Introduction

Welcome to NeoGAF’s first video game soundtracks of the generation thread! This thread will serve to create a common point of reference for NeoGAF’s favourite game soundtracks during the “DC/PS2/GBA/GC/Xbox/PC 2000-2005/Arcade 2000-2005” era, place a spotlight on the industry’s musical talent, and expose people to great video game music that they haven’t heard before. It will also host a (hopefully) comprehensive archive of the generation’s game music and other related information.

Voting Rules

For your vote, select your ten favourite game soundtracks of the generation and rank them in the order of your preference. Your first pick will receive 10 points, your second pick will receive 9 points, your eight pick will receive 8 points, and so on. Your Honourable Mentions will not count for any points, but will still be tallied accordingly.

Please list at least 1-2 tracks you feel are your favourites from each soundtrack you vote for, as it will make the process of building the Archive much easier.


If you wish to do any sort of write-ups for your vote a la the Game of the Year thread, you may do so in any way you wish. Examples of such ballots in previous years are these: Jucksalbe, Papercuts, Levyne, Earthpainting, Nocturnowl, Thoraxes, Axelstream, and Yuterald. There are even more examples in previous threads linked at the bottom if you’d like to work through them to get an idea if you are relatively new to voting. If you do a write-up or make a small comment, I will go through and pick some of the most-encompassing ones to add to the Results Thread.

Voting will end on February 28th at 11:59 PM (PST). The votes will not be counted until after the voting period closes, so you may edit your post and change your vote as many times as you would like before then. Please be patient for the results thread, but we will try to make sure the TAT is efficient.

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Soundtrack Eligibility

Ineligible Soundtracks:

• PC/Arcade soundtracks for games released before the year 2000, or after the year 2005: We think this is pretty self-explanatory. If you have any questions about eligibility, just ask us.
• GBA Classics, Super Mario Advance ___, Mega Man & Bass GBA, Final Fantasy ___ Advance/Dawn of Souls, other SNES/GEN to GBA/WSC ports, etc. do not count. If you would like to still make these soundtracks part of your ballot, list them as honourable mentions.

If other soundtracks come up in conversation or via PMs, we will add them to the categories in this OP.

Eligible Soundtracks:

• Platforms allowed: Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Gamecube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Wonderswan, Wonderswan Color/SwanCrystal, N-Gage, GP32, Tapwave Zodiac, PC 2000-2005, Arcades 2000-2005 will be eligible, including licensed and partially-licensed soundtracks.
• Eligible soundtracks asked about: Resident Evil Remake (GCN), Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA)

Need help? Check out AniHawk’s post here:

AniHawk said:

here is a list of notable releases from this generation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_in_video_gaming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_in_video_gaming

Click to expand...

Additionally, the VGMdb Calendar lists are as follows (you will have to click through each month as it isn’t as easy to use as Wiki is):
VGMdb January 2000 releases
VGMdb January 2001 releases
VGMdb January 2002 releases
VGMdb January 2003 releases
VGMdb January 2004 releases
VGMdb January 2005 releases
VGMdb January 2006 releases

To the extent that we’re hoping to celebrate new music from this generation and bring some attention to composers’ new works, there’s a bit of an implied “honour system” here; if you decide vote for a licensed soundtrack, an explanation as to why you think it was especially fitting for the game or thoughtfully compiled would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions about, or wish to discuss, a soundtrack’s eligibility, please feel free to send a PM to me and I’ll try to get back to you as soon as possible. Nine times out of ten, my answer will probably be “yes”, but if you’re unsure please message me. Anything regarding a soundtrack's eligibility will be added to the list here.

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Thread Features

Archive

As the thread continues to grow, an archive of many of this generation’s soundtracks will be built up for people to explore. We will include every soundtrack mentioned in your posts (space permitting!). We will also work to include your favorite songs and your descriptions of the soundtracks. If you’re passionate about any music from this generation, take this as an opportunity to let people know! Because the generation is so built in depth and many selections, Ghaleon and I may not be able to house every single soundtrack posted about in the thread, but we will try to get a broad scope in the archive.

The format is as follows:

• Game Title (album information linked)
• Composer(s) (composer information linked)
• Sample Tracks (song titles with links to YouTube, Bandcamp and/or other appropriate websites)

Composer Profiles

For the 15 soundtracks that receive the most points, we will provide a brief overview of the winning composers, including discographies. This will help to highlight the individuals that created the soundtracks and to encourage people to check out their past works.

When and if possible, we will also attempt to reach out to the winning composers and let them know how they did. If they're like Austin Wintory or Jake Kaufman, they may even feel compelled to join up.

So, good luck! Try to have fun when coming up with your ballots and happy listening, everyone!

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Past Threads

2014 Results and Archive
2014 Voting Thread
2013 Results and Archive
2013 Voting Thread
2012 Results and Archive
2012 Voting Thread
2011 Results and Archive
2011 Voting Thread
2010 Results and Archive
2010 Voting Thread

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Archive

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
Keiki Kobayashi, Tetsukazu Nakanishi, Junichi Nakatsuru, Hiroshi Okubo
Zero
Excalibur
Glacial Skies

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
Keiki Kobayashi, Tetsukazu Nakanishi, Junichi Nakatsuru, Hiroshi Okubo
The Unsung War
First Flight
Hrimfaxi

Advance Wars
Taishi Senda
Black Hole Coming
Andy’s Theme
Nell’s Theme

Amazing Island
Yuzo Koshiro
Beat’n Art
Battle Royale
Mach Runner

American McGee’s Alice
Chris Vrenna
Wonderland Woods
Time to Die
Taking Tea in Dreamland

Amplitude
Various
Cosmonaut Zero - Spaztik
Chris Child feat. Melissa Kaplan - Shades of Blue
The Baldwin Brothers - Urban Tumbleweed

Animal Crossing
Kazumi Totaka, Kenta Nagata, Toru Minegishi, Shinobu Tanaka
5 PM
K.K. Bossa
9 PM

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
Ben Houge
Main Theme
Tarant
The Demise of the Zephyr

Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits
Masahiro Andoh, Takayuki Hattori, Yuko Fukushima, Koji Sakurai, Takashi Harada
Ordeal
Natural Selection
Truth

Armoured Core: Last Raven
Yuki Ichiki, Ayako Minami, Hideyuki Eto
The Game
Five Point Five
I’ll Talk You

Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Michael Hoenig
Forest Battle I
Taverns
Waukeen’s Promenade

Baldur’s Gate II: Throne of Bhaal
Howard Drossin, Inon Zur
Mellisan Battle
Sendai Battle
Main Theme

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance
Jeremy Soule
Elfsong Tavern
The Orb of the Undead
Chelimber’s Keep

Baten Kaitos
Motoi Sakuraba
Chaotic Dance
House of Cards
Valley of the Wind

Baten Kaitos Origins
Motoi Sakuraba
Le Ali del Principio
The True Mirror ~ Orchestral Version
Iconoclasm

Beatmania III
Various
Cyber Girl
mnemoniq
qingdao

Beyond Divinity
Kirill Pokrovsky
Beyond Divinity
Urge For Power
Sacred Cult

Beyond Good & Evil
Christophe Héral
Dancing With Domz
Hyllian Suite
Redemption

Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
Mariko Nanba, Tomoya Ohtani
G.I.A.N.T.E.G.G!
Tumbling Xylophone
A Jack-in-the-Box!

Black & White
Russell Shaw
Creature Big Fight
Nemesis
Good

Border Down
Yasuhisa Watanabe
Girl of Power (Stage 2)
Prot #11 "Cage" (boss D)
Bye-bye Mars -take.II- (stage3G)

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
Hitoshi Sakimoto, Chihiro Onitsuka
Strong Enemy
Opening
The More You Dig, The More...

