Top Ten Video Game Soundtracks

[Kyrian007]

I'll try this. Only the first two are in any order.

Chrono Cross
Silent Hill 2
Castlevania
Super Metroid
Mega Man 2
Morrowind
Metal Gear Solid
Final Fantasy 7
Street Fighter 2
Grand Theft Auto (solely for "The Ballad of Chapped Lips Calhoun" by the Late Sideways Hank O'Malley and the Alabama Bottle Boys)

 

[CarlsonAndPeeters]

1. Shadow of the Colossus
2. Journey
3. Bastion
4. Shadow of the Colossus
5. Everything Zelda
6. Kingdom Hearts
7. Shadow of the Colossus
8. Braid (more sound design than soundtrack, but still)
9. Shadow of the Colossus
10. Audiosurf

 

[exxxed]

If there's one thing I enjoy the most in a video-game, it's a good piece of soundtrack that fits with the overall theme of the thing (for example the part in Half-Life 2: Episode 2 involving certain turrets and vortigaunts where the music kicks-in).

Top 10 you say?

Let's see:

1. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (I have yet to notice a game that surpasses this one in terms of soundtrack and voice acting, outstanding work as expected from Troika)

2. The Witcher 1 (the music fits so well with the ambiance of each scene it's used in that if you listen to any of it's soundtrack pieces separately it immediately journeys the mind in a similar setting as the one presented in the game, very nicely done I say)

3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl (Mooze did an AMAZING job with this one, captures the sense of desolation, which this game's atmosphere is famous for, perfectly, don't believe me? Listen to this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA4m_xF7ZHQ])

4. Deus Ex - Human Revolution (half the reason I love this game is it's music, really left an impact on me, it fits perfectly with it's theme)

5. Mass Effect 1 (just because Blade Runner and I like Blade Runner's score, too bad they changed it in the sequels, this is one thing the game did flawlessly)

6. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 - The Sith Lords (the game employs a very dark theme compared to usual Star Wars stuff, it's score also follows, wonderfully captures the mood and feel of the characters/places it's used for)

7. X3 - Terran Conflict (Daniel Finney and Alexei Zakharov are masters at creating space ambiance music, just listen to this and be amazed Daniel Finney and Alexei Zakharov - Think [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBZpN7wlpSE])

8. Homeworld 2 (I still remember The Pride of Hiigara's launch as it were yesterday, the music in this game is phenomenal, somewhere along the lines of Battlestar Gallactica)

9. Advent Rising (even if the game was all over the place in terms of consistency, the soundtrack and back-story kept me going to the end, I still listen to it's soundtrack today, it's one of the best, in my honest opinion, check it out [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSbTviFhHI4&list=PL58881C6E1C972FBA])

10. Knights of the Temple (absolutely outstanding piece of score well suited for a blockbuster film with this theme)

Cheers and good luck with your list.

 

[Saltyk]

Pretty much everything by Square. All of their games have amazing soundtracks that really fit the game. Whether it Final Fantasy's, Brave Fencer Mushashi, Kingdom Hearts, Chrono Trigger, or anything else. You generally can't beat their music.

If there was ever a Frankenstein's monster type game made by several different companies (each working on one aspect) I would want Square to make the music. In a perfect world, the game would be the best one ever made. In the real world, it would be horrible. But at least the music would be good.

 

[babinro]

1. Final Fantasy 6 (AKA FF3 on SNES)
2. Ninja Gaiden (NES)
3. The Binding of Isaac
4. Tales of Symphonia*
5. Bastion
6. Metroid Prime

When it comes to enjoying the bulk of a video games soundtrack that's all that comes to mind. If I went back and replayed some of the older NES/SNES games I sure I could recommend another complete soundtrack where I love the bulk of the music. That said, there are hundreds of games where I absolutely love one or two pieces. Rather than list the remainder in order of favorite I'll just put some honourable mentions:
- Street Fighter 2
- Castlevania 3
- Mega Man 2, 3, 4 or X (I'd have to replay them all to remember which soundtrack I liked most overall)
- Zelda: Wind Waker, A link to the Past
- Donkey Kong Country
- Bits and pieces of just about every Final Fantasy game ever made

* Tales of Symphonia is definitely a personal taste. I've never heard people mention this games music as anything that stands out. To be honest, it never did for me initially either. However upon replaying the game a second, third, and fourth time over the years the soundtrack really grew on me. It certainly has a cartoon/gamey kind of sound to it but for my money it's among the best I've heard. I wish I've played more Tales games because for all I know they all have excellent tracks. Hopefully one of these years they get a PC release.

 

[Story]

Shocking lack of Okami on these lists, it should be on every list.
This my list, in no real order really.
1. Okami
2. Shadow of the Colossus
3. The World Ends with You
4. Bastion
5. Portal 2
6. Skyrim
7. Pokemon X/Y
8. Megaman 2
9. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
10. Journey

 

[hermes]

I need some time to think my list, but I am sure the new Rayman games should be there.
Case in point:

 

[radicaled.af]

I would say...

Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy 6
Suikoden 2
Final Fantasy 7
Worms 2!