Top 10 videogame songs of ALL TIME

[LocoColt04]

...which is why I'm posting this here, instead of in the Music forum. If Cain feels like it should be moved, he's more than welcome to do so, but that's his decision.

Now, let's begin! You cannot use any series more than twice, and you cannot use any game more than once. That means you get a grand total of two songs from any given series, no matter how awesome its music may be. One song per game, at that. Too difficult? If so, don't post a list. It's not that tough. I'm just looking for a bit of variety here. Surely we've all played more than five videogames, right?

Your posts don't have to be nearly as descriptive or in-depth as mine, either.

It's tough, choosing no more than two songs per series, let alone two songs per game. FFIX and Ocarina were the hardest to choose from, with FFVI/FFT as a close third.

I tried to avoid repeats as best I could... so Final Fantasy is THE only series which has two songs on my list. Talk about a challenge, huh? Here goes absolutely nothing, eh?

...oh hell, just for kicks, I've decided to upload all ten songs for any curious parties. Right-click on the links and save the music rather than just streaming it though, eh?




10 - Prologue A - Tales of Rebirth (PS2), by Motoi Sakuraba and Shinji Tamura

The Tales series as a whole has always caught me more with its stories than its music, but Prologue A has that epic feel. It's got a wide range of emotion, and is very powerful. You can tell that it's hurriedly building up to something grand.


9 - Metropolis Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis), by Masato Nakamura

SONIC! With soooo many songs to choose from, it was tough to pick just one. Why this one? That's actually a good question. Metropolis Zone just seems to have a slightly different feel when compared to the other songs from this title. I like it. That's good enough for it to be on my own list, right?


8 - Zarathustra - Xenosaga, Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht (PS2), by Yasunori Mitsuda

It begins a little bland and boring, but at 0:48 turns into an entirely different song. One of the most moving pieces in the game, Zarathustra is what Xenosaga is all about. Within this single composition, the emotion of an entire game is expressed through a rather skillful full orchestra.


7 - Battle with Magus - Chrono Trigger (SNES), by Yasunori Mitsuda

In most games, most battle music seems to get lost in the same repeated chords. This song does not. Battle with Magus offers up something fresh every time it "repeats." A long song with a triumphant fanfare, this is the type of music that can really put a person in the battle spirit.


6 - Corneria - Starfox 64 (N64), by Koji Kondo, Hajime Wakai

I dunno. To me, this song IS Starfox 64. Whenever someone mentions the game (or even the series, for that matter), this is the tune that pops into my head. What can I say? Memorable songs can do that to a person.


5 - Weapons Factory - Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (SNES), by Yoko Shimomura

Why? Why not? This song is gritty and grungy and completely anti-Mario. It's not what you'd expect coming from a series known for its light and uplifting music. It's heavy, it's metal, and it's awesome. Quite a number of songs from this game share this feel, but this is the best of them. Other credits on the album go to Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu, but I believe Yoko Shimomura produced the best pieces for this game. (If you didn't know, he composed over half the soundtrack himself.)


4 - Forever Rachel - Final Fantasy VI (SNES), by Nobuo Uematsu

I really looked around for the original version of this song... but couldn't find it. So you get the orchestrated version, which is really amazing. Who knew that Locke could be such a softy? If you ever wondered why he's so melodramatic all the time, the scene in the game which houses this piece should answer your question with ease. A very, VERY close second to this title is Phantom Forest, which is so incredibly creepy that it actually bothers me sometimes.


3 - Chill ~ Chill Clear - Dr. Mario (NES), by Hirokazu Tanaka

I'm absolutely in love with this game, and absolutely in love with this song. More mellow than its brother, Fever, but with enough of a kick to keep you popping those pills as those nasty little viruses threaten to kick your ass. I wasted away my childhood listening to this song.


2 - Gerudo Valley - Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (N64), by Koji Kondo

Much like any snappy, upbeat tune, this song catches your attention with ease. How fitting for a band of thieves, eh? There really isn't much to say about this song other than the fact that it's more than worth listening to. So listen to it. Simple as that.


1 - Burmecian Kingdom - Final Fantasy IX (PSX), by Nobuo Uematsu

I had SUCH a hard time choosing between this and Freya's Theme. Both wonderfully mastered, Burmecian Kingdom brings with it one thing that no other song on the soundtrack can offer -- tears. No other song from this or any other game can make me as emotionally unstable as this one does. Despite this not being my favorite videogame soundtrack (it ranks second behind the N64's Ocarina of Time), this is undoubtedly, after weeks of deliberation, my favorite song of any videogame ever.

Don't agree? Listen to it. But you can't just listen. Play. Play the game; see the destruction; feel the rain; ...and live the song. Trust me on this one. You won't be disappointed.

[LocoColt04]

That's great, but you kinda missed the point of the thread.

You cannot use any series more than twice, and you cannot use any game more than once. That means you get a grand total of two songs from any given series, no matter how awesome its music may be. One song per game, at that. Too difficult? If so, don't post a list.

This isn't supposed to be easy. It's supposed to make you think, and think hard. My list took me over two weeks to put together. I'm not expecting any quick responses here. ^_^;;

[Cain Highwind]

No this is fine. I think we'll make it like the Intellectual Favorite FF topic and delete posts that don't fit the criteria. Especially looking at Kit's post below where he didn't even try following the guidelines.

You know "Kit", first of all, you don't need to add a quote from the bible at the end of every post we have something called a "signature". Open up your CP and just add the text into the place where it says Signature. It would probably save you a lot of time and effort and let you focus a little more thought into your posts.

Secondly, I can understand not remembering the song name or composer, but COME ON. You were just plain lazy with those "track names". You can be a little more specific. I mean Marvel vs Capcom "Battle" theme? Which one? There are several. And what's a "full map song"? Which Map theme are you talking about in Chrono Cross?

Okay, now that that's settled. *cracks knuckles*. In no particular order.

Keep in mind by SNK Sound team, there were always 6 or so composers doing the music in SNK games, and they never really specified who did which songs. Just FYI.

1)Final Fantasy VI Ending theme by Nobuo Uematsu
I figure it would only be best to choose a theme which had all the wonderfully delightful character themes from FFVI all arranged in superb way. I mean watching the FFVI Character Project Music Video recently, this song still gives goosebumps on how good it is.

2)Esaka (94)/Esaka (96)/Esaka ACID Mix/Tears/Esaka (2003) (King of Fighters 94/96/99/2003) AST versions by The SNK sound team
This is essentially the same song but just slightly different in the different KoF games (think the Chocobo themes of various FF and you get the idea). I figured nothing got me going then hearing Kyo's classic Esaka theme and all it's variants, and out of those I couldn't pick a clear favorite. The ACID mix sounds sutiably trippy, Esaka 94 has that awesome acoustic guitar, and Tears starts off with that nice guitar solo in the beginning.

3)Schala's theme-Chrono Trigger-By Yasunori Mitsuda
The funny thing about mentioning this theme is that it sounds so much like Esaka mentioned above. It almost sounds like an inverted Esaka with the first few notes. But Schala's theme really stood out when I played Chrono Trigger. It really invoked the emotion of the scene and I always looked forward to playing through the scene just to hear Schala's theme. I have to say a close second in the Chrono series is Dead Sea-Ruined tower in Chrono Cross which invoked the same feeling. Also Star Stealing Girl which can make me cry. Chrono Cross in general is one opf my favorite soundtracks overeall, but I'm doing my best to avoid repeats God Help me.

4)Blue Mary's Blues-Real Bout Fatal Fury Special by SNK and Sung by Harumi Ikoma
Ah I had to pick a song from one of my favorite fighting games. Of course Krauser's Requiem doesn't really count since that's a Classical song. RBFFS impressed me SO much I devised to get the NeoGeo CD version, so that not only I had a legit copy of the game (albeit a slightly inferior port) but I also had the music on CD (NeoCD games are nice that way). Now how about this for innovation, the Neo Geo is a powerful 16Bit system. When you beat the game in the NeoGeoCD version you're actually treated to Sound Art or basically, a 16 Bit Music Video that's NOT an FMV. Yeah it's awesome. For the uninitiated, "Blue" Mary Ryan is a sexy cop who fights using the Sambo style. And most notably her in game theme is a Blues song. The special video at the end is a vocal version of her theme sung by her own voice actress Ms. Harumi Ikoma. Yes I love her theme, it would be tiresopme to just say it ionvokes emotion, it's good, and I look forward to hearing it. But I love it, and so that's all I can say about it and nothing more. It's simply a catchy power-packed song.

