Epic Game Soundtracks

[DrizztFan24]

Any have nominations for epic soundtracks? I'm thinking we submit nominations and by having at least three vouches from individuals other than submitters will qualify a work as epic.

My suggestion is the Halo 3 soundtrack. The game was meh for me, but the sound was amazing. Combining the strings with the distorted guitar was truly worthy of sitting in the middle of the map mid-campaign just to listen to it.

[Lord Seth]

Sonic Adventure 2: Battle.
Every Ace Attorney game.
Super Mario Bros.

[Myshlaevsky]

Two moments, rather than whole soundtracks, from me:

The first time you get the tank in Halo.

The first time you fight Magus in Chrono Trigger.

The only game soundtrack that's stayed with me long enough to listen to outside the the game is Fallout 3. I have mods to increase the songs on that, though.

[Trai]

Kingdom Hearts (the original) had a pretty awesome soundtrack. Neat reworkings of Disney songs. I seem to remember liking the Hollow Bastion theme the best.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Super Robot Wars in general.

Trombe! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot-0-KyPd0Y) is now overriding this thread.

[TengYt]

Skies of Arcadia.

[Hermit]

The music in the Halo series is definately a highlight.

Also going to throw out a mention to Jet Grind Radio/JSR Future. Some awesome stuff on their soundtracks.

[Athaniar]

Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Is any more explanation required?

[Eldan]

The Planescape: Torment (http://planescape.outshine.com/index5b56.html?page=soundtrack) soundtrack is just great. Really unique.

[Vic_Sage]

Street Fighter 3rd Strike
Street Fighter 2nd Impact
Capcom vs SNK
Capcom vs SNK 2
Guilty Gear Accent Core+
BlazBlue

[UltraDude]

Skies of Arcadia.

So very much.

How about Shadow of the Colossus guys?

[Brewdude]

Who can forget Act on Instinct (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coNKMoJ5ut4) from Command and Conquer: Tiberian dawn or Hell March (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SQVvfFTcEk) from Red alert?

[Vic_Sage]

Just to post some stand out tracks
BlazBlue:
Rebellion (Ragna's Theme) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4CNXKTuF8g)

MOTOR HEAD (Iron Tager's theme) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bby132VFgVY) *My personal favorite*

Black Onslaught (Boss Ragna's Theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdYfVFLMiZo)

Marionette Purple (Carl Clover's theme) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgNLUNF5Xeg)

Gale (Shishigami Bang's theme) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSO7SHQOkwI)

And last but not least BEAT A NAIL WITH YOUR HAMMER! (Furikenzan Banga Shishigami) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RyohloMcbs)

Street Fighter 3rd Strike:
Akuma's stage "Killing Moon" - Arranged (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdMCVDGOdUc)

Ibuki stage TWILIGHT - Arranged (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv-a5SCbsgQ)

Elena's Stage - "BEATS IN MY HEAD" Arranged (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0ODyHKqtuM)

Dudley stage "YOU BLOW MY MIND" - Arranged (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOB3j9lmBZI)

Alex & Ken Stage - "Jazzy NYC" - Arranged (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSzPbO9DFcg)

Street Fighter 3 2nd Impact:
Tomboy -African Voice Mix- (Elena Stage) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxAiuapxCYM)

Sharp Eyes -Piano Melo Mix- (Ibuki Stage) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YUJJqUU3GQ)

The Nile -DnB Mix- (Gill Stage) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXI7GNzqDHQ)

Leave Alone -UK House Mix- (Dudley Stage) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8ptLChN9Xo)

Jazzy NYC -NY House Mix- (Alex Stage) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JPekIiee80)

A.B.A "Keep In Gates" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij4BfrCWKoQ] Sao Paulo (Sean Stage)[/URL]

Guilty Gear X2 Accent Core+:
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyM3zU-_SNU)

Ino's Theme "Kage Matsuri" (Shadow Festival) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC3eOOMs0-w)

