View source for Video Games/Awesome Music/PC Only

{{trope}}
This is the [[Awesome Music]] page for PC only games.

Note: Some of the music from the older games (Mostly DOS games before Windows 95) were composed with specific hardware in mind (Sierra games' music was made with Roland MT-32 in mind, for example) that are not possible to emulate on modern soundcards and [[DOSBox]]. Fortunately, as of summer 2011 the [http://www.sierrahelp.com/Utilities/Emulators/Munt.html fans made] [http://ykhwong.x-y.net/ considerable progress] in emulating the Roland MT-32 hardware.

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* The. Battlefield. 1942. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg0Tmydj29M Theme]. Let's get out there and kill some Nazis.
* Indie game [[To the Moon]] has "Everything's Alright" by Laura Shigihara is a big [[Tear Jerker]] in context.
** Out of context as welk, see for youself [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAODrEEkOYI&feature=player_embedded#!\]
* Indie game [[Hamsterball]] has good music tracks. Exhibit A: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQk_N8tq0Is&feature=player_embedded Wobbly Race (World of Daze)], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQk_N8tq0Is&feature=player_embedded Master Race (Symphony of the Master)], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkuvYt7jSOM&feature=related Impossible Race (Absolute Rodent)].
* The Main Themes of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzDpw0-P9JE&hd=1 Secret of Monkey Island] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKWT5wW4gdY&hd=1 Curse of Monkey Island] are cool stuff.
* The [[Far Cry]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbk8WeQU0rc menu theme]. Oh my lord, the way it kicks in at 0:30.
* The [[Dwarf Fortress]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6FXeupOp04 theme] is so awesome it's the only track in the game, played on a six string guitar by the Toady One himself. The haunting notes suspend one's sense of time's passage and accentuate the {{spoiler|despair}} felt as  {{spoiler|Fun}} begins to propagate through one's fortress.
* ''[[EVE Online]]'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qus_mqEdBZM this], which is just one song in a seriously awesome set of music tracks, saved especially for [[Stuff Blowing Up|blowing stuff up]].
** And then there are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPrHTFQhHEc Below the Asteroids] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KLWeMFWv0o Red Glowing Dust] that set the mood perfectly. By now the Soundtrack of Eve Online consists of over 100 songs with many of them being candidates for this page.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MberKDMPgxQ That Old Army Game], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGaG-FQqh3c Nightmare Buzz], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug7E5oHfEQE Buzz Battle], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbSufp8R1zU Inside the Claw Machine] from the Toy Story PC Game.
* ''[[Painkiller]]'' has the battle music from the ''Leningrad'' level, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGx3ms3a-k the Soviet Anthem with the damned screaming in the background]
* The Main theme of ''[[Quest for Glory]] IV: Shadows of Darkness'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCMtUQbe1HQ is simply epic]
** If you fail to stop any of the elementals in ''[[Quest for Glory]] II, Trial By Fire'', the music is very awesome, even though technically you lost.
** And yet no one has mentioned [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDUrQSIRgOo Erana's Peace] from ''[[Quest for Glory]] I: So You Want To Be A Hero'', considered by many to be a classic of video game music. Even the original MIDI version is beautiful beyond words.
* [http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=437543B83BD9ECF0&search_query=skyroads Skyroads] has some excellent tunes that fit the subject well.
* ''[[Dawn of War]]'' has some great themes for each of the factions, matching them quite well. Notable ones are the apocalyptic (well, it definitely gives that feeling) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qGi9ppL34E Chaos theme], Asian orchestral [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhXCQFxGqMM Tau Empire theme] and the Military March-style [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhqWHIq-aZw Imperial Guard theme].
** Unless you enjoy bolter rounds to the face, you'd better include the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LWGnkCYprU Space Marines'] theme.
*** An' if ya don' wanta be krumped, youze better inklood [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5uwihWGu-I Da Orks theem!]
** Overall, Dawn of War's soundtrack is so good, that for the last few years, whenever Games Workshop (The creators of ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'') need music for promotional movies on their own website, they use this game's soundtrack.
** Of course, before all that, you had ''Chaos Gate'', which gave us the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlRfPQP4uhA Ultramarines' Chant].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ3G1y6pBZk The Winter Assault expansion] had some nice title music.
** The best thing on the ''Dawn of War'' soundtrack may be an obscure little track called "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQUjow3Zzew Chant]" that consists of nothing more than a [[Ominous Latin Chanting|mournful Latin chorus]].
