Game titles without their title music are like cereals without whole milk, a television with no remote, an expensive car without radio (I will stop now). The idea is, music in game titles might not be the tail that wags the dog, yet they are arguably as esential. They set the tone for the game play, drive us straight into the action, and as the list below points out, they are inevitably one of the primary things we recall regarding our particular video game experiences.
These are the top, most memorable songs as well as scores from my personal favorite video games. Prepare yourselves, we are going to get nostalgic.
Tetris
This was during the golden age of handhelds and in which a color Game Boy wasthe result of a paint accident, not a response to the GameGear. Simply hearing this tune gives me the chills. One, because it is so specific as well as identifiable. Two, I usually used to play Tetris before going the dentist, which gave me chills for a whole, one more reason.
Super Mario Bros.
Here is another song that would teleport you directly into your childhood years. The moment this tune came on, it was as though I was back in my old cellar, with nothing but a small NES controller and a box of dunkaroos. They just don't come up with them just like they previously used to (video game titles that is, dunkaroos I do think are still around). This song has actually been remixed a lot more times than Cher, yet stay true to the original, and you would remember the reason why this theme song is among the all-time greats.
Sonic The Hedgehog
I played this one nearly entirely on the GameGear. Sure it was somewhat heavy, yet the way that music pumped through those sound systems like lightning through a bottle made me feel like I owned the world in my palms. This video game single-handedly got me through summer vacations to Hilton Head and back (it is not easy traveling in a car full of sisters). Just remember going up against Dr.Robotnik? Play the above video game title and it will be difficult to forget about.
Gran Turismo
Here is the game which broke in my Playstation. The game play was amazing, and up to this day helps it be one of, if not the, best driving game titles ever created. That being said, I am not sure if I have ever seen this intro video all the way through and as cinematic as well as fantastic as it is, I often merely skipped my way to the video game itself. Check it out above, and make you have an old copy of the game handy since you are going to immediately want to play it.
Metal Gear Solid
Most likely my personal favorite game of all time, this game had everything: storyline, characters, amazing game play (although I hated going all the way back to the armory in order to get the PSG-1 and ultimately realizing exactly what Diazepam was for).
While this may be a bit of a stretch as a song, just hearing this alert sends shivers down my back. For anyone who remember the game, it was used once you had been discovered and were on the enemy's radar, even though I cannot quite remember it lasting this long (unless you were dead). Nonetheless, it really is one of the most famous scores in video games, and was a staple of one of gaming's most lucrative franchises.
Star Fox
Perhaps among the most popular video game songs of all-time. Combine this tune with awesome game play which was ahead of its time and you've got among the best tandems to ever hit the SNES. It is actually kind of a mystery that no flying video game to this very day was able to counter just what Star Fox created (yes, I'm looking at you Ace Combat/Top Gun). I previously viewed this on the 64 then it was out of my life permanently yet Corneria nonetheless lives on.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater
You want to speak about having mileage out of a game title and I spent an entire summer sucking every single point out of THPS and then returning and doing the same over again. It was one of the first game titles I remember playing which had songs you would in fact hear on the radio.
The very first version included musicians like Dead Kennedys as well as Goldfinger. When the video game reached number 4, it had the likes of AC/DC, System Of A Down, and Run DMC on the playlist.
Right now, it's quite common to have mainstream musicians play a substantial role in the creation of a video game soundtrack, but Tony Hawk was among the first that put apparently just as much interest into its soundtrack as it did the video game itself.
Halo
The game which took over university campuses as well as reinvented exactly what the word multiplayer suggested (8-on-8, are you joking me?). It likewise made capture the flag, what was the most ubiquitous outdoor activity among children, almost solely an indoor game.
The music is so good it sounds like something from a motion picture. Halo basically was its own film when you look back and think about it, so that makes sense.
Mortal Kombat
This track used to wake me up for school on Mondays. That is how impressive Techno Syndrome was. Not surprisingly, the Jace Hall music video takes it a step even further, opening up the future of Mortal Kombat and taking video game music videos to another aspect.
But that's the beauty of the song, it is spun new edition after new edition. The above is my favorite remix and well, right until the newest one releases tomorrow.
On a final note, I am aware that this list is missing possibly five hundred other song titles which could easily have made the list. Therefore, I invite you to add yours below and holler profanities at me regarding how I could possibly leave it out.
Just to cover my bases, as well as to show a truly awesome video that some of you might not have viewed, I suggest to you to have a look at this video below.
About the Author:
The Jace Hall Show is an online reality show that covers video game title news and celebrities as well as interviews with film/tv/sports superstars. It likewise has posts which features video game songs and top songs in video games.
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