Johnny's Theme "Liquor Bar & Drunkard" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8v9DnZBc-Q)

Millia Rage's Theme "Writhe In Pain" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVsLt1JuPfg)

Baiken's Theme "Momentary Life" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBUWLMbuTgo)

May's Theme "Blue Water Blue Sky" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhpisRcYuZw)

Ky Kiske vs Sol Badguy-Type EX's Theme "No Mercy" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDk1MQU0n1o)

[Cespenar]

The Planescape: Torment (http://planescape.outshine.com/index5b56.html?page=soundtrack) soundtrack is just great. Really unique.

And they have five times the effect when heard within the actual game.

[thegurullamen]

Mass Effect

Fallout 1 and 2's A Kiss To Build A Dream On by Louis Freaking Armstrong

[SilentDragoon]

Baldur's Gate 2 had a great set of music, although any of my favorites will be the various combat and boss fight themes. Whenever I see a dragon in any game, Firkraag's combat music (Dragon battle?) starts playing in my head and I get chills down my spine.

[Rogue 7]

Personas 3 and 4.

Tons of stuff from The Legend of Zelda. If I wasn't lazy, I'd provide links.

[Sequinox]

Aww, somebody already mentioned the Halo games. Those are amazing soundtracks. Part of Mombasa Suite (I believe it's the second movement, where the bass and guitar have an echo and there's the awesome drumbeat going on) was just amazing.

[Zevox]

Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Is any more explanation required?
This. Both the biggest and the best video game soundtrack ever.

Also noteworthy: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, most Sonic the Hedgehog games (the music is about the only thing consistently good about them), and Mad World (it's rap music that I actually like - I had thought that impossible).

Zevox

[Raz_Fox]

If you haven't already, go and listen to every song on the Okami soundtrack. (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1AC584471FD4F040)

DO IT NOW

[jlvm4]

Any have nominations for epic soundtracks? I'm thinking we submit nominations and by having at least three vouches from individuals other than submitters will qualify a work as epic.

My suggestion is the Halo 3 soundtrack. The game was meh for me, but the sound was amazing. Combining the strings with the distorted guitar was truly worthy of sitting in the middle of the map mid-campaign just to listen to it.

On the theory that one brilliant song can lift a soundtrack:

Still Alive from Portal

[JaxGaret]

I'm particular to the soundtracks for the Mechwarrior 2 series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MechWarrior_2_Soundtrack). Works really well as atmosphere during the missions, and just as well as standalone ambient tracks.

[horngeek]

If you haven't already, go and listen to every song on the Okami soundtrack. (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1AC584471FD4F040)

DO IT NOW

Oh, god, yes.

This is brilliant, and if I ever run an Exalted game, I am pulling tracks from it for mood-setting.

[BatRobin]

Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Is any more explanation required?

The best part of it...


Tie between the Sonic-entrance music and the music where the Halberd gets blown up and the other ships come pwning in.

[Ravens_cry]

Grim Fandango. (http://www.grimfandango.net/?page=soundtrack)
A epic blend of film noir jazz and Mexican music, if this isn't something special, I don't know what is.

[Violet Octopus]

Super Smash Brothers Brawl, particularly the main theme's hilarious Latin.

Venus Lighthouse music, from Golden Sun

The music from the first area of Metroid (Brinstar?). Also the Phendrana Drifts music from Prime.

A long time since I've played Halo, but the music was a highlight.

Planescape Torment - haven't played it, but played a NWN module which used it. It doesn't fit it with NWN's normal music, but it was awesome enough for me to want to listen to it in its original context.

Zone of the Enders 2, though the most epic parts are at the beginning on Callisto and the battleship

[Vic_Sage]

While I may think Brawl is a crap game, I'm not going to lie, the soundtrack is awesome.

[KataraAltinaII]

Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Is any more explanation required?

This.

if nothing for the awesome original songs and adaptations, there are 304 songs in it... how many games can boast that?

