T.'s Favorite Video Game Soundtracks
From 16-bit to 32-bit to 64-bit
As I’ve listed my top 10 favorite movie soundtracks, I'm now listing my favorite video game soundtracks!
And like how took I different approaches between listing my all-time favorite movies and video games each, this time I'm making a top five plus an honorable mention, because I had difficulty thinking up a top 10.
Without further ado, in alphabetical order:
HM: Shadow of the Colossus (2005)
The arthouse answer to Zelda in its time, and arguably more so a spiritual precursor to Breath of the Wild than any actual Zelda game before it.
The goal is to explore a vast world whose only enemies are sixteen giant colossi. The battles against these creatures and the atmosphere are spectacularly realized, yet the ending like a lot of arthouse fare leaves me with so many questions. What I am certain of, though, is that its soundtrack is one of the most epic things ever.
Chrono Cross (1999)
Three of my older brothers beat the Chrono games, and as I've said in my favorite video games post, they're the games I loved the most growing up that I never beat, especially this second entry. Maybe someday I'll once again have patience for its turn-based combat and be able to overlook its deification of dragons. Until then, I'll still be revisiting its amazing score and all the memories it gave me.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
More so than any other soundtrack, this is the soundtrack of my childhood (even if the Well / Shadow Temple theme still crawls under my skin.
It especially helps to sell the adventure on atmosphere alone, making Hyrule Field feel exciting to traverse despite how empty it is, and making the final battle with Ganon feel epic despite how easy it is.
Plus, no melody embodies nostalgia for me more than “Princess Zelda” (except for maybe the Shire theme from Lord of the Rings).
Mega Man X (1993)
I failed to mention in my favorite video games post that my brothers and I were introduced to many Super Nintendo games through ROMs that we found out years later were illegal; Mega Man X was one of them.
I did eventually beat this game on an officially owned anniversary collection, making it the only Mega Man game I've ever beaten (I also almost beat the very original through such a collection, but then I got to an impossible end boss…)
A lot of what makes it enjoyable is its 16-bit rock-and-roll soundtrack, though a lot of said soundtrack’s sentimental value for me comes from using MIDI versions of it in 3D Movie Maker movies growing up.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020)
I've said that the Ori games are the most visually stunning games I've ever played, and their soundtracks are worthy of such spectacle, complimenting not only the wonder and excitement but also the heartbreak. And while I do love Blind Forest even more overall, one leg up that Wisps has over it are actual boss fight themes.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)
Nothing much more I can say than I’ve already said in my favorite video games post about how this Middle Eastern-meets-rock-and-roll soundtrack pumps up the already cool acrobatic sword fights against zombie warriors made from magical sand. There are things I hope the long-developing remake will change (particularly the female attire), but the soundtrack is not one of them.