Video Game Music

[Learn2Eel]

One particular kind of music I don't see get the reception it deserves is music found in video-games; whilst a lot of it is the same atypical, brass boring cliche you find in many movies, there are some hidden gems that truly capture the feel and theme of the story, setting and characters in a game. There have been great soundtracks for video games over the years, and I thought I would create this thread so we can all contribute some great examples :)

For me, there are few more iconic than the original Mass Effect theme - as the game begins, you can immediately sense that this will be an epic adventure set in a dazzling universe;

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

From the same game, we also have the Vigil theme;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w097Q0fZE-A

Probably the best from the Mass Effect series was the amazing track that concludes the second game, and also has a sub-theme; I speak of course, of the Suicide Mission, the theme that perfectly describes the desperate tale of sacrifice that permeates through the entire game;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTsD2FjmLsw

From this year alone, I've already found two amazing tracks; the first, from one of my personal favourites, Fall of Cybertron - this is just awesome to listen to, it really pulls you into a war where survival is the ultimate goal, not victory;

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

The other is from Assassins' Creed III, and is the main track - it seamlessly communicates both the revolutionary take of the plot, and the heroic nature of the main protagonist;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE0Y5VmkILQ

There are so many more I could add, but I thought I would start off with some hits from the big franchises. Enjoy! :D

[Psychosplodge]

Radio X in GTA:San Andreas had a pretty good track listing...

Also, I went to Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds at the Royal Albert Hall, and despite not being a fan of the games it was an amazing experience.

[Wolfshade]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/14738688

Also, don't forget the impact that Final Fantasy VII had as well, I believe that you can still buy that games sound track

[Learn2Eel]

Never listened to it, personally. I loved San Andreas though.

Ah yes, FF7! One of my greatest regrets as a gamer is having never played it :(

Still, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XIII, Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II and other Square/Square Enix games have fantastic soundtracks. In general, Square Enix tend to set the bar for soundtracks I find.


One of the best, most emotional tracks I've heard comes from Kingdom Hearts - it is the main theme for the series to this day;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7766CcJSGdM

I can't find a good quality version, but even with the video at 240p, the music itself sounds absolutely amazing.
Now that I think on it, I've yet to hear anything more endearing and nostalgia-inducing than this theme.

[eldargal]

90% of the contemporary music I listen to comes from video games. I find their music much more interesting and stimulating than most band music. The original Mass Effect theme sends shivers down my spine whenever I hear it.

The Fleet Arrives theme from ME3 has a similar effect, it provokes all the feelings of hope and dread that watching the original cinematic sparked with every ship the galaxy could muster pouring through the Mass Relay in one last attempt to save advanced life from the Reapers.

[Asymmetrical Xeno]

A lot of video-game music, especially for FPS, strategy ansd general sci-fi games of the 90's and onwards is actually Industrial music.

Quake, Mortal Kombat, Super Metroid and more modern games like AirMech often use electro-industrial artists to do the soundtracks cos many of us guys are just big sci-fi nerds with synths anyway. Sadly, most people don't know it's a proper genre of music and it gets lost under the radar.


http://youtu.be/exXjbIORB2E

That Mass Effect soundtrack just sounds like good Martial-industrial to me, if you like that soundtrack you'd probably really like : Triarii, Across The Rubicon and Puissance.

[Godless Zealot]

A fair share of my mp3 player is dedicated to video game music. Again have to agree on the Mass Effect soundtracks they're pretty awesome love the 'Mars' tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZsR6jKT8bk

Another favourite of mine is the soundtrack to Deus Ex Human Revolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J62O6_5nEAc

Plus who cannot like the cheesy tunes from the original Deus Ex!

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

Furthermore and dare I say it been enjoying the soundtrack to COD: Black Ops II! Though that's large in part to it being scored by Trent Reznor and Jack Wall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpFSN5vmiRM

[Learn2Eel]

A lot of video-game music, especially for FPS, strategy ansd general sci-fi games of the 90's and onwards is actually Industrial music.