5)Fate-The Last Blade-SNK Sound Team
Words can simply NOT DESCRIBE the scene that this piece sets. Hell, you can't describe the awesomeness of the Last Blade series in General. It is SO underrated with such a BEAUTIFUL score (Raine can back me up on this one, he's the only other one here whose played this series). Last Blade shows that Fighting Game Soundtracks DON'T have to be loud Heavy Metal, Rock, and Techno. Back to the theme, Fate is a really melancholy song set to a BEAUTIFUL fighting stage with falling snow as two close friends Kaede and Yuki fight each other before the final boss. Seriously, I wouldn't just call this one of my favorite songs, I'd call it one of my favorite scenes in a video game of all time. Seriously it's THAT good, whether you're listening to the 16 Bit OST version or the CD Quality Arranged version which is even BETTER and more Orchestral in quality.

6)Tantagel Castle-Dragon Quest I+II-Koichi Sugiyama
I recently heard an Orchestral Version from the Japan only Idataki Street Special. And I said to myself "My God, I haven't heard that song in years, it's so beautiful" I recently played Dragoin Quest I+II for the SNES and I fell in love with the series again. Tantagel Castle is just such a beautifully epic song. I wouldn't rate it higher on my list compared to the other songs I previously listed but it still deserves a spot on my list.

7)Temple of Time/Song of Time-Zelda Ocarina of Time by Koji Kondo
This was the song that made me especially proud that I had the OoT Soundtrack, even if it was the cut US Version that had cheap packaging and a lot of the songs missing. I played this song over and over (a close second being Gerudo Valley). Despiter the crappy synth of the N64 Hardware, this is still a beautifully simple song. Combined with the scenery this just makes you feel a total sense of awe, that makes you put down the controller and just view your surroundings.

8)Flash Man's stage-Mega Man 2-Unknown (Capcom sound team)
I'm always on the prowl for Flash Man remixes. I don't think any song quite gets my fancy like Flash Man's theme. I find myself humming this to myself every so often (and hardly anything else from Megaman). Not much more can be said.

9)Metal Cap theme-Super Mario 64-Koji Kondo
In general, I've always liked the Invinvibility theme in Mario games. Fast Paced techno, but I just really have to say the Metal Cap version of the song is my favorite just the way it starts. Again it's a song that's so simple in musical notes, and yet so catchy.

10)And probably one of my favorite themes EVER. Yes like you LocoColt, I just couldn't contain my FF love to one song. It would most definitely be Temple of Fiends/Chaos Temple from FFI. ANY version is enough to make my heart race. I particularly like the PSX version and the Symphonic Suite versions the best. It's just hard to describe. It's all about the creepy atmosphere it provides, and I really can't say more than that.

EDIT: This look took a couple of hours, man what hard work. And people wonder why I don't like making long posts like this. Good thing I have the day off.

[Incognitus]

Here's my list for your viewing/listening pleasure, copy/pasted from Bizarro TFF. I'll sink back into oblivion now.

***

10. Suikoden II: Gothic Neclord -- Perhaps one of my top 3 favorite boss battles of all time, I had to include this one on the list. Suikoden II had great music overall, and I highly recommend playing the game or listening to the music. That said, I chose this one above the other Suikoden and Suikoden II tracks because it was the most epic. It sounded great on my sound system when I first fought the vampire named Neclord, and in my mind this is the piece of music that stands out in the series.

09. Metroid: Kraid's Chamber -- I have nothing to say about this track other than I love the way it sounds even when looped. It's as creepy as a NES chiptune can sound, and certain remixes send shivers down my spine. Phendrana Drifts from Metroid Prime was a top contender for this spot, but Kraid wins. Kraid always wins. I would much rather listen to this song on repeat for 30 minutes than 30 minutes of ANY local radio station, and a few times I've done just that.

08. Diablo: Tristram -- This song resonates as one of my favorite songs of the late 90's. Has it been that long? Diablo was the first PC game that I played online, and man did I love it. What I loved even more was the town music for its echoing acoustics and eerie flute-like instrument. It's lengthy compared to some songs on my list, and enjoyable for every minute. Of all the PC games I've played, this song is the best song I've heard in a PC game. Bar none.

07. Chrono Trigger: Sealed Door -- No, I did not pick Time Circuits. I think I've had enough of that song after nearly two dozen remixes and remakes of the damn thing. Two dozen might be an underestimation, actually. But I've liked the Sealed Door theme (better known to me as Belthasar's theme) all the while. It's NOT the seven second clip you hear when trying to open a sealed door in the game. It's not upbeat and adrenaline-inducing; it's not epic. It's sad and mysterious, and I've always enjoyed listening to it for what it is.

06. Donkey Kong Country 2: Hot Head Hop -- Great tune in a great game. Not as whimsical as some, not as action-themed as others. I think it falls right in that middle-ground of songs. I had a hard time choosing this over Aquatic Ambience of DKC, but I did so because it carried a melody that I call catchy and fun. The remixing scene has messed with this song a few times, but nothing that comes close to the original, IMO. I'd like to tackle it myself... someday. I have a few ideas for it.

05. Castlevania 2: Bloody Tears -- What can I say? This song resonates in my mind even when I am sleeping. At first I thought this might have some competition with all the other great songs in the Castlevania series, but then I thought: "Naaahh." Nothing else in the series comes close to this; Bloody Tears is a great choice. You might get an argument for a song in Symphony of the Night, but none that surpasses Bloody Tears. Bloody Tears > All.

04. Mega Man 2: Flash Man -- WOW. This was the most difficult decision I had to make in this whole process. But what better choice than Flash Man? Flash Man's music was my favorite music out of Mega Man 2, and that alone makes him a strong candidate for my favorite overall. How could I pick just one tune from such a great series of games with so many great songs? How could I, indeed! But in the end, I had to have some song represent the many games in the Mega Man genre, and that was Flash Man.

03. Super Mario 64: Dire Dire Docks -- What a great song. Considering all of the Super Mario games from which I could choose, I knew it was going to be a difficult pick. I would give this music the 1st place ribbon for "Best Water Music" in a video game even trumping Aquatic Ambience of DKC and the water music in Super Mario World. But picking this song amongst ALL of the Mario music was a task, but one I found not so difficult as I thought. Its only real competition from the Super Mario series, in my eyes, was "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms" from SM:RPG and the overworld music from Super Mario Brothers 2. Yes, 2. Get over it.

02. Final Fantasy VI: Phantom Forest -- I have to give great consideration to a number of tracks from my favorite game, and to be quite honest I didn't even consider other games in the series (except Tactics, for a brief moment). I really can't go wrong with any track from this OST. That said, this might be a surprising choice to some of you. Most people will probably cite Terra, Dancing Mad, or the opera as their favorite song. Good songs, sure, but not my favorite. My favorite overall track has always been the Phantom Forest music. I have no idea why, but it's on that unreachable level of greatness. Not even Dancing Mad in its entirety can touch it in my mind, though it comes close.

01. Link to the Past: Dark World -- Yeah, yeah, I know. Just the opposite of what you were thinking, right? "Surely he would pick the Light world, for it is based on the most memorable Zelda tune of all time," most of you were saying to yourself. Well, no. That goes completely with conventional wisdom that the recurring Zelda theme is superior to all. Normally, I would agree. Normally. It is a great song, but I've always liked the Dark World theme better. It isn't --- dare I say it --- overused. The only time I didn't like the Dark World theme better than the "Light World" (or the Zelda theme everyone knows and loves) is when the Dark World theme did not exist. That says something. But now that it does exist, it is an easy choice for my #1.

Honorable mentions: Xenogears: Leftovers from the Dreams of the Strong, TimeSplitters 2: Return to Planet X, Final Fantasy Tactics: Apoplexy

[awall]

Damn you Cesar, you made me late for class!
Me: Oh, I have half an hour before I have to leave. Lemme respond to this thread.
Me: Oh, I still have 10 minutes, I can still finish this.
Me: Eh, it's only 5 minutes past when I need to be off, I'm not that late.
Me: Eh, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, the difference is just a one in the second column.
Me:... Gaaah! To heck with this, I'll finish it when I get home.

Anyway, this is gonna be a toughie. Here are my top ten, in no particular order:

FF8 - Don't Be Afraid. But I had a really tough time choosing this one. FF8 is IMO the best game ever in terms of overall music quality, Don't Be Afraid is probably the only battle music in the entire series that I can listen to over and over and it still doesn't get repetitive. However, I feel really bad for leaving Force Your Way and The Legendary Beast off this list, because they're both totally amazing songs that's only failure was being from the same game as Don't Be Afraid.

