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What are your favorite soundtracks for films and video games?
Basically the title. I have seen soundtracks referenced in my searches for ambient music and homework music, but (possibly due to search skills) I didn't find a full discussion focused on this. Thank you.
Supergiant Games games have had consistently amazing soundtracks. There isn't a single one I wouldn't highly recommend. But I especially love the Bastion soundtrack. And their Songs of Supergiant Games album, which is an orchestral rerecording of all their best tracks that they put together for their 10th anniversary, is absolutely magical. I still get goosebumps whenever I listen to it.
And speaking of their soundtracks, IMO Darren Korb, the singer-songwriter and composer of most of their music, doesn't get nearly enough recognition outside the videogame industry. And mad props to Ashley Barnett too, the vocalist on a lot of the tracks. Whenever I see/hear Korb and Barnett sing live together I get crazy frisson chills as well.
p.s. Kinda funny this topic came up since a few days ago I mentioned another of my favorite game soundtracks:
I really liked Darren and Ashley's anniversary concerts. I think I watched them all live (at PAX).
My favorite soundtrack of theirs has to be from Transistor, of which quite a few made it to the album you linked. I actually think the orchestral versions don't work as well for that particular OST because it was heavily electronic by design.
There are far too many to mention. So instead I’ll give you some names of people who have made a great many of them.
Yuki Kajiura
Yasunori Mitsuda
Yuzo Koshiro
Yoko Kanno
Yoko Shimomura
Masashi Hamauzu
Alan Menken
Michael Giacchino
Yuki Kajiura is particularly unique and makes soundtracks that are fairly recognizable. My favorite is probably still Xenosaga Episode II, where the standout tracks are Lamentation, Communication Breakdown, and of course the ending theme Sweet Song.
Masashi Hamauzu is also a fairly unique composer that is usually easily recognizable. It’s rather hard to describe his music but I think you get about halfway there with “experimental meets classical”, though he’s so well experienced and talented, his music is less “experimental” than it is the results of those experiments. I would probably recommend the Sigma Harmonics soundtrack to anyone unfamiliar with him.
Yoko Kanno needs no introduction, but I’ll recommend the Macross Delta soundtrack because it doesn’t get enough love in the west.
I am a fan of a lot of the OST stuff listed here already, but wanted to add my personal favorite which hasn't appeared yet: Ori and the Blind Forest.
That game was the first that really got me into "modern gaming" (I took a long break off trying new games or playing much at all between dropping out of high school and finishing grad school) and games as art in a deeper way than visuals and puzzles.
I'll never forget the moment it kinda all clicked with the really gorgeous setting, the story, and the music. The way they all reacted in really subtle ways to my inputs... It was a genuinely deep experience where I just sat in awe for a few minutes. Probably about 1/3 of the way through the game, definitely after the first escape sequence. I just watched the background animate and walked slowly through the world for a bit listening and watching really attentively, not trying to accomplish anything.
I still listen to it now while I'm walking around and try to appreciate the subtlety of real life in that same magical way. It's beautiful.
How couldnI forget this one. The Will of the Wisps also has great soundtracks. It is quite rare that I sit through the credits to hold on to the music just a while longer before saying goodbye.
Video games: far cry 3 and both Portal games.
There are lots of Movies with great soundtracks. But How to train your dragon is my most favorite movie score of all time. Nothing has beaten that yet.
See this video about the opening score of this movie: https://youtu.be/4UUJQH7GLms?si=o9tWz6rYJj5_eHQs
Other than that, most Hans Zimmer soundtracks are great. Inception, Interstellar, Dune etc.
Edit: How could I forget all the hayazaki movie soundtracks. Especially the Path of the wind from My neighbor Totoro. That gets played in car everyday by me and my 5 year old.
I still remember the OST of FarCry 3. It was from Brian Tyler right? Anyways, the emotional load in some of the tracks really grasps me and throws me back to one of my favorite gaming experiences from that era. It also has a slight psychological edge that shows the path Jason had to go through to survive.
Great soundtrack
Risk of Rain 2 has some of the best sci-fi compositions I've heard in any game.
I love the Katamari soundtracks because they feel like a goofy slice of mid 2000s Japanese cable television.
Octopath Traveler's soundtrack is pretty underrated with tons of memorable exploration and combat themes.
Dozens of others, I could go on.
A lot of my other favourites have already been mentioned (Zelda, Final Fantasy, Deus Ex etc.)
