Favorite Soundtracks, New & Old! Let's hear 'em!

[bizzarnage]

A question done to death a thousand times over but what the hell, right? What's your favorite oldies and new jams for games?

As far as old games, Streets of rage 1-3 (And 4 for new bc hot damn) are easy picks. I also enjoy the OST to Lack of Love on the Dreamcast, and The NA version of the Sonic CD Ost

As far as new stuff goes, Hotline Miami and Mother Russia Bleeds have had me thrashing Honorary mentions to Sleeping Dogs for having a collectively diverse OST of amazing talented artists.

[telekill]

I have more older game soundtracks that I enjoy but I think much of it is the nostalgia.

Classic: (NES to PS2)

• Ninja Turtles series (8-16 bit)
• Jurassic Park (Genesis & Game Gear)
• Megaman series (NES)
• Sonic series (Genesis & Game Gear)
• Comix Zone (Genesis)
• FF7 (PS1)
• Tomb Raider 1-3 (PS1)
• Double Dragon (NES)
• Ducktales (NES)
• Zelda series (NES-Gamecube)
• ICO (PS2)
• Burnout 3 (PS2)
• Killer Instinct (SNES)
• Mario (NES-SNES)
• Shenmue (Dreamcast)

I could keep going on many of the older games but I'll stop there.

Modern: (PS3 and up)

• Uncharted series (PS3-4 and PSV)
• Tomb Raider 2013 (PS3/4)
• Burnout Paradise (PS3/4)
• Bionic Commando Rearmed (PS3)
• Ducktales Remastered (PS3)
• Ninja Turtles IV Reshelled (PS3)
• FF7 Remake (PS4)
• Astro's Playroom (PS5)
• AC Valhalla (PS4/5)

I get the Burnout games are just compilations of rock music from various bands, but they were incredible sets. Generally, soundtracks don't really hit me very often anymore. As you can tell, half my modern list are remakes of the older games.

[Warmsignal]

For sure, the original Sonic trilogy on Genesis. So freaking good.

[shawndude82]

Old

The Secret of Monkey Island (The main theme and the love them in particular.)
Lunar 1 & 2 (Both the Sega CD and the PS1 versions have some epic tracks.)
Final Fantasy VI
Mega Man 2


New
I haven't played many new games, but here's what are most memorable.

The Assassin's Creed theme
God of War
Kingdom Hearts 3
Life is Strange  (I've yet to play the sequel, but if it has a similar soundtrack, then I'm sure I'll love it.)

[medisto]

1. The Secret of Monkey Island (Amiga)
2. Battle Squadron (Amiga)
3. Final Fantasy VII (PS1)

[turf]

Rygar’s music is gold. It’s an early NES game, but the soundtrack is bangin’!

[undertakerprime]

It would take too long to list everything, so it’s easier to list series. And I’m sure I’ll forget a few:

Mega man series
Final Fantasy series
Castlevania series
Shadow of the Colossus
Chrono Trigger/Cross
Streets of Rage series
Shinobi series
Actraiser
Dragon Quest VIII
Axelay

More current games with great soundtracks:
Blasphemous
Bloodstained
Streets of Rage 4

Personal favorites that many people don’t talk about:
Tekken 2 (PS1)
Battle Arena Toshinden 1 & 2 (PS1)
Twisted Metal 2 (PS1)
Gauntlet Dark Legacy (PS2)
TMNT, Simpsons, X-Men (Arcade)

[leonefamily]

In my opinion, the best street racing songs / songs that you would blast in your car while racing are found in NFS Most Wanted 2012 and Forza Horizon 1 (also a few in Horizon 2). Currently, my racing songs list are as follows:

Day racing:
[MW12] Above and Beyond - Anjunabeach (NFS MW12 Edit)
[FH2] Chromeo - Come Alive (feat. Toro y Moi)
[FH1] Empire of the Sun - Walking On a Dream
[FH1] Friendly Fires - Hurting
[MW12] Madeon - The City (feat. Zak Waters)
[FH2] Oliver Heldens x Becky Hill - Gecko Overdrive
[FH2] Phonat - Never
[MW12] Rudimental - Feel The Love (feat. John Newman)
[MW12] Silent Code - East Star
[MW12] Strange Talk - Cast Away
[MW12] The Chemical Brothers - Galvanize
[MW12] The Who - Baba O'Riley (Alan Wilkis Remix)

Night racing:
[MW12] Crosses   - Telepathy
[FH2] Holy Ghost! - Bridge and Tunnel
[FH1] Maverick Sabre - Let Me Go
[FH2] Pnau - With You Forever
[FH1] Santigold - Disparate Youth
[FH1] Tesla Boy - Spirit of the Night
[FH1] Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix)

In terms of general and varied soundtrack, GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas are the best.

[pzeke]

A question done to death a thousand times over but what the hell, right? What's your favorite oldies and new jams for games?

