This is a continuation of the last article regarding the best musical soundtracks in the history of video games. Now, we are approaching the Top 10, with a few surprises here and there, expected faces, and a #1 game that most people couldn't possibly predict. Why? Because most people had not played the game when it first came out---which is a shame considering its one of my choices as the among the best 25 overall games in history. Without any more interruption, here is the Top 10:
#10: Chrono Cross
Bottom Line: While Trigger remains the best in the franchise, Cross contains the best music ever released by the talented composers in Square Enix. Yasunori Mitsuda delivers the soundtrack of his life as the game’s epic and massive feel is complimented by all the standout tracks contained throughout the quest. The opening song alone is one of the best pieces of music for any video game.
Standout Track: Scars of Time
#9: Super Smash Brothers Brawl
Bottom Line: What GTA IV did with mainstream music, Brawl did with Nintendo music---amped up the quantity to unfathomable heights. With themes from nearly every major Nintendo franchise big and small, and then containing music from Sega and Metal Gear, Smash Brothers Brawl was the definite proof that Nintendo went all-out in the third installment of the most successful fighting franchise in history.
Standout Track: Battle at the Base
P.S. Honorable mention: the first two Smash games also had incredible music, with the original having the best introduction by far.
#8: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Bottom Line: The music here defined the game, and also introduced a new era of gamers to an older era of music. However, it wasn’t the popular music you knew, instead there was a slew of quieter yet superior music that Rockstar managed to recover, providing gamers with all the Miami Vice thrills you could ever want.
Standout Track: “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls
P.S. I don't care what anyone says, this is still the best Grand Theft Auto game in the franchise. There is no topping the 80s vibe and slick style.
#7: Guitar Hero III
Bottom Line: Of all the music-based video games out there, part 3 had the standout music, and if it weren’t for the fact that a good portion of them were covers, it would have easily been a Top 3 contender. Nonetheless, from the addicting “Barracuda” to the insanely tough Dragonforce song, to the epic metal “Reign in Blood,” rock fans had no other choice but to praise the selection of music here.
Standout Track: One by Metallica
#6: Super Mario Galaxy
Bottom Line: Responding to criticism of no orchestration in Twilight Princess, Koji Kondo provided us with an epic soundtrack for a Mario game, which was unheard of up to this point. Every song was engaging, moving, and almost Disney Renaissance-like. This was the ultimate proof that Mario was maturing for a new generation, and that Kondo was far from being past his best days.
Standout Track: Battlerock Galaxy
#5: DJ Hero
Bottom Line: Heh, you were wondering how far this soundtrack was going to go, eh? Very few modern-day soundtracks, whether it be from movies, television or games, were as completely amazing as this modern-day masterpiece. All the mixes were incredibly done, incredibly addicting, and remain a hoot to play even after 747275782th time. And this is from a critic who usually doesn’t even like dance or techno music. That says a lot.
Standout Track: Groundhog by the Scratch Perverts
#4: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Bottom Line: One of the greatest games of all-time also had one of the greatest soundtracks of all-time. Who could forget the creepy Fire Temple, the creepier Forest Temple, the beautiful ending song, and the wide assortment of sweeping music in between? The soundtrack matched the overall quality of the game: E.p.i.c.
Standout Track: Fire Temple (The original version)
P.S. Of all the franchises out there, Zelda is the one with the best music. There's Majora's Mask, Link's Awakening, the original, Twilight Princess, and....................
#3: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Bottom Line: This came out at a time when music wasn’t a strong factor in the gameplay. Before Link to the Past, games usually consisted of several addicting tunes and a few harmless melodies. This game changed all the rules by providing a stellar cast of songs that not only were very different from one another, but also altered the mood and pacing of the game. The two worlds contained very different styles of music, further alienating any potential similarity between the two dimensions. Link to the Past has it all, music that sounds like it came from Mozart, and music that can match the battling in Lord of the Rings. Koji Kondo is the best composer in the world of video games, and this was his tour-de-force work of art that (to this day) shines the brightest.
Standout Track: Hyrule Castle
#2: Super Metroid
Bottom Line: Flawless. That’s right, absolutely flawless. The game’s music captured, harnessed, and expanded the tension and suspense of the already-groundbreaking masterpiece. Kenyi Yamamoto, a highly underrated composer in the world of video games, provided Nintendo with updated and superior versions of all of themes in the original Metroid, and added a variety of new ones that remain in the remixing stages to any compilation games Nintendo releases (Brawl being the latest example). The best part is how the music never overpowers the sound effects, yet still leaves a lasting effect long after you turn off the system. Very few gaming soundtracks intertwine with the gameplay and tone of the game so sinisterly, but Super Metroid is successful from the first second to the very last.
Standout Track: Samus Aran: Galactic Warrior
#1: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Bottom Line: One of the greatest combinations in the history of gaming, Nintendo and Square Soft worked together to provide one of the best RPGs ever. But, it wasn’t just the game designers that worked together. Yoko Shimomura (contrary to popular belief) composed the soundtrack to absolute perfection, but with the help of Koji Kondo (mostly) and Nobuo Uematsu (loosely, the Culex music). With the three excellent composing minds at hand, we had masterpiece music like the title track, Nimbus Land, and the hilarious Sad Song, and much much more. Shimomura is the best female composer in the world of gaming, with this, Street Fighter II, and Kingdom Hearts in her repertoire. But, none of those compare to the majesty that is the music of Super Mario RPG.
Honestly, I have nothing more to say, Super Mario RPG’s soundtrack remains the best I’ve ever listened to, and I am sure most people that have played the game relentlessly can agree. In terms of music, you quite literally have it all; the upbeat, the downbeat, the trippy, the sentimental, the sinister, the scary, and sometimes the downright sophisticated. It is a total shame that Square and Nintendo didn’t work together in this magnitude ever again, one can only ponder what the world of gaming (and gaming music) would be like if Nintendo had switched to CDs in the N64 era. In the meantime, Youtube the soundtrack and enjoy.
Standout Tracks:
Title Theme
The End
Map Selection
Happy Parade
Nimbus Land
Booster Tower
Battle Music
Boss Music
Mini-Boss Music
Star Road
Culex Battle Theme
Sunken Ship
Forest Maze
Marrymore
Seaside Town
Mushroom Kingdom
Mushroom Way
So there you have it, the best soundtracks in gaming I have ever listened to. I hope this listing of games opened up your world to new spectacular music that will soon be in your IPod within the next week or so. Otherwise, well, I tried. I know there are some other grand soundtracks left out (Kingdom Hearts, Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Mortal Kombat) but hey, only 30 slots were open, and I thought they were filled up by games that truly deserved it (even if there are sequels here and there). Disagree? Speak your voice. Maybe by then you can convince me that my list needs a revision.
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