Secret of Evermore - Halls or Collosia (I love all of it, but the part in particular I'm referring to is the background music in the room where you enter). The absolute pinnacle of background music EVER as far as I'm concerned. The first time I played this game, I ran into a corner with no enemies in it and just sat there for several minutes listening to the music. It invokes... I don't know... it's like you can feel the ancientness of the room around you, feel the mythology that must have passed through these halls, and feel the ruins that they have since become. I can't describe it. If you have never played this game, DO SO! Background music is scarce, but when it exists, it's beautiful.

Super Mario Kart 64 - Rainbow Road. I've listened to this song on it's own before... it's not great. But the effect this has when you're "in the zone" is almost hypnotic, for some reason. This is the one stage in the game where I can start out in the back of the pack and the next thing I know I'm way in the lead and halfway through my final lap, yet I have no recollection of time passing. Maybe the car engines and psychadelic track have something to do with it, but I remember this stage for the music.

Starfox 64 - Zoness. I would say Corneria, but Cesar already got to that one. Actually, I like them both for different reasons, so it's hard to compare. Corneria is more "Starfoxish" and better suits a space shootemup, but Zoness is more beautiful and evocative. It really goes well with the elegant but deadly serpents that leap out of the water as you fly past. Also, I happen to just love this stage for the "shoot all the searchlights" objective.

Chrono Trigger - Sealed Door. This song is the most evocative (I love that word) in the game, and almost made me cry the first time I heard it. Especially the second time you come back and Balthasar is gone. It's like... this song makes the room feel so... like you've just lost everything important that was here, and all that's left is a Nu that's supposed to be the culmination of his life's work... shudder.

Thanks to Lakazoo for the title to this song.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Forest Temple. I swear, that place is scarier than the Shadow Temple for me. The Shadow Temple reeks of death, and loves to suprise you by dropping huge invisible spiders out of nowhere. But the Forest Temple... is... so... empty... and abandoned. I feel so alone in there, like I'm deep in a haunted building with passages that rearrange themselves and ghosts that drift in and out of paintings and hands that fall from the ceiling... *shivers convulsively.* The music in this place just contributes to the feeling SO much and... well, if you've played this game, you'll understand. The music isn't nearly as impressive on its own without the foggy, haunted atmosphere, so you really have to be playing the game.

Yoshi's Island - Koopa (a.k.a. the final boss music). The execution isn't miraculous, but that's gotta be the best final boss atmosphere-feeling ever. Picture this - you're standing on the parapets of a ruined castle. Pieces of debris from the recent pre-final-boss-battle are falling from the sky around you. The music drones on one note in the background and eventually gives way to a forlorn fanfare of sorts (not sure if you can call something in a minor key a fanfare, but...). Slowly, a dark shadow rises in the background. As the background drone picks up, the shadow unfurls into something with a snout... horns... a pair of bright eyes... and HOLY CRAP, YOU MEAN I HAVE TO FIGHT THAT THING??? And then the music switches from the drone to a rock-ish synthy battle music and... well, it's just really really cool. Again, not nearly as cool for the music itself as it is for the effect it gets when you combine it with the scene.

Kingdom Hearts - Dive Into The Heart ~ Destati. This is the very first song you hear (not counting Hikari PlanitB Remix, which also kicks rear end) in the tutorial sequence. It's this kind of mystical, almost surreal chorus of voices. And then slowly, almost unnoticably, the music shifts from that to dark undertones and from there to sounding really ominous, but still recognizably Dive Into The Heart. And then there's this staircase leading off into nowhere, and as you climb it, the music starts speeding up and getting more bass, and - don't ask me how they manage to do this - but they time it so that JUST as you reach the top, the music hits its peak, and this GIANT SCARY black shadow boss materializes and rears up and the music is perfectly in sync with it and it's all amazingly done and... yeah. Wow.

Super Mario 64 - Bowser. Not the Bowser music itself, but the dungeon leading up to him. I don't remember whether it's the same each of the three times you fight him, but the one I'm thinking of is just the right combination of ominous (oooooooh crap, this is gonna be really hard) and inspiring (alright, I'm gonna go kick Bowser's arse RIGHT NOW!). In fact... I wanna play that game again.

Crono Cross - Tower of Stars. What? Not Chronopolis? It was really hard to make the choice, especially because what plays inside Terra Tower isn't strictly "music"... it's more of a collection of sounds, but it's beautiful nonetheless. I love the bell and the wailing voices and the climactic tone of the song... wonderful creation, that.

Wait... where's the second Final Fantasy? How could I not have picked two tunes by our man Nobuo? Well, the truth is that as much as I like certain FF songs (FFX's Attack, FF7's Perfect Jenova, FFT's Decisive Battle) they just don't have the same sort of effect on me that some other songs do in general. Sorry.

[LocoColt04]

Wait... where's the second Final Fantasy? How could I not have picked two tunes by our man Nobuo? Well, the truth is that as much as I like certain FF songs (FFX's Attack, FF7's Perfect Jenova, FFT's Decisive Battle) they just don't have the same sort of effect on me that some other songs do in general. Sorry.

No, but you did pick three Mario songs. In case you forgot, the proper game title is "Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island." Any idea which you'd like to part with?


These lists looks great. There are only a couple of songs between the three of you that weren't considered by me. Great choices, all of them. Gah, there's so much good videogame music... ^_^;;


Oh, and don't thank me for this thread. You can actually thank Kaz. It's transplanted from my forums; I figured it'd be a hell of a thread to have here as well, wouldn't you agree?

[awall]

No, but you did pick three Mario songs. In case you forgot, the proper game title is "Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island." Any idea which you'd like to part with?

I know they're all Mario games, but I wouldn't exactly call Mariokart the same series as Yoshi's Island and Mario 64. I'm not sure whether I'd even call the latter two part of the same series, because the gameplay is so different. I mean, Mario is also in Super Smash Bros., but I wouldn't say it counts as the same series as any of those other games.

If you really want me to drop one, Rainbow Road can be switched for one of the afforementioned FF songs. Or else, two great games that I left out, F-Zero X and Extreme G. Extreme G's soundtrack is all techno/trance stuff, which is so my favorite genre. However, I can't place any specific tracks from that game right now, because I haven't played it in years. F-Zero X is a bit more synthy and jazzy in places, but... well, a few songs (like the background music on the Silence tracks) are simply amazing. And then there's Wipeout 3, which has a great soundtrack, but that's all actually liscenced music, so that doesn't count.

[Evil Dragoon]

Oh man is this a tough thing to do, especially because of how awesome some of the remixes are. But here goes, so while I probably will forget a very important track, these are still damn good.


Super Metroid (SNES) - Brinstar 1 (Don't know the exact name so I'm going off of vgmusic.com)

Well, since Kraid was already picked I'm going to have to move on to one of my other most liked tracks from the Metroid series. It's a great melding of drums and synth sounds to create a nice groove that still gives it a metroid style feel. It just might very well be one of the best fits to a sci fi game I've ever heard.

StarFox (SNES) - Corneria

I see your N64 nomination and I raise you a Starfox for the SNES. Both are great tracks, but overall I would have to say that the pace of the SNES one beats out the N64 one. The atmosphere it creates for a game like this just feel like a better fit.

Kirby SuperStar (SNES) - Battle with Meta-Knight

This song really does make you feel like you're in a dire situation and have to finish your task quickly. Once again, the pacing just feels so right with this piece. But what helps it along so much are the weird parts that go over the rhythm of it.

Kirby 64 (N64) - Final Boss

It may not have been the greatest kirby game, well far from it, but damn did it have an awesome last boss theme. Although I would have put the Revenge of Meta-Knight finale theme, this one is equally awesome actually allowed. It does a great job of setting up an epic feel to the last part of the game and keeping it through.

Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX) - Dorter Trade City

Woah is it tough to pick a track from this game as it is certainly one of my favorite game soundtracks, and games, ever. The feeling that it is able to convey during its moments of use are hardly ever matched by other pieces. This piece just really hightens the intense feeling of the Dorter Trade City battle. Not only that but it creates a feeling of despair and a need to win the battle at any cost.

Megaman X (SNES) - Zero's Theme

Once again, another tough track to pick out of a pile of gems. The megaman series is known not only for its great gameplay, but for some of the best tracks out there. Having seen some of the other picks I decided to go with the X series. Even by limiting the series it isn't easy to pick the right track but I feel that Zero's Theme is just that. It really creates an identity for the best character in the series. Everytime you hear it in the game you know something great is going to happen.