Cannon Spike/Gunspike
Masaki Izutani, Toshiya Kobayashi, Kaori Kumakura, Kensuke Sato
Stage C - The Perished Town
Stage B, C, D Boss Theme #2
Stage J - Extreme Sphere & Final Boss - Metal Blade Nightmare

Capcom Fighting Evolution/Capcom Fighting Jam
Noriyuki Asakura
To Kill Time
GOES A SYOTEN-GAI!
Prospered Fatherhood

Capcom vs SNK: Millennium Fight 2000/Pro
Satoshi Ise
Stage of Final Fight - Needle
Final Round: To the Limit
Terry’s Stage -Higher and Higher

Capcom vs SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001/Millionaire Fighting 2001
Satoshi Ise
This is true love makin'
Stimulation
Real Eyes

Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Soshiro Hokkai, Michiru Yamane, Takashi Yoshida
Castle Corridor
Heart of Fire Chapel

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Sotaro Tojima, Hiroshi Mitsuoka
Awake
Clockwork
Vampire Killer

Castlevania: Curse of Darkness
Michiru Yamane
Abandoned Castle
A Toccata into Blood-Stained Darkness
Young Nobleman of Madness

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
Michiru Yamane
Ghostly Theatre
House of Sacred Remains
Melancholy Joachim

Chaos Field/Chaos Field New Order/Chaos Field Expanded
Ko Hayashi, Daisuke Nagata
Not Back To Time -Phase 1-
back in to the machine -phase 5-
despair -last boss-

Chaos Legion
Hideyuki Fukasawa, Toru Minami
Blood Remains
Bloody Truth
Choir of Curse

Crazy Taxi
Various
The Offspring - All I Want
The Offspring - Way Down the Line
Bad Religion - Them and Us

Crazy Taxi 2
Various
The Offspring - One Fine Day
The Offspring - Come Out Swinging
Methods of Mayhem - Who The Hell Cares

Dark Cloud
Tomohito Nishiura
Corridor of Time
Factory
Ice Queen

Dark Cloud 2
Tomohito Nishiura
Moon Flower Palace
Kazarov Stonehenge
Balance Valley

Deus Ex

Devil May Cry
Masami Ueda, Misao Senbongi, Masato Kouda
Lock & Load [Blade Appearance ~ Regular Battle 2]
Underwater Stage
Super Ultra Violet [Nelo Angelo Appearance ~ Battle Version 3]

Devil May Cry 2
Tetsuya Shibata, Satoshi Ise, Masato Kouda
Shoot the Works [Dante Battle 2]
Parasitic Evil [Jokatgulm Battle]
Of the Wind ~ Uppertown

Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
Tetsuya Shibata, Kento Hasegawa
Vergil Battle 2
Battle–2
Devils Never Cry (Staff Roll)

Diablo II
Matt Uelman
Rogue
Zakarum
Tristram

Digital Devil Saga
Shoji Meguro, Kenichi Tsuchiya
Muladhara
Big Battle
Spider’s String - The Second Movement

Digital Devil Saga 2
Shoji Meguro, Kenichi Tsuchiya
Brahman
Battle for Survival
Heroic Battle

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII (Multiplayer)
Masashi Hamauzu, Gackt C. (for REDEMPTION) (Ryo Yamazaki - MP)
REDEMPTION
LONGING
Calm Before the Storm

DJMAX Technika
Various
First Kiss
Access
Oblivion

DoDonPachi DaiOuJou
Manabu Namiki
East Asia (Stage 1)
Burn Yourself (Boss)
Red Bee (TrueLastBoss)

Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA)
David Wise
Waterfall
Nuts and Bolts
Rockface Rumble

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (JP soundtrack)
Koichi Sugiyama
Mysterious Tower / (JP ver)
Remembrances… / (JP ver)
Fighting in the Sky / (JP ver)

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Espgaluda
N.T (SOU1), Manabu Namiki
Bloody Separation - Stage 1
Huge Battleship Erinyes - Stage 3
Floating Castle Utsurobune - Stage 5.1

Espgaluda II
Manabu Namiki, Mitsuhiro Kaneda, N.T
Mutiny - Fate is with the Girl (Stage1)
Descend (Boss)
Galuda - Achieving Perfection (Stage 6)

Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Steve Henifin
Black Rose
Gateway to Destiny
The Somme

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Kumi Tanioka, Nobuo Uematsu, Hidenori Iwasaki
Fusion Descent
O Light!
Starry Moonlit Night

Final Fantasy X
Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Junya Nakano
To Zanarkand
Wandering Flame
Enemy Attack

Final Fantasy X-2
Noriko Matsueda, Takahito Eguchi, Kazuhiro Hara
Eternity ~Memories of Light and Waves~
1000 Words / 1000 no kotoba
Demise

Final Fantasy XI
Naoshi Mizuta, Kumi Tanioka, Nobuo Uematsu
Distant Worlds
Battle Theme #2
The Sanctuary of Zi’Tah

Final Fantasy XII
Hitoshi Sakimoto, Hayato Matsuo, Masaharu Iwata, Nobuo Uematsu, Taro Hakase, Yuji Toriyama
Giza Plains
To the Place of the Gods
Boss Battle

Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
Yuka Tsujiyoko
Within the Magnificent Nature
For the Commanders
Beneath a New Light

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Sword
Yuka Tsujiyoko, Saki Haruyama
Companions
An Unexpected Caller
Everything into the Dark

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Yoshihiko Kitamura, Saki Haruyama, Yoshito Hirano
Truth, Despair, and Hope
The Prince’s Despair
Powerful Foe

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Naoko Mitome, Atsushi Yoshida, Kanako Teramae, Yoshito Hirano, Saki Haruyama
The Black Knight
Crimea Attacks
Lion King Caineghis

F-Zero GX
Hidenori Shoji, Daiki Kasho
Story Mode Ending
8 Guitars
For the Glory

Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Shinsekai Gakkyoku Zatsugidan
Spread the Wings
Sunrise on the Train
Loose Genius

Genso Suikoden III
HIMEKAMI, Michiru Yamane, Takashi Yoshida, Masahiko Kimura
Transcending Love
Stupid Ducks/Ducks Everywhere
Searching for a Hero of Long Ago

Genso Suikoden IV
Masahiko Kimura, Norikazu Miura, Michiru Yamane, coba
La Mer
Decisive Battle Against the Wicked One
Finale: Remembering the Deep Blue

Genso Suikoden V
Yuji Toriyama, Yoshihiro Tsukahara, Takashi Watanabe, Kuniyuki Takahashi, Chiharu Mukaiyama, Miki Higashino (material arranged), Tappy (material arranged), Hirofumi Taniguchi (material arranged), Masahiko Kimura (material arranged), Michiru Yamane (material arranged)
The Two Guardian Runes
Oboro Detective Agency
Determination ~Tragic Fight~

Giga Wing 2
Yasushi Kaminishi
Rimi’s Theme
Battle Theme 1
Hebrew’s Letter 13-14

Gitaroo Man
Tomohiro Harada, COIL, Sadayoshi Okamoto, Yosuke Sato
Boogie for an Afternoon
Flyin’ to your Heart
The Legendary Theme (Acoustic)

God of War

God of War II
Gerard K. Marino, Ron Fish, Mike Reagan, Cris Velasco, Matthew Bachand, Jason Bittner, Johnathan Donais, Brian Fair, Paul Romanko
The End Begins
Phoenix Rising
Junkie XL Colossus Remix

Golden Sun
Motoi Sakuraba
The Snow-Covered City
Final Confrontation
Collosso

Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Motoi Sakuraba
Battle with Briggs
The Lost City
The Golden Sun Arises