[TheSummoner]

Any and all Mega Man games... but mostly 1-4, 9 and X

[Vic_Sage]

This.

if nothing for the awesome original songs and adaptations, there are 304 songs in it... how many games can boast that?
The OST is good but alot of the songs are ****ing annoying though.

[Mando Knight]

I'm gonna have to agree with those who say Brawl. I mean, there's Star Fox 64... Oh, nope, its best song was yoinked by Brawl... Well, then there's Tetris...
...Fire Emblem?
Metroid?
Pokemon?

Yes. It even managed to pull from the fantastic Sonic soundtracks, as well as Metal Gear Solid, and threw in the remixes of the best of the songs in Nintendo's repertoire, in one game, and still managed to fit in new music that belongs with the old ones.

It even has a remix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uluRpTIK-lE) of a remix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh0OKW5cwVo&feature=related) of Holst's Mars, Bringer of War...

[Zevox]

This.

if nothing for the awesome original songs and adaptations, there are 304 songs in it... how many games can boast that?
Actually, 304 is an overestimation. That's the number of soundtracks on it, true, but that includes things like the short tunes that play on the "the winner is..." screens, or the sound effects for the "continue" and "game over" screens. Still, it does include hundreds of songs from various games, far more than any other individual game can boast, with a great many of them being excellent.

Zevox

[Raz_Fox]

Oh, god, yes.

This is brilliant, and if I ever run an Exalted game, I am pulling tracks from it for mood-setting.

You want mood-setting for an Exalted game? I give you mood-setting for an Exalted game - here (http://www.serenesforest.net/music/music10.html)!

Echoes of Daybreak is my Realm theme, and The Devoted is awesome music for Solars. Skirmir's Pride is a tune for the Southeast, and if I kept going we'd be here all day.

Seriously. Radiant Dawn has amazing music, surpassed only by Okami.

[Lost Demiurge]

Best overall soundtrack? Probably Vampire: Bloodlines.

Damn near every song on that CD is awesome, and put together the whole mix invokes the best parts of the old WoD.

Closely following, I'd put the Deus Ex score. That set works well for Shadowrun, or any dystopian future game.

Individual tune-wise, I'd put the opening music for Thief: Deadly shadows. And dipping into the consoles for a second, the title screen tune for the original Advance Wars always got me smiling.

[The Rose Dragon]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Metal Gear Solid series.

While Jade Empire's soundtrack wasn't epic, it was great for setting the mood of the game.

[Trobby]

:smalleek: Just a few? But there are SO MANY good soundtracks out there...

And here's what we've got so far...


Halo 3
Sonic Adventure 2: Battle.
Every Ace Attorney game.
Super Mario Bros.

(The first time you get the tank in Halo.

The first time you fight Magus in Chrono Trigger.)

Fallout 3
Kingdom Hearts (the original)
Super Robot Wars
Trombe!
Skies of Arcadia
Jet Grind Radio/JSR Future
Super Smash Brothers Brawl
Planescape: Torment
Street Fighter 3rd Strike
Street Fighter 2nd Impact
Capcom vs SNK
Capcom vs SNK 2
Guilty Gear Accent Core+
BlazBlue
Shadow of the Colossus
Command and Conquer: Tiberian dawn
Command and Conquer: Red Alert
Mass Effect
Fallout
Fallout 2
Baldur's Gate 2
Persona 3
Persona 4
Mad World
Okami
Portal
Mechwarriors 2
Grim Fandango
Megaman 1
Megaman 2
Megaman 3
Megaman 4
Megaman 9
Megaman X
Vampire: Bloodlines
Deus Ex
Theif: Deadly Shadows
Metal Gear Solid series
Jade Empire


And I'm sure I'm STILL going to miss a few great soundtracks, simply because of the sheer volume of games to choose from.

Let's see...