My absolute favourite video game soundtrack is Chrono Cross by Yasunori Mitsuda. It's a beautiful soundtrack that really captures the feel of a fantastic game that I feel is only recently being reappraised. It received great reviews but compared to it's predecessor, Chrono Trigger, one of the best games ever in my opinion, it definitely plays second fiddle.
The OST for Cross is imo stronger, more mature, more emotional and more powerful than Triggers. Off the top of my head, a few standout tracks are,
"Scars of Time"
"Radical Dreamers"
"Life - A Distant Promise" This one is in my opinion the best song on the soundtrack, plays at a very powerful moment of the game.
For videogames, some of my favorites have already been mentioned - such as Nier:Automata or Ori.
I'd also like to reitrate (I mentioned this recently in another post) that Dust: An Elysian Tail has one hell of an OST. I never forgot the name of the outfit that created it, Hyperduck Soundworks (it helps they're also cameo'd in a secret location in the game). They did other stuff!
I'm going to talk about some more indie games. The soundtrack for Aquaria is brilliant, whatever you think of its controversial creator. One of the central themes of the game (which stars a mermaid with magic singing powers) is something called The Verse, a melody that permeates all things and which the player only discovers close to the end. Except The Verse is subtly (or unsubtly) integrated in the background music for every area in the game!
If you like chiptune, then PPPPPP from VVVVVV is a legendary soundtrack full of energy and rhythm.
Zombies Ate My Neighbors was ahead of its time. Here's a metal cover and as a bonus here's another cover of Zombie Panic.
The gloomy soundtrack of Ender Lilies works ridiculously well for the game it accompanies. I love soundtracks that are discreet, but if you're paying attention really make you consider how well-suited they are.
Rakuen is just heart-warmingly beautiful and includes a whole bunch of songs with vocals.
Hi-Fi Rush also has plenty of vocals, and is also my favorite game this year. This is just some damn good music.
Take Control from Control is a hell of a banger for a hell of a cool section (as the protagonist herself acknowledges!) As a bonus, Dynamite (sorry, I couldn't help it!)
A Conversation With Death as it plays in the intro of the Dark Pictures games when the Curator walks in.
There are a lot of great soundtracks so I have to pick the ones that are the most memorable to me.
My first pick is Zelda Ocarina of Time. I was very young back then but I think this game really sparked my interest in music and soundtracks. They are really simplistic but so so powerful. They sometimes pop-up in my mind at random moments. Gerudo Valley, Hyrule Field, Kakariko Village and the Storm/windmill song are my favorites.
My second pick is from a more recent experience. NieR: Automata is really impressive as well. It fits the scenes really well and there are variations. When the player is in combat the music is more upbeat according to the environment of where the player is in. But when you're exploring a scene it's way less upbeat and leaves more room for the melodies.
The "Zelda Reorchestrated" project is pretty fantastic. Full orchestral versions of the soundtracks of several Zelda games. Back when they first started it was all just mp3 downloads from their site but now it looks like it's available for purchase/streaming. Not sure how they're avoiding Nintendo's wrath but maybe since it's musical 'covers' basically it's fine?
After looking through, it looks like what's currently available are albums of the 'main' songs. There are torrents still of at least some of the old 'full' soundtracks, but not all of them which is a shame. Will have to try and get them off my old Zune and upload them somewhere.
My favorite game sound tracks are:
Axiom Verge
Shatter
Simon Swerwer - Dwarf Fortress It started as just fan music but eventually his work became official.
Some favorites of mine:
Hollow Knight. An amazing soundtrack for an amazing game. The main theme, City of Tears, and Dirtmouth tracks are instantly recognizable to me. Usually touched with melancholy (which is fitting) and masterfully written.
Ori and the Blind Forest. Much of this has a Celtic-inspired timbre that captures emotional highs and lows so well. I haven't heard a VG soundtrack that makes me feel so upbeat and then can swing to mournful so organically. It's legitimately one of the most beautiful symphonic works I've ever heard -- which is even more amazing because I've played very little of the actual game.
When I wanna either a) have some zen studying tunes, or b) feel like I'm about to face demons and gods in battle, I turn on the Skyrim soundtrack. I contend, to this day, that the "Song of the Dragonborn", ie the main theme, is one of the most hype songs a in video game. "Ancient Stones" is another favorite -- so ethereal.
Bloodborne's soundtrack is perfect if you want some crazy sounding gothic horror. "Ludwig's Theme" is a mad waltz, and the blaring brass and frantic sawing strings in the boss music for Father Gascoigne is incredible. The rest is filled with spooky soprano descants and choirs singing clashing harmonies. It's worth a listen if you're in the mood to feel unsettled.
There's a million more I could name (I love this topic), but I'll leave it there for now.