Grand Theft Auto III
Various Artists
Lucy - Forever
Conor & Jay - Change
April's in Paris - Feels like I Just Can't Take No More

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Radio Station Boxed Set)
Michael Hunter, Various Artists
Gorillas in the Mist by Da Lench Mob
I Love a Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbit
Eminence Front by The Who

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Various Artists
I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock of Seagulls
Self Control by Laura Branigan
Out of Touch by Hall and Oates

Gran Turismo 4
Masahiro Andoh, Isamu Ohira, Daiki Kasho, Alan Brey
Moon Over the Castle
Mission Impossible
From the East to the West

Grandia II (Deus / Povo)
Noriyuki Idaware
FIGHT!! Ver 1
Despair and Hope
Granas Sanctuary

Grandia III
Noriyuki Idaware
Attack with Conviction!!
ATTACK OF A FLASH -For Synth-
Requiem of Birth

Grandia Xtreme

Guild Wars

Guilty Gear XX
Daisuke Ishiwatari, Koichi Seiyama
The Midnight Carnival
Awe of She
Holy Orders (Be Just or Be Dead)

Half-Life 2
Kelly Bailey
Hazardous Environments
CP Violation
Brane Scan

Halo: Combat Evolved
Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori
Under Cover of Night
Opening Suite
Truth and Reconciliation Suite

Halo 2 (Volume 2)
Martin O'Donnell, Michael Salvatori
Unforgotten
Unyielding
Delta Halo Suite

Hitman: Codename 47

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

Hitman: Contracts

Hitman: Blood Money

The House of the Dead 3
Makito Nomiya, Susumu Tsukagoshi, Haruyoshi Tomita, Eriko Sakurai, Tetsuya Kawauchi
Fool & Sun
Death
Wheel of Fate

The House of the Dead 4
Makito Nomiya, Susumu Tsukagoshi, Haruyoshi Tomita, Eriko Sakurai, Tetsuya Kawauchi
Boss Raid
Bullet of Death
Dawn (Remix of Year Seventh)

Ibara
Shinji Hosoe
Show Time (Stage 1
Bonds of Steel (Stage1(Round2)&StaffRoll)
Guardian Angel

ICO
Michiru Oshima, pentagon
Castle in the Mist
Heal
You Were There

Icewind Dale
Jeremy Soule
Icewind Dale Theme
Hrothgar's Home
Easthaven in Pieces

Icewind Dale II
Inon Zur
Sherincal of the Chimera
Skeleton of a Town
Choose Your Hero

Ikaruga
Hiroshi Iuchi
Busutekkai
The Stone-Like
Ideal

Initial D Arcade Stage
Hideaki Kobayashi
Stage Select
Kenji (Ver 3)
Atsuo (Ver 3)

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Josh Mancell
Mountain Pass
Snowy Mountain
Sandover Village

Jet Set Radio
Hideki Naganuma, Richard Jacques, Reps, Castle Logical, F-Fields, Toronto, B.B. Rights
Everybody Jump Around
Electric Toothbrush
Up-Set Attack

Jet Set Radio Future
Hideki Naganuma, Guitar Vader, Richard Jacques
The Concept of Love
Funky Dealer
Aisle 10

Karous
Ko Hayashi, Daisuke Nagata
1000 Clouds
Sex pervert of a silence (True Boss)
You Can’t Fxxk Me

Katamari Damacy
Yu Miyake, Asuka Sakai, Akitaka Tohyama, Yoshihito Yano, Yuri Misumi, Hideki Tobeta
Cherry Blossom Color Season
Katamari on the Rocks
Angel Flavor's Present

Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi
Manabu Namiki
INTERCEPTION - Town in Upheaval (Stage1)
SUBURB - Armored Green (Stage2)
EVAC INDUSTRY - Day of Judgment (Stage5)

killer7
Masafumi Takada, Jun Fukuda
Blackburn
When the May Rain Comes
Maze

Kingdom Hearts
Yoko Shimomura, Hikaru Utada (Hikari), Jimmie Dodd (Mickey Mouse March), Richard M. Sherman (Winnie the Pooh), Robert B. Sherman (Winnie the Pooh), Alan Menken (Under the Sea), Danny Elfman (This is Halloween)
Dearly Beloved
Hollow Bastion
Hikari -PLANITb Remix- (Short Edit)

Kingdom Hearts II
Yoko Shimomura
Passion
Darkness of the Unknown
Space Paranoids

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Yoko Shimomura
Struggle Away
The 13th Struggle
The Force in You

The King of Fighters 2000
Shinsekai Gakkyoku Zatsugidan (SHA-V, ZOE, MARIMO, USAKO-X, TATE-NORIO)
Inner Shade
Beauty and the Beast
Crystal

The King of Fighters 2001
Masahiko Hataya, Kikuko Hataya
The Immortal Mirror of the Sun
The Queen of Fighters
Nesutsu, The Ruler of the Dark

The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match
Yasufumi Fukuda, Makoto Asai, Teruo Konishi
SHINING BRAVE!
ESAKA!!
KD-0079+

The King of Fighters 2003
TATE_NORIO, Masahiko Hataya
Joyrider
I’m Hot For You
Blaze

The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact
Toshikazu Tanaka
Rooftop Realism
Gaining Strength Under the Waterfall
The Usual C’MON

The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2 / The King of Fighters 2006
Toshikazu Tanaka, RESONANCE-T, SNK Playmore
It’s Your Choice!
Feeling Like a Celebrity
Requiem

The King of Fighters Neowave
Tamotsu Karatsu
Arena
Speed Hucker
Run Through

The King of Fighters XI
Hideki "SHA-V" Asanaka, Marimo, USAKO-X
Joker
Anti-Song
New Order

Kirby Air Ride
Shogo Sakai, Jun Ishikawa, Hirokazu Ando, Tadashi Ikegami
The Lighthouse Light Burns
Checker Knights
Drag Race

The Legend of Heroes VI: Sora no Kiseki FC
Hayato Sonoda, Wataru Ishibashi, Takahide Murayama
Silver Will
Hollow Light of the Sealed Land
Royal Capital of Grancel

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure
Koji Kondo, Asuka Ohta
Frozen Hyrule
The Swamp
Village of the Blue Maiden

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Mitsuhiko Takano
Temple of Droplets
Minish Woods
Palace of Winds

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Toru Minegishi, Asuka Ohta, Koji Kondo
Hidden Village
Midna’s Lament
Zant Battle

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo
Credits
Dragon Roost Island
The Legendary Hero

Legaia: Duel Saga
Hitoshi Sakimoto, Yasunori Mitsuda, Michiru Oshima
Fight, then Riot!
Inaccessible Road
Lost Forest

Luigi’s Mansion
Kazumi Totaka, Shinobu Tanaka
Main Theme
King Boo Battle
Mansion (Exterior)

Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Kenichi Nishimaki, Masanobu Matsunaga
Snow Land
Sky Garden
Mario/Luigi/Peach Circuit

Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Shinobu Tanaka, Kenta Nagata
Circuit Theme
Rainbow Road
Waluigi Stadium/Wario Colosseum

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Yoko Shimomura
Welcome to the Beanbean Kingdom!
The Last Cackletta
Teehee Valley

Mana Khemia ~Alchemists of Al-Revis~
Ken Nakagawa, Daisuke Achiwa
Dark Black
Nefertiti
Welcome to the Magic Workshop

Mana Khemia 2 ~Fall of Alchemy~
Ken Nakagawa, Daisuke Achiwa
Sacred Saber
Namenloses Licht
Vanishing Mirage

Mars Matrix: Hyper Solid Shooting
Yasushi Kaminishi
Forbidden Fruit
True Darkness
Boss

Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Tetsuya Shibata, Mitsuhiko Takano
Take U 4 A Ryde
Training Mode
Desert Stage

Max Payne

Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

Mega Man X: Command Mission
Shinya "LoveShop" Okada, Yuko Komiyama, Seiko Kobuchi, Yoshimasa Inoue
Epsilon, 2nd Movement
A Moment of Passion ~Game Edit~
The Cheerful Thief Marino

Mega Man X7
Yuko Komiyama, Shinya Midnight Okada, Seiko Kobuchi, Akemi Kimura, Makoto Asai, Teruo Konishi, Shuichi Mizohata, Noriyuki Iwadare, Takuya Miyawaki, Nittoku Inoue
Code Crush
Soul Asylum - Crimson Palace Stage 2
Our Blood Boils ~ Vs Sigma 1st

Mega Man X8
Yuko Komiyama, Akemi Kimura, Shinya Okada
Booster Forest
Jakob
VS Lumin ~ The Second Form

Mega Man Zero
Ippo Yamada, Luna Umegaki, Chicken Mob, Masaki Suzuki, Setsuo Yamamoto (Theme of X)
For Endless Fight
Neo Arcadia
Crash

Mega Man Zero 2
Ippo Yamada, Luna Umegaki, Chicken Mob, Masaki Suzuki
For Endless Fight II
Departure
Awakening Will

Mega Man Zero 3
Ippo Yamada, Luna Umegaki, Masaki Suzuki, Makoto Tomozawa, Tsutomu Kurihara
Reborn Mechanics
For Endless Fight III
Cannon Ball

Mega Man Zero 4
Ippo Yamada, Luna Umegaki, Masaki Suzuki, Makoto Tomozawa, Tsutomu Kurihara
Esperanto
Holy Land
Cyber Space

Melty Blood Actress Again
Raito, Yuki Kajiura
Actors Anteroom
Blood Drain
End of 1000 Years

Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Norihiko Hibino, Steve Henifin, Toshiyuki Kakuta, Shuichi Kobori, Waichiro Ozaki
Helipad (Intruder)
Tank Hangar
Infiltrator vs Parasite

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty/Substance
Harry Gregson-Williams, Norihiko Hibino, Rika Muranaka, Tappy
Opening Infiltration
Fortune
Yell “Dead Cell”

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater/Subsistence
Harry Gregson-Williams, Norihiko Hibino, Nobuko Toda, Shuichi Kobori, Rika Muranaka
Snake Eater
Clash With Evil Personified
Debriefing

Metroid Fusion
Minako Hamano, Akira Fujiwara
Environment Sound (Disquieting)
Sector 2 (TRO) Tropics Area
VS Serris

Metroid Prime
Kenji Yamamoto, Kouichi Kyoma
Phendrana Drifts
Tallon Overworld
Title Theme

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Kenji Yamamoto
Submerged Temple
Title Screen
Vs. Dark Samus

Metroid Zero Mission
Kenji Yamamoto, Minako Hamano
Evading the Pirates
Chozo Warrior Engraving
Mecha Ridley

Mother 3
Shogo Sakai
MOTHER3 Love Theme
Homely Yado Inn
Natural Killer Cyborg

Namco x Capcom
Yuzo Koshiro (Additional credit as track arranger)
Subarashiki Shin Sekai (Brave New World)
Everything is in the Fight
Facing the Wind

Napple Tale
Yoko Kanno
Delightful Arithmetic
Green Wings
Circus

Neverwinter Nights

Ninja Gaiden Black

Okami
Masami Ueda, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Rei Kondoh, Akari Groves, JUN
Ryoshima Coast
Theme of Waka
Kamui of the Northern Lands

Ollie King
Hideki Naganuma
Teknopathetic [e-Pop 'n' Disco 80's Mix]
Something Jazzy For Your Mind
Let it Go

Onimusha: Warlords

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny

Onimusha 3: Demon Siege

OutRun 2
Hiro, Fumio Itoh, Keisuke Tsukahara
Night Flight
Splash Wave
Shiny World

OZ/Sword of Etheria
Michiru Yamane
Feel's Theme
Over Zenith
Snare of Purgatory

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year-Door
Yoshito Hirano, Yuka Tsujiyoko, Saki Kusaga
Main Theme
Doopliss Battle
X-Naut Fortress

Panzer Dragoon Orta
Saori Kobayashi, Yutaka Minobe, Yoshitaka Azuma, Yayoi Wachi, Mariko Nanba
City in the Storm
Altered Genos
Fallen Ground

Persona 3
Shoji Meguro, Yosuke Uda
Mass Destruction
Living with Determination -Iwatodai Remix-
Burn My Dread

Persona 4
Shoji Meguro, Atsushi Kitajoh, Ryota Koduka
I’ll Face Myself
Reach Out To The Truth
The Almighty

Phantasy Star Online
Hideaki Kobayashi, Fumie Kumatani
Image of Hero
The Nearest Place to Heaven
The Shell’s Desert

Phantom Dust
Yoshiyuki Usui, Yuko Araki, Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin, Claude Debussy
memories [Box of Memories]
your choice [option]
arsenal [Arsenal]

Pikmin
Hajime Wakai, Strawberry Flower
Main Theme
The Forest of Hope
The Distant Spring

Pikmin 2

Planet Harriers
Shunsuke Suzuki, HΛL, Toshiyuki Kishi, Hiroshi Kawaguchi (Fantasy Zone mixes)
Perfect Force
Wind on Fire

Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within

Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones

Progear
Yukinori Kikuchi
To the Blue Sky -Stage 1-
Castle of Darkness -Stage 5-
Crimson Imperial Capital -Stage 3-

Project Gotham Racing

Psychonauts

Psyvariar 2 (Plus)
Tetsuro Sato, Misako Tago, Yuki Yoshino, Takeshi Egawano
Earth
Lastboss
Boss BGM

Rage of the Dragons
Toshikazu Tanaka
Cheer Up!
Violent Death
Splendid Fate from China

Ratchet & Clank
David Bergeaud
Blackwater City
Jowai Resort
Metropolis

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
David Bergeaud
Starship Phoenix
Courtney Gears
Biobliterator

Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc

Resident Evil 0

Resident Evil 4

Rez


Rhapsodia/Suikoden Tactics
Norikazu Miura, Masahiko Kimura (material arranged), Michiru Yamane (material arranged)
Rune of Punishment ~Meeting the Cursed Rune~
Decisive Battle With Steele
Clash with the Cavalry

Rhythm Tengoku
Iai Slash
Space Dance
Night Walk

Rogue Galaxy
Tomohito Nishiura
Holy Valley
King of Legend
Valkog’s Theme

Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song
Kenji Ito, Nobuo Uematsu, Tsuyoshi Sekito
A Challenge to God -Four Guardian Kings Battle-
Passionate Rhythm
Decisive Battle! Saruin -Final Battle with Saruin-

RuneScape

Samurai Warriors

Samba de Amigo

Shadow Hearts
Yoshitaka Hirota, Yasunori Mitsuda, Masaharu Iwata, Ryo Fukuda
Demon’s Gig ~ Midboss II
Imbroglio ~ Decisive Battle
Angel Heart ~ Terror

Shadow Hearts 2: Covenant
Yoshitaka Hirota, Yasunori Mitsuda, Kenji Ito, Tomoko Kobayashi, Ryo Fukuda
Astaroth ~ Battle with the Fallen Angel
The 3 Karma ~ Decisive Battle
Ladder to Heaven

Shadow Hearts: From the New World
Yoshitaka Hirota, Tomoko Imoto, Ryo Fukuda, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Oh smania! oh furie! ~ D'Oreste e d'Aiace), Hirotomi Imoto
Dead Fingers Talk ~ North America Battle
ICARO -Acoustic Arrangement- ~ Main Theme
SPREAD MY WINGS ~ Ending

