Incredible game music

[Darkobra]

Throughout the ages, there has been game music that has set moods, stuck with us in our childhood and brings back the sense of joy, pain, nostalgia and elevation.

This thread is for those of us who don't just play a game for its gameplay and story, but for those of us who are grasped by the orchestra pulling not only at the strings of their instruments, but also our hearts.

To start, Deus Ex has always been one that stuck with me. An incredibly under-rated game, even the music for the latest one has been unforgettable:

Deus Ex: Purity First
Deus Ex: UNATCO

Final Fantasy has been widely varying over the years and has produced some of the most memorable and epic sound tracks thanks to the legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu.

Final Fantasy V - Battle on the Big Bridge
Final Fantasy VII - Cosmo Canyon

World of Warcraft. People that have never played it think of it only as a drain on money and time. Those that have can feel the joy of having experienced the atmosphere and the true beauty of the world. A fascinating world with music that grabs your heart and soul.

Howling Fjord
Silvermoon City

Jeremy Soule is one of my all-time top composers. His ability to create a feeling from music alone is unforgettable. From Guild Wars to The Elder Scrolls, his talent to enhance the world itself never ceases to impress.

Guild Wars - Crystal Oasis
Oblivion - Main Theme


Music can tell a story. Music can create a world. It can move you to tears or bring you from the edge of depression. I ask now that you share your worlds, your stories, and share with us all your form of beauty through game music.

[Geoff_B]

Dude you are a hero!

Here are my current top listens:

Dragon Age Origins - this is quite probably one of the most complete games I've ever played, and the music just captures each moment perfectly. It stands out not because it's brash or invasive, but because it works at being an integral part of the world.

Main Theme
Human Nobility
Leliana's Song

Mass Effect: It was actually the music that got me into this. I'd bought the game but wasn't really into it, then I heard it played at a VGL concert and knew I had to give it another chance. The progression of the main theme alone from the first game through the Suicide Mission to the final form in the third game pretty much sums up the entire journey. It is essentially the Babylon 5 of video games - the same depth and the same growth across the series.

Mass Effect 1, Main Theme
Mass Effect 2, Suicide Mission
Mass Effect 3, The Fleets Arrive

The very first soundtracks I can ever remember listening to were the Mega Man tunes in midi form.

Spark Man
Flash Man
And of course no listing would be complete without Wily's Theme from Mega Man 2

And one from Mega Man X: Sigma Stage 2

But for sheer power and emotion every time I hear it the prize goes to the Finish the Fight trailer theme from Halo 3. A few bars of build up, then just the piano at first followed by the whole orchestra comes in. It's just unbelievable.

Finish the Fight

[auberginequeen]

Jeremy Soule is one of my all-time top composers. His ability to create a feeling from music alone is unforgettable. From Guild Wars to The Elder Scrolls, his talent to enhance the world itself never ceases to impress.

Re Jeremy Soule: I give you the Dungeon Siege Theme

I've also always really loved the Myst soundtracks, especially the one for Riven. Sure, there isn't a clear melody to them and they're not much on their own, but they did what they were supposed to do brilliantly: enhance the atmosphere.

Myst III: Theme from Edanna - Edanna was the life-force world in Myst III, a giant tree in the middle of a vast ocean home to glowing manta rays and strange, alien flora. I've always thought this track conveyed the atmosphere of such a place well.

Riven: Temple Theme - The Temple in Riven was a place of mystery and, as a result, always made me feel uneasy. I always felt this track amplified just how alone you were in Riven. Even though the world was populated, the villagers fled from you and played warning sirens when you approached. You were always a stranger.

I'll add more later when I have more time.

[Deedles]

Both of you linked a lot of beautiful music, but I have to say that Geoff takes the cake, having linked to Dragon Age's theme, which is a song I love beyond reason.

Where to start ... where to start. Video-games have been part of my whole upbringing, we had a Nintendo console in the house since before the day I was born, so I was literally brought up on video games.

First we got obvious classics like.

The legend of Zelda theme, orchestrated.

Or Metroid's theme orchestrated.

Metroid Prime 2's title screen song.

None of these songs may be the best in the world, but what they all have in common, with a lot of other great game music I know, is the sense of adventure and exploration they inspired in me. They inspired feeling in me, and got me pumped to go out on an adventure.

I remember when I started up The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the first time and it's intro started with this beautiful song with piano and ocarina.
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Title Screen
And I was instantly captured, I was enchanted by the game. Probably one of the reasons it's my favourite game to this day, it just has that special it that I look for in a game, and it never gets old. Play through both the normal version and Master Quest every other year.

So, beautiful music, and I know a lot of game music that is beautiful. Like this jazz version of Godot's theme from Phoenix Wright.
The Fragrance of Dark Coffee

This sad little tune from Paper Mario 2: The Thousand-Year Door where an old captain, tormented by guilt and in anguish, reads a letter from his wife who died to illness while he was off to sea, about how she doesn't want him to lose both his loves by her dying, and him never returning to the sea out of guilt.
Sadness and Happiness

I heard this played live to me, which had me in tears within seconds. Killzone 3's theme.
And Ever We Fight On

I once went into a bit of a Halo spree, even though I'd never played the games myself, and acquired the OST for all three games in the trilogy, and I found a lot of music I liked, but in particular a couple of songs that just ... ah.
Unforgotten
Heavy Price Paid
Not linking Finish The Fight as Geoff already did.

