

The best one ever is Fatal hearts though, by far.

 

[mjhhiv]

I vote for both God of War games. Now those are what all action games should use as soundtracks.

 

[zen5887]

I reaaally like the FF7 soundtrack ..So so good

Im thinking of getting into game compostion *thinking face*

 

[A Username Not In Use]

I wish they would release more game soundtracks of CD, I have a few but I woukd really like to expand what I've got

What I do own

Skies of Arcadia
Tales of Symphonia
Beyond Good & Evil is proberbly my favorite of what I own
Super Mario 64
Sonic 2
A comperlation of Legend of Zelda opening themes from the first game to Wind Waker
And a single track from Spyro the Dragon on a best of Stewart Copeland CD

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

Katamari Damacy anyone?

Katamari Damacy indeed.

Age of Conan has an absolutely -epic- soundtrack. I'm also a fan of Devil May Cry 3's soundtrack.

 

[Juan Regular]

The Silent Hill soundtracks are all amazing. The release of a new SH game always makes me look forward to the soundtrack as well. And in "the room's" and "origins'" cases, I found the soundtrack to be even better than the actual game.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

Even though I mentioned it in the last one, it deserves repeating:

Eternal Sonata ("Trusty Bell ~Chopin's Dream~") is pure bliss.

 

[Hamster at Dawn]

The original Spyro the Dragon games had music by Stewart Copeland from The Police.
Some pretty good tunes in there.

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

Don't suppose anyone has a link to where I could download the Kane & Lynch soundtrack? They included it with certain copies of the game but you can't download it. That guitar and drum tune is awesome...

 

[SimpleReally]

Final Fantasy 6 is way ahead of its time in this

honorable mentions go to final fantasy tactics, soul calibur and warcraft

 

[Fronken]

Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind probably has the best gaming soundtrack ever, atleast according to me, i still listen to its soundtrack every now and then.
Oblivion was good, but nothing compared to what it derived from. (not sure if that sentence actually made any sense, but hey, who gives a doodle)

 

[Nickson]

I've always really enjoyed the "Brothers in Arms" soundtracks. The "Road to Hill 30" is better than "Earned in Blood" but they're are both awesome. If you've never heard it, its sort of like "Saving Private Ryan".

 

[plastic_window]

[EDIT]
Shit, sorry; I didn't realise this subject had already been covered, but then that's pretty ignorant of me, since you've pointed out that gaming soundtracks have never been just been an afterthought.

For me, Portal has the best soundtrack I've heard. It's really atmospheric and sinister and just fits into the game like a dream.

 

[Colodomoko]

Halo-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lceOdKYFzrw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLS5NShCwzA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9SbzVbpgMA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWkfeeFpSXo&feature=related

Half life-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctO_BC-Ccu0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0742u7ogNBA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv7yD3mBj-Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOOuZ2te56s&feature=related

Resident evil-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqUfSMt1T1A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2d4k1Yu1ZY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ENKI9dgokc&feature=related

I could go on, but it would take me forever. Enjoy.