Facebook – Top 100 FAVORITE Video Games: “The Music Man”

Every game has a soundtrack, whether its the screeches of metal against metal in Silent Hill 2 or the gorgeous orchestral arrangements of Oblivion. They should help to create an experience unlike any other and, at the very least, should assist in helping make emotion come to life from the pixels and polygons.

For this list, I’m using a specific song I feel really helps sell the idea of my top 10 list. While each game featured here contains more than one great track, I’ve reserved myself to only posting one track from the game. I’ll provide a reason and also a link to a version of the song I found on YouTube or something, which I suggest you check out (all of them!). As always, feel free to find reason to argue with me over this.

PS: I decided I could only include one game per series, meaning the Final Fantasy games (which would otherwise have taken most of the spots on this thing, anyhow) only have one title and I had to pick the best song from the whole damn series, more or less. It was difficult. And I cheated. You’ll see why.

10: Guitar Hero 2 (YYZ)

It might be kinda unfair to really rank this here, but the music of a game is what gets it on this list and I can’t think of any better game to include from the series. The soundtrack featured here is far better than the others, overall, and has YYZ. YYZ. Name me a better guitar/bass song from the entire series and/or Rock Band. I challenge you.

9: Half-Life 2 (Triage At Dawn)
Half-Life and the sequel have great music, overall, but usually in short doses. Triage at Dawn is a song that brings out emotion at a critical time in the second game’s narrative. Its moody, and also one of the few tracks on the soundtrack that isn’t overly electronic and fast-tempo-d up. Really touching, in my opinion, and so short.

8: Homeworld (Adagio for Strings)

This is more than a little unfair, as the game uses a song that is already old and well known, but my God does it use it well. The sweeping nature of this bit of wonder suits the game and its vast, open space perfectly, while capturing the majesty of the giant ships you must navigate through treacherous places.

7: Mega Man 2 (Wily’s Castle – Stage 1)

While you won’t find a single Mega Man game on the 100 games list, it would be stupid of me not to mention this game for its incredible and catchy-as-fuck soundtrack. Getting to this final level is a challenge and this fast-progression track really helps build the mounting tension toward reaching the end of the game and stomping Wily out for good. Over all other songs in the game (yell at me for this, Zak), this level’s theme really compliments the high energy needed to finish it.

6: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Metropolis Zone)
Sonic 2 is maybe my favorite Sonic game. But what song is the best? The thick-ass-bass-rumbling of the Metropolis Zone. The manic nature of the song lends itself well to yet another of the fast levels of the game. The world this song comes from is huge, both in presentation and in the fact that its the only level to have an Act 3 instead of just the normal 2. This song helps create, in my opinion, that sense of openness.

FOR AWESOME REFERENCE: An awesome cover of this level in which they nailed the drum line 100%:

5: Katamari Damacy (Lonely Rolling Star)
For a strange ass game from Japan they utilized a strange ass soundtrack. Of all the songs that fit the style of the game, Lonely Rolling Star really nails the simple and fun nature of the game, being catchy and lighthearted, just like the gameplay. And I really dig the hook of the chorus, despite the fact that I don’t understand any word aside from “Katamari” in the whole damn song.

4: Super Metroid (Brinstar)

The jungle-like underbelly of Brinstar features this great song that creates a solid feel of exploration and adventure, all the while Samus is killing and jumping and finding new ways to be better in the game. I like the bass line the whole way through, and the second half pulls away a bit to reveal a semi-choral vocal(ish) section that adds to the maze-like nature of the entire game.

3: Contra (Base Theme)
Any fool that argues against this being the best song from the game is… maybe right. In a game that has nearly 0 losers in the soundtrack (hate that Snow Field theme, though), its hard to pick. But the tension-creating Base Theme lends itself well to the up-scaling design of the level and helps maintain the action of the game, perfectly.

2: Chrono Trigger (Battle with Magus)

Working your way to this point in the game is a great ride and you think you’ve reached the end boss. His theme, here, is perfect, as Magus employs some nasty magic and epic attacks all the while you unleash some special moves of your own. The excitement starts softly and mounts until you hear that “dark wind howling” and then its all business from there.

1: Final Fantasy IV (DS Intro theme)
Yes this is cheating; the DS intro combines a number of the game’s best tracks in fantastic ways, creating a medley of sorts that works well with the CG intro they created. It brings about emotions from the scenes depicted and helps to set up the amazing adventure the remake promised (and delivered upon). From about 2 minutes in its all gold, though. Listen and you’ll understand upon the triumphant nature the song takes on.

Honorable Mention: Fallout 3 (Butcher Pete)

HE JUST HACKS! WHACKS! CHOPPIN’ THAT MEAT!

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Added February 9, 2017
Updated with new logo images and some fixed links.
I think this is a great list and I challenge you to come up with better.
Man, that FFIV opening, though.