Super Mario RPG (Smithy's fight does it for me, but also Smithy's Minions)

Paper Mario (Every Single Boss Fight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BX6SjEKH9k))

Yoshi's Island (For featuring a whiny little Mario, this game has amazing music)

Contra (The first)

Ninja Gaiden 2 (To me, this is where the best music in the series comes from)

Legends of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Yes, I picked this first, over OoT. No, I'm not taking it back. OoT was a great game of its time, but Wind Waker had superior music)

Metroid Fusion

Earthbound

Kirby's Dreamland/Adventure/Super Star (Yes, all three of them)

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Probably the best soundtrack in the series)

Pokemon Red/Blue (...Hey, I was ten when it came out, okay? Pokemon was a huge deal to me)

Street Fighter II


...*Poink* That's all I can think of off the top of my head. And it still doesn't feel like enough.

[Lord Seth]

The World Ends With You.

How did I miss that one in my initial post?

[Drascin]

Mmm, most I would have said have already been mentioned. I'm late to the party it seems. And it would be entirely too much to do to second stuff like Okami, Kirby, Zelda, Megaman in general, and a big etcetera. I'm a lazy man :smallredface:.

To all mentioned, though, I would like to add a couple. Point the first, .Hack as a series. Say what you will about the storylines, but the music is, almost invariably, pretty damn good. I'd also add Project Tohou to the mix from personal preference.

[Lost Demiurge]

Oh wait, I almost forgot!

From the old NES-days, an obscure game called "The Guardian Legend". That stuff was pretty awesome.

Also, from multiple consoles, most of the Castlevania games had some good tunes. There were a few stinkers, but on the whole it was good...

[Nerd-o-rama]

It even has a remix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uluRpTIK-lE) of a remix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh0OKW5cwVo&feature=related) of Holst's Mars, Bringer of War...Yes, but what ominous/aggressive music isn't a remix of Mars, Bringer of War?

I blame John Williams for that one.

[Dewey]

Halo is really good ,but the fact that no one has mentioned the soundtrack from the original Homeworld is a travesty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIUxwEJ-GXI

[Tengu_temp]

Epic game soundtracks, huh? Two words: Xenogears, Flight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxAzuUgI460).

[Fri]

Brave Fencer Musashi is a so-so games, and I only moderately like it, but for some reason, when someone mentioned 'best soundtrack for a game' I always remember it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlG3uUCPyuM My favourite tune from twinpeak mountain.

It's not even an important music. It's just normal bgm. Some games got better soundtrack, but for overall favourite bgms, it's brave fencer musashi for me.

[Cubey]

Super Robot Wars was mentioned already, but only one song was linked. That's not good, so I'm here to correct that.
SKILL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCw1HsHeck8&feature=related)
GONG (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6ENYTYjsZ4)
ROCKS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdnSGsKFQ-o)
Hagane no Messiah (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU-DJKqI08g&feature=related)
Crest of Zs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq8fpn5MUd8)

And that's just title themes, I didn't go into character songs yet. And I'm not going to include songs that come from anime series included in the games, because that's cheating.

Okay, maybe some character songs (but like I said, SRW originals and not from included anime):
Black Stranger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2mWyt6nong)
Makenaize! Gunleon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUbIIcOC1N4)
Namida Nuguu Tsubasa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL0gQqAQB04&feature=related), or "Wings that wipe away the tears" for non-weaboo. Epic AND moe for double the win.

[thorgrim29]

Brutal Legend?

[Mando Knight]

Yes, but what ominous/aggressive music isn't a remix of Mars, Bringer of War?

Plenty. Even in Brawl. Mars, Bringer of War has a very distinctive rhythmic and chord progression, that isn't followed by music such as Vs. Meta Ridley (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDP9oCBbuoI&feature=related), Boss Theme 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trRVQepf0iQ) (Subspace Emissary) or Dreadful Fight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvJkKwk8qYE&feature=related) (not in Brawl, because Squeenix wasn't invited, apparently).

