When people think about the quality of video games there is often a very simple set of criteria. These criteria are nearly always limited to visuals and game play. Obviously no one can deny the necessity of good game play in a quality game (visuals are debatable), but enjoying the experience of a game requires much more than some good features. For me, one of the major make-or-break features of a game is the music. Game music can mean the difference between a game that I enjoy and a masterpiece. Some of the greatest games in history have had music that sticks in our heads even more than the best cinematic score. What gamer couldn’t pick out the Zelda theme, or the Mario
Theme? What MMO player can’t pick out the Everquest theme from a mile away? There is absolutely no doubt that good music is crucial for a good game, yet it isn’t until after we buy the game that we realize this.
So what games have the quality music? Who is behind some of the industries best music? And most importantly, where can I spend money on this?! Read on noble soldiers of the real pocket change.
There are a few games out there which are obvious candidates for quality music. The game that first comes to everyone’s mind when discussing music is Final Fantasy. Square has put more value on in game music than any other developer. This is because they happen to employ the legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu (who is also a member of awesome rock band The Black Mages). Nintendo has also been known to put quite a bit more emphasis on the music and sounds in their games. Studies have showed that people under the age of 30 have a new section of their brain that is entirely devoted to the storage of the Mario Brothers theme song. We of course cannot forget Martin O’Donnell’s Halo music: another score that is unfortunately etched deep into our brains. There are many more composers that have left their mark on the games we love to play, and it is no surprise that the best music often accompanies the best games.
Game music does far more than sit on your game disks providing you with background entertainment while you run people over in warthogs. Remixers and cover bands are always working on new projects to breath new life into classic game music, and to put a fresh spin on the new stuff. Some notable examples are The Advantage, The Black Mages, Minibosses, and remixing websites like OverClocked, and Remix:Thasauce.
So the obvious question is: Which game has the best music? (Note: The answer to this question no matter what anyone says is the opening theme to Civilization 4).
Kris
I’m going to go with a slightly unconventional choice: the pirate ship level from Tiny Toons Adventures for the NES. What? I know! I totally understand your disbelief. Just give it a listen and tell me it isn’t in your head for the rest of the day: http://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/nintendo/nes/Ttapsaw.mid
And that’s the MIDI version; the one in the game is better because it has a ref’s whistle in it, and as we know from Welcome to the Jungle or Como Ves, that always makes a song better.
Shadow of the Colossus and ICO — best soundtracks, ever. World of Warcraft, TBC, and all that has an amazing set as well. There’s so much out there – I can’t wait for VGL.
I think I prefer game music from the original Nintendo most of all. There are just so many distinct melodies that I can instantly recognize, probably because I’ve heard them more times than I’d care to admit: Contra, Mega Man, Castlevania 2, Ghosts’N'Goblins, Metroid…oof, I better stop. Actually, I should go listen to The Minibosses instead.
fav: Legend of Zelda – overworld
runner up: Legend of Zelda – Dungeon theme
All I know is that I have the theme song from the Ultima series of RPGs permanently etched into my memory. Way too many nights spent playing way too many versions of that game. Stones
AKA the Britannia theme song
LoZ and FF series pretty much takes the cake in terms of memorable music. Another one that really sticks out in my mind is Streets of Rage 1/2 soundtrack. The hip-hop techno fusion style in that game is still very distinctive to this day.