Video Game Music

Lately I have been thinking about video game music and how it has evolved over the years. For me it technically started with 8-bit (chiptune) music when I was a young boy in the late 80’s and early to mid 90’s playing games such as Super Mario Bros on the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). Having said that I first started to really notice video game music when I was playing games such as Streets Of Rage 2 which uses FM (frequency modulation) synthesis on a 16-bit system, in this case the Sega Mega Drive. I realize of course that there will be people who are probably older than I am that will have memories of older, more primitive sound systems. But around the time of the end of the 8-bit and beginning of the 16-bit era is where it all started for me.

I found a few of my favourites from that time on YouTube.

Streets Of Rage 2: Go Straight
Street Fighter 2: Ryu Theme
Street Fighter 2: Guile Theme

Later as technology improved, video game music also improved at an impressive rate. From 16-bit systems we went to 32-bit with the PlayStation which also used a CD-ROM (compact disk read only memory) instead of cartridges. This meant it was now possible for the PlayStation to play music as you would if you were listening to a music CD. The drawback however is that the CD only had a maximum capacity of approximately 1 gigabyte of storage. Composers and cinematic directors would therefore need to keep that limitation in mind when developing their game. The CD-ROM drive also meant there was a massive advancement in playing games on PC, however there were other drawbacks, the main ones being that computers were usually expensive and bulky. Running games in DOS (disk operating system) allowed some games to be played on computers with low specifications, but it only got you so far. Still, that’s what I did to play Crusader: No Remorse which I completed again back in October 2020.

These are a few of my favourites from the time of 32-bit gaming on the PlayStation and the budget family computer.

Crusader: No Remorse: Main Theme
StarCraft: Terran Theme 1
Final Fantasy VII: Those Who Fight (Battle Theme)
Front Mission 3: Raid
Metal Gear Solid: Encounter

It is also during this time I heard my first full track/song while playing a video game. During the end credits of Final Fantasy VIII we hear the song Eyes on Me which was composed by Nobuo Uematsu especially for the game. It’s difficult to describe, but knowing the story of Final Fantasy VIII and having completed the game, the song is incredibly emotive to me. I also completed this game again back in February 2024.

Since the end of the CD-ROM era when we moved to DVDs (digital versatile disc) and high speed internet connections, games could easily accommodate a full high quality soundtrack. Triple-A games such as Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec and Grand Theft Auto III were therefore able to pay royalties to musicians and feature music tracks in their game. While it is cool and suits some games, for me it’s not as good as when video game music is composed specifically for a game to help create an immersive atmosphere. It pains me to say it but no matter how far Blizzard Entertainment have fallen from grace in recent years, they have in my opinion created some of the best cinematics and video game music in the gaming industry to date.

Here are some of my favourite modern day (sort of) gaming music titles.

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth: Freehold
XCOM 2: Squad Layout
Stellaris: To The End Of The Galaxy
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

What I find amazing is when talented fans create their own versions of music from their favourite games. I think my favourite might be the Black Materia: Final Fantasy VII album by rapper Mega Ran. People who know me will say that I don’t like rap or hip hop music very much, but oddly I have to say this is an exception. Another favourite is A Fleeting Dream: A Melancholy Tribute To Final Fantasy X by pianist TPR.