But if we want to talk beautiful music, we can't forget NieR, another game I have yet to play, but have already entranced me with beautiful music.
Song of the Ancients - Devola
Song of the Ancients - Popola
Hills of Radiant Wind

I have yet to play Journey (lacking a PS3 and all), but I have at least been able to enjoy the beautiful music of this wonderful game.
Nascence

This is the song that plays in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess when you have your final battle against Ganon, and my God, it was epic enough to nearly have me in tears. THAT is how a final boss battle should look.
The Final Battle - Swordfight

And of course the complementary World of Warcraft songs that I like.
World of Warcraft
Stormwind
Sacred

The Burning Crusade
Taverns
Lament of the Highborne

Wrath of the Lich King
Howling Fjord
Rise of the Vrykul
Arthas, My Son

Cataclysm
The Shattering
Defenders of Azeroth
Reforge
Call of the Elements
Nightsong


AND I AM DONE!

[General Michi]

I am way too tired to build a full list but I'm going to put this here because I literally just bought the original album, it's from the game "Osmos"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uy5gQ9Y1Xo

[Master Gunner]

Shame on you all.

Diablo: Tristram Theme

[Deedles]

Shame on you all.

Diablo: Tristram Theme

Hey! Look at my list! I didn't have time to remember everything!

BUT!

*hugs your ankles* Thank you for posting this! It is an awesome song! ;-;

[auberginequeen]

The legend of Zelda theme, orchestrated.

I love the original LoZ theme. Not from a nostalgia point of view because it's only now at the age of 19 that I'm playing a LoZ game (Ocarina of Time) but from a musical perspective. I can't express why but I've always been in love with it.

[theDreamer]

The only VG song to win a Grammy

[Deedles]

The only VG song to win a Grammy

Mhm, I can understand why. It really is a beautiful song, and a pleasure to listen to.

Edit:
Not sure if this would count as game music as it's the music for the trailer of a game(but is not in the game itself, from what I know), but this song is just epic.
Two Steps from Hell - Protectors of the Earth

The song for Mass Effect 3's Protectors of the Earth Launch Trailer. I didn't know what the name of the song was, or who made it, before Geoff told me it.

[plummeting_sloth]

Man... yeah, I know the game already got mentioned, but the Phendrana drifts theme from Metroid Prime 2 stuck with me as a theme that just perfectly matched their environment.

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

[Phailhammer]

Conquest Frontier Wars: Terran Theme
Crusader Kings 2 Main Title
Europa Universalis III - Conquistador (Main Theme)
Europa Universalis: Rome - Imperator

Did I mention I like Paradox games?

[EikoandMog]

Corpse Party: Chapter 1 Main BGM
Ys 7: Vacant Interference
Blaz Blue: Queen of Rose
Radiant Historia: Edge of Green
Half Minute Hero: Main Theme
Mabinogi: Albey Dungeon

My list is a little too eastern centric, I think.

[Phailhammer]

Blaz Blue: Queen of Rose

I had a feeling that would be Rachel-related when I saw the title.

Speaking of BlazBlue...

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift 2 - Opening Cinematic
Hazama's Theme - Gluttony Fang
Jin Kisaragi's Theme - Lust SIN

[EikoandMog]

BlazBlue has an amazing soundtrack. Just about every song will get stuck in your head.

[Master Gunner]

Shame on all of you again, including me this time.

Red Alert: Hell March

[Phailhammer]

I...I...uh...well, that's embarrassing.

That said, I do prefer Red Alert 2's version.

[The_Doctor]

Page with the 20 best sci-fi orchestral scores of all time...

[Vigafre]

There aren't many soundtracks that I listen that leave a lasting impression. Dunno why, but that's just how I am. However, there are a few that I've listened to later that I quite like. They are:

Super Mario Galaxy, Sonic CD (Japan and US versions), the complete Halo series, Bionic Commando Rearmed.

Yes, there are others I've liked but these are the only ones I've considered buying or have actually bought, sans AC2 (I bought the OST, and I liked it, but I don't think it's worth mentioning up there).

Also, not gonna bother linking because I'm talking full soundtracks here.

Honorable Mention: Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

[Sieg Reyu]

That one part in Final Fantasy IX had really good music. You know, that part where things were happening?

[Darkobra]

That one part in Final Fantasy IX had really good music. You know, that part where things were happening?

Final Fantasy IX - Jesters of the Moon
Final Fantasy IX - Keeper of Time
Final Fantasy IX - Kuja's Theme
Final Fantasy IX - You Are Not Alone
Final Fantasy IX - You Are Not Alone (Orchestra)

Help me to help you!

[Geoff_B]

The only VG song to win a Grammy

Baba Yetu only became eligible for a Grammy because the composer included it on his album "Callin all Dawns". Also interesting fact: The lyrics for Baba Yetu are actually a Swahili translation of the Lord's Prayer

Page with the 20 best sci-fi orchestral scores of all time...

I see no game soundtracks (unless you count Star Wars)! Where are the game soundtracks?

[theDreamer]

People didn't know that about Baba Yetu?

[Geoff_B]

I didn't until yesterday.

[Exachix]

I really like the Golden Sun music, particularly the following;

GS OST - Elemental Stars
GS OST - Jupiter Lighthouse
GS OST - Mars Lighthouse
GS DD OST - To the Light We Go

I also loved the Final Fantasy VII music.