Castlevania (NES) - Vampire Killer

I cannot stress enough how hard it is to pick out tracks for some these games. Originally I planned to go with just whatever castlevania track I was listening to, but I just switched it to this midi and instantly knew that this was it. Such a catchy melody that you can easily hum to it makes for a perfect track.

Dragon Warrior/Quest (NES) - Tantegel Castle

One of the very first tracks you hear when you start the game it stays in your ears for a very long time. You will sometimes find yourself humming it out of the blue, damn did they know how to write catchy pieces back in the NES days.

Super Mario RPG (SNES) - Forest Maze

What a great piece, it really makes you feel like you're running around forever trying to find your way out of an enchanted forest. While SMRPG has some really weird tracks, it also has some great tracks, such as this one. The soundtrack can be compared to only Earthbound in terms of weird/awesome.

Donkey Kong Country (SNES) - DK Island Swing

Back in Rare's prime music was just one of the many things you could expect to be awesome about the game. The DKC series is full of pieces that give off the right feel for the levels that they represent. This is just one of those pieces that gives the jungle levels a lot of character.


You know, my list isn't loud enough, so I'm turning it up to 11. After all, my lists go to 11

F-Zero (SNES) - Mute City

One of the few soundtracks where the music is just some good ole hard rock, this one really shines. The great leads really make the races so much more enjoyable. The song really does add to the feel of racing so fast that it just trumps any other kind of racing game out there.

[Sean]

Well, for now this list is in no particular order, nor is it final. It'll be hard to try to come up with a replacement for a certain Nobuo song, and it'll be even harder to delete a Nobuo song.





Final Fantasy VI - Terra's Theme

By far one of the most.... sad... moving.... beautiful pieces I've heard from the soundtrack of one of my favorite Final Fantasies.

Xenogears - The One Who is Torn Apart (Id's Theme)

It's a really good tune that sets some great ambiance, especially for the battle in which the music is played.

Mega Man - Cutman's Level Theme

Especially when remixed by McVaffe on piano, this piece is.... simply wonderful. It's upbeat, it's fun, and it makes me love Cutman's level, even if I do hate it. Plus it's the very first Mega Man level I ever played, therefore... yes.

The Legend of Zelda - The Overworld

Dun.... dun dun dun dun dun dunnnnn..... dun.... DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUNNNN....... DUN DUN! DUN DUN DUN DA DUN!

Oh man. This is a tune that'll stick in your head so easily, it's also my favorite theme to play on guitar. I drive my parents mad with it. This simple tune has evolved from 8bit blips and beeps all the way into a full orchestrated version in the most recent Zelda. A truly wonderful piece of video game history, the Zelda theme is.

Super Mario Brothers - World 1-1

This is probably the most popular, and most simple video game tune. There's not a single soul that won't know what game you're referring to when you start up with the Mario Brother's theme.

Final Fantasy VII - Cid's Theme

This is another moving piece, but at the same time it inspires a certain feeling of hope. Truly a magnificent piece.

Chrono Cross - Magic Dreamers - The Wind, The Stars, and the Sea

This is the "Nikki's Concert" version of the Marbule theme. I remember when I first got to this part of Chrono Cross I decided to take a break and sit and talk with Colin for a bit whilst this theme played. This song is also so awesome that I wasn't pissed off when I left Marbule early and had to refight my way through the entire thing over, just because I got to listen to the song longer. Easily my favorite guitar piece from a video game.

Tetris Theme

Don't ask me why. But the endless hours stacking up blocks and forcing rows to dissapear while listening to this simple tune has earned it a place in my heart.

Secret of Mana - Ice World

I can't completely remember the proper title for this, and it's actually been quite some time since I actually listened to it, but this theme was really.... well, I really liked it when I was younger. Songs of nostalgia are always well welcomed.

And finally....

Mega Man II - Dr. Wily's Stages Theme

Upbeat, fast, and just fun. I can really move and groove to this song, and has been a long time favorite of mine to learn on guitar. Still workign on it, but my fingers just can't move that fast yet. =P





Honorable Mention

Chrono Cross - Radical Dreamers - Without Taking the Jewel

While I REALLY love this song, it just didn't make the cut though I could've added it without any problems. The underlying reason I remember first hearing it during the end credits, and I'm sorry, but video game songs always make me think of the time I spent playing the game, not watching the end credits.


Final Fantasy X - Otherworld

When I first heard this, the guitar kicking in, the fast drums, the overall "RAAAAAAAH KICKASS!" of the song really inspires a good hope for the rest of the game, and the FMV it's playing over is really great. But I feel there are better songs on my list than this. Plus I can only do two FF songs.

Final Fantasy VI - Aria

This was hard to give up for Cid's Theme, but the feeling I get by hearing Cid's Theme and the thoughts it brings back from the game are a better feelign than I get by hearing Aria, I think. Aria is a veeery wonderful song, though.

[sabin_66]

1. Final Fantasy IX - You Are Not Alone. So good when this track kicks in, love that whole sequence in Pandemonium. Theres about a hundred other FFIX songs I loved, but this one shone out above the rest. FF IX has the best VG soundtrack EVER in my opinion, maybe even my favourite VG ever.

2. Super Metroid - Norfair Theme.HARD. All the levels had great music. Crateria with its pseudo-militaristic beat, Brinstar's just plain kicked ass, Norfair was chilling and creepy but fantastic at the same time... so good. Overall Id say... Norfair, just because it suited the place perfectly. Shame to choose only one though.

3. Donkey Kong Country 2 - Kannon's Klaim. This song was brilliant. Donkey Kong 2 had a lot of good arcadey music but this one was slightly different. The opening lil beat (clang, clang, cla-cla-cla-clang) gave way to this really great tune, with an almost moving melody.

4. Mega Man - Wily's Stage 2. Fast, upbeat, great melody and it all went together with a REALLY nice level. Absolutely fantastic music for the NES system, holds it up with the rest.

5. Final Fantasy 8 - The Landing. The whole heartbeat thing is just so cool, and the melody is pretty damn good too. Really made the early parts of this game interesting. Id also like to mention 'Find Your Way', which managed to make a stone maze really exciting. Good stuff.

6. Red Faction - Main Menu tune. Kind of obscure this one, but I really liked it. You cant really attribute it to any one type of music, but it was really good to listen to.

7. Command and Conquer Red Alert 2 - Intro theme. Oh my god, this tune kicked so much ass, especially when binded with that fantastic opening movie. Hardcore rock with a pulse, best of all the CnC tunes (but not the CnC games).

8. Metal Gear Solid 3 - Jungle 'Alert' Theme. This was seriously cool this was, had a real stealthy flavour to it, made the game feel like a film so much. I didnt usually like the MGS series, but i liked 3 a lot.

9. Grand Theft Auto - Grand Theft Auto by Da Shootaz. One of my favourites of all time this one, Rock and rap in the same tune, and with awesome lyrics. You couldnt fail to love this one.

10. Ape Escape - First level tune. Dead quirky and impossible to resist, cant touch this one. Such a brilliant game, too.

[SOLDIER #819]

10. Underworld - Super Mario Bros. - Beware of Goombas! Take flight, Mario! Make them gum under your feet! Not sticky, though.

9. Optimism - Chrono Cross - I doubt most people have heard this track, or if they have heard it they've probably forgotten it. It was the theme played when you fought Solt and Peppor, and probably was also played when they were up to whatever their strange antics were. It's horribly quirky, perhaps even to the point of it being a flaw, but I absolutely love it. It sorta reminded me of one of those cafés with live bands that played their slow, smooth, cool music. =P Haha, I'm not sure what it is about it that I enjoy, but it really did grow on me.

8. Homage - Ogre Battle 64 - This track was surprisingly delicious when I first heard it, and still is a pleasure to hear. While it isn't anything ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR to the ear, it fit so well with certain parts of the game that it stuck to me like glue, which is why I didn't hesitate to name it a favorite. I remember searching for this piece on AudioGalaxy (I think that's what it was called, it was a P2P music client) for a long while, so I was happy when I found it. Then with the advent of downloading full OSTs via FTP, I was even happier to hear it orchestrated. Yum. It's a very explosive track.

7. Hyrule Castle - Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past/Wind Waker - I honestly wasn't too fond of this song when I first heard it playing in Link to the Past. However, when I had reached that point in Wind Waker where it played in a slower, more gloomy tone, my feelings for it took a sharp turn in the opposite direction. Not to say that I'm gloomy myself (Or maybe I am?!), but it really suited the theme. And...There isn't much more to say. It's just that damn good.

