Classic video games may have lacked the technical finesse of today's stellar titles, but they made do with what they had at the time. Every year that passes in the video game world is tantamount to 10 in the real world, with innovations not just in technology, but musical genres, and those who compose songs for our favorite games.
The older titles helped lay the brickwork for everything that followed. Some of the games on this list are longer in the tooth than others, but they're all considered classics that broke amazing new ground within their respective genres. Music fans should rejoice because these games definitely have ear candy to spare.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)
It's hard to argue against the impact that Skyrim's soundtrack has had on the gaming community. Several songs have inspired thousands of YouTube covers and millions of views, which is a testament to how engrossing the music truly is. There's a level of old-world majesty in Jeremy Soule's work that helps transport players to another realm, far removed from the tribulations of everyday life.
In short, pure audiophile escapism. From thundering chants to peaceful horns accompanying the player through adventures in the frozen north, Skyrim has tunes that help sell the immersion, and pull players into the story more easily. It's neither too much, nor too little, but just right.
Final Fantasy VI (1994)
Nobuo Uematsu is best known for his stellar and beautiful soundtracks for a variety of Square Enix RPGs, notably the Final Fantasy franchise. While many fans look to Final Fantasy VII as the pinnacle of the series, its immediate predecessor has it beat by a small margin in the soundtrack department.
The music of Final Fantasy VI is, in a word, breathtaking. Those old enough to remember buying the game in 1994 will also recall the opening credits scene, and the glorious, emotional performance of "Omen," as three mechs strode across the frozen tundra. It was the start of a magical journey that will never be duplicated.
Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night (1997)
Castlevania games were always known for their exceptional music, but nothing can compare to the stellar soundtrack composed for Symphony of the Night. It was the first Castlevania title to touch down on the Sony PlayStation, and it landed with a boom. The sonics in the game were unmatched, blending classical music with gothic hymns, rocking heavy metal and even a little funk for good measure.
Each track is a masterpiece unto itself, and they work in tandem as the player progresses from one area of the castle to the next, battling the demonic hordes of Hell. The arcade/RPG gameplay meant that the soundtrack had to be varied enough to compensate for the game's longer-than-usual length, and in that regard, it more than delivered.
Thunder Force III (1990)
Casual gamers may not remember the audio tour de force that was Thunder Force III, but it stands the test of time as one of the most adrenaline-pumping soundtracks ever put out. Once again, the superiority of the Sega Genesis YM2612 sound chip was put to excellent use to craft a series of songs that were unique, endlessly hummable, and a perfect accompaniment to the action.
Thunder Force III's intense side-scrolling shooter mechanics were built on high-speed gameplay, and the music had to match. Tracks like "Venus Fire," "Final Take A Chance" and "Back To The Fire" are major highlights.
Ori And The Blind Forest (2015)
Few games manage to weave the music into the storyline and gameplay as effortlessly, or as magically as Ori and the Blind Forest. This unbelievably difficult platforming masterpiece was made a little easier due to its lush, gorgeous and dreamy graphics, with an orchestral soundtrack to match.
Music can affect an audience on a powerful level, and the developers behind Ori knew this. They pluck at the player's heartstrings with music that disarms, before going straight for the feels. Many a gamer have wept due to the emotional weight of key scenes, including the opening story narrative which sets a somber tone.
Ninja Gaiden II (1990)
The Nintendo Entertainment System is practically stone-age when it comes to hardware, and its audio hardware left little elbow room for composers to work with. Nevertheless, a determined few managed to plunk down some amazing soundtracks, and few are as good as Ninja Gaiden II.
While the first game had its fair share of hits, the second Ninja Gaiden is far more expressive and powerful. Each track is a masterpiece of classic 8-bit chiptune goodness that may not win any Grammys, but it's certainly enough to blend with the high octane, extremely punishing platforming gameplay.
Street Fighter II (1991)
Street Fighter II continues to stand tall as the most recognizable game in the entire franchise, evening spawning a popular Japanese anime adaptation. The game practically reinvented the one-on-one fighting game formula in the arcades, spawning an endless cycle of clones, spinoffs and tournaments in its wake.
Everything about the game was unique, including the music. Each stage drew upon elements from the various iconography and geolocation, creating a mixture of thumping hard rock, culture beats and orchestral arrangements that befit the battle in question. These are some of the most recognizable songs in the world, and for good reason.
DOOM (2016)
Classic DOOM's soundtrack sounds rather quirky by today's standards, which is why it hasn't held up as well as some older games from the time period. That all changed when Mick Gordon snagged the mixing board and started composing the brutal and punishing soundtrack for the 2016 reboot of DOOM.
The marriage was perfect. The frantic, blood-soaked gameplay worked hand-in-hand with Gordon's buzz saw industrial heavy metal tracks, driving player adrenaline through the roof. It continues to be one of the best and most idealized examples of how to incorporate a soundtrack into a video game - ever.
Contra III: The Alien Wars (1992)
Contra games on the NES sported some pretty hummable tunes, but when the franchise blasted into the 16-Bit sphere, everything changed. Granted, the Super NES sound chip was never that stellar, to begin with, but the right composers knew how to harness the available oscillators and instruments to forge some powerful stuff.
Contra III's soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece. The thundering explosions and bullet-riddled gameplay required a soundtrack to match the intensity and it delivered. Every song sports a tempo designed to match the action on screen while soaring to new emotional heights as players dodge a veritable army of alien invaders. Classically good stuff.
Streets Of Rage 2 (1992)
Yuzo Koshiro is a master of video game music, and he's been cranking out tunes to this very day for a variety of games. His hallmark performances came when he tackled the Streets of Rage games for the original Sega Genesis, which was no small feat. Koshiro fused his love of British rave, Detroit-style House music and the blossoming Big Beat scene to create some of the most stunning chiptunes ever created.
This was, quite frankly, remarkable given the limited hardware and space limitations of the Sega Genesis cartridges. Koshiro fully leveraged the machine's YM2612 chipset in a stunning display of technical artistry and ingenuity. He pulled out all the stops and used every trick in the book to accomplish what some dance music nuts spend a lifetime trying to emulate.