GOATed Soundtracks
A list of games I personally think have outstanding soundtracks. The first bit is in order but the rest is too much for me to rank. Consider this an exercise in writing about music in the same way my reviews are an exercise in analyzing game design
93 Games
No words can describe the absolute bliss that is the soundtrack. Front to back it's an enrapturing experience that doesn't let up on the gas for a single moment.
*Japanese/European
For Sonic's first game with CD-quality music, it still has yet to be topped. The soundscape is absolutely gorgeous, mixing the synth-pop sound of Sonic 1 with a stunning variety of instruments and a dynamic compositional flare.
For Sonic's first game with CD-quality music, it still has yet to be topped. The soundscape is absolutely gorgeous, mixing the synth-pop sound of Sonic 1 with a stunning variety of instruments and a dynamic compositional flare.
To me, this is what sneaking sounds like. Every single instrument sounds like something that belongs in the location you hear it, and mirrors some sort of noise that would exist in universe. Cutscenes are scored with the best Hollywood has to offer, and bosses ramp up the intensity and dread of failure. The VR tracks, removed from plot and universe, go wild.
This game's soundtrack is emotionally strong enough to play the death of GOOFY absolutely straight. There are jolly times, tough times, but when it comes to melancholy or sadness this game pulls it off unbelievably well. And if the bosses weren't great enough on their own, the unforgettable orchestral music ramps it up to 11. The PS2 version had a great soundtrack itself but I feel most tracks are improved from the live recording done for the HD remaster.
Somehow Sonic has made his way into the top 5 twice. With a new post-grunge rock attitude and some electronic flare, this game's music elevated a decent 3D platformer into video game stardom.
Jazzy and smooth, Like a Dragon 4 re-imagines Kamurocho in a new youthful era that's far removed from the tumultuous power struggles of earlier games in the series
Stewart Copeland of The Police brings some experimental drums and groovy synths to bring this fantasy watercolor dragon realm to life
The first of Yoko Shimomura's incredible Kingdom Hearts works, this one captures the drama and tension in the threat of the Heartless to a much younger and weaker Sora
Grungy and dark, Like a Dragon 2 features a harsher tone than the first game to fit the grim reality of the aftermath of those events. Every battle theme is a slightly different type of wonderful
Further pushing Ridge Racer away from jazz fusion and towards a futuristic electronic look and feel, this entry best balances the classic and modern styles while still feeling essentially "Ridge Racer" in a way later soundtracks struggle with at times
When it comes to thick and memorable atmosphere, Metroid Prime is cream of the crop. Tallon IV is imagined with such a strong vision that it's hard to think of another game world that's quite as "immersive" as this one thanks to the way the visuals and music combine
How does a studio follow up Sonic Adventure? Arcadier gameplay, a darker story, and of course, music that's more hardcore. Each character gets their own music genre, with a variety of rock styles, hip hop, and even some jazz
This game solidified the standard Ratchet & Clank style of gameplay and music, with a heavier emphasis on orchestral grandiosity for the larger battles and threats, with the synths going more stylish for the straight futurism of the Bogon galaxy
Part Hollywood monster movie, part gothic and cosmic horror played straight. Bloodborne perfectly lands its beautifully scary tone using music that sells the freakish nature of Yharnam
The first Metal Gear game set in the past as opposed to near future, MGS3 adopts some spy movie-like motifs and a more classic rock and jazz style to flavor the series' orchestral tones, with only a bit of the electronic left
Dark Souls is a game about a world in decay long after an apocalypse, and the music follows suit in capturing the simultaneous beauty and despair in such a cold time. Bosses vary between energetic and chaotic to melancholic, brooding, or even just plain eerie.
While Metroid is mostly known for atmosphere, this game brought the styling of composition closer to film score in the sense of capturing tension even further than Super ever did
MGS music is most well known for the alert theme in this game, Encounter. As good as that song is, it's a small piece of a much bigger (and more impressive) auditory picture of the cold and tactile sounds of Shadow Moses
Many don't like this game's music for the somewhat doofy nature of the instrumentation, but the compositions are experimental and flavorful in a way similar to the game itself. I can't imagine this game with any other music, and for that reason I've been very annoyed with the standardized, Dark Souls III-y remixes from the Bluepoint remake-ster.
This soundtrack shares a lot of strengths with the original Spyro and its sequel, though it better captures "level theming" as compared to those
A dark sequel deserves a darker soundtrack. I find this one weaker than Prime 1 for the wide stretches of "atmospheric noise" tracks as opposed to proper music, but the songs that have the most energy are completely unforgettable
Once again the series went in a totally new direction in terms of music, overwhelming the senses with some of the most intense and fun rock/electronic fusion you'll ever hear in a video game