[Reinholdt]

I play video games to listen to their soundtracks.

[UnChosenOne]

Warcraft II:Tides of Darkness do have quite awesome soundtrack.

[UltraDude]

Okay, maybe some character songs (but like I said, SRW originals and not from included anime):
Black Stranger (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2mWyt6nong)


Here, have a better quality version. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O_1WNsvGZM&feature=PlayList&p=F46BE6B860B34F04&index=17)

[Nerd-o-rama]

Have some more Super Robot Wars character/robot/battle music I like, in addition to Trombe and the Z themes Cubey listed.

The Sword that Cleaves Evil! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5ZmWXnfecY)
The Gate of Magus (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRPKQlpz5tI)
Messenger from the Void (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7rYkY7ZVSM)
Vanishing Trooper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VFIfaM1qoI)
I am Invincible! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0S8ZeRJ5k8)
Sleep, Beneath the Soil/At the Bottom of the Earth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SfbFgFqt8w) (sooo much better than Dark Prison)

(I'm fond of the Alpha sub-series if you couldn't tell)

Steel Beowulf (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cVAAhTsxIE)
Platinum/Silver/Whatever Fallen Angel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM-q7ylHn10)
Cherry Blossom Illusion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ_wdWqyy2s)
Crimson Shura God (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9XL2AgILw4)

And I'm just going to say the entire soundtrack to SRW Advance is epic. Even the non-original themes bring in incredibly epic stuff like Soldiers of Sorrow (Mobile Suit Gundam Movies) and Shine in the Storm (Gundam the 08th Mobile Suit Team). Add that to Code ATA, Dark Knight, Chaos, and So Close Yet So Far and, well...

[valadil]

I'm playing through FF Tactics now and really appreciating the sound track. Give that one a try.

If you like Final Fantasy music (it certainly qualifies as epic) look for The Black Mages. It's popular FF music played by real instruments.

[Jinura]

Well Oblivion has some REALLY good music ( I personally love the intro music at the menu )

GTA 4, or at least the "classic" rock channel in my opinion ( Great artists, but they could have improved it a lot, yes, I mean come on the David Bowie song you pick is FASCINATION!?) /rant off :smallredface:

Fallout 3 hasn't been picked yet it seems, really brings out the 50s nostalgia it's meant to.

World of Warcraft actually has some good music to, haven't been to Northrend there yet but I've heard REALLY good about the music there.

[Zeful]

Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Tactics, Tactics Advance and A2
V,VI, X, and X-2 also qualify (I'm not sure about the others as I haven't played them).

[Kaez]

I'm glad someone mentioned Shadow of the Colossus, was worried for a moment. Gonna have to agree with the Oblivion theme as well. Metroid Prime series in general had good music, but Phendrana Drifts owned for the setting and mood of Prime 1 (haven't played 2 or 3 yet, but had a roommate that owned all three, so I have heard all the music). LoZ: Twilight Princess had good music, but Midna's Theme stood out as my favorite.

I'm surprised no one mentioned the Diablo 1 soundtrack music, it fit quite well, and sounded great, even for a 1995 game :P.

The only Brawl music I actually liked was actually from the original games, untouched. So I don't see Brawl as an epic soundtrack. But to each they're own.

FFXII had some really good music.

[MCerberus]

I'm going out on a relative limb and give a couple surprises:

Unreal Tournament 2004. Especially the music for the assault maps. I've converted them for use as music to other multiplayer games.

Crimson Skies (PC). It just fit in so well with the 30s pirate dogfight theme.

[Hida Reju]

PS2 game Second Sight here is location for download from composer all legal and such.

http://www.graemenorgate.com/

[Berserk Monk]

Most of the music from Shadow of the Colossus and some stuff from the God of War games.

[UltraDude]

Gotta say this, I liked Morrowind's main theme better than Oblivion's.

[Blue Paladin]

Oh wait, I almost forgot!