Yeah, I think I replied to a similar topic a few months ago. But hey, VGM is love, so no harm.

Out of the top of my head...

Mega Man X
Mega Man 3
Chrono Cross
Ollie King
Rez
Drakengard
StarFox (SNES)
Final Fantasy VII, IX, and X
Shadow of the Colossus
Guilty Gear X
Streets of Rage
TMNT: Turtles in Time
Turrican
Command & Conquer
Pokémon Red/Blue and Gold/Silver
Armored Core for Answer
Killer Instinct
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Low G Man
Tetris
Gotcha Force
Sword of the Berserk: Guts' Rage

So on and so forth... I think most fighting games tend to have really good soundtracks, and I'm also a sucker for 8-bit music, so most NES games make sweet love to my ears.

When it comes to VGM, it's difficult for me to just pick one and say "that's my favorite".

[lex2000]

Kind of a basic pick here but one of my favorite soundtracks in gaming is the soundtrack to Pokemon Diamond/Pearl. To me, the Sinnoh games biggest strength are the atmosphere of the locations in the region and the music does a TON to help with that. Here's just one example...

https://youtu.be/seKI1mq0MK8

Absolutely fantastic, and yet these are early DS games.

[kashell]

I'll go with ten of each in no particular order.

Old:
SaGa Frontier
Chrono Cross
Chrono Trigger
Secret of Mana
Trials of Mana
Mega Man X
Mega Man X3
Mega Man X4
Xenogears
Final Fantasy Tactics

New:
Ghost of Tsushima
Sakura Wars
AI: Somnium Files
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
Aragami
7th Dragon III
Rabi Ribi
Mega Man 11
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Final Fantasy VII Remake

[spyrofanx]

Classic: (NES to GameCube)
Mega Man 2 (NES)
Kirby's Adventure (NES)
Mega Man X (SNES)
Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
Sonic 3D Blast (Genesis/Mega Drive)
Sonic R (Saturn and PC)
Steel Reign (PS1)
Mega Man X4 (PS1)
Tail Concerto (PS1)
OG Spyro Trilogy (PS1)
Crash 2 and 3 (PS1)
Spyro: Enter The Dragonfly (PS2 and GCN)
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GCN)
Pokemon Colloseum (GCN)
Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness (GCN)

Modern: (PS3 and up)
Sonic '06 (Xbox 360 and PS3)
Sonic Generations (Xbox 360, PS3, and PC)
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC)
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC)
Spyro ReIgnited Trilogy (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC)
CTR: Nitro Fueled (PS4, Xbox One, and Switch)
Sonic Robo Blast 2 (PC)
Paper Mario: The Origami King (Switch)

[megasilverx1]

Classic
Donkey Kong Country 1-3
Rikki & Vikki
Mega Man 3, 6, X, X5, X6, X7
Waterworld
Wagyan Paradise
Tetris CD-i
Nighthunter
Snowboard Kids 2
Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge
Dragon Quest series (II, III, IV, VIII especially)
Katamari Damacy
Sonic CD (both versions)
Kid Icarus
VB Wario Land

Modern
Persona Q2
Freedom Planet
Paper Mario: Origami King
Sonic Forces
Sonic Mania
Mega Man 10
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series
Shovel Knight
Pazner Paladin
Wario Land: Shake It
Sonic Colors

[kamikazekeeg]

For original music, I would say both of the new Doom games, most Guilty Gear games,  and the first couple Command & Conquer games in particular.  I'll probably add to this later.

For games that take already made music for their soundtrack, Brutal Legend is basically at the top as it's basically over 100 songs from great metal bands.  It's top notch, but it also has a good original soundtrack too.

[vivigamer]

NieR - Such a phenomenal piece of work very orchestral but also very adrenaline pumping! It even has tracks with made up lyrics from the game itself. A lot of dedication went into this and it's clear to see with S-E have pushed concerts as the content is more than worthy to fill up an orchestral theatre.

Ridge Racer Type 4 - Still think this is one of the stylish games I've ever seen and HEARD! The soundtrack will please a lot of modern Persona fans, highly recommend.

Final Fantasy VIII - I could pick many FF Soundtracks but I feel FF8's is by far the best, when I listen to it I find myself rarely skipping a track. Highlights like the relaxing Fisherman's Horizon or the futuristic Silence and Motion. I really can listen to the whole 4-hour OST with joy! Also Highly Recommend the Piano Collections CD of FF8 too, many of them are over the top to where the original tracks are unrecognizable but Final Fantasy VIII's score is pretty intact and a a delight.

Crash Twinsanity - Feel this needs a shout out, a wonderfully creative soundtrack featuring a capella vocals (Great game too!)

Other notable OSTs:
Catherine, Silent Hill 2, Sonic Adventure, Gravity Rush, Shenmue