Quake, Mortal Kombat, Super Metroid and more modern games like AirMech often use electro-industrial artists to do the soundtracks cos many of us guys are just big sci-fi nerds with synths anyway. Sadly, most people don't know it's a proper genre of music and it gets lost under the radar.


http://youtu.be/exXjbIORB2E

That Mass Effect soundtrack just sounds like good Martial-industrial to me, if you like that soundtrack you'd probably really like : Triarii, Across The Rubicon and Puissance.

I honestly did not know that. I guess it just goes to show how under-valued the genre is.


A fair share of my mp3 player is dedicated to video game music. Again have to agree on the Mass Effect soundtracks they're pretty awesome love the 'Mars' tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZsR6jKT8bk

Another favourite of mine is the soundtrack to Deus Ex Human Revolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J62O6_5nEAc

Plus who cannot like the cheesy tunes from the original Deus Ex!

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

Furthermore and dare I say it been enjoying the soundtrack to COD: Black Ops II! Though that's large in part to it being scored by Trent Reznor and Jack Wall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpFSN5vmiRM

Jack Wall did the first two Mass Effect games in conjunction with Sam Hulick (IIRC). No surprise the music in Black Ops 2 is good.

[Emerald Rose Widow]

I really do also love when video games tend to use orchestral works for their music, especially to be inspiring. I may be bias on this note though as I prefer orchestral, and "classical" is my favorite genre of music. Regardless though music designed for most video games tends to be well written and meant to bring the player into the game even more. This is what makes it amazing in my opinion, because they do actually try, or their game suffers. As opposed to most modern music...

[Learn2Eel]

I love the Shadow of the Colossus soundtrack, an orchestral track selection that really hits at the emotional core. Mostly though, it was used as a backdrop to some of the most amazing battles ever seen in any medium.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUdrFkW1RY8

[Godless Zealot]

Jack Wall did the first two Mass Effect games in conjunction with Sam Hulick (IIRC). No surprise the music in Black Ops 2 is good.

That was exactly my point! ;)

[DarkLink]

The Halo music is one of the best parts of the games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGptqrKa_ak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-ZOuVcIU8Q

The Zelda music is pretty awesome on anything with better speakers than a gameboy, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3KUyPKbR7Q

Two Steps From Hell spends all its time making music like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-QLl5qjLg

[Godless Zealot]

Ah the Halo music, of course, how could I forget. 'Under Cover of Night' I think was my favourite Halo track from the first game, brings back memories.

[MaltonNecromancer]

The VERY best bit of gaming music ever BAR NONE is Vortal Combat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcFdB1lTIRA
Seriously, when that music hit, to this day it still stands as one of the single greatest gaming experiences I have ever had. Ever.

I tend not to be fond of orchestral scores; I quite like the weirder, more experimental stuff. I particularly dislike music that sounds like it should have a flag waving proudly/blowing sadly as it plays. Of the stuff I like, Akira Yamaoka's work for the "Silent Hill" games is widely lauded (and uniformly excellent), as is Jesper Kyd's superlative work on the "Hitman" games. Both have done incredible work.

There's also Chris Vrenna's exellent work on the "Alice" games - lovely steampunk stuff. The music to "Mirror's Edge" was great as well. "Bioshock" had a gloriously unsettling soundtrack.

Finally, on the subject of "Bioshock", I have been listening to Nico Vega's "Beast" ona semi-permenant loop since I first heard it:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eheESgRNJKc

[DarkLink]

I just found this, it's pretty awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea-XjlC6YKA

[dark messenger]

I also love video game music!! Computer games influenced my music tastes greatly as a youngster and honestly a lot of it sounds better than the mass produced crap today.
Nobuo Uematsu (whatever you may think of him) got some great music down for the Final Fantasy series until he retired.
Even some of the lesser known games have at least one track that, if you heard it again, would bring a smile to your face or a quiet moment of nostalgia.

Oh yeah and there's also the Lu Bu theme from Dynasty Warriors :D (before it got silly)
Coz Lu Bu is mighty lol

[Godless Zealot]

I just found this, it's pretty awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea-XjlC6YKA

That's really funky!:)