10 Classic Video Games With The Most Iconic Soundtracks, Ranked

10 jeux vidéo classiques avec les bandes sonores les plus emblématiques, classés

Classic video games may have lacked the technical finesse of today’s stellar titles, but they stuck with what they had back then. Every year that passes in the world of video games is equivalent to 10 in the real world, with innovations not only in technology, but also in musical genres and those who compose songs for our favorite games.


The earliest titles helped lay the masonry of all that followed. Some of the games on this list are longer than others, but they are all considered classics that broke new ground in their respective genres. Music fans should rejoice because these games definitely have some ear candy in store.


Ten The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)


Dix The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

It’s hard to argue with the impact the Skyrim soundtrack had on the gaming community. Several songs have inspired thousands of YouTube covers and millions of views, which speaks to the captivity of the music. There’s a level of old-world majesty to Jeremy Soule’s work that helps transport players to another realm, far from the tribulations of everyday life.


In short, pure audiophile escape. From thunderous chants to peaceful horns accompanying the player through adventures in the frozen north, Skyrim has tunes that help sell immersion and draw players into the story more easily. It’s neither too much nor too little, but just right.


9 Final Fantasy VI (1994)


9 Final Fantasy VI (1994)

Nobuo Uematsu is best known for his superb soundtracks for a variety of Square Enix RPGs, including the Final Fantasy franchise. While many fans consider Final Fantasy VII the pinnacle of the series, its immediate predecessor beat it out by a small margin in the soundtrack department.


The music in Final Fantasy VI is, in a word, breathtaking. Those old enough to remember buying the game in 1994 will also remember the opening credits scene and the glorious, moving performance of “Omen,” as three mechs race across the frozen tundra. It was the start of a magical journey that will never be duplicated.


8 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)


Castlevania games have always been known for their outstanding music, but nothing can compare to the stellar soundtrack composed for Symphony of the Night. It was the first Castlevania title to land on the Sony PlayStation, and it landed with a boom. The game’s sounds were second to none, blending classical music and gothic anthems, heavy metal rocker, and even a bit of funk for good measure.


Each track is a masterpiece in its own right, and they work in tandem as the player progresses from one area of ​​the castle to another, battling the demonic hordes of Hell. The arcade/RPG gameplay meant that the soundtrack had to be varied enough to make up for the game’s longer than usual length, and in that respect it more than delivered.


7 Thunder Force III (1990)


Casual gamers may not remember Thunder Force III’s audio tour de force, but it stands the test of time as one of the most thrilling soundtracks ever released. Once again, the superiority of the Sega Genesis YM2612 sound chip has been harnessed to create a series of unique songs that are infinitely hummable and the perfect accompaniment to the action.


Thunder Force III’s intense side-scrolling shooter mechanics were based on high-speed gameplay, and the music had to match. Tracks like “Venus Fire”, “Final Take A Chance” and “Back To The Fire” are highlights.


6 Ori and the Blind Forest (2015)


Few games manage to weave music into storyline and gameplay as easily, or as magically as Ori and the Blind Forest. This insanely challenging platforming masterpiece has been made a little easier with its lush, beautiful and dreamy graphics, complete with an orchestral soundtrack to match.


Music can affect an audience on a powerful level, and the developers behind Ori knew it. They rip out the player’s heartstrings with disarming music, before going straight to the touch. Many players cried because of the emotional weight of key scenes, including the opening narrative which sets a dark tone.


5 Ninja Gaiden II (1990)


The Nintendo Entertainment System is practically stone-age when it comes to hardware, and its audio hardware left composers with little wiggle room. Nonetheless, a few have managed to create amazing soundtracks, and few are as good as Ninja Gaiden II.


While the first game had its fair share of success, the second Ninja Gaiden is far more expressive and powerful. Every track is a masterpiece of classic 8-bit chiptune goodness that may not win any Grammys, but it’s certainly enough to blend in with the high-octane and extremely punishing platforming gameplay. .


4Street Fighter II (1991)


Street Fighter II continues to stand as the most recognizable game in the entire franchise, with the evening spawning a popular Japanese anime adaptation. The game all but reinvented the formula of one-on-one fighting gaming in the arcades, spawning an endless cycle of clones, spin-offs, and tournaments in its wake.


Everything about the game was unique, including the music. Each stage drew on elements of diverse iconography and geolocation, creating a mix of hard rock, cultural beats and orchestral arrangements befitting the battle in question. These are some of the most recognizable songs in the world, and for good reason.


3 DOOM (2016)


Classic DOOM’s soundtrack seems rather quirky by today’s standards, which is why it didn’t hold up as well as some older games from this period. That all changed when Mick Gordon hung up the mixing desk and began composing the brutal and punishing soundtrack for the 2016 reboot of DOOM.


The wedding was perfect. The frenetic, blood-soaked gameplay worked hand-in-hand with the buzz of Gordon saw industrial heavy metal tracks, driving gamers’ adrenaline through the roof. It continues to be one of the best and most idealized examples of how to incorporate a soundtrack into a video game – ever.


2 Contra III: The Alien Wars (1992)


Contra games on the NES sported pretty hummable tunes, but when the franchise exploded into the 16-bit sphere, that all changed. Granted, the Super NES sound chip has never been so stellar, to begin with, but good composers knew how to harness the available oscillators and instruments to forge powerful stuff.


The Contra III soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece. The thunderous explosions and bullet-riddled gameplay needed a soundtrack to match the intensity and it delivered. Each song sports a tempo designed to match the on-screen action while reaching new emotional heights as players dodge a veritable army of alien invaders. Good classic stuff.


1 Streets of Rage 2 (1992)


Yuzo Koshiro is a master of video game music, and he has created tunes to date for a variety of games. His standout performance came when he tackled the Streets of Rage games for the original Sega Genesis, which was no small feat. Koshiro fused his love of British rave, Detroit-style House music and the burgeoning Big Beat scene to create some of the most amazing chiptunes ever made.


This was, quite frankly, remarkable given the limited hardware and space limitations of Sega Genesis cartridges. Koshiro has fully exploited the machine’s YM2612 chipset in a stunning display of artistry and technical ingenuity. He pulled out all the stops and used every trick in the book to accomplish what some dance music enthusiasts spend their lives trying to emulate.


NEXT: The 10 Best Seventh-Gen Video Games, According To Metacritic


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