6. Cuddle - Star Ocean: The Second Story - I really get the feeling that this is a fast-paced rendition of Rena's Theme, though I may be off (Not that it matters, because I love Rena's Theme). It carries a very simple, sweet melody that would usually be blown away by some of the more epic tracks in Star Ocean 2, but I ended up enjoying it more than those. I'm listening to it as I type this, actually, and it's making me sleepy...

5. Cut Man - Mega Man 1 - Hoo boy. Other than Game Start (and that isn't saying much all too much), this is the ONE track in the Mega Man series that I remember vividly. In all truth, I can barely remember most of the other boss stage themes and whatnot that were played, unlike Kazanthikus who seems to have some harddrive for a brain when it comes to these things. They simply were not all that memorable to me, and blended together into some miscellaneous oblivion. This was not so with Cutman, who almost literally beckoned to be remembered with its upbeat and epic tone...Tones...Whatever. It's not an original choice, but there's a reason for its popularity. Listen to it, then listen to CutMetal by BrainCells.

4. Kefka - Final Fantasy VI - This is a catchy song. When I think of comical villainy, I think Kefka. And when I think Kefka, I think of him chortling (or whatever laugh he does) to this song. And that's just evil, man. EVIL.

3. Saria's Song - Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Ah, my unrequited love, Saria. Well, not really, it's just that my friend(s) from elementary school used to tease me about it when I said she was my favorite character in the game. But yeah, much like the character, I came to like the song. I would wander around the woods as Young Link a lot, hitting random things while listening to it, since at the time I knew not of mp3s or the ease they would bring me. I think I tried to record it at one point, too, but that was all for not. Haha, buuut, it's just a very catchy tune that, for me, symbolizes one of the greatest games of all time. Thus the high placing.

2. People Seized with Life - Chrono Cross - This is probably the most depressing song of the lot here, and quite possibly the most depressing track on the Chrono Cross OST. I rank it so highly simply because of what it is. With or without using the game itself as the context, it is a very emotional piece.

1. Aerith's Theme - Final Fantasy VII - This shouldn't be much of a surprise for those who know me and my like for Final Fantasy VII, and it's pretty predictable even if you don't. The song in itself is very good, despite my admission to it being overrated (along with the game). On the other hand, if I had discluded this song for the sake of originality or because it is overrated, I would be lying. Therefore, it is here. Aerith's Theme embedded itself into my mind when I first played Final Fantasy VII, and I can say in all honesty that I enjoyed it in the whole two times it played (I think it was two, anyway) during the game. When I hear it, I can easily remember the happenings that surrounded it, or that it surrounded, which is rare considering my visual memory is not all that sharp. And yes, while it was "just" a video game, it was a damn good video game with a great story that I enjoyed immensely. This song is one of those things that can embody this game.

[Chickenballz]

You know, I'm probably going to be leaving out a lot of stuff I actually think is wonderful because my memory is shit. And so sorry, no old school because I like listening to smooth, sexy music. Course, if the classics are orchestrated...

My list will basically consist of what I have at this present moment. So yeah. Oh, it's in no particular order because I suck at rankings.

Emoticon - Killer 7 - It's not really called Emoticon. It is an emoticon....thing. Anyways, it's something you'd want to play in the background while walking into a sleazy bar with the intent to kill everyone inside with your multiple personalities.

Altered Genos - Panzer Dragoon Orta - I like the beginning.

Twilight Street (Ambient Remix) - Shadow Hearts 2: Covenant - This is actually called Town of Twilight ~ European Town, but the version I have is off the near death experience cd, and the title is apparently in japanese. Whoever translated the mp3 title must have put that. Anyways, I like this version more.

Omega - Xenosaga, Episode I - Nothing against Yuki Kajiura but I wish Mitsuda did Xenosaga Episode II. It still wouldn't have made me get it though.

Castle in the Mist - ICO - This was a tough one. What about Heal, Continue, and You Were There? Yeah, f*** it.

Katamari Stars - Katamari Damacy - Compared to the other manic and infectious songs it had, this one was surprisingly mellow.

Wounded Warsong - Silent Hill 4: The Room - It suited me.

Ocarina Medley - Zelda, Ocarina of Time - All the ocarina songs in one mp3, from the Hyrule Symphony. Badass. But if I had to pick one out, it would be the one we all thought was sooo cool, Bolero of Fire. I wonder why they ended on Requiem of Spirit.

The Last Spartan - Halo 2 - I would've put Peril down but I swear I must have heard it too many times trying to clear a part on legendary.

Scars of Time - Chrono Cross - It was either this or Radical Dreamers.



I have a pretty good feeling I left out something I really liked. And since I don't have a single FF song up there, we'll just say....

Real Emotion - FFX2

OHHHH YEAH.


But guess what? I actually do have a song I like off the FFX2 soundtrack. FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE AND WIN NOTHING.

[Aramil]

Ok here it goes.

10.- Requiem of Spirits - - - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
This is my favourite Ocarina song, and I think its epic sound is really cool.
9.- The Hill of Despair - - - Final Fantasy IX
Great battle theme, and it really fits the purpose.
8.- Battle With Magus - - - Chrono Trigger
The whole battle theme is great, and the dark like beginning is awesome.
7.- Storm Eagle - - - Megaman X
What else to say, one of my favourite soundtracks of Megaman X.
6.- The Dark Star - - - Secret of Mana
This is a darker soundtrack, but still great, gives the idea of a destroyed world, I like the idea.
5.- Devils Never Cry - - - Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
I like the part with the woman choirs in the back.
4.- Cid's Theme - - - Final Fantasy VII
One of my favourite FF themes, and Cid from FF VII rocks.
3.- Bloody Tears - - - Castlevania X: Rondo of Blood
Ok, why Rondo of Blood? I just simply like the version in Rondo of Blood more than others.
2.- Awe of She - - - Guilty Gear X
Guilty Gear soundtracks are all cool n stuff, but I think Awe of She, is really the best in the genre
1.- The Divine Spirit of Language- - - Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
The best battle theme Square has ever created, The battle with Crosell and Albel, in Star Ocean 3, I liek the genre ,and it really really rocks.

[Kyle Shidair]

Man this is going to be hard. These songs are not in order of greatness, because I'm not the kidn of guy who can get that precise about os many great songs.

10: Fighting of the Spirit ~ArrANGe MiX~ (Tales of Phantasia PSX OST) Fighting of the spirit is seen in Tales of Phantasia and Tales of Symphonia when fighting a summon spirit. Empowering and bold is the basis for this song. Listen to it and feel your adrenaline run. Plus the piano solos kick ass.

9: End of a Thought (Tales of Symphonia) End of a thought is just that. After so much trouble through the game this boss music really sets the mood. An end of a thought. An end to this fight. The final encounter.

8: Grandia 2 Middle Boss Battle v.2 Another boss track that totally gives the feeling to one of the many chaotic fights one encounters in the Grandia series.

7: Prolouge (Final Fantasy 4) The music when Cecil and Kain first leave Baron and you see that long ass message you only wish you could fast forward through. I love this song so much because it really sets the mood to whats going on. It can be used in a very swell dramatic sense and I constantly find myself repeating the endgame scene (which uses this song).

6: I am Impact! (Legend of the Mystical Ninja: Starring Goemon) I am the best, yes, I am impact! This song kicks so much ass it should be dubbed the KING of "summoning-a-f*cking-badass-robot-to-tear-shit-up" song.

5: It Doesn't Matter (Sonic Adventure 2 version) One of the greatest current age Sonic songs out there. Telling us to do what we should if it be wrong or right, and to follow our hearts. A great song thats upbeat and makes you wanna go do something.

4: Suikoden 2 Intro Song thingy The intro to Suikoden 2 is so badass, it makes Sephiroth's orchastra look pansy. Sorta. =P A really great mix of loud battles and fighting, relaxation and revival, and new hope and rebirth. Watch the intro if you want to know what I mean.

3: Breath of Fire 4 intro I can't remember the name but htis intro rocks. The music is very laid back and mystical. I find myself sitting in the dark listening to this bad boy with other songs like it. Truely a relaxing song with a hint of tribal thrown in.

2: Grandia Theme This is the one that plays in the intro of Grandia and in some parts of Grandia 2. Such a song provokes adventurous nature within myself.

1: Battle Outside Soda Fountain (Brave Fencer Musashi) This is the music that plays right after Musashi beats the second guy of Leader's Force and he has to tear through the courtyards of the Thirstquencher Empire. This music rocks.

Wooh thats it. Good golly thats alot of songs. Took me forever to write. @.@ I included midi's of the songs I could find. I only did the first few cuz the others suck. Find these in MP3 formate. They are teh best.

