I love these games and I think the soundtracks are underrated as an essential part of their appeal. I’ll Start with one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk72RMv9d0s
Tube of Medusa from Ecco2: Tides of Time.
Personally, I think the Sega CD version soundtrack is… fine, but it has a different composer. If I remember correctly, it;s the composer from the first Ecco. In my opinion, it’s inoffensive, but completely forgettable.
EDIT: I have edited the topic to include older stuff.
Sonic CD specifically the Japanese Soundtrack is phenomenal! My favorite song from the game hands down is Quartz Quadrant Present. Though when it comes to the Genesis Sonic games, Sonic 2 has my favorite soundtrack.
NES: megaman 2 - wily castle or megaman 6 - knight man stage SNES - megaman X - spark mandrill (really that whole soundtrack)
Megaman 3 is my favorite.
Is that the one with protomans castle? That theme is great.
I have that shit on vinyl
Chemical Plant Zone from Sonic
They went so unnecessarily hard on that one but it’s great
Top Gear - Mad Racer (first track in the game)
NES Batman, the first level. That is pops into my head all the time. Also, the main theme and cabin interior music from Friday the 13th. Final mention, Legend of Kage had some rad tracks.
Talking NES: I mean you gotta give it up for Solstice, I find the game a snooze but that opening track is just balls to walls you can feel the heat rising off that poor NES sound chip as it cranks out the jams. Personally I really like Kickmaster, its my NES fave and the soundtrack is pretty good and evocative of the era. Kirby’s Adventure is maybe the best wall to wall absolute jock jams in a game. I was playing it with my kids last night and the tunes are just iconic.
SNES: Super Mario World is very memorable. Lots of amazing iconic tracks there.
Genesis: Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (or 1 I guess) is also just amazing. But ECCO 1 and 2 are peak. So atmospheric.
Super Mario Land or Mario Bros. 3. Amazing.
jeff’s theme ~ maniac mansion
he was dumb as hell and completely useless but the theme was a banger
but also LITERALLY all of shadowgate nes <3
oh and secret of mana ~ snes, simcity ~ snes
and sonic 1 game gear just cause it reminds me of my uncle’s house
Corneria from Star Fox is a fucking banger.
Outrun. Magical Sound Shower. Splash Wave. Passing Breeze. Perfection.
I love the arcade, and Jeroen Tel did a worthy version for Commodore 64 Turbo Outrun.
Because I haven’t seen these posted yet:
My GOAT, Vectorman - https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLErsx10Ke4uzHIN8IfCxR42aNjNJXaW8s
Sonic & Knucles - https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL60EFD683648EAABA Flying Battery Zone in particular.
X-Men - https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLErsx10Ke4uzRC7XAllJklKSGOqLBNV5U Honourable mention, at very least it vibes thematically.
NES is Contra Jungle
SNES is Simon’s Theme from Super Castlevania IV
N64 is probably most of F-Zero X
The 'Cube is rough since I grew up with it so I love a lot of it. Luigi’s Mansion, Mario Sunshine, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess. Too hard to pick.
TG16 is the original Bonk. That level 1 music lives in my head.
Oh yeah Super Castlevania IV has fantastic original music but especially Simon’s theme.
Ristar
Plok
F-Zero - Big Blue Theme. Still stuck in my head decades later.
The Stunt Race FX theme also goes hard.