Shadow of the Colossus
Kow Ohtani
Sunlit Earth
Opened Way
End of the Battle

Shadow the Hedgehog
Jun Senoue, Yutaka Minobe, Mariko Nanba, Tomoya Ohtani,
Lava Shelter
Never Turn Back
I Am … All Of Me

Shinobi

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne/Lucifer’s Call (Maniacs)
Shoji Meguro, Kenichi Tsuchiya, Toshiko Tasaki, Tsukasa Masuko (material arranged)
Title Loop 1
Tokyo Conception
Fierce Battle

Shenmue

Shenmue II

Sid Meier’s Civilization III
Roger Briggs, Mark Cromer
Stars
Industrial Age (Greco-Roman)
Ancient Era (European)

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV
Jeff Briggs, Roger Briggs, Mark Cromer, Michael Curran, Christopher Tin
Baba Yetu
Chairman Dances
The people are the heroes now

Silent Hill 2
Akira Yamaoka
Theme of Laura
Terror in the Depths of the Fog
Angel’s Thanatos

Silent Hill 3
Akira Yamaoka
You’re Not Here
Never Forgive Me, Never Forget Me
Letter - from the Lost Days

Silent Hill 4: The Room

The Sims 2
Mark Mothersbaugh
Main Theme
Makeover
Simsation

Skies of Arcadia

SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos
Tate_Norio, Masahiko Hataya, Yasumasa Yamada
The Final Struggle ~Boss Stage~
Fate ~Fate Scene~
From a Country Nobody Knows ~Ancient Age Stage~

Sonic Advance
Tatsuyuki Maeda, Yutaka Minobe
Secret Base Zone Act 1
X-Zone
Special Stage

Sonic Advance 2
Tatsuyuki Maeda, Yutaka Minobe, Teruhiko Nakagawa
Music Plant Act 1
Sky Canyon Boss (Knuckles)
Staff Roll

Sonic Advance 3
Hideaki Kobayashi, Kenichi Tokoi
Twinkle Snow Act 3
Cyber Track Act 1
Nonaggression

Sonic Adventure
Jun Senoue, Kenichi Tokoi, Masaru Setsumaru, Fumie Kumatani
Open Your Heart –Main Theme of Sonic Adventure–
Be Cool, Be Wild, and Be Groovy ...for Icecap
At Dawn …for Speed Highway

Sonic Adventure 2
Jun Senoue, Kenichi Tokoi, Fumie Kumatani, Tomoya Ohtani
Escape from the City ..For City Escape
That’s The Way I Like It ...For Metal Harbour
Deeper … For Death Chamber

Sonic Battle
Tatsuyuki Maeda, Kenichi Tokoi, Hideaki Kobayashi
Emerald Town
Battle Highway
Holy Summit (Crater)

Sonic the Fighters
Maki Morrow, Takenobu Mitsuyoshi
Aurora Icefield ~ Black Bed
Giant Wing ~ Fire Stone
Death Egg ~ Never Let It Go

Sonic Heroes
Jun Senoue, Naofumi Hataya, Hideaki Kobayashi, Keiichi Sugiyama!, Teruhiko Nakagawa, Yutaka Minobe, Mariko Nanba, Fumie Kumatani, Tomoya Ohtani
What I’m Made Of
Mystic Mansion
Egg Fleet

Sonic Riders
Tomonori Sawada, Kenichi Tokoi, Fumie Kumatani
Sonic Speed Riders
Green Cave
SEGA Carnival

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
Kenichi Tokoi, Fumie Kumatani, Hideaki Kobayashi, Tomonori Sawada
Un-gravitify
Aquatic Time
Catch Me If You Can

Sonic Shuffle
Yoshitaka Hirota, Hidenobu Otsuki, Ryo Fukuda, Takeo Suzuki, Kazumi Mitome
Blizzard of Coast
Live on Walnuts
A Silver Drop

SoulCalibur
Junichi Nakatsuru, Yoshihito Yano, Akitaka Tohyama, Takanori Otsuka, Hideki Tobeta
In the Name of Father
Unblessed Soul
Leaving the World Behind

SoulCalibur II
Junichi Nakatsuru, Yoshihito Yano, Asuka Sakai, Rio Hamamoto, Ryuichi Takada, Junichi Takagi
Under the Star of Destiny
Brave Sword Braver Soul
Chasing Death

SoulCalibur III

Space Channel 5
Dr. Rachael, Dr. Pris, Ken Woodman & His Piccadilly Brass

Space Channel 5 Part 2 (Hey!! / Chu!!)
Naofumi Hataya, Kenichi Tokoi, Mariko Nanba, Tomoya Ohtani, Ken Woodman & His Piccadilly Brass

Star Fox Assault
Yoshie Arakawa, Yoshinori Kawamoto, Hajime Wakai, Koji Kondo
Aparoid Blitz
Sauria
Oikonny’s Fleet

Star Fox Adventures
David Wise
Dark Ice Mines Underground
Thorntail Hollow Day
Inside Krazoa Palace

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Hideki Okugawa
Necro & Twelve Stage -SNOWLAND-
Sean & Oro Stage -THE LONGSHOREMAN-
Let’s Get It On

Super Mario Sunshine
Koji Kondo, Shinobu Tanaka
Delfino Plaza
Deep Sea of Mare
A Secret Course

Super Monkey Ball
Hidenori Shoji, Sakae Osumi, Haruyoshi Tomita
Master
Storm
Arctic

Super Monkey Ball 2
Hidenori Shoji, Haruyoshi Tomita
Dr Bad Boon’s Base
Under the Ocean
Inside the Whale

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Various
Mute City
Hyrule Temple
Fire Emblem

Tales of Destiny R/DC
Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura
Lion: Irony of Fate
Common Destiny
Bare its Fangs

Tales of Destiny 2
Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura
Coup de Grace
Alea Jacta Est
Decisive Battle

Tales of Rebirth
Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura
Icy Edge
The Die is Cast
The Edge of an Oath

Tales of the Abyss
Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura, Motoo Fujiwara, Yuriko Keino (Dragon Buster)
Shurrey Hills
Meaning of Birth
Finish the Promise

Tales of Legendia
D-A-I, Go Shiina
Battle Artist (OST ver) / Battle Artist (in-game)
Seeking Victory (OST ver) / Seeking Victory (in-game)
The Bird Chirps, I Sing

Tales of Symphonia
Motoi Sakuraba, Shinji Tamura, Takeshi Arai
The End of a Thought
A Snow Light
Fighting of the Spirit

Timesplitters 2
Graeme Norgate
Notre Dame
Chicago
Return to Planet X

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Various
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Bodyjar - Not The Same
House of Pain - I’ma Swing It

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
Various
Lootpack - When I'm On Da Mic
NWA - Express Yourself
Goldfinger - Spokesman

UNLIMITED:SaGa
Masashi Hamauzu
Battle Theme EX
UNLIMITED:SaGa Overture
Shocking Space

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (Alicia / Silmeria)
Motoi Sakuraba
Unrestrained Struggle
Never Surrender
Each Lullaby

Viewtiful Joe
Masakazu Sugimori, Masami Ueda, Sayaka Morita
Joe the Hero
Inferno Lord
Captain Blue the True Hero

Viewtiful Joe 2
Masakazu Sugimori, Masami Ueda, Sayaka Morita
True Heroes
Underworld Emperor
Blizzard Hazard

Voodoo Vince
Steve Kirk
Back Stoop
Jean Lafitte's Ship
Sarcophagus Hustle

Wangan Midnight
Yuzo Koshiro
Takayuki Kuroki's Theme
Koichi Hiramoto's Theme
Enemy Car Theme (1)

Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune
Yuzo Koshiro
Stream of Tears
Feel the Passion
Destination Blackout

Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 2
Yuzo Koshiro
This Is My Destiny
Overdrive Neurotransmitters
Another Dimension

WarioWare Inc: Mega Microgame$
Ryoji Yoshitomi, Kyoko Miyamoto
Dribble Highway
9-Volt’s Nintendo Games
Cinema~The Great Sea

Wario World
Norio Hanzawa, Minako Hamano
Greenhorn Forest
Pecan Sands
Greenhorn Ruins

Way of the Samurai
Noriyuki Asakura
Dream of Prosperity
This Shore
The End of Drifting

We Love Katamari
Yu Miyake, Asuka Sakai, Yoshihito Yano, Illreme, Akitaka Tohyama, Hideki Tobeta, Tomoki Kanda, Yuri Misumi, Hiroshi Okubo, Katsuro Tajima
Heaven’s Rain
Bluffing Damacy
Everlasting Love

Wild Arms Advanced 3rd
Michiko Naruke
A Person’s Warmth
You Look Defeated When Sad
Crossfire Sequence

Wild Arms the 4th Detonator
Masato Kouda, Michiko Naruke, Nobuyuki Shimizu, Ryuta Suzuki
Gun Blaze
That Is Where the Pierced Spirit Becomes Certain
The Nightless City, Guara Bobelo

Wild Arms the Vth Vanguard (Vol 1/Vol 2)
Masato Kouda, Noriyasu Agematsu, Michiko Naruke
When the Heart Ignites
The Dry Wind Blows Over You
On the Day The Shovel Was Named Invincible

Wild Arms Alter Code:F
Michiko Naruke
Windward Birds
Footprints
To the End of the Wilderness

World of Warcraft
Jason Hayes, Tracy W. Bush, Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford
War
Elwynn Forest
Stormwind

XII Stag
Naoto
Stage 2,4
Stage 8
Stage 1

Xenosaga: Der Wille Zur Macht
Yasunori Mitsuda
Kokoro
Green Sleeves
Battling KOS-MOS

Xenosaga II: Jenseits von Gut und Böse
Yuki Kajiura
Communication Breakdown
Albedo
Lamentation

Xenosaga III: Also Sprach Zarathustra
Yuki Kajiura
Godsibb
Hepatica
Testament

Yakuza
Hidenori Shoji, Sachio Ogawa, Keitaro Hanada, Fumio Ito, Yuri Fukuda, John Newton
Intelligence for Violence
Scarlet Scar
Funk Goes On

Yakuza 2
Hidenori Shoji, Hideki Sakamoto, Norihiko Hibino & Takahiro Izutani, Franz Gruber
A Scattered Moment
Evil Itself
North Menace

Zero Gunner 2
Stage 1A
Stage 2A
Boss 1

Zone of the Enders
Maki Kirioka, Norihiko Hibino, Akihiro Honda, Shuichi Kobori, Toshiyuki Kakuta, Masumi Ito
City (The Earth Light)
Factory (Vivid Transparency)
Boss (Neves)

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner
Akihiro Honda, Toshiyuki Kakuta, Norihiko Hibino, Maki Kirioka
Bahram Battleship
Beyond the Bounds
Zakat

Zupapa
UFO Catcher Boss
Mutant Zupapa Boss
Alien Cyclop Boss

...but I'm so tired of writing.

1. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

The whole thing. Really. It's only an hour and twenty-seven minutes long, but it's, second for second, the most memorable, orchestrated, lively, unique, and excellent music of its generation. Enjoy.

Entire soundtrack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzY1QfshNo
To a Vast World - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjok6Lh6hDM&index=7&list=PLp_nLDzWK5NW8P2FBL283KnD5LDBlwPrW

These Feelings - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXC_sC7BO_0&index=16&list=PLp_nLDzWK5NW8P2FBL283KnD5LDBlwPrW

Memories of the Sea - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZmw59jF4EU&list=PLp_nLDzWK5NW8P2FBL283KnD5LDBlwPrW&index=27

2. Final Fantasy X

Too much has probably already been said about this game, so I'll be brief. The songs capture the game's overwhelming sense of nostalgia and loss, even if that nostalgia is based on a fantasy. The imagination can be as powerful as reality, so what happens in a world where dreams become real? And how difficult is it to create a soundtrack that reflects the blurring between waking and sleeping?

At Zanarkand - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-0G_FI61a8
Song of Prayer (Yunalesca) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpf-dD4atHw
Besaid Island - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpf-dD4atHw

3. The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker

If you're going to venture, do it with an orchestra, memorable music, and one of the most iconic sailing themes in entertainment history. In gaming, it's not even close - this is the best nautical music you'll ever hear.

Staff Credits - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcFArE2NuW4
Ocean - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN_x1rpGbY8

4. Final Fantasy XII
5. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
6. Metroid Prime
7. Sid Meier’s Civilization IV

That's why you've got a month. :V

(You don't have to write a lot. I'm probably not going to write as much because I have midterms this month.)

Schala pls

1. Persona 4 ( 1 , 2 )
2. Shadow of the Colossus ( 1 , 2 )
3. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations ( 1 , 2 ) *Ported to DS later, same soundtrack
4. Kingdom Hearts 2 ( 1 , 2 )
5. Persona 3 ( 1 , 2 )
6. Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney ( 1 , 2 ) *Ported to DS later, same soundtrack
7. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door ( 1 , 2 )
8. Kingdom Hearts ( 1 , 2 )
9. Tales of Symphonia ( 1 , 2 )
10. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal ( 1 , 2 )

This is going to be a difficult list to make, so many awesome soundtracks.

Boy, that's gonna be tough. Interesting challenge, in any case.

Well this is pretty taunting....

Honorable mentions: Sonic Adventure
Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg
(horrible music but it's so good)

What the hell is a Tapwave Zodiac? Please let someone vote for something from it.

James Scott said:

1. Sonic Adventure 2/Battle (same music in both versions, right?)

Click to expand...

Yeah, that'll get counted as SA2, either way. Most of the DC -> GCN ports will.

ViewtifulJC said:

Schala pls

Click to expand...

Your vote would be easy.
1. Ninja Gaiden Black
2. some dmc game
3. viewtiful joe
4. sonic adventure
5. i dunno

Jucksalbe said:

What the hell is a Tapwave Zodiac? Please let someone vote for something from it.

Click to expand...

lol

Bookmarking so I don't forget

1st edit:
Just some that are definitive entries in my list: Jet Set Radio Future, Metroid Prime 1, Arcanum.

Considering: Okami, Mother 3, Morrowind, Paper Mario 2, SF III 3S, Garou MOTW.

Gonna need to listen to some OST in that era. Currently been listening to everything in the Genesis/SNES era.

I will we back to vote after a long gen 6 OST listen.

Melee, Mother 3, Kingdom Hearts, Kirby Air Ride, and Tales of Symphonia are the only ones that come to mind at the moment.

I'll reserve this post, I suppose.

1. Shadow of the Colossus
The End of the Battle, Swift Horse, Demise of the Ritual, Epilogue
2. Metroid Prime
3. Halo: Combat Evolved

Game over

1. Final Fantasy X
To Zanarkand, Suteki Da Ne

2. Katamari Damacy
A Rose and a Gin and Tonic, WANDA WANDA

3. Kingdom Hearts II
Passion, The Other Promise

4. Shadow of the Colossus
The Farthest Land [Reprise], Swift Horse

5. Kingdom Hearts
Dearly Beloved, Simple and Clean

6. We Love Katamari
Everlasting Love

guys, don't reserve spots. if you have something to say, say it later so you can participate in a conversation instead of hiding it away days or weeks later.

