The single greatest piece of video game music

[Valiance]

Oh, and just so people know, It's by Jeremy Soule [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Soule] of Morrowind/Oblvion soundtrack fame.

Dear God, not that twat again. Everything he does sounds EXACTLY the bloody same!
Since I've already done this rant before, if you are interested look under this rock [http://shinshiroken.blogspot.com/2011/03/battle-of-composers-jeremy-soule-vs.html].

Well, this was in 1997. This was the first time he was composing for a game, and the first (and only, maybe?) time he worked with a live orchestra to record the music. It came out fantastic, and it has a much different and higher energy than his later stuff like Fallout 3, Oblivion, and Supreme Commander, which have more of a subdued feeling to them. I still think his work on TA is some of his best - at least listen to a couple songs from there. They sound much different than his later work to me.

 

[ladubois]

...I'll give it a try. Admittedly, I know little of Morrowind...

 

[WhatIsThisIDontEven]

Tetris theme song. CLassic

 

[Amphoteric]

Don't want to comment on best but this is one of my favourites. Suitably epic. A shame Jack Wall is getting replaced for ME3, his music was getting better and better.

Atleast he is getting replaced by someone competent...

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

Mass effect music was always awesome

 

[Rodrigo Girao]

"Sona Mi Areru Ec Sancitu", closing theme of Panzer Dragoon Saga (best RPG ever).




Lyrics + translation

Spoiler

Caelum hume sitien taire
Vertus sahrel shamasantia
Ecce valde generous ale posselna volucritus

(( In the sky, the earth, and the beloved sea,
The Knower of Truth hath appeared
Look - The precious Winged One takes flight ))

Sona areru ec paldeel?
Sona mi areru ec sancitu?
Ale posselna volucritus

(( Art thou the bringer of ruin?
Art thou the holy one?
The Winged One takes flight ))

Tenna prena posteri dire
Vertus narrel mea chorus
Aude valde generous sana fiare actertis

(( I shall tell you the wishes of time,
I shall sing the tale of truth
Listen - That precious voice spins the everlasting story ))

Sona areru ec paldeel?
Sona mi areru ec sancitu?
Sana fiare actertisia

(( Art thou the bringer of ruin?
Art thou the holy one?
That voice spins the everlasting story ))

 

[Valiance]

...I'll give it a try. Admittedly, I know little of Morrowind...

I do think he's dropped off a bit, don't get me wrong...I wouldn't even say he's my favorite composer, but I do like his stuff.

Some of my other favorites include:

Alexander Brandon - Jazz Jack Rabbit 2, Unreal Tournament, Tyrian
David Wise - Donkey Kong Country/Diddy Kong Racing (all of them), Battletoads
Tommy Tallarico - Earthworm Jim, MDK, Wild 9, Prince of Persia + countless others
Frank Klepacki - Every C&C game except Generals and 4, Universe at War
Bobby Prince/Lee Jackson - Duke Nukem 3D, Rise of the Triad, Major Stryker
Bill Brown - C&C Generals, Rainbow 6 series, Lineage II
Matt Uelmen & Glenn Stafford - Lots and lots of Blizzard's music for all games
Mark Klem - Wacky Wheels (but Wacky Wheels had such a good soundtrack so it gets listed!)

And if you're looking for a more eastern feel, check out Isao Abe, Taro Bando, especially Nobue Uematsu, and most definitely Junichi Masuda. Those last 2 are responsible for pretty much all Final Fantasy and Pokemon music, respectively.

OH! I almost forgot Joe Abbati. The soundtrack he did for Operation Body Count (1994) practically created the "dubstep" sound like 15 years before it became popular.

 

[Ace2401]

Theme of Laura from Silent Hill 2 hands down. Here's the intro video it plays in:

 

[Apprentice88]

ROHRING STARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT!!!!

 

[Superior Mind]

Don't want to comment on best but this is one of my favourites. Suitably epic. A shame Jack Wall is getting replaced for ME3, his music was getting better and better.

Atleast he is getting replaced by someone competent...

Agreed, definitely. But as great as Mansell is, Mass Effect is/was Wall's and he should have been the one to conclude it.

 

[Infernai]

This easilly:


What is it that people always say? Oh yeah! [/thread]

 

[Zacharious-khan]

"Key of Twilight" From .hack i believe its in the games as well as the anime.

 

[Wolfwind]

"Healing Grounds" from Prince of Persia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw1Mw0x_l1c&feature=related

It's just such a great sounding piece. Whenever I listen to it, I just imagine being somewhere that hasn't seen human footsteps in centuries, where nature rules. It has such an "Uncharted" or "Indiana Jones" type of feel to it.

 

[HandsomeZer0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWtYmOdSME4

Easily the best.

 

[kyogen]

Nier - The Wretched Automatons

Something about this song i just absolutely adore. I can listen to it almost nonstop and not get sick of it. Which i usually play it a few times a day. My GF is about ready to murder me about now.

Nier - The Lost Forest

Wretched Automatons is also great.

 

[moosek]

Mega Man 2's Castle music (1&2) really resonates with me. It's like a 8-bit version of Mass Effect 2 OST's Suicide Mission.

 

[The_Vigilant]

But as great as Mansell is, Mass Effect is/was Wall's and he should have been the one to conclude it.

Agree, agree, agree. This could be its own thread. His composition gave those games like 70% of their character and feeling of legitimacy. Many of the tracks could be justifiably mentioned in this topic.

I really hope Clint Mansell doesn't drop the ball. I know his work is always fantastic, but a continuation of the game's tone and personality is important to me, and music is so critical to that end.

 

[AgDr_ODST]

its not straight off any Castlevania games OST but for a cover(as I put it) It's so amazing that I feel I must nominate it:

 

[Elijah Ball]

original halo theme song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5yVOFokLVY

Edit: Shiz, i forgot about the Gerudo Valley song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PGdcUDwhQs that's definitely a close second

 

[TheJazzyH]

A lot of my choices have already been taken, so I'll go with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXDGT1JixPk&feature=view_all&list=PLDDC56F4F64140A32&index=120
Discovering the soundtrack on iTunes was the first thing that got me interested in TWEWY.

Another recent favorite of mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoNenPST-Z4&feature=view_all&list=PLDDC56F4F64140A32&index=93

Secret of Mana has a chilling title theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQChkLQV8_c&feature=view_all&list=PLDDC56F4F64140A32&index=48.
It is also what I like to call "music that glues you to the menu".

 

[Revolution -X-]

Lavender Town theme from the original Pokemon.

So many conspiracies and CreepyPasta, it's easily the weirdest piece of music from a video game ever.

I didn't plan on getting to sleep tonight anyway. Thanks.