** ''Dawn of War 2'' used a new composer and didn't give us any remixes of the classic themes, but instead gave us "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cn-QyhHayQ Dark Future of War]" and sweet theme music for the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89um1GGWeTM Orks] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNxD2NYRpgo Tyranids].
** Even better, the entire soundtrack of [[Dawn of War]] 2 is downloadable on their website for free [http://community.dawnofwar2.com/blog-post/dawn-war-ii-soundtrack-released-0 here].
** Speaking of which, the Eldar theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-LaxrVUS4g here] took the ethereal, ancient race of the eldar and added a completely badass chant to them that makes the listener instantly want to pull out a singing spear and start impaling Mon-keigh.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECMpaEQ0MFU Force Commander].
** To be fair, Doyle W Donahoo's soundtrack for [[DOW 2]] is full of [[Crowning Music of Awesome]]. Just a few examples are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhoCf7Kq8Bc ''Angels of Death''] for the Space Marines and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5s04KYu-n8 ''The Green Horde Rises''] for the Orks. The Tyranid themes perfectly capture the sinister, alien nature of their race, and nothing says run for your life like [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5n41Pm_iOI ''The Great Devourer'']. The Eldar music explores both sides of the race: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJpPzjHkDUs ''Khaine's Wrath''] paints them as the [[Your Mileage May Vary|tragic heroes]] fighting for the very survival of their species, while [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrzW0PFjsjQ ''For The Craftworld''] reminds us that they still can and will kick your ass.
*** And then the ''Retribution'' expansion gives us the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S-C9uRJxz4 Imperial Guard theme].
*** I can top that - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KofCPvkv1hw Pit of the Maledictum, anyone]?
* Codename Panzers: Phase One. It may be just an overlooked Hungarian game about [[World War II|the most commonly played war since the war itself]], but, dammit, it has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFIJJaqJExU some] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7eWlHl96Rg good] tunes. Apologies for the low quality, but the [[CNP 1]] music is sparse on Youtube.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJiHDmyhE1A Baba Yetu], the main theme of Civilization IV.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ2rw1bDZBs The main theme] of Tropico.
** Also, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-8Q3_XgzWM Macho Picchu]
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIUxwEJ-GXI Adagio for Strings]" always kicks ass, but the vocal arrangement used in ''[[Homeworld]]'' was particularly awesome. It was appropriate as the introductory music that plays while the camera pans around your iconic Mothership, inspiring awe and wonder. And it was shockingly appropriate when used while {{spoiler|watching your adopted home planet, Karak, burn, along with 99.9% of your species}}.
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzo4ONrI8n8 Turanic Raiders] had a nice theme, too.
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2re702QU6Ls Imperial Taiidan battle theme] from the first game. You know there's going to be a fight when you hear it, and you know it'll be big.
** The theme that plays for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7zTSUy9apg the planetkillers] in the end of the second game. Fits perfectly.
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9LWQWOWEaA Battle of Hiigara] in Cataclysm will always be a personal favourite of mine. Honestly, look up the scene itself if you can find it, and you'll see why. So simple, so calm, yet so fitting and Epic.
** I give you [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG2QNP9A1dA&fmt=18 the Mover battle]. You want chilly? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jQnWPPW74A&fmt=18#t=50 This] scene. You want upbeat? [[HW 2]]'s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6uRknCjmaA credit screen] which is a slightly more upbeat version of the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPjjoxtX7VU Sajuuk battle theme]. The lyrics (?) are in ''sanskrit''.
** ALL the music in ALL the Homeworld games was awesome. My particular favourite was the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8owXHUK-C9E Garden of Kadesh background theme], closely followed by the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jzeQIJf4PE Swarmer Attack theme] of the same levels.
** Someone remixed the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_71Nlhfz8Ko&fmt=18 Imperial] and Swarmer (no [[YouTube]] for this one but [http://sites.google.com/site/nutritiousmultimedia/Nutritious-Homeworld_The_Fallen.mp3 here's] a download link) themes.
* On the whole, [[Neverwinter Nights]] was unremarkable in this regard, but its soundtrack did include a few [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb133m_AEnY&feature=player_embedded#at=41 gems].
* ''[[The Neverhood]]'' has the impossibly epic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPmBCYqs9vQ Battle of Robot Bil].
** It also has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aDh_O3FQWY the brilliant "Pop Goes The Weasel" scene].
