I love both the MT-32 and CMS versions of Ultima VI’s soundtrack, particularly Todd Porter’s contributions.
You can hear them all at the Video Game Music Preservation Foundation
Castlevania soundtracks tend to rank high for me. I love that driving, symphonic Gothic sound.
Outrun, the correct answer is Outrun :)
Final Fantasy VII a close second, though.
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall has a really good soundtrack.
The NES first two Ninja Gaiden games. Everyone focuses on the difficulty, but the soundtracks were pretty great. The original is the first game I remember that had drums that actually kinda sounded like drums. Also the opening scenes were awesome musically and cinematically, at least to 8 year old me.
Can’t think of any full soundtracks, but some from Slayers and Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (both from the SNES) are pretty good imo. And if Final Fantasy XII is old enough to be considered classic (it’s about 17 y.o. already), I like the orchestral spin its whole OST has, as well as often not going with the clichés of x music style for y type of region.
Oh, I love the soundtrack to Final Fantasy XII! The Rabanastre theme always seemed like the perfect non-Christmas Christmas music to me.
I should probably replay Final Fantasy XII…
When all the rumors of a Silent Hill remake were swirling last summer, I dove into listening to the first 4 games’ soundtracks. They really have such an ethereal quality that is hard to match. I particularly love Silent Hill 2’s atmosphere just based on the music alone. There were a few days were our city was blanketed with smoke from wildfires, and boy did those tracks feel a bit more real as I walked through the deserted parks.
Another series with great music is Ace Combat. The soundtrack for 7 was on a weekly rotation for awhile after I finished he campaign. I’ve only really listened to the OST for AC4 and AC: Zero, but I’ve heard there is a lot of love for the other games as well.
Mega Man 2 has always been a favorite of mine as well as Final Fantasy 6.
I’m fond of the soundtrack of (Jim Power in Mutant Planet for Amiga)[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiUaz0ZLbgY] by Chris Huelsbeck. It’s not even a game I’ve ever played or particularly feel the urge to, it’s just a really good synth rock soundtrack. Also going to bring up the (PC Engine CD version’s arrangement)[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U55EvWFkHKs] of the same music which is also good.
The Jazz Jackrabbit soundtrack is awesome.
Toejam and Earl will always be the funkiest game soundtrack of all. FUNKIFY!
Sheesh… There are so many. Ninja Gaiden 2(NES), Shinobi 3(GEN), Batman(NES)…
But the one I actually listened to in my car back in the day was.
Ecco The Dolphin(SCD)
So deep and relaxing.