James Scott said:

(like that, right?)

Click to expand...

You don't have to put it in the code tags. But that seems good. If you could link the themes to stuff on YouTube, that would be cool.

Edit: And yeah, you don't have to reserve spots. If you want to subscribe to the thread, you could always sub in the right hand corner so you don't forget.

THIS MIGHT BE EVEN HARDER THAN THE GAME OF THE GENERATION LIST

1. Shadow of the Colossus OST
2. FFXII
3. Metal Gear Solid 3
4. FFX
5.TLOZ: Wind Waker
6. DQ 8

Okay this will be difficult but there's a lot of great OST's to write about so it will be fun deciding which make it into my top 10.

soundtrack of the generation is such a tough choice.

song of the generation, though?

That's easy.

1. Final Fantasy X
2. Persona 4
3. Mother 3
4. Kingdom Hearts
5. Shadow of the Colossus
6. Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time
7. Resident Evil 4
8. We Love Katamari
9. Final Fantasy X-2
10. Final Fantasy XII

Anth0ny said:

soundtrack of the generation is such a tough choice.

song of the generation, though?

That's easy.

Click to expand...

LMAO

This isn't going to be easy. It's going to take me some time to get my thoughts together.

I'm very interested in seeing how the results end up. So many more soundtracks is going to make this a lot less predictable than 2014's results.

How the hell am I supposed to write up TWO "Best of the Generation" lists!? This is torture, I tell you!

Anth0ny said:

soundtrack of the generation is such a tough choice.

song of the generation, though?

That's easy.

Click to expand...

You've blown my list out of the water already and I haven't started yet!

Anth0ny said:

soundtrack of the generation is such a tough choice.

song of the generation, though?

That's easy.

Click to expand...

I knew one of you would kick my butt if I didn't put that song in the archive, lol.

Specifically Beef or Coldman. Maybe Seven Force.

Anth0ny said:

THIS MIGHT BE EVEN HARDER THAN THE GAME OF THE GENERATION LIST

Click to expand...

1. shadow the hedgehog
2. shadow the hedgehog
3. shadow the hedgehog
4. sonic heroes piano diddly when the chaotix plot to break eggman's legs
5. shadow the hedgehog
6. shadow the hedgehog

Looking forward to this.

It's a fantastic excuse to go back and really listen to the music. Not gonna be easy.

Honestly, I've found trying to pick 10 soundtracks in an entire generation to be rather taxing. I've gone back to this post multiple times to reorganize the games which I felt are the best. At one point I wanted to go and listen to ever single soundtrack for every game released in the window and stack them against each other. Besides being incredibly time consuming, It probably would have been a waste. I've come to realize what I consider the "best" soundtracks are the ones that can increase the overall enjoyment of a game. Can't really judge that if I have not played the game. So this list is what I feel are the best Soundtracks of the generation, of games I've played, and how well they enhance the experience. It's like going back in time to see if these soundtracks can still elicit the same excitement, fear, joy, dread, or whatever they did back when I was actively engaging the media.

1. Final Fantasy X
Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Junya Nakano

If there's one soundtrack from the 2000-2005 generation of consoles that will forever play in my mind, it's FFX's. To Zanarkand is among Uematsu's best work, it is gentle yet powerful, serene yet stern. On top of that, the Main Battle Theme is one of the most riveting JRPG battle anthems out there. From it's opening and the build ups throughout, every battle felt exciting thanks to it. Other standout tracks include Other World which is rather heavy, for a Final Fantasy. While not exactly what I would have expected out of Uematsu, it's a welcome addition which helps diversify the soundtrack. Diddy Kong Racing nailed "Tropical Island Music" with tracks like the festive Whale Bay. The only other track that has ever made me feel welcome to a tropical island is Besaid Island, a rather calming song. This just scratchs the surface of the OST, do yourself a favor and listen to the whole thing. When you are done try the remastered version.

2. Persona 3 FES
Shoji Meguro, Yosuke Uda

Persona 3 was the first Persona game I enjoyed playing, both the NA releases of Persona 1 and 2 did nothing for me. What made Persona 3 even more enjoyable was its soundtrack. There was something refreshing about playing a JRPG that didn't have an overtly triumphant and powerful scores littered throughout. Instead we had the diverse sounds of music one would encounter in a large city. From the crazy Japanese rapping of Massive Destruction, or to the hauntingly beautiful tune of the Velvet Room, P3 had almost something for everyone. It was the ending theme (Kimi no Kioku) in particular that I absolutely adored, It was even more powerful when I read the translated lyrics. When winter comes, and The Journey nears its close, Memories of the City plays, I can't help but reminisce. Even once the main game is finished, The Answer, (the portion that is included with FES) continues to amaze in the soundtrack department. In particular, Heartful Cry encapsulate's how Aigis must through it's gentle piano intro that conveys apprehension to a determined synthetic rock riffs.

3. Shadow of the Colossus
Kow Ohtani

It's almost otherworldly (Silence), ethereal (Prologue) and mysterious (Creeping Shadow). Just a few of the tracks that fit The Forbidden Lands so perfectly. When fighting the Colossi, the music changes from wispy and desolate to something more earthly and violent. Grotesque Figures highlights how awe-inspiring and intimidating the colossi are. The Opened Way is filled with a determined vigor, aiming to down the towering behemoths. A Violent Encounter establishes a sense of urgency throughout. It's the juxtaposition between the bleak serenity of the before mentioned tracks, to the ones played during colossi encounters that helps make the soundtrack so memorable.

4. Resident Evil 4
Misao Senbongi & Shusaku Uchiyama

One thing people rarely mention when they talk about RE4 is its music. Nothing about it is particularly exciting, catchy, or memorable. It's the opposite. Ganado I plays when Leon encounters his first not-really-a-zombie-but-might-as-well-be-a-zombie zombie. It's the perfect mix of dreadful and disorienting. Gonado II maintains the uncomfortable feel but adds tribal-like drumming that ratchets up the intensity. Each of the five Gonado tracks have their own distinct taste of suffocating uneasiness. Save Theme, being one of the few respites you get, still has a hint of apprehensiveness to it. The music throughout the game is so atmospheric and tense you can almost feel it bearing down on Leon's shoulders. A Strange Pasture exemplifies this. RE4's soundtrack exudes a tension that very few games can, it's almost palpable.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Kenta Nagata, Hajime Wakai, Toru Minegishi, Koji Kondo

Zelda games almost always have incredible soundtracks, Wind Waker is certainly no exception. Its whimsical and charming tunes like Outset Island put a smile on my face. To robust and adventurous scores like Ocean Theme that make you want to chase the horizon on a talking red boat. The wind motif throughout the game is even punctuated in the music. Dragon Roost Island and Title Themes' use of synthetic wind instruments are prime examples of this.

6. Super Smash Bros. Melee
Various

From it's bombastic Opening, to it's myriad of remixed Nintendo classics, you can't go wrong with Melee's soundtrack. From Princess Peach's Castle to Pokemon Battle! (Gold/Silver), the soundtrack is like the greatest hits of Nintendo's rich musical history. It introduced me to Together We Ride from the Fire Emblem series, and Menu 2 is probably my favorite menu music ever. Melee has both quantity and quality in its soundtrack.

7. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Harry Gregson-Williams, Norihiko Hibino, Rika Muranaka, Tappy

Music is the last thing you need when you are conducting a covert sneaking mission. So MGS2's soundtrack of incognito Infiltration tunes fits the sneaking perfectly. But honestly, that's not the memorable part of the soundtrack. It's Harry Gregson William's Main Theme that gets the adrenaline flowing everytime the introductory video plays. Yell Dead Cell is just something else. And who would have thought the game would end with the jazzy soulfulness of a song like Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday.