From the old NES-days, an obscure game called "The Guardian Legend". That stuff was pretty awesome.<3 TGL!

Sakura Taisen/Sakura Wars. The sheer range of musical styles that comes out of that one composer (who btw also did Aa Megami-sama, Bastard!!, Dragon Half (the ED is genius), Gaogaigar and G Gundam)...

[Thane of Fife]

Golden (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4fZhCSQwP8) Sun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZW7Ruv1NQo)? How has it not been mentioned?

Fantasy General (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVeruQzIwFM) had some pretty good music.

[bigbaddragon]

Off the top of my head ...

Alien Shooter both games, especially They don't bleed (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E7lQAOhclM) song from the first game.

The whole Homeworld 2 soundtrack. Although I'm not into that kind of music I found it very fitting and pleasant to me ears.

And The best is yet to come (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6miaTf1gF4g) from Metal Gear is one of my all time favorite songs.

Cheers

[Teutonic Knight]

Metroid games, i.e. Primes, 0 Mission, Fusion, original ones for NES, Other M.

I'm not sure about the last one but they set the bar up pretty high with MP3.

[UncleWolf]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Terran ThemeSong from StarCraft. Now that is epic.

[PumpkinEater]

No Matter the Cost (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu-9bO53pno&feature=related) (A medley of remixed Terran themes)

Might as well put up the others themes...

Eradicate and Evolve (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Cgi_j0AlQ#movie_player) (Guess)

En Taro Adun (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S6wa1q2L3E&feature=related) (Guess)

[Anteros]

I have to second the Final Fantasy soundtracks. They really do put a lot into composing those pieces and making sure they're original, and fit the tone of the scene well.

Playing a FF game on mute just isn't the same.

[PumpkinEater]

Oh, and there's Panzer Dragoon Orta. I never really thought about the music until I played it again. When I didn't have to focus so much on not dying.

Here are a bunch of random pieces...

Gigantic Fleet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoiDfsIQQqk&feature=related)

Eternal Glacies (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM8MEFLi3Gw&feature=related)

The Fallen Ground (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eNPwcUeefo&feature=related)

[tribble]

most of the stuff from LoZ: the Wind Waker. especially the Gannon fight and the Molgera fight.

[Serenade]

Well, a few have already been mentioned, but I think I'll drop my 2cp here just for a bit of fun.

Kingdom Hearts was mentioned a while ago - Yes. I definitely agree. I just finished the second game myself on Monday. Music easily flows from a theme fitting of the Disney world you're in, to a battle theme that fits as well - and also, as was mentioned, Hollow Bastion is a must-hear. The feeling that hits you in the gut once you hear it for the first time in KH1... The only thing that compares is the sheer serene quality of the End of The World.

Final Fantasy came up as well. Now, I simply cannot pick a single Final Fantasy, seeing as: A) I haven't played them all, and B) The soundtracks are just so well done. However, I must pick out a few from the FF series that are must-hears:
Dancing Mad from FFVI, simply for its sheer epic that it amounts to - four tiers, each more tremendous then the last - how many games can boast a song like that?
Kefka's theme - also FFVI. Ok, call me a cheater for picking two songs from the same game, so sue me, this is, and likely always will be, my favourite character theme ever.
One last tune from FFVI. Call me a cheater simply because it's another epic one - Aria di Mezzo Carattere. Does anything else need to be said?
Otherworld, from FFX. How many other times do you hear what can only be described as a tribute to Rammstein in a Final Fantasy game?
... Ok, fine, I'll put this since it's pretty much mandatory - One Winged angel from FF7. Ominous Latin chanting, crazy instruments - and the Advent Children Version takes it and makes it metal.

Oh, Jesters of the Moon from FF9 is a fun little tune as well - I can even play it on the piano ^^

Now, enough playing with Final Fantasy, time to poke at other Game series.

