Video Game Music.

[Blunderboy]

I agree with rather a lot of the choices here, especially the Elder Scrolls games, Fallout games and GTA.
I'd also add the sound track both Baldur's Gate games, Red Dead Redemption, Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings and Civilization, and of course, Homeworld.

 

[remnant_phoenix]

Oh man I love video game music!

Pieces from the Chrono Cross soundtrack and the Guild Wars soundtrack are almost always in my "relaxing background music" playlist.

And I know that it's could only be tangentially considering video game music, but the soundtrack for Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children was really well done.

 

[Richardplex]

It is an absolute crime to mention Mass Effect music and not bring up "Vigil".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV1pPgpcAVw
That "magic moment in game when soundtrack, game play, and story align in sync and make for a moment of unforgettable immersion" happened for me at the end of Mass Effect.

Well, in my defence, Vigil is so relaxing that I don't recall it playing in the game, I don't acknowledge music or gameplay, just... flow, as Extra Credit would call it. It also happened to me at the end,

Spoiler: spoilers. No, seriously guys, spoilers.

with the battle against sovereign intertying so perfectly with our battle against Sarren, t'was brilliant. Most satisfying end to any game I've had.

 

[Jinjiro]

There is but one game I can ever think of when asked this question. I can't help it, as soon as the words 'video game music' come up in conversation, I start to hear the awesome MIDI, the steel drums, and that rockin' reggae-ish beat. I speak of course about Monkey Island. Here we go.

Spoiler: Click Me!

In this next one, at about 2:12 , I get serious goosebumps.

 

[Anezay]

It is an absolute crime to mention Mass Effect music and not bring up "Vigil".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV1pPgpcAVw
That "magic moment in game when soundtrack, game play, and story align in sync and make for a moment of unforgettable immersion" happened for me at the end of Mass Effect.

Well, in my defence, Vigil is so relaxing that I don't recall it playing in the game, I don't acknowledge music or gameplay, just... flow, as Extra Credit would call it. It also happened to me at the end,

Spoiler: spoilers. No, seriously guys, spoilers.

with the battle against sovereign intertying so perfectly with our battle against Sarren, t'was brilliant. Most satisfying end to any game I've had.

As it should be. In my opinion, if you recognize the music, ur doin it rong. Vigil is so fitting right where it is, it's beautiful. I'm betting you can guess what part of the game it plays by the title, but it's also the music played over the title screen.

 

[William Fleming]

SEVERAL Crush 40 songs from the Sonic games

Not Ready to Die by A7X in CoD:Blops (I was a A7X since City of Evil soundtrack before people ask):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKP9RwoTWwE

Machine Gun Kiss from Yakuza 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLbUM2nRwrU

SKILL from SRW Alpha 3 (I think its the 3rd one anyway):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt2Z0jKcddw

Sorry its just links, embedding the videos seems to refuse to work for me for some reason =S

 

[King of Wei]

Wild Arms 3:
Stopping a Deluge with One's Palms - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US9B9YD9HDA
Crossfire sequence - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdjRJv5TDnA
Beginning of the end - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iVLwOs0r0I

Obscure 2:
Bad Behavior - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BESqFaImko0

The Bard's Tale:
Tale of the Nuckelavee - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cztzbkriisw

 

[Richardplex]

It is an absolute crime to mention Mass Effect music and not bring up "Vigil".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV1pPgpcAVw
That "magic moment in game when soundtrack, game play, and story align in sync and make for a moment of unforgettable immersion" happened for me at the end of Mass Effect.

Well, in my defence, Vigil is so relaxing that I don't recall it playing in the game, I don't acknowledge music or gameplay, just... flow, as Extra Credit would call it. It also happened to me at the end,

Spoiler: spoilers. No, seriously guys, spoilers.

with the battle against sovereign intertying so perfectly with our battle against Sarren, t'was brilliant. Most satisfying end to any game I've had.

As it should be. In my opinion, if you recognize the music, ur doin it rong. Vigil is so fitting right where it is, it's beautiful. I'm betting you can guess what part of the game it plays by the title, but it's also the music played over the title screen.

*facepalms* a few minutes before I posted here, I was listening to the music on the title screen and thinking how tranquil it was. Yet I couldn't place where Vigil came from. *headdesks from stupidity*

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

All of Valve's game music is pretty awesome, and inFamous and its sequel also have great music.

 

[AyaReiko]

 

[AlternatePFG]

I love some of the music from the Tales series. Some if it is repetitive between games, but the standout tracks are amazing.

 

[KennardKId5]

Minecraft. Seriously.

 

[ShogunSam-R-I]

John Debney's soundtrack to Lair(ps3) is pretty amazing.

Sonic 2- Sky Chase

FFVII- Lifestream........nuff said.

 

[King Toasty]

I've been ninja'd by spartandude, with Morrowind and Skyrim. Gorgeous, we need more like it.

Jeremy Soule is a genius.

 

[GameMaNiAC]

I know people resent Modern Warfare 2 here on the Escapist. But you have to admit, it has some incredible music.

My personal favorite:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBHA9J7VkPE[/youtube]

Such epicness.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwqz2itSSOc&feature=player_detailpage#t=14s[/youtube]

First 14 seconds are so badass. Excellent kick-in:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbu9NzmNMXA[/youtube]

A darker, more sad tone.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnmK06pap5A&feature=related[/youtube]

This one is great, also a guitar in it:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN2WD96rTjI[/youtube]

Even if you hate CoD, I recommend you hear the soundtrack, it's mindblowingly amazing. Give it a chance to impress you, and it will. And it always kicks in at the right moments in the game, giving a sense of immersion.

 

[TriggerHappyAngel]

No one can defeat Motoi Sakuraba.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

...

Look at the top rated comment.

OH. MY. GOD.

I'm not sure if that's brilliance or just plain scary. Either way, I gave it a thumbs up.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Spoiler

Some of my favorites right here. Zelda, Bioshock, and Mega Man never really disappoint.

 

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Still one of my favorites.

Friended. I just finished a post on how underrated that series is, and the soundtrack is no exception: