Video Game Music: - My Fifteen Favorite Songs From Games
Sep 27 '04
The Bottom Line These are my favorite songs from video games.
Having been a gamer for so long (about 15 years) I've picked up a thing or two. After having finished my fifteen favorite anime songs list, I decided that it would be cool to do a similar list for video game music. This works very well because I've actually been playing games longer than I've been watching anime, so I'm more knowledgeable in this area. My favorite genre of video games is the RPG, so as you can probably guess you'll be seeing quite a few entries from role playing games. So basically my goal here is to pick my fifteen favorite songs from video games, which I found to be really easy actually even though I had to go back and listen to midis of the ones I haven't heard in a while just to make sure these songs were good enough to make the cut. After some deliberating, here are the songs I found good enough to make this list of the best of the best.
#15. - The Guardhouse Theme From Resident Evil
Very few times has a song creeped me out to the level that I'm already shaking in my boots before anything actually jumps out in most games and movies. The guardhouse in the original Resident Evil has one of the creepiest songs you could imagine, with the quick high notes and the infrequent yet in rythym beats of the drum I really had a hard time sleeping at times. This song definitely lets you know that something is terribly wrong in this game. This is a very, very effective piece of music that deserves this place on my list.
#14. - Abandoned Highway From Megaman X
Without this song, there's a good chance that I wouldn't have stuck with Megaman X for very long. This song plays during the first level of the game. This musical score has a very futuristic tone to it, and really has the feel that the X series brought to the world of Megaman. This song is very fast paced, and notably has several layers of notes going at the same time which makes this song really catchy and easy to become stuck on. Too bad it's nearly impossible to whistle.
#13. - Balamb Garden Theme From Final Fantasy VIII
This is a really smooth and relaxed song from Final Fantasy VIII. I can't quite describe it, but this tune definitely has the Final Fantasy feel to it, which may be because of the tone of each of the musical notes. This song plays while you are inside of your character's base, Balamb Garden, and this is perfect music to listen to after finishing up some of the really difficult battles in this game. This song is a different tone from the game, and I think this is why I enjoyed it so much. One of the greatest Final Fantasy songs.
#12. - Knights of Gaden Theme From Albert's Odyssey
The Sega Saturn died before it's time was up, that's for sure. Entry twelve is for a song from one of my old Saturn favorites, Albert's Odyssey. The Knights of Gaden theme is a very mystical sounding song, and it changes tones exactly three times from deep to higher, with the highest being played with the flute. This song has quite a bit of atmosphere to it. There's just something indescribeable about how well this song works with the game, and how well it pulled off the feeling of magic and myth.
#11. - Boss Battle Theme From Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII made me realize that there was actually a difference in sound quality between cartridges and CDs with it's terrific soundtrack. The first time I heard the epic, fast paced, boss battle theme I got goosebumps all over. This song is one I would use to describe the evolution of Final Fantasy from VI to VII. Though this song may have a harsh tone to it, the best parts are when it breaks away and gives way to the many instrumental works which are really the meat of this song. There was pretty much no way I could disclude this song from this list.
#10. - Break The Targets Theme From Super Smash Bros. Melee
When I first got my Gamecube and Smash Bros. Melee my first impressions were related to the game's music, which I didn't really like. Then the break the targets mini-game started up, and this song really spoke to me. It has a heavy techno influence, but probably the best part is when the song goes in an unexpected direction nearly fading out right at the start, followed by unrelenting paced beats. This song is really the only reason I played through the whole break the targets games when I first started playing.
#9. - Mute City Theme From F-Zero
This song has a basic techno beat, and is really fast paced making it a perfect fit for the F-Zero series. Mute City has the best music I've heard in the games, and I couldn't just leave it off of this list. Although this song has been remade a few times, I much prefer the original version found in the Super Nintendo game, mainly because the updated version just isn't used in the right situation, and circumstance is everything. If you're looking for a fast paced song, than spend a few minutes in Mute City.
#8. - Boss Battle Theme From Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
My favorite boss battle theme ever would definitely have to go to that of Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. This song has a very unique style to, even though it's a rather simple song with the same repeated two notes in the background, but the high pitched notes in the foreground are what makes this song not only epic, but extremely high energy. This is definitely the type of song that made a game more enjoyable than it would have been without, and that's saying a lot because Lufia II was an excellent game already.
#7. - Battle Theme From Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete
Gamearts really has a knack for picking out high quality music for their usually terrific RPGs, but for Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete they really went all out. The standard battle theme showed me right away that this game had the potential to top the nearly untoppable Lunar Silver Star Complete. This song works on a tremendous amount of levels, and fits the charming atmosphere of this game with a definite sense of urgency and dare I say fun. This is my favorite standard battle music from any RPG.
#6. - Wall Market Theme From Final Fantasy VII
As I may have mentioned earlier, I love the music in Final Fantasy VII. The theme from the wall market is my favorite song from the game. This song sounds as if it has some reggae influences while still sticking to the Final Fantasy VII musical style. The wall market theme is a very laid back song. The first time I got to the area with this song I was stuck, and so I kinda just sat there listening to this one over and over again which is why it may have stuck with me. I could literally listen to this song all day and never get tired of it.
#5. - Eyes On Me From Final Fantasy VIII
Given what's going on in the game when this song plays, this is a very emotional tune. This also marked the first time a Final Fantasy game featured a song with vocals and lyrics. This was also one of the best aspects of Final Fantasy VIII because it really added a lot of emotion, with the terrific vocal work and sweet melody. This song actually holds special meaning with me, but it's still a terrific song irregardless of my personal nostalgia. This is a song that I would definitely recommend giving a listen to even if you aren't interested in video game music.
#4. - Giant of Babil Theme From Final Fantasy IV
This is my favorite song from my favorite game of all time, and so it was only obvious that I would include this song on this list. Final Fantasy IV has an excellent soundtrack, but in this game my ears were never so pleased as when I first entered the giant of babil. This futuristic, yet fantasty-ish song fits this game extremely well, while still retaining the feel of the other songs in this game. One of the strongest aspects of this song is that it starts out with a bunch of notes, and then cuts to a completely different tone right at the beginning and the continues strong for a good while. This song really shows the progression in the Final Fantasy series up to this point.
#3. - Dire, Dire, Docks Theme From Super Mario 64
In all honesty, I wasn't completely floored with Super Mario 64 like everyone else immediately was. It wasn't until I got to the dire, dire, docks level that my draw dropped to the floor. Never before had I seen such a beautiful moment in gaming, with a gorgeously rendered lagoon. What really set the mood though, was the theme composed for this level. This is one of the most mellow songs I've ever heard in a video game, and it manages somehow to re-create the feeling of water in audio form with high pitched notes composed in a really "lonely" format. What's more is that the song gets even more depth once you jump into the water, which I thought was a really neat effect. Though a simple song, this is definitely one of the best gaming has to offer.
#2. - Lucia's Theme From Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete
This song is the main reason that I get the good ending everytime I play through Lunar 2. Vocally this song is very strong, with sweet lyrics (even though they sometimes don't make much sense) and a singer who has a very beautiful voice. What more could you ask for with excellent vocals, terrific background music, and an excellent chorus. This is one of the greatest video game songs of all time, and I must admit, I almost did shed a tear or two while watching the scene where this song plays out in the game. This beautiful melody should not be missed, and is the main reason I still play back this game's soundtrack on a regular basis to this day.
Okay so I cheated a little, but let me explain. I had to include two songs as the number one spot, because I accidently left one of them out and it deserves the spot just as much as the other. So here are my two number one choices
#1. - Ode To Lisa From Soul Blazer
This is tied as the most beautiful song I've ever heard before, but few will take it seriously because it's a video game song. This song really made the romp through Soul Blazer worth it in the end, as this song has stuck with me for years. The sight of Lisa at the end of the game shedding a single tear while this song plays is really haunting. I've heard a version of this song complete with Japanese lyrics, but I must say that I prefer the authentic Soul Blazer version of this song, with the perfect mix of background and foreground, high and low notes. This is also a very sad song, and I must admit, I cried after hearing it the first time that I beat Soul Blazer.
#1. - Ending Theme From Soul Blazer
Who could've guessed that the two highest rated songs on this list would both be from the game Soul Blazer? What's more is that this song plays right after you beat the game, and then is quickly followed by Ode to Lisa. This combination of music is really emotionally engaging and saddening because of the bittersweet ending of this game. This song is much more upbeat and happy than the last song. It begins with a a few very slow notes, and then kicks into high gear with another of the most beautiful game songs. Just the pitch of these notes adds a very bittersweet feeling to the song, and is half of the reason that I cried after having completed this game for the first time. Heck, I still feel like crying after hearing these two songs back to back paired with the ending story and imagery.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this list, I had an exceptional time writing it.
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Member: Jeremy
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Currently Binging on Classic Games and Bad Horror Films.
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