I love these games and I think the soundtracks are underrated as an essential part of their appeal. I’ll Start with one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk72RMv9d0s
Tube of Medusa from Ecco2: Tides of Time.
Personally, I think the Sega CD version soundtrack is… fine, but it has a different composer. If I remember correctly, it;s the composer from the first Ecco. In my opinion, it’s inoffensive, but completely forgettable.
EDIT: I have edited the topic to include older stuff.
I’m pretty fond of David Wise’s work. The easy pick is Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2 for the SNES, but he also worked on Iron sword: Wizards and Warriors II for the NES which has some great tracks too. Also the entire Battletoads and Snake Rattle n Roll soundtracks if I recall correctly (I was a Nintendo kid, if it isn’t obvious).
If it isn’t stretching too far forward, Einhander on the PS1. It’s still the side scroller I judge others against and the soundtrack just feels “right” from start to finish.
Dave Wise is probably my favorite retro Game Music composer. It’s kinda hard to say that given all the other amazing music, but man, from the NES all the way to the modern era he’s fantastic.
The Solar Jetman soundtrack is amazing to me.
Stickerbrush Symphony from Donkey Kong Country 2 is still goosebumps territory.
And so many awesome remixes etc.
Chrono Trigger has a few bangers
Guardia Millennial Fair and Frog’s Theme are absolutely brilliant
We often have music on in the office, and anyone can put on whatever they want. Chrono Cross Scars of Time came on and I nearly gave myself whiplash. I found who put it on and he started playing game music for the rest of the day, including CT and Final Fantasy. It was great.
Ducktales NES Moon Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF32DRg9opA
The gamefeel on those cane mechanics 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻😩
Mega Man II.
Dr. Wily’s castle stage 1.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8tRMB0J4rM&pp=0gcJCYsCo7VqN5tD
The live performance of this by bit brigade was possibly the coolest thing I’ve ever seen:
https://youtu.be/MUHlVdqRlPA?t=1548
Time stamp links might not work through lemmy but it starts around 26:00 👍
Mega Man 2 still has the most consistently awesome soundtrack of any video game ever. Just banger-after-banger.
Sonic 2 - Mystic Cave Zone
Wonder Boy III - The Dragon’s Trap on Sega Master System has some great tunes as well.
I’m very surprised no one mentioned Earthbound/Mother 2 yet. The whole thing is just banger after banger, but this one’s my favourite:
Your right, there’s nothing else on the SNES that sounds anything like it. It’s fantastic. Smiles and Tears makes me cry. https://youtu.be/gJs5YXUeFug?is=1EkPMZqZzCP3Z4_G
surprised i haven’t seen much reference to Tim Follin’s work! IMO the title screen music from Plok! is unquestionably the most impressive bit of sound i’ve ever heard from a SNES. just when you’ve picked your jaw off the floor from the amazingly convincing harmonica sound, the lead “guitar” kicks in and your jaw drops again.
for a bit of a more conventional chiptune sound, the NES Pictionary soundtrack (also Tim Follin) hits pretty damn hard considering that it is, well, Pictionary
Pictionary brings it HARD!
There are a lot of comments mentioning Follin’s work. Plok, Solstice, Silver Surfer, Pictionary, it’s all there.
Bloody Tears is the most iconic Castlevania tune for me.
Best Piano Version I’ve heard: https://youtu.be/u9GRIrHtM8U
OG NES VERSION: https://youtu.be/e2oZtvjg5oA
I don’t have exotic choices to give, but Final Fantasy VI is still my favorite soundtrack. Kefka’s theme is iconic.
Also, the music for the first level of Castlevania 3 (“Beginning”) is timeless.
The OG Castlevania still brings me so much spooky joy ,but you’re right, FF6 is next level.
Deep Blue immediately comes to mind:
But a deeper more interesting cut would be the entire Pictionary OST:
That game’s soundtrack goes so much harder than you’d think it should.
Holy shit, Tim Follin! The composer of the song I posted about elsewhere in this thread. I had no idea! Thanks! That Pictionary song is crazy.
Saw this post, BlasterMaster came to my head instantly.
Chemical Plant Zone from Sonic
They went so unnecessarily hard on that one but it’s great
NES: megaman 2 - wily castle or megaman 6 - knight man stage SNES - megaman X - spark mandrill (really that whole soundtrack)
Megaman 3 is my favorite.
Is that the one with protomans castle? That theme is great.
I have that shit on vinyl
all the MegaMan on the NES
The Thunderforce III and IV, the 3 (yes, three, including the experimental soundtrack of the third!) Streets of Rage on the MegaDrive Anything Nobuo Uematsu on the SNES (Final Fantasy IV, V, VI, Chrono Trigger, Actraiser, etc.) and U.N Squadron
Soldier Blade and Final Soldier (and Air Zonk!) on the PCEngine (that a small part of the world calls TG16 for some reason?!)