** Skullmonkeys has the amusing and extremely satisfying Klogg Is Dead song.
** Not to mention the hilarious Lil' Bonus Room.
** And also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WreJGBEF5iA&hd=1 Klaymen's Theme] and, of course, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXQ2lvgpHiE&hd=1 The Neverhood Theme] itself.
* The relatively obscure planetary air-trading sim [[Hard War]] had a soundtrack entirely comprised of artists from the Warp Records label, ranging from awesome techno-industrial to even funky drum n' bass.
* The ''[[Descent]]'' series had quite a few gems. Let's start with the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwhDaESo9rk title theme], shall we?
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBtqvL-WCus Level 18], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbAiLqjZx_c Level 11], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7im--aTBAM Level 8], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5w9Fh4e6iw Level 3] soundtracks from the original game. The last of which got a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhsmNiELpiM positively epic rock remix] in the Macintosh port.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeEeUI8-870 Level 5 Mac], a [[TV Tropes Made of Win Archive]] techno remix of the aforementioned Level 18 PC music.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS0oHgGh8R0 Callisto Tower Colony], and [http://www.youtube.com/user/LurkerPatrol5#p/c/B20C7C105826AD48/0/MsvNGvr1tng its Macintosh counterpart.]
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY-xD91wLZ8 Europa CO2 Mine] from the PC version, and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UseDhdJaOlw Titan Mine] from the Mac version.
*** And the Mac version of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKGYxbS143g Lunar Scilab].
** Descent 2's soundtrack will make you feel dangerous. See [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrlPvDzZpQ4 Tracks 5-7].
** Even the original FM MIDI soundtrack had its high points. IMO, it give the game a gritty, cybernetic feel.
** ''Descent 3'''s soundtrack, although [[Contested Sequel|contested]] like the game itself, had several epic moments, such as the climax of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlcBvTgVaOc&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLEF10042E824396F1 Level 4], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh3XQDRcBRY Level 7](unfortunately not on the OST).
* [[RuneScape]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2CLZDXEsYg MIDI power!] comes apparent in Route Of The Problem.
** Some Dungeoneering bosses like [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HegVB5aaty0& Night-gazer Khighorahk ] have a great theme.
* ''[[StarCraft]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V9wMRuJuYw Terran theme 1]. Enough said.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFhmCkZMQrE&feature=channel_video_title Protoss theme 1]
** Also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyvH9Gm76Os Terran 2], around the time it moves on from ambience and starts getting funky.
** Hell, let's make a trifecta: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYbF3zQH7uU&NR=1 Terran 3]. Shame neither Protoss nor Zerg invented drums.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKeGwOKr7K8 Radio Free Zerg]
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhQ9ijNEccc The Terran Brood War track]
** The end track during the epilogue of the original/Brood Wars campaign. Such a moody piece from the Protoss campaign. The first minute or so perfectly fits into the whole moody atmosphere of the Protoss story.
** The main menu theme pretty much was the best musical introduction to a epic sci-fi RTS. The best thing of it all: the track gets a slightly updated version in the second installment, which sounds even better.
* ''[[StarCraft II]]''. It has lots of really good music, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qfh4ukwbpI "Card to Play"] is the pinnacle. Though the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af9oim2D_OM title music, "Wings of Liberty"] gives it a run for its money.
** As does the choir-tastic, [[Rousing Speech]]-emboldened [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVpWcyy_dBM "Fire and Fury"].
** Bonus points for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbiWkxgPBng this track] for having a brief reprise of Tassadar's sacrifice at 3:30, and a reprise of the background music of DuGalle's suicide at 5:12.
** Ah, hell, let's just say ALL the music in [[StarCraft II]] WoL. Especially [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcghLSIpZlM the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD93x_qHpSg Terran] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5wahtfZfBA themes], which combine violin, string guitar, drums, and electric guitar to make wonders. And [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ivYHY8V-XA the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deDUfvT-nzM Zerg] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRdJT2MYp0s themes], eerie and unease-inspiring - nightmarish, some may say (and yes, regarding the comment in the first game's section above, Zerg music does indeed become more awesome with lots of drums). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuh96ogWoAc And] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RiIEYqG_yw the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-1XiUhw3ss Protoss] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y77ljEMW_UA themes], with their mix of tribal and ethereal/otherworldly elements (and [[Call Back|occasional snippets]] of their themes from the first game). And even the main menu music, a superb redux of the original game's main menu theme.