8. Kingdom Hearts
Yoko Shimomura, Hikaru Utada (Hikari), Jimmie Dodd (Mickey Mouse March), Richard M. Sherman (Winnie the Pooh), Robert B. Sherman (Winnie the Pooh), Alan Menken (Under the Sea), Danny Elfman (This is Halloween)

Having played the NA version, I had the pleasure of hearing Simple and Clean (PLANETb Remix), but I feel like the original Hikari (Planetb Remix) deserves the credit. Utada Hikaru sings both versions beautifully might I add. The orchestrated version of Hikari and the ever enchanting Dearly Beloved have both become some of the most recognizable, dare I say beloved, tracks in Yoko Shimamura's catalog. Entering combat in Traverse Town, plays Hand in Hand. Which captures the enchanting nature of many Disney classics musical scores in an exciting way. Listening to these tracks again continue to increase my excitement for what she has in store for us with Final Fantasy XV.

9. Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Tetsuya Shibata, Kento Hasegawa

At first I thought I was gonna put the original DMC on this list, with hits like Lock & Load [Blade Appearance ~ Regular Battle 2], but after listening to Virgil Battle 2 and Dante's Office 7 Hells Battle I was immediately reminded why I liked DMC3's music more. The synthesis of heavy guitar riffs, orchestral strings, operatic choirs, and techno beats are just so in your face. Devils Never Cry (Staff Roll) pretty much sums up the game's soundtrack: an amalgamation of theatrics and electronica topped by juxtaposed gruff/soft vocals

10. Diablo II
Matt Uelman

When you are gonna play a game for thousands upon thousands of hours, you better have music that can sustain. Rogue Encampment perfectly introduces the world's dark, bleak, atmospheric, and gothic tone. You know you're in for something special when you exit the encampment. Once Wilderness starts to play, you know there's no going back, gotta put an end to ol' no-good Diablo. And Tristram will continue to haunt me long after I'm done doing Griswold Runs to power level my character through the beginning parts of the game.

Honorable Mentions:

Persona 4 - I'll Face Myself is pretty badass, and Striptease is sexy. An amazing soundtrack, but I preferred P3's more.

TimeSplitters 2 - Streets, my younger brothers and I took a liking to this track, and dual wielding P90s.

Sonic Heroes - Seaside Hill, makes me want to surf.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 - Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly makes me want to skate. Spokesman is the closest the series they have come to THPS' Superman in terms of Lets-Go-Skateboarding!-Music by virtue of being from the same band, Goldfinger.

Wow, thinking about the top 10 for this gen is hard enough, but for best OST? shiiiiit

There's just no way.

This seems impossible.

Mother. Fucker. Are you trying to kill us? Fine, I'll bite, but this is what I imagine picking you favorite kids is like.

Damn. I immediately had ~5 games or so pop in my head for the general game of the gen but soundtrack is a lot tougher.

1. Tales of Symphonia
2. Metroid Prime
3. Final Fantasy X
4. Ikaruga
5. Golden Sun
6. Twilight Princess
7. God of War 2
8. Smash Bros Melee
9. F-Zero GX
10. Okami

Really wanted to mention Titan Quest but it came out a year too late.

So there definitely is some overlap with my Games of the Generation list but what can I say. A few different games still and the order is different too.

1. Mega Man Battle Network 3
Network is Spreading
Boss Battle
Shooting Enemy
2. Persona 4
Reach out to the Truth
Your Affection
Heaven
Heartbeat, Heartbreak
Signs of Love
Fog/Mist
Corner of Memories
3. Persona 3 FES
Poem of Everyone's Souls
Heartful Cry
Mass Destruction
Burn my Dread
Persona 3 FES
When the Moon's Reaching out Stars
Deep Breath Deep Breath
4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Midna's Lament
Hidden Village
Hyrule Field
5. Super Smash Bros. Melee
Menu 1
Menu 2
Final Destination
Battlefield
6. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Crimea Attacks
Power Hungry Fool
With Us!
7. Stronghold
Castle Jam
Under an Old Tree
Appy Times
Sad Times
The Maiden
8. Animal Crossing
Main Theme
Nook's Cranny
9. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Ace of Spades
Paparazzi
Amoeba
10. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Express Yourself
It was a Good Day
Ain't Nuthin' But a G Thang
Some Kind of Wonderful
Woman to Woman

The first on my list is one that is representative of a series I spent all generation playing and I felt it would be fitting to award my number 1 spot to a game I played during that generation. While always in the same sounds, the tracks were varied and always fitting. Even though it was GBA hardware, the fact I spent hundreds of hours into that series and still love all of the tracks tells something.

For number 2 and number 3, I only recently played those games but wow are the soundtracks something. They each have their own distinct feel for one. Each game's soundtrack is also incredibly varied. When you go from Poem of Everyone's Soul to Backside of TV to Sauna to Heaven then get home to Signs of Love and then get Your Affection the next day, they all fit yet are very distinct.

At number 4 and particularly 5, a few of the best tracks are taken from previous entries. still, Twilight Princess' soundtrack is amazing in its own right so it deserves to be near the top of my list. Melee's menu theme alone makes it crack the top 5. It will put a smile on my face at any time and has for the past 14 years.

At number 6 and 7, great soundtracks that complement the games' style and atmosphere. They're simply very well made. At number 8, a weird soundtrack that fits the game's weirdness and I dig that. At number 9 and 10, amazing soundtracks that perfectly fit their games. They're licensed however, so while they deserve being in my top 10, I won't put them above OSTs. Otherwise it would simply be too tough to choose.

1. GTA3

nuff said

Tracks:

• Lucy - Forever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKFTRTbGwwg
• Conor & Jay - Change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjamwACI2MI
• April's in Paris - Feels like I just can't take no more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSS9Qz5I-4E

1. Shadow of the Colossus
Sunlit Earth
Opened Way the moment you feel bad ass
End of the Battle the moment you feel guilty


2. God of War II
Main Theme
The end begins Hold devils pot of tea
3. ICO
You were there
Caslte in the Mist

4. Final Fantasy X
A dream that will end sometime
The Sight of Spira
(not listing the more popular songs cuz variety)

5. Okami

6. Metroid Prime

7. Kingdom Hearts 2

8. Shadow Hearts Covenant main theme

9. Persona 4

10. Gran Turismo 4
Moon over the castle
main menu theme
Yello Oh Yeah the game laughs at you for failing the license test lol


will organize later

What about portable games?

Dark Schala said:

Bunch of 'em listed in there.
Certain GBA/WS soundtracks are not eligible, as per the op.

Click to expand...

Missed that. I'm tired though.

coolasj19 said:

What about portable games?

Click to expand...

Dark Schala said:

Platforms allowed: Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Gamecube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Wonderswan, Wonderswan Color/SwanCrystal, N-Gage, GP32, Tapwave Zodiac, PC 2000-2005, Arcades 2000-2005 will be eligible, including licensed and partially-licensed soundtracks.

Click to expand...

Bunch of 'em listed in there.

Certain GBA/WS soundtracks are not eligible, as per the op.

Gba has some good ones, Golden Sun comes to mind.

This time I won't forget!

Rough draft

1. Guilty Gear XX
2. Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
3. Dodonpachi Daioujou
4. Ketsui Kizuna Jigoku Tachi
5. Mushihimesama
6. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
7. Ys: The Oath in Felghana
8. Space Channel 5
9. Ikaruga

Can we include arcade games released during this time?

Ooohh, gotta think about it a bit. This should be fun.

Jotamide said:

Can we include arcade games released during this time?

Click to expand...

Yeppers! It'd be a gigantic shame if those were left out.

I just couldn't fit all of it into the thread title. -_-

Let's do this.