[Ted Zanarukando]

10. The SaGa Continues (Romancing SaGa trilogy) - Especially the Romancing SaGa 3 version. This is one of the best themes of a series.
9. Chrono Trigger Theme - The theme fits Chrono Trigger well. It is my favorite song for the Chrono series.
8. The Great Plains March (Dragon Quest VIII) - It is sort of a march remix of To a Vast World from the same game. The soundtrack will really get me hooked on playing Dragon Quest VIII.
7. Behold the Adventure (Dragon Quest III) - The field map theme of Dragon Quest III. It is my favorite Dragon Quest song, especially in its SNES (or SPC700) representation. The song also occurs in Dragon Quest Monsters I.
6. Chapter 4: Dance by the Sky (Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu) - This song is packed with strings, and some French horn. It sounds very nice.
5. Theme of Fire Emblem - Especially the Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance representation. It is the theme of my favorite Nintendo series. It sounds entertaining. I listen to this song quite frequently. Marth is my favorite character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, while Ira of Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu is my favorite Nintendo character ever.
4. Flight Into the Unknown (Seiken Densetsu 2) - It is played when Randi flies a Flammy. It has a catchy rhythm. I listen to it several consecutive times.
3. Electric Talk (Seiken Densetsu 3) - This song is entertaining. It has both classical and techno feel to it. Seiken Densetsu 3 features catchy rhythms and lots of strings.
2. 1000 Words (Final Fantasy X-2) - Especially the orchestral versions. Both versions of the song sound very good. I know how to sing that song. I memorized the lyrics very well. I listen to this song nearly as often as my favorite video game song.
1. Suteki Da Ne (Final Fantasy X) - Especially the orchestral version. It is my absolute favorite video game song of all time. It is the most beautiful song I ever heard. It is derived from Yuna's Theme. I made a karaoke MP3+G of the song, derived from a MIDI based on the orchestral version. I listen to this song just about daily. I listen to it at home, on the road, and at someone else's home.

[2ndPower]

10. Earthbound battle music-Earthbound, SNES
There are a great many battle themes, and I like most of it, but since I have to pick one, I think it's the music you get when you're fighting the starman supers under Stonehenge. Sorry that's not very descriptive, but that's the song I like.

9. Invincibility-Sonic CD, Sega CD
It's not very artistic, it's a simple song, but hey, I can groove to it.

8. The Lost Village- Castlevania, Dawn of Sorrow, DS
This song just fits the setting perfectly, and it's beautifully composed to boot.

7. Opening Theme-Super Smash Brothers Melee, GC
Well composed, well executed. It's quite difficult to mash existing songs together, but this one did it well.

6. End of War-Power Quest, GBC
I like it. That's about all I can say.

5. Liberi Fatali-Final Fantasy 8, PS
The vocals completely sell this piece. Not to mention it's one of the few songs that actually synchs up with the video it's playing with.

4. Ending Theme-Super Mario 64, N64
A completely wonderful piece, peaceful, yet energetic, the best ending music off of any video game I've ever played.

3. Joker's Room-Fighter's Destiny, N64
This is the first time I ever turned on a game just to listen to the music.

2. In Zanarkand-Final Fantasy 10, PS2
Quite a lovely piece. The first video game music I actually learned to play myself.

1. The music playing in the Legend of Zelda, Twilight Princess E3 2005 Trailer
Yes, I know this is cheating a bit, but this song is one of the most beautiful I've ever heard.

[Nicol Armarfi]

ok, i havn't been on in a while ( give or take a 1 1/2 ) weeks, but my opinions still stand:

10. Ormuos-Xenosaga
9.melodies of life- FF9
8. rock the dragon- DBZ budokai1
7. liberi fatali- FF8
6. hitourijanai- DBZ-GT the game
5. kana- gundam seed: never ending tommorow
4. one winged angel-FF8
♪3. MGS- remix-metal gear solid
♪♪2. kazenon- FFcc
♪♪♪1. the number one is...
METAL GEAR SOLID 2 INTRO!!!! if i am not listening to this every second, i start to get envious of the guys who made the game for being the first people to hear it. This song/ piece makes the hairs on my skin go up, and sends a shiver down my spine. Of course,l you may not like it this much, but i think MGS would never be the same without it.

2 - Gerudo Valley - Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (N64), by Koji Kondo

Much like any snappy, upbeat tune, this song catches your attention with ease. How fitting for a band of thieves, eh? There really isn't much to say about this song other than the fact that it's more than worth listening to. So listen to it. Simple as that

origanaly posted by lococolto4, i agree, however, i still say that kazenon is also worthy of second

and note: the links are NOT direct links, it just goes to the sight where you find the music, you'll have to find it your self, i didn't have time to put in a direct link.

[Paine]

This is hard considering i love heaps of songs from FFX & X-2, Silent Hill series and Devil May Cry series... anyways:

1. I Want Love (Studio Mix) from Silent Hill 3
2. Room Of Angel from Silent Hill 4: The Room
3. Otherworld from FFX
4. Machine Faction from FFX-2
5. Taste The Blood from Devil May Cry 3
6. Nelo Angelo Battle 1 theme from Devil May Cry
7. Peak 3 theme from SSX 3
8. Untracked theme from SSX
9. 1080 Snowboarding theme
10. GTA: San Andreas theme

[King Fenii]

After I discovered about game soundtracks that I could download, I went and searched for the ones that I really liked. So, here she comes. It took me quite some time to get this list right.

10. Urban Fragments - Ridge Racer Type 4 (Playstation)

I always liked this one. It's the music you hear in the opening movie, and just think it's very cool, especially the ending. If you've never seen the opening movie, I suggest you watch it at least once to get the feeling. A nice starter of the top 10.

9. Sri Lanka - Rise of Nations (PC)

This might be a weird pick, but any real RTSer like myself should know this song. It's the only song in the game where I say "Wow..." If you listen to the song on its own, it seems to have a totally different vibe than the game. Sort of like an Asian empire being destroyed.

8. Paul's Miracle Big Crushing Fist - Tekken 2 (Playstation)

There's not much comment I can give you here. I just like the way this song flows and how fun it is. It has the nice American-Japanese swing to it, which makes it fun and different at the same time.

7. Metal Gear Solid Main Theme - Metal Gear Solid 2 (Playstation 2)

Even though it's not one of my super personal favorites, the song is still good enough to get in to my list. A sort of...tribute to MGS. This has always been a very good song. Hats off to Gregson-Williams.

6. Legend of Zelda Main Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)

Almost the same story as the #7. This song has become so popular amongst gamers, that it deserves to be listed. It's a very good song that became legendary over time. Everyone heard it and everyone is still loving it, including me.

5. Ending Theme - Terranigma (SNES)

After you've finished the game, and you understood what the story was all about, the music really touches you. And that is so beautiful about music. It was hard for composers to do that on the SNES, but apparently they found out ways how to do that. Beautiful, beautiful song.

4. Secure Place - Resident Evil 2 (Playstation)

This song always seems to send shivers down my spine. It's an amazing way of changing the ambience of the game. From the terrifying running through the halls and shooting strange creatures to this...the safe room, the secure place.

3. Ken Stage - Super Street Fighter 2 (SNES)

Yup, this is indeed, in my perspective, a masterpiece. I've posted the arranged version here, which I play all the time. It's basicly the same as the SNES version, only better quality. This song is full of ambition, character and of course, catchiness. This was another one of Capcoms great works!

2. The Star of Darkness - Secret of Mana/Seiken Densetsu 2 (SNES)
Secret of Mana was one of the best games to be released on the SNES. The developers were our great friends of Squaresoft. One thing that made the game so great was its soundtrack. The Star of Darkness was first played when the Sunken Continent rose. Which meant the beginning of the end. You can hear that in the song, the preparation to end the threat. Like a huge rebelion has arisen. This song has great climaxing, and is extremely good.

1. Vamo' Alla Flamenco - Final Fantasy IX (Playstation)

Don't tell me you didn't see this one coming. I once said that FFIX had the best soundtrack of all FF's, which I still think. There are several versions released of this track. You probably heard it for the first time on CD1 in FFIX, where you fight Blank for the show. I personally enjoy the Orchestral version the most. The song is so very melodic and pleasant to hear. Everytime I hear it, I enjoy every second of it. It is in my opinion, as an experienced gamer and as extreme FF fan, the best game soundtrack ever.

---

That's all folks. It was pretty spicy to put my favorites in good order. I have many, many more I would've liked to post and I could even arrange a Top 100, but that would've been too much.

