The Video Game Critic

banjo, i totally agree with the N64 super mario pirate ship music. it was so calming and somehow just immersed you in the game.

i also loved the music from the N64 banjo kazooie music. none of it really stands out, but as a whole, it added a ton to the experience.

also, for the INTV, i always enjoyed the tunes to "snafu" and "burgertime".

for the SNES, the soundtracks for "chrono trigger" and "lion king" were very memorable.

[QUOTE=Logan Ruckman]

Why does Zelda have the best music?

[/QUOTE]

DUDE. Haven't you ever [i]played[/i] Zelda?

I wouldn't exactly call them top 5, but here are a few good ones:

Spy Vs Spy (original 8-bit version)

Pitfall 2 (Atari 2600)

Soul Blade - opening cgi (PS1)

Thunder Force 3 (Genesis)

Frogger - the arcade game

NBA Jam (SNES)

Madden 92 (Genesis)

PS: Totally agree about Road Rash!

Although I would agree that the music in the original Road Rash is good, I always turn it off because it annoys me that you can't hear the motorcycle engine when the music is on.

Kings of the Beach---that loop stays in my head for days

Ninja Gaiden, NES--Stage 1.  Crazy Japanese techno.  I can't imagine trying to play that.

wow.  I really botched up my post above. Anyway, a few more I like outside of the C=64...

A couple of memorable tunes for me:
R-type - fourth level
Twin Cobra - first level
Super Mario Bros. 2 theme
Contra - first level
Bonk - music from the last level
Golden Axe - Intro
Karnov - first level

These I think have all around great soundtracks:
Shadow of the Colossus
God of War series
Okami
Locco Rocco
Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles
Castlevania Symphony of the Night
Jet Moto
Parrapa the Rapper
Ikagura
Strider

For me, the music to a game can really make or break my enjoyment out of it.

ajsmart, you stated the music can make or break the enjoyment of a game, and i agree that great music or sound effects can make a game, but crappy music/sound effects don't bother me as much. it just seems that a great soundtrack will probably be a great game because it's usually a sign that the developers went the extra mile.

just my two centimes worth.

Top five individual tracks is tough (if you check my Youtube channel [Megavolt67], I've got plenty of worthwhile picks mentioned), but I can give you my top five game soundtracks overall:

1. Final Fantasy VI
2. Vagrant Story
3. Super Castlevania IV
4. Streets of Rage 2
5. Donkey Kong Country 2

It's nearly impossible to limit my favourites to just 5, but here goes. I'll limit it to one per game.

5) Ninja Gaiden (NES): Stage 2-1. That song alone kept me interested in this otherwise impossible game.
4) Final Fantasy X (PS2): A Fleeting Dream. A bittersweet melody that goes well with this part of the game.
3) Chrono Trigger (SNES): Guardia Forest. It's tough to stick with one, but this has to be my favourite.
2) Final Fantasy 3 (SNES): Mines of Narshe. Again, about ten songs could have occupied this spot but this is the one I listen to the most.
1) Secret of Mana (SNES): Pure Land. This is like a waterfall; I could spend all day sitting to this beautiful melody. Fits the game perfectly. As far as I'm concernd, this game has by far the best videogame soundtrack of all time.