The very best menu themes.

[Ihrgoth]

Payday 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDDQXY5JyM8

 

[Slenn]

Some of my personal favorites have already been mentioned, like Metroid Prime 1 and 2, Tales of Symphonia. But here's a few that hit me close to home:

Spoiler: The menu theme for Armored Core 3 and Silent Line.

Spoiler: Also the original Starcraft menu is great. That game has lasted on my top 5 list for more than a decade.

Spoiler: And of course.... For Doomhammer!

 

[Private Custard]

The one that instantly popped into my head was the music from the combat simulator menu in Perfect Dark. Nothing has ever wound me up for a kill-fest quite like this!

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

Because why not? This music is fucking beautiful and it just makes me happy and sad while listening to it. Final Fantasy XIII is one of my favorite games of all time and the score helps justify it.

Putting this here for my nostalgic little mind. Gears of War was the first real last gen game I played, so I hold it dear to my heart, including the theme song. Excuse me while I make more chainsaw noises.

 

[Aeshi]

I think my favorites would be:

Spoiler: Spiral Knights Title Screen Track

One of the comments for this said it best: "you could fall asleep to this"

Spoiler: Armored Core: Verdict Day World Map Theme 2

I'm not ashamed to say I picked Venide as my faction purely for this track alone.

Alt Version:

Spoiler: World of Tanks Login Screen

Fits the tank-filled garages perfectly IMO.

 

[Raku-Gosha]

*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

NO don't jest good sir. That song is so fucking stupid in an epic way, first time I booted the game up, I thought I got screwed with a rip off game disc, Shame they removed it in Dark Arisen.

OT: I haven't seen this one mentioned yet but I found Rogue Galaxy's opening theme interesting. Random gibberish choir ha ha.

Spoiler: from the start till the minute mark

 

[teqrevisited]

Spoiler: The 8 that I could think of right now. Double spoilered to save space.

Spoiler: PS1 Doom.

Spoiler: SOCOM

Spoiler: SOCOM 2

Spoiler: Warcraft 2 (I'm playing through this at the moment. Getting my arse handed to me on Human XI)

Spoiler: Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Spoiler: Tomb Raider (TR1)

Spoiler: Worms

Spoiler: Armored Core

I'm sure there are many more that I'll remember afterwards, on top of things that have been mentioned like Deus Ex.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Because why not? This music is fucking beautiful and it just makes me happy and sad while listening to it. Final Fantasy XIII is one of my favorite games of all time and the score helps justify it.

Awwww yes! The soundtrack in the XIII series is incredible. I'll never tire of listening to Saber's Edge, best boss battle theme ever.

 

[Voulan]

Everyone's already mentioned my favourites: Morrowind, Skyrim, Mirror's Edge, Deus Ex: HR, and Kingdom Hearts (and every other KH game with its own variation of Dearly Beloved).

 

[Arnoxthe1]

You guys have all mentioned my faves as well. Freelancer, UT, Morrowind, etc.

I think it's time to mix things up with something I'm pretty darn sure none of you have heard.

I present Jesper Kyd's AMOK Theme. He did this one before he became a big name in the industry. How's that for some history?


That wasn't even his best piece in the game though. Most of the soundtrack for that game is, to this day, pretty darn good, if heavily computerized.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

A lot of good stuff here. One that hasn't been mentioned yet is Persona 2.

Spoiler

So dark and mournful, really sets the tone for the game.

 

[mindfaQ]

There are a lot of good menu themes and some good ones have been mentioned here, already.
Some other:
Turrican, despite being so old, many people will probably recognize this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0TAU35QS-8
Pinball Fantasies, sometimes I just let the menu run until my favorite part of the music came up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTLhWXv2I4A
Lotus III, gets you pumped: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgGSBoivBIY
Unreal Tournament music was generally awesome and the menu warmed you up for it decently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX5CpBfTg4o
Mirror's Edge's menu theme was nicely uplifting and gave off the spirit of freedom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIaMxEjDHDw

 

[Ten Foot Bunny]

Wow... lots of love for Morrowind! Put me in that boat too (ha, prisoner!).

The Secret of Monkey Island is another legend. "Deep in the Caribbean..."

And though it might not be a menu, I find the first screen of Zork is very memorable.

 

[broadbandmink]

Nothing quite like blasting this tune in a really LOUD fashion. Oh, and the game is Civilization 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa7-lp3i38s

 

[Roxor]

Good menu music? I can think of a few examples.

Bio Menace

Death Rally

Hocus Pocus

Monster Bash

Stargunner

Wacky Wheels

Jazz Jackrabbit

Jazz Jackrabbit 2

Yes, I did grow up on Apogee's games.

 

[Ascend]

Bastion's menu theme is pretty kicking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jU9EFTMhbY
FTL's menu theme springs to mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHDMqWMzBG8
Hearthstone's is great ambience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXxy3Y8daks
Red Orchestra 2's is prtty cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNF2s6fNsws
As is Rising Storm's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-48lW6Su_Y

 

[Vicarious Reality]

This thread needs more Far Cry

Spoiler: #1

Spoiler: #2

Spoiler: #3

And how about some EvE

Spoiler: Empyrean

Spoiler: Incarna

Spoiler: Dominion

Spoiler: Inon Zurs Dragon Age

Spoiler: Stains Row 2

Spoiler: Sugeron Slimulator

Knights Of The Old Republic

Spoiler: Ech

Spoiler: Ech?

-

Spoiler: Sin

Spoiler: Half Life: Blue Shift

Spoiler: COC DCOTE

Spoiler: Thief 3

Spoiler: Aliens Versus Predator 2

Spoiler: Quakes

Spoiler: VTM:R

WTF, i just heard a helicopter fly right over my house

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

Since most of what I was going to say has already been said, I'll go with Spiderman for the sheer nostalgia factor.

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

Since most of what I was going to say has already been said, I'll go with Spiderman for the sheer nostalgia factor.

That game was amazing. Not sure if I prefer it or Enter Electro but they were Spider-Man's "Arkham series" before there even was an Arkham series!