[OnOneRyder]

I'd like to start by commenting on lococolts #1 pick. How the hell could you pick that song!?! It is so damn repetitive!

I'm not about to explain every single pick of mine like previous people, I'll explain my top three though.

10) Sharp from Paradise ~ Fable

9) Jolly Roger Bay Theme ~ Super Mario 64

8) Gerudo Valley ~ The Ocarina of Time

7) Transliquid ~ Fable

6) The Hobbit OST ~ The hobbit

5) Halo ~ Halo

4) Truth and Reconciliation Suite ~ Halo

3) Aeris Theme ~ Final Fantasy VII: I have only started listening to this song lately. I've yet to actually play FF VII but I have listened to a lot of the OST. Nobuo Uematsu proves to me once again that he is an excellent composer and it's songs like these that keep him on the top of my lists.

2) Ending Theme ~ Final Fantasy VIII: This is a great song from my favorite game. It has the same lyrics as eyes on me I believe but with different music. It is also accompanied with nearly 10 extra minutes of orchestra, something that can never hurt. It has beautiful vocals, and intense orchestral moments. Almost made #1 in my book.

1) The Oath ~ Final Fantasy VIII: I know 3 songs from the same series but screw it; they all deserve top spots so that's where they're staying. This song is by far the most appealing song of anything I've heard, ever. I can listen to it anytime of the day and it still cheers me up. It is also my favorite moment in FFVIII, how could it not be #1?

There you have it, my buggered half assed compilation of my favorite video game music.

[Dauragon]

Wooo...it's about time I posted in this thread.

EDIT: Ehh, I was bending the rules a bit by having two songs from Chrono Trigger, but I moved around it.

10. Main Theme (River City Ransom)
This game is just toooooooooo sick. You know, I often wished I could go around the streets and beat up random guys and make them go "BARF!". This tune is played throughout pretty much all of the game. It's the peppy, swingy, upbeat tune that plays whilst Alex and Ryan walk through the streets beating up various gangs. All around, this is quite a nice piece. On a sidenote, I really loved those Technos Japan games.

9. People Who Threw Away the Will to Live (Chrono Trigger)
We all remember this tune. The first time we heard after entering the Proto Dome. This part of the game comes as shock to most after having experienced the beauty and wonder of the two previous time periods. The age of 2300 is not a pleasant one, and this song captures it. Mitsuda really outdid himself on this one, as it captures several emotions all in one short piece. Sadness and fear are very prominent in this piece.

8. Dire Dire Docks (Super Mario 64)
This one seems to be one of the favourites of a lot of people. It's really a simple song, but it's put together so well and creates such an amazing atmosphere. The simple electric piano works amazingly well, and combined with the strings that fade in after entering the water make it even better. To spice up the tune, an upbeat drumline comes in and compliments this dreamy piece quite nicely.

7. Overworld Theme (The Adventure of Link)
Most people don't like this game. Well, I suppose that's not entirely true, but a lot of people find it to be a disappointment. I didn't. I actually played The Adventure of Link before the original Legend of Zelda. A simple game, and quite difficult, too. The overworld music was really amazing, and for 8-bit sound, it was pleasing to the ear and gave off the feeling of an epic quest, which is what this game is.

6. Opening Suite (Halo)
This is the perfect example of sweeping strings. This piece could quite easily be used as the theme for a motion picture, mind you, Halo is quite similar to an excellent movie. But what really makes this song special is the use of the choir. We know that as soon as one hears the low echos of the chorus that this thing is serious.

5. Moonlight Wilderness (Tekken 5)
Quite honestly, this is probably the best song in a fighting game ever. Combined with the atmosphere of the stage that its played in, I think the only word to describe it is epic. This piece is perfect for the climax of a fight, as it wears down to the last round.

4. The Landing (Final Fantasy VIII)
From the first few heartbeats, it becomes evident that this one is something else. The strings come in, and sweep nicely into a short intro segment. After that, the driving staccato symphony bursts through the speakers and gets your heart pumping. The mood is really set with this song, as the boats crash into the shore and the troops charge onto the beaches, with scenes of Galbadian soldiers rushing to halt the invasion and being blown into the air in the process. Truly amazing musical genius.

3. Dancing Mad (Final Fantasy VI)
Ah yes. Another familiar one. I'm an avid fan of pipe organ music, and this one instantly clicked with me, partially because it's also the music used during a fight with one of the best villains in video game history. It really sounds like it was written by one of the great masters, perhaps reminiscient of Bach, whose organ pieces are the most well known. The third part is easily the most beautiful, which is rather ironic considering the in-game circumstances.

2. Water Temple (Ocarina of Time)
This dungeon is probably my favourite in the entire game, and part of that is the music that's playing. Right when it starts off, it gives you a certain watery feeling, and when Link surfaces you see this large chamber with a beautiful glow to it. The instrumentation of this song is excellent. It really allows you to lose yourself and forget about the sometimes frustrating dungeon that you're trying to complete.

1. Collision Chaos: Good Future (Sonic CD Japan)
This game was kind of strange, due to the fact that it had two different soundtracks. The original Japanese soundtrack had synthesized music, at a fairly low quality. The American soundtrack, on the other hand, had a much higher production quality, and used new tracks, some including electric guitar. The only tracks that survived the translation were the songs used for the Past. I like both soundtracks, although I think that musically, the original Japanese one was much stronger. This song is an example of that. I think the word to describe it would either be dreamy or trippy. It's a song that can really transport you somewhere else. To get a good feel for it, I suggest checking out Xenepp's remix over at Overclocked. It's pretty much a cover of the original, but uses better instruments and has a much higher production quality.



Honourable Mentions (bordered with #10)

Guardia Millenial Fair (Chrono Trigger)
Pelopponesus (Battle of Olympus)
Remlia (Astyanax)
Ryu's Theme (Street Fighter 2)
Downhill Race (Skate or Die)

[Chez Daja]

I doubt I'll have a full list since I'm not great on the names... But...


Silent Hill - Not Tomorrow.
Wow, what an emotional theme for such an emotional part of the game.

Spoiler: When Lisa dies.

Knowing me, I like all kinds of different music, but I love anything with a strong melody that flows, hence why this song has to be one of my favourite themes ever.

Dungeon Siege - Maintheme.
Woah. This song just really suited the atmosphere of the game, even though it wasnt the most interesting game after it reached a certain point, the changing music for different places was pretty damn cool, so the main Dungeon Siege theme is definately one of my favourite game themes.

FFVI - Orchestremental Snowfield Theme.
It's just great. It has a really emotional sound to it and a really cool beat that really fit into the game well.

Resident Evil - Secure Place.
Yeah, the first time I played RE2, my sister and me sat there together and listened to the theme for a while - I don't know whether it was because we were scared of what was hanging around outside, but I put it down to basically, this being such an awesome piece for a moderately creepy game.

Devil May Cry 3 - Battle theme.
Now, I am quite aware that throughout the game, there are TWO battle themes (only battles, guys, not bosses), and although I love both and had a hard time picking between the one played earlier or later in the game, I've picked the first one... I'm not QUITE sure what it's called, but if you've fought the monsters outside and inside the bar, then you'll know which one I'm on about.

Parasite Eve II - Ending Theme.
How awesome was this? I went through the game an extra two times just to sit there and listen to that song. I loved any music from PEII, but the ending theme was such a mix that it was really great to listen to.

Max Payne - Main Theme.
Everyone knows this theme! It's so great. I remember playing the game for the first time, and deciding to keep the main menu theme open when I was going to eat in front of the computer. Little did I know at the time, that everytime you take a break on that game for too long, this massive FMV pps up with the loudest ****ing thunder clash you've ever heard. I'm sure I jumped from my seat and screamed. But yeah, a greatly awesome theme nonetheless.

Metal Gear Solid - ?
It's quite a sad theme. If you've played it, its a sad theme. Ever been on codec with Naomi when your in the cell and actually been bored enough to listen to the whole conversation? This theme pops up in the background. It's pretty sad, but I like it a lot.

-Well, thats all I got for now. ^^;.

[Kefka Palazzo]

Wow, this is very hard because most of my favorite video game songs are from Final Fantasy games. After I thought about it for a while, here's my Top 10 list:

10) Main Theme (Maximum Carnage)

I love this theme from the SNES game, "Maximum Carnage". It's a rock song performed by Green Jelly. Although the rest of the soundtrack of this game is lame in comparison, I can never get enough of this particular song.

9) "Vega" (Street Fighter II)

I love this upbeat, fast-paced song from when you're fighting Vega in SFII. It does actually feel like an upbeat Spanish fight song. Very cool.