I've lost count of how many times I've been traveling or working and have just put on a Skyrim ambient playlist and time has just flown by. I used to listen to it whenever I was flying and it would help me be able to fall asleep on the plane.
I know there was some controversy with Jeremy Soule a few years back, and I don't remember if the accusations were actually substantiated, but that dude is a brilliant composer.
It's a little long in the tooth, but Cyan's Riven soundtrack keeps being the one that I end up playing when I need to thing.
Maplestory's soundtrack has always been one that I never get tired of, despite listening to it for the past 17 years. It's hard to describe what the genre or style of it is exactly since there's quite a variety of different moods between tracks for different areas, but if I had to boil it down to a single word, I'd say it feels like an adventure. Sometimes relaxing, sometimes playful, sometimes hectic, but always magical.
Here's a few of my favorites, in no particular order (except Lith Harbor, that one is special):
Lith Harbor
Ellinia
Ship to Orbis
Orbis Tower
Orbis Party Quest
El Nath
Kerning Square
Mu Lung
Ereve Training Fields
Rien Training Fields
Eos Tower - Outdoors
Temple of Time - Memory Lane
I've never played the video game Katana Zero but I've always had a guilty pleasure for synthwave and when I stumbled upon its OST one day I just fell in awe. I've never heard of the authors before but they are definitely talented, the album is packed with chill but upbeat synthwave gems and other soothing piano pieces!
Otherwise I'm quite fond of classical music in games/movies, especially the more ambient ones, not a fan of the super epic compositions you can find in say LotR or Gladiator. I've made a selection I like to listen to while working or resting, here it is if you want to have a listen.
Deus Ex. 1, HR & MD have absolutely sublime soundtracks.
Human Revolution has "Icarus" that is just absolutely fantastic to have on when you're riding a motorbike in a city. Proper atmospheric music vibes.
Then you've got the original which gives you all sorts of Cyberpunk, Techno vibes.
I absolutely agree with the OG DX and HR. I have yet to be able to play MD yet so I can't comment on that one. I love throwing on the first Deus Ex soundtrack every now and then and also Sonic Augmentation a remix album of it.
MD has some great tracks on to it. It can be much more subtle, very down and depressive in some remarks compared to the optimism of the first one. But my lord are there certain times that it's perfect.
Give MD a try when you can. It's a different beast to HR, but it's not as good as DE1.
For film it would be Social Network. Lots of great tracks on that.
For games it's probably FTL for me. It got me into electronic music a lot more.
Shout out to Obsidian with picking on-fire oldies for FO:NV.
My all-time favorite film original soundtrack is from Aranofsky's The Fountain. Clint Mansell composed it and employed two of the guys from the band Mogwai to play their special brand of electric guitar using bowstrings and it's just haunting and uplifting in all the right places. Never have I heard a soundtrack contribute so much to the story. Here is my favorite track from it: Death is the Road to Awe
As others have mentioned, Ori and the Blind Forest. For me, I have to throw in the sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps. The music for me is just too good.
In a different vein, Destiny 2 (although I guess Destiny in general) soundtracks are amazing. I don't play anymore, but some of the music has stuck with me.
The Animatrix soundtrack is incredibly good. It got me into triphop as a teen and I still listen to it semi regularly.
I love me some emotive classical/symphonic. Lately I've been enjoying Chivalry 2 stuff like this.
As people joke, the Neon White soundtrack is a great Machine Girl album that happens to have a fantastic time trial shooter attached. The genre is obviously different, but it has the same effect as the Hotline Miami soundtrack - it's pure, instant flow in a can. Can't recommend the game enough either, even if you don't like twitch FPS, speedrunning, or tongue-in-cheek early 00's anime vibes - bought it on a whim not particularly excited about any of that and got hooked.
Kinda cheating, but Bemani rhythm games have some fantastic music and Nekomata Master's Backdrops is IMO his best stuff that doesn't just lean on the typical rhythm game fare.
Shovel Knight's soundtrack was an excuse for virt (guest-starring Minami Matsumae) to make another chiptune prog album.
Wind Waker. Actual soundtrack is filled with a lot of cues and cutscene tracks that don't make it super listenable, but Zelda music never swashbuckled harder.
For movies, I love Michael Giacchino's cheese and The Incredibles soundtrack is part of what makes that movie pristine.
Anything involving Koji Kondo or Nobuo Uematsu.
Koji Kondo is mostly known for his work composing a lot of the mario and legend of zelda games.
Nobuo Uematsu has been involved with almost all of the Final Fantasy games aside from XIII and possibly XV.