Tales of Symphonia. I mostly love this game for its battle themes - specifically Fatalize (Played during various battles with human opponents) and Final Destination (Final Boss). The character leitmotifs are also rather fun, matching their character perfectly pretty much (One of my favourite leitmotifs is of Zelos, my least favourite character - go figure huh?).

Castlevania has been a source of good themes - I rather like the DS games, simply because I can play them with surround sound with ease =P. It was Aria of Sorrow's game track that made me slowly start to appreciate background music, as that game's Clock Tower literally caused me to stop thinking completely for a few moments. The themes of the DS games are pretty neat as well - though Portrait of Ruin provides some really lovely tunes - Dance of Sadness, Chaotic Play Ground, and Iron Blue Intention being among my favourites from that one.
Oh, as for Order of Ecclesia - Sorrow's Distortion. Just... Sorrow's Distortion.

Lets talk about Zelda here for a moment, since you know, <sarcasm>no one's mentioned that game series</sarcasm>. To save time and posting space, I'll just pick one game from that series - my favourite of all eighty-billion of them: Majora's Mask. Let's pick just a few songs from there to point out and place on the slide for examination.
Stone Tower - Mystical feel, with a beat that drums on and sticks with you whether you're playing the game or not.
Last End - A song that nearly brings a tear to my eye (especially when you're hearing it and watching the timer tick down, waiting... just waiting for someone to arrive and witness one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever seen (See spoiler)

The scene where Kafei and Anju are reunited, bequeathing the Couple's Mask upon you. I cry every time I see that (Ok, call me a pansy, shush, it's a beautiful scene)

Clock tower days 1-3: Such an upbeat and lifting town, that slowly distorts with the days, showing that... perhaps things aren't going to go as well.
Oh, and, since I guess this could be considered a spoiler, the last tunes are in this spoiler bar:

ALL of the Majora's Mask themes - when the mask in just there, when the mask calls forth the moon, the battle with the mask, the Incarnation battle, and the Wrath battle. I don't know what it is, I guess I just love Majora as a character, since Majora doesn't want to rule the world, or obtain power... No. Majora wants to draw out pain, and just destroy eveyrthing as slowly as possible. And now, end spoiler


Next Game series I'll mention - Metroid.

Recently, I took to re-playing Metroid Prime, and I must say, this is a game that has aged well. The music isn't insanely loud and in your face - heck, sometimes you forget it's even there, until something big happens and the music takes on a more panicked/fitting tone (the theme that plays when Metroids break out always succeeds in sending me from calm and collected searching - to beam-spamming frenzied running.)

Metroid Prime 2 isn't a slouch either - ever heard Sanctuary Fortress? The area may be crazy as heck, but it's the tune I remember most about it (which sucks, cause once I get there in my new Prime 2 game, I'm gonna have NO idea what to do)

And of course, the classic Metroid themes - such as Ridley's Theme, item get, Samus fanfare - all of them are classics, and will remain so

Anyways, a few more games to mention, and then I'll be on my merry way.

Valkyrie Profile - Interesting OST, to match an interesting game
Shadow of the Colossus - Deep soundtrack. Incredible depth for such a seemingly simple game.
Pokemon P/P/D - Cynthia's theme:

Both before and after you battle her
Kirby Air Ride - It's just fun.
Super Smash Bros Melee - Yeah. I know Brawl was mentioned, but Melee sports a more condensed soundtrack with a few more memorable tunes =P
Donkey Kong 64 - Creepy Castle. Yeah. It's awesome.
Okami - Trust me on this one.
Soul Calibur 2 and 3 - Also an awesome set - and 2 has a really awesome Zelda theme =D

And... I think I'm done here.

Hope I've helped a bit =3

[Athaniar]

most of the stuff from LoZ: the Wind Waker. especially the Gannon fight and the Molgera fight.
The Molgera fight music at least is in SSBB.

I think I'll play the game later today just to listen to the music. It really is awesome. But I'll probably end up fighting anyway.