8) "Forest Maze" (Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars)

This is a very catchy tune, which really does feel magical in nature. It's perfect for the Forest Maze level, and I still love it.

7) "Overworld theme" (Super Mario Bros.)

This is the very first video game song I ever heard, and it's still probably the most catchiest and memorable video game song to date. I love it.

6) "Dark World theme" (Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past)

I love this theme. It feels very adventurous like the Overworld theme, but also has a dark undertone which is perfect for Dark World. Awesome.

5) "Overworld theme" (Legend of Zelda)

Ahh, the famous Overworld theme. I admit that it's one of my favorite video game pieces. It's very memorable and still provokes adventurous emotions in me to this day.

4) "Pokey Means Business!" (Earthbound)

This is the theme playing when you face Giygas for the first time at the end of the game. I absolutely love this song. It sounds very Heavy Metal-ish, which is my favorite type of music. Giygas rocks!

3) "World Revolution" (Chrono Trigger)

I love this piece. It plays when facing "Inner Lavos" (the second embodiment of Lavos, before "Lavos Core"). It really embodies the entire Chrono Trigger experience, and it inspires a lot of adventurous feelings in me.

2) "One-Winged Angel" (Final Fantasy 7)

Awesome, awesome music. It was a tough choice between this and my #1 pick. I love the melding of the symphony with actual words. Listening to this is like listening to a very powerful Opera. It's fantastic, and inspires many emotions in me.

and...

1) "Dancing Mad" (Final Fantasy 6)

Simply THE best musical piece in a video game, (in my humble opinion). I love the entire song, with it's eerie organ tones. I also love that it comes in 4 different parts, and the next piece starts as you climb the "levels" of a creepy biological tower, and finally face Kefka above it. I can't get enough of this song, and it's still my favorite after more than 10 years.

[Robot Raged]

Here are my 10favorite songs from video games.
1. Godsmack, I stand alone: Prince Of Persia 2 Warrior Within
2. Edina, Immortal: Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance
3. I think the song is called escape from Sonic Adventure 2 battle
4.The halo theme song: Halo
5. The Halo-2 theme song: Halo-2 "it's allitle diffrent from Halo"
6.I like the song that they play at the begging of Kindom Hearts
7.One Winged Angel: I think it was from Final Fantasy V11 but it might be from final fantasy V111.
8.the samurai warriors theme song at the beggining but I can't remember what's called.
9.I like the beat in the begging of Dynast Warriors 5 where I think it is Zhou Yu starts beating up chin's army
10. And this is kinda emmbarresing to say but I kinda like the song that Yuna dances to in the first stage of Final Fantasy X-2.

[Axeman]

Toughest part of compiling this list was always gonna be which FF songs to include! Well here goes:

1: Final Fantasy X - The skies above. (opening titles)
2: Tekken 5 - No idea what the song is called but its the one that plays when you fight on the moonlit stage with all the swaying grasses.
3: SSX3 - the bitter end (by placebo) I know it's not an actual game song, but the way it's been mixed to fit in with the action on screen is glorious and it fits the mood of the game perfectly.
4: God of War - incidental music playing whilst in Athens(?), just epic.
5: Soul Reaver - the music playing during the opening FMV's, just sets the mood perfectly it's so menacing.
6: Final Fantasy X-2 - 1000 words, actually had me welling up!
7: Shinobi (sega saturn) - opening titles, again just sets the right mood for the whole game.
8: Radar mission (gameboy) - main theme, don't really know why but it just get the heart racing and the palms sweaty!
9: Summoner - Lenelle theme tune, repetetive yet somehow never intrusive.
10: Kingdom hearts - opening titles, you hear it and you know immediately that you're playing a square-enix game!

[Black Angel]

10. Ending Theme (Super Mario RPG)
9. Boss Battle (zelda: A Link to the Past)
8. Starman (super mario brothers)
7. Music A (Tetris) (Gameboy Version)
6. Suffer (Devil May Cry 3)
5. Magus battle (Chrono Trigger)
4. One Winged Angel (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children)
3. Overworld (THe Legend of Zelda)
2. Meta Ridley (Metroid Prime)
1. Liberi Fatali (Final Fantasy VIII)

Man that was hard to narrow down .

[jorge]

1. FFVIII PC version - "Force Your Way"
2. KKND2: Krossfire - file name: robo_03 (song name is unknown) :/
3. Resident Evil 2 - "The Marshalling Yard"
4. DGBZ: Legend of Super Saiyan - "Train Harder!"
5. Chrono Trigger - "World Revolution"
6. Biker Mice from Mars - Track 0C (song name is unknown) :/
7. Breath of Fire 4 - "Truth and Dreams"
8. Megaman X - "Maverick Battle"
9. Age of Empires II - Opening theme
10. Half-Life 2 - Ending theme

[IRANianCha0s]

10. Burnout Revenge - Avenged Sevenfold - The Beast and the Harlot
I know it's kinda cheap, but it's featured in Burnout Revenge. It's simply my favorite song from Avenged Sevenfold, and I was really pleased they put it in Burnout Revenge.

9. Chrono Trigger - Boss Battle
One of the best boss battle themes out there, its got a fast pace and keeps you alert and on a rush while you defeat dangerous foes.

8. Final Fantasy IV - Airship
It's an uplifting music theme, makes you feel that you are truly flying among the skies rather than playing through a badly animated faux 3D segment in an old RPG game.

7. Devil May Cry 3 - Battle with Arkham Part 2
This is when your demented brother Vergil, whom you fought against multiple times earlier in the game, comes to your rescue and fights alongside you in one of the most climactic final battles of the game. I thought it had a perfectly epic quality that fit the mood perfectly (I actually lost a few times during this segment because I got lost in the music)

6. Doom 3 - Main Theme
It's a nice guitar riff, and I like it.

5. Final Fantasy - Prologue
Most Final Fantasy games have at least some version of this song in them, and for good reason. It is the epic musical entrance for their games, it lets you know that you are playing something that is clearly the Final Fantasy.

4. Devil May Cry 3 - Devils Never Cry
When I first heard this song in the trailer, I knew the DMC universe would change forever. It's one of the most vividly produced VG music songs ever created, good enough to be a hit single if it was featured in a music album.

3. Metal Gear Solid 2 - Main Theme
If you argue with me, I will kill you. Harry Gregson Williams is a ****ing genius for composing this piece, it's epic beauty is matched only by a scarce few.

2. Final Fantasy IV - The Final Battle
Without a doubt, the best final boss song ever. Sometimes I would get caught up in the adrenaline rush of the song playing in the background and accidentally screw up while playing against Zeromus.

1. Super Mario 64 - Staff Roll
Absolutely the best credits music ever. The general melody made me feel like I just finished something incredibly satisfying (which I did). This is the kind of song I want to die in my sleep with.

[Xahrackus]

10. "World Revolution" (Chrono Trigger)
9. "Overworld theme" (Super Mario Bros.)
8. The Legend of Zelda - The Overworld
7. Devil May Cry 3 - Battle theme.
6. Kirby SuperStar (SNES) - Battle with Meta-Knight
5. Metal Gear Solid 2 - Main Theme
4. Chrono Trigger - Boss Battle
3. Final Fantasy VIII- Liberi Fatali

This one I will talk about. Alone, it was a beautiful piece, using well a constrast between serene and exciting. Together with the movie, wow. The sheer beauty of it made me start the game over about 5 times in a row just to see and hear it once more.

2. Final Fantasy X- Suteki Da Ne

I cried. Yes, it was that good.

1. Kingdom Hearts- One Winged Angel

(yeah I'm kinda cheating, getting in 3 FF songs, but hey, Nobuo Uematsu is a genius!)

I especially enjoyed this song, first due to it's originality, next to the way it flowed in the the battles in FF7, Kingdom Hearts, and Advent Children especially, and last, because it is so amazingly complex that I can't even play parts of it on the piano. I half-way worship this song.

[Chez Daja]

Metal Gear Solid - ?

Enclosure. Just thought I'd clear my own mistake up.

I have my other two to add now, and yes, they are SH theme, but others choice three, so I'm going to be a cliche and do the same.

Akira Yamaoka- Silent Hill 2 - Magdelene.
Nice theme, it's after an emotional scene in which a...

Spoiler: Character dies.

It's nice and has a brilliant melody.

Akira Yamaoka- Silent Hill 4 - Silent Circus.
Another song with a wonderful melody. It is near the beginning of the game, where you meet a very provocative character, and although her presence annoys me, I enjoyed the theme. It went well will the game atomsphere and was nice to listen to.