I have a soft spot for those cheesy themes where they chorus is the movies title:
CLASS OF NUKE 'EM HIGHT II
TERRORVISION
(Pretty much all of the James Bond themes fit in here)
I don't know much about Vangelis, only learned about him today, but it seems like he created some really grand themes, like CONQUEST OF PARADISE. There is also the Trance Opera version
(all the Trance Opera tracks are quite awesome)
Susumu Hirasawa brought us the grotesque upbeat intro to PARANOIA AGENT and the ending theme
(His PAPRIKA soundtrack is also quite something.)
When it comes to pure instrumentals, I think Ennio Morricone is king:
THE MAN WITH A HARMONICA
THE MISSION
Also Danny Elfman. I think my fave is BEETLEJUICE
And then there's the Twin Peaks theme, made by whoever made it:
There must be something wrong with me because I don't think I've ever been impressed by a game's music. Sure there may be one or two songs from a game I like like Route 66 Beatmasters Mix in Burnout Paradise or Pablo Sanchez's theme in the Backyard Sports games. Killing Two Birds from A Hat In Time is a banger.
Think two of my absolute favorite video game soundtracks are Super Mario Galaxy and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky. Could play those on repeat for days on end.
No one has mentioned them yet, so I will say that I really like the sound tracks from the Godfather and from ET.
Also Oh Brother where Art Thou
Here's one I don't think has gotten mentioned yet, a gorgeous OST that sounds very different from any other video game OST I've heard: Remember Me
When it came out, Yeah Right, the 2003 Skate Video had one of the best scores I had ever heard. It still holds up as a perfect time capsule for the era. The video was my first introduction to the a lot of the bands and artists that act as my musical foundation. Joy Division, David Bowie, NasPrince, Morrissey, Scarface. They had some incredible diversity.
My favorite videogame soundtrack is Journey by Austin Wintory. Apotheosis is the most immediately memorable piece, because its joyful energy perfectly matches the gameplay of the final level & is such an emotional release, but Atonement is my favorite track. It encapsulates what is great about Journey: it's serious, but not dour; reverent, not religiose; playful, not glib. It soars, but is firmly grounded in a history & spirituality of its own. The game & soundtrack are perfect companions, elevating each to something grander than they are separately.
I played Returnal last year and Bobby Krlic (specifically the "Hyperion" track) has had a hold on me. The whole album is great it's just that one track that I'll listen to whenever.
His orchestra like sound while mixing more modern elements into it works extremely well.
He's also really great at conveying the anxiety, fear and mystery that's behind the story.
He's recently done the track for Beau is Afraid but I have yet to listen to it all but I'm hoping it's just as good.
I mean if it's ambient study music you're after, Riven has one of the chillest soundtracks ever put to CD.
Recently I have been using the HITMAN reboot series soundtracks to study to. They have been pretty good as a somewhat interesting background music without distracting words.
Video games (each link is to one of my favorite tracks in the respective OST):
Mechwarrior 2
Nioh and Nioh 2
Snakebird
Baba is You
Final Fantasy VI
Star Control 2
Edited to add some individual tracks (I'm not as fond of the rest of the OST):
Dark Souls III - Father Ariandel and Sister Friede
Braid - Maenam
Nier Automata has one of the most hauntingly beautiful soundtracks I have ever heard. The integration with the environment creates a level of audio immersion rarely heard in video games.
The World Ends With You has a solid soundtrack filled with bangers that leave you bopping well after the fact.
Final Fantasy XIV had a gargantuan OST that has so many top tier tracks that you forget about a few after a while and when you you rediscover them they are still gold. The game also shows the growth of the lead sound director in composing new tracks, as early on there are only a couple solid ones, but then with each expansion the density of quality tracks rapidly increases.
Octopath Traveller 1 and 2 both have diverse and entertaining music that is well tuned to the beats of the story. Octopath 1s boss theme is god tier and Partitio's theme from Octopath 2 has no business being sexy smooth like that.
...oh God, I didn't just list all Sqenix games, did I?
Anything Dave Wise - e.g. the Donkey Kong Country trilogy for the SNES.
Eveline Novakovic (nee Fischer) too. Her work, especially on DKC3, was fantastic, and I will shout her out as often as I can. Incredibly talented woman.
The tricks people would use to squeeze as much range and quality out of the SNES's SPC700 sound chip is just so amazingly impressive, and the compositions still hold up today. Sometimes I'll just stick on this 30min loop of "Northern Kremisphere" and crank out some work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK5vdMgYBi4 that synth growl is just so cool...
Sayonara Wild Hearts