[Smight]

Monkey Island.

[Grim ranger]

I myself think whole soundtrack of Super smash bros Brawl deserves to be mentioned. Also, Captain Falcon's theme from F-Zero GX/AX :smallbiggrin:

I also like almost all music from Final Fantasy series and Legend of Zelda(any game)

[Kasanip]

Anything by Motoi Sakuraba - my favorite game composer (Eternal Sonata, Baton Kaitos, Valkyria Profile, 'Tales of'series, Star Ocean, Golden Sun...etc)
Anything by Yuki Kajiura (Xenosaga, anyone?)

Panzer Dragoon - I'm glad other people remember tihs (there's a great OCR remix out there too)
Touhou Project (by Zun) - Many memorable songs in a great variety. As a bonus, thousands of fan made remixes, some of which are absolutely epic.

Star Fox Assault - Well done OST, but really it extends to the Star Fox 64 music as well.

Zelda - A very fitting soundtrack

Koh Ohtani's Music (esp Shadow of the Colossus)

Okami - Absolutely gorgeous soundtrack to a beautiful game.

Valkyria Chronicles - Very good soundtrack - sounded even better in the game.

Another Century's Episode 2 & 3 had some great tracks, though I tend to think most of the 'normal' music is a bit weak. The epic clash music though, is adrenaline pumping.

I'm a huge fan of the Fire Emblem series of music as well.
I would say SRW, but it skirts too closely to the Another Century's Episode 'gray area' of having titles that come from other series... Which is also why I won't put Super Smash Bros on my list.

Not that you shouldn't listen to them =)

There are plenty more I'm forgetting or leaving off by accident.

[Serenade]

Anything by Motoi Sakuraba - my favorite game composer (Eternal Sonata, Baton Kaitos, Valkyria Profile, 'Tales of'series, Star Ocean, Golden Sun...etc)

Ack, how could I forget about Golden Sun! The game that not only caused me to truly appreciate background music (moreso than Aria of Sorrow) but pretty much caused me to discover Game music (Beforehand, I paid it no attention - boy have I been missing out)

Personal faves from Golden Sun: Overworld 2 (Lost Age), All the Lighthouses (Save Mercury, It just... wasn't a favourite), LA's Final Boss (Not saying name since that's a spoiler), The three basic battle themes, and the Villain Themes. Because nothing says badass like your own tune to accompany your presence



Anything by Yuki Kajiura (Xenosaga, anyone?)

A lot of Yuki's non-game music is pretty awesome too - (The following are non-games) I personally am in love with her work on Le Portrait de Petite Cossette, but hey, that's just me. Her .hack work is also rather nice.

Oh let's face it, I love Yuki =P

[bloodlover]

Imo best game soundtracks : Gothic 3 , Warcraft and Wow , Baldur;s Gate.

/end

[Egiam]

SUPER PAPER MARIO (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VxKluLUGmE)

Count Blecks theme.

[Kcalehc]

Incubation - it's old but the music tracks were so atmospheric (and useful ambient music too sometimes).

[Rhuarc]

Have no one mentioned Age of Conan yet? It has some truly amazing soundtracks.


"Ere the World crumbles" Is one of my favorites, and it still gives me goosebumps :smallbiggrin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g5KYv2oqXk

[Inhuman Bot]

Castlevania has great music. I especially like Bloody Tears. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIQr5W4AGcI)
Iji also has a good soundtrack, with it's stand-out being Asha (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utiWJAUDvtU)

[Dragor]

The Morrowind title screen theme.

It always stirs up that 'Fantasy Epic' feeling and gives me a buzz.

[Lifeson]

So, my two favourite VG composers have shown up! Daisuke Ishiwatari for his Guilty Gear/Blazblue work is nothing short of revolutionary metal, originating in a time of annoying-ass techno in fighting games, and then making epic out of it.

And Motoi Sakuraba is just bliss to listen to, no matter what style.