Best music in a video game?

The best music by far a video game was from the Lucas Arts video game called Outlaws. It is an old one, but the music sounds like it was straight out of a Sergio Leone western.

It doesn't get cooler than the music in that game.

 

My vote goes to Final Fantasy 7.

 

Diablo

 

Ah.. a topic near and dear to my heart. I'll do this by generation like Anti.

8 bit

Best overall soundtracks:
1. Mega Man 2 -- So many great ones
2. Ninja Gaiden -- Even today, I think the Intro sequence is the best ever.
3. Final Fantasy -- Meh.. I don't feel strongly about this selection. Could easily have been Zelda 2 or Bionic Commando.

Favorite individual songs:
1. Kraid's Lair (Metroid)
2. Intro (Ninja Gaiden)
3. Wily Theme 1 (Mega Man 2)
4. Act 4-2, the Mine (Ninja Gaiden)
5. Snakeman's Stage (Mega Man 3)
6. Undersea Temple (Final Fantasy 1)


16 bit

Best overall soundtracks:
1. Chrono Trigger -- got to give props where they're due
2. Super Castlevania 4 -- could easily be #1
3. Super Metroid -- wow!

Honorable mention: Final Fantasy 6 -- has quite a few forgettable songs, but some gems as well

Others -- Actraiser, Ys, Street Fighter 2, Zelda:LTTP, Secret of Mana, Yoshi's Island

Favorite individual songs:
1. Zeal theme (Chrono Trigger)
2. Clocktower (Super Castlevania 4)
3. Overworld:Terra's theme (FF6)
4. Schala (CT)
5. Frog (CT)
6. Lower Norfair (Super Metroid)
7. Brinstar (Super Metroid)



32 bit

Best overall soundtracks:
1. Star Ocean 2: The Second Story -- the Rena themes and the Energy Nede overworld music clinches it for me. The ending music is beautiful too.
2. Saga Frontier -- tremendously underrated game music-wise!
3. Xenogears -- I wanted to give it to Wild Arms, Einhander or Suikoden, but I can't deny Xenogears' excellence.

Honorable mention: Wild Arms -- music fit perfectly with the theme

Others: Suikoden, Einhander, Castlevania:SOTN, Final Fantasy 7, Um Jammer Lammy!, Lunar

Favorite individual songs:
1. Rena (Star Ocean 2)
2. Energy Nede (Star Ocean 2)
3. Forgotten Times (Suikoden)
4. Upside Down Castle (Castlevania:SOTN)
5. Seto's Theme (Final Fantasy 7)
6. Men of the Sea (Xenogears)
7. Fire Dogs! (Um Jammer Lammy!)
All the various battle themes from Saga Frontier



I know I'm forgetting stuff, but that's a general idea of what I like and consider to be the best.

BTW: Check out www.minibosses.com

 

Zelda

 

Ys Book I & II


Best video game soundtrack I've ever heard.

 

We old-schoolers get this joke.

 

Halo 1 & 2
Hitman 2
The Total War games
Silent Hill
Ghosts & Goblins
Metroid

 

Synth:

Old Sierra games (Space Quest 4, Hero's Quest in particular, Leisure Suit Larry theme , games distributed by Sierra but made by GameArts -- Silpheed, Sorcerian), Loom (LucasArt). But you needed to have a Roland.

Dragon Quest III and Rockman (Megaman) II - amazing what was done with just 3 instrument tracks and 1 noise track.

CD:

Metal Gear Solid

 

Sadly, the links on that site to the original MM files are dead. Anywhere else we can check 'em out?

 

Mrs. Pac-man - The intermissions.

GTA III and sequels

SSX Tricky

SSX On Tour

 

Wow a Turbo CD reference.

 

dude this is NOT EVEN CLOSE.
by far the best music is:

 

Quake 2, I thought the song on the second level was pretty cool.

 

One of the Street Fighter Alpha games had a great version of Ryu's theme.

 

Battlefield Vietnam

 

Both GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas get my vote. As far as original music, Shadows of the Colossus has an INCREDIBLE score, imo.

 

TETRIS

 

Well, if you're going early-gen... Galaga.

 

Get Rich or Die Trying hands down.