Top 20 Best Video Game Soundtracks of all Time: Anime Store Near Me Houston Texas
From discussions on the same over at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, soundtracks are just as important as graphics and playability, and they give a video game a sense of immersion. The right piece of music at the right time in the game can have a profound effect on a player’s experience. The best video game soundtracks can live on well after their games become unplayable. We have curated for you a list of the top 20 best video game soundtracks of all time.
Red Dead Redemption
Those who have played ‘Red Dead Redemption’ remember two key moments. The first one is the moment John Marston enters Mexico for the first time, and the second one is the moment John is returning to the homestead after murdering Dutch. In both cases, as per RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, Rockstar’s choice of song over the simple act of traveling is amazing, especially as it is exactly how it would work in a film.
Super Mario Bros.
Whimsical, bouncy, and at a perfect tempo to keep you pushing forward, the music in this video game perfectly matches the sound effects made when Mario jumps in the air, breaks blocks, and warps down pipes. When you head underground, the volume drops and the music switches to a minimalist beat that signals the danger ahead.
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Right off the bat, Legend of Zelda always had music that seemed to fit perfectly over what was happening on screen and enhance it in a way that few games are capable of doing as articulated at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Music plays a huge part in the story and Koji Kondo’s soundtrack was symbolic of the player’s experience.
Mega Man 2
Every stage’s song on Mega Man 2 is a breakneck, anxiety-inducing sprint that you will struggle to keep up with, and even the game’s slower tunes, which you will hear in Air Man’s theme, are still faster than the majority of music on the NES. There is something charming about the soundtrack’s simplicity.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
While GTA: San Andreas and GTA: V has used radio stations effectively, Vice City was the first to attempt it in such a considered manner, and probably did it the best. Rockstar’s song choices were so well-chosen, that you would be forgiven for thinking that they merely lifted the playlist from genre radio stations in the ‘80s and transplanted them into the game.
Super Castlevania IV
Combining the blaring organs associated with gothic horror with the rhythmic chiptune beat Castlevania fans had come to expect, the soundtrack often outshined the game’s visuals, which are still beautiful more than 25 years after the game’s initial release.
The Last of Us
While Gustavo Santaolalla’s soundtrack was every bit as rich and textured as the story of The Last of Us, it is in the smaller moments that you really get the beauty of it and how it adds to the drama playing out before you according to RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.
Chrono Trigger
While the opening title screen in this game begins with a soft, ominous tune that hints at more bombastic music later on, throughout Crono’s adventure, we hear a wide variety of music. Our favorite music has to involve Magus, arguably the game’s best character.
Final Fantasy VII
You only need to listen to the soundtrack of Final Fantasy VII with an actual orchestra to get just how huge the scale that Nobou Uematsu was working on is. The soundtrack was massive and, spread out over three CDs, it covered every genre imaginable and became ironic in the intervening years.
Star Fox 64
Considering each playthrough in this game only lasts an hour, the catchy music makes replaying the game over and over more enjoyable. As captured at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, each track perfectly captures the mood of the mission and planet.
Oblivion
We all remember Oblivion for its pure high adventure and soaring mountains covered at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. What’s more, seeing the lush landscape of Cryodiil for the first time with the overworld music was an eye-opening experience and was many players’ first experience with an immersive, open-world game. The music of Oblivion was a huge part in that.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
With tunes from acclaimed bands such as the Suicide Machines, Dead Kennedys, and the Vandals, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater had the perfect soundtrack to listen to for hours as you played. Superman, in particular, has come to represent the THPS franchise’s cultural footprint more than any other.
Street Fighter II
While Mortal Kombat had specific music for stages, Street Fighter II had music for characters as described at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Like the characters themselves, each of them was unique, distinctive, and easily recognizable.
Halo 2
With Steve Vai’s solo blaring in our ears when playing Halo 2, we had the confidence to charge in with our guns blazing. When we switch perspectives and take control of the Arbiter, the music takes on a horror tinge, one peppered with sullen, tragic moments that remind us of the impossible mission he must complete.
Portal 2
While many people associate Portal 2 with the comedy musical number What You Gone from GlaDOS, the incidental music inside the game really is special. It is quirky, fun, unusual, and way smarter than you realize.
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
The music in this game is one of a few elements that helped Nathan Drake climb out of Lara Croft’s shadow as discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. His theme song can only be described as “epic”.
Quake
Created by Trent Reznor, if you play Quake, you can hear the oppressive, atmospheric soundtrack he has become known for. Very few composers know have to capture dread in the way that Trent Reznor does, and the soundtrack for Quake is one of his most frightening works.
Minecraft: Volumes Alpha & Beta
When it comes to the soundtrack here, peaceful piano solos create a somewhat melancholic ambiance as you navigate a world full of scared critters and violent monsters. Then, upbeat electronica gives you a burst of energy, hearkening more to the mood of gamers building blocky buildings and getting up to in-game hijinks with Minecraft mods as outlined at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.
Resident Evil
While Resident Evil had a very little soundtrack, when it was used, it was used effectively and precisely – and immediately set you on edge. Like the best horror movies, the soundtrack for Resident Evil was as much about ambiance and atmosphere as anything else.
Journey
Composer Austin Wintory spent three years creating the soundtrack for Journey, and this dedication paid off in an incredible soundtrack that was the first and only one to be nominated for a Grammy Award.
Remember, if you are looking for an anime store near you in Houston, Texas, then the top-rated RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com have got you covered.