** Don't forget the short and sweet [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImoPmBw0CIU campaign victory theme]. Best minute ever.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yChwGMcOcOg Terran Up The Night], one of the credits songs has to be the anthem of the [[Humans Are Warriors]] trope.
* Practically any mid-90s release from the company then known as Epic MegaGames.
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPvGgNmF66w Everything]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2jdMqH9j0M from] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7_nm7h9jG0 Jazz] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elNidnLRDGw Jackrabbit].
*** Can't forget [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24TPyIGS_YI the title theme]!
*** And how about [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHdJE7iCpoY&NR=1 this] Mario Paint Tubelectric remix?
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S26DBHFWIBI Don't] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtJyq0STBu0 forget] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS5VCAbn21A absolutely] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cO4SxcqXfI everything] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSbSglW6Ud4 from] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nizY_8adx4 Jazz] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UirushkxQuI Jackrabbit] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piX51dgKY-A 2]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU-Fw1fOs1g Everything]. Even [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzYtSWOQPoQ expansion pack music].
** Epic Pinball's music was from the same composer. First time this troper ever heard Amiga-style music in an MS-DOS game, and it [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9dPJmT3D58&fmt=18 still] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCniOV0J2XQ rocks.]
** Not much love for electronic music around these parts, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdVnKYcYi3g the soundtrack] to ''[[One Must Fall]] 2097'' should bring back a lot of memories to a few. ''Awesome'' memories.
*** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awiLXWGFJBw music played in the Lightning Power Plant arena] is probably the best of the arena songs.
*** ''Battlegrounds'', though a lackluster sequel, has an ass-kickin' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ocW6GG0Y7k remix] of 2097's main menu theme.
*** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvlVaQl7kEk reconstruction] of the theme by Kenny Chou, the man who composed it in the first place.
** ''[[Tyrian]]''. This troper remembers driving his parents mad by leaving the game on pause for hours, just so the music would be playing... Check [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVZ47z4F0G8 Tyrian, the song], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwn1vb0F8Lc Sarah's Song], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiBc0bKUp6c Rock Garden], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ9shn6kQx0 Asteroids], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPnY5zBp_oU One Mustn't Fall] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thtiUXckAVg Tyrian, the level]
*** Add [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw2Vp-J9TRA "Gyges, Will You Please Help Me?"] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXOQWOa4TmE "A Field For Mag"] to that list.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKPJoEKXud0 Transon,] from the (pre-expansion) last level.
*** Even more awesome is the fact that the music sounds much better with older sound hardware. General MIDI? Meh. FM Sound? Awesome cranked up to 11!
** Anyone remember a game called ''[[Radix: Beyond the Void]]''? The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4yLT7bUFOQ first mission theme] rocked pretty hard.
** Any ''[[Jill of the Jungle]]'' fans? The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeXLU2XuFsE intro theme] was pretty awesome given the limitations on sound quality.
* ''[[Baldur's Gate]]''. Like the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U88zyFLzIXQ BG2 Main Theme] or the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP7vWiaxw7Y First game one] or the song that plays when fighting [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUHjdq6SFkQ When fighting dragons] which is probably the most epic song EVER.
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V6ayeiKkT4 Bhaalspawn battle] music from the expansion.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCXMXflff8s Throne of Bhaal final battle]
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB7T6Kd9cYg Throne of Bhaal main theme].
* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEqDtbC3bL8 Skeleton of a Town(/Town of Targos)]'' from ''[[Icewind Dale]] 2'' is absolutely gorgeous, as is the rest of the soundtrack. But then, Inon Zur's soundtracks usually are.
* While the music from ''[[Star Control]] II'' is universally agreed to be mind-blowingly wonderful in general, the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMBxBS0tgwk Yehat theme] is considered to be the best.
** I favour the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hIeSRCtwP8 Orz] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VNul2QETPE Ur-Quan]. But we could argue all night, and the best would still be the combat theme. It's practically synonimous with the game! Heck, even the combat victory themes were sweet!
** There's also [https://web.archive.org/web/20131023030729/http://wiki.uqm.stack.nl/Precursors_Remixing_Team Precursors Team] -- a remake project with original artists involved.
* ''[[La-Mulana]]'' with very few exceptions (2-3 mediocre songs) is the Crowning Soundtrack of Awesome, but Earth Wind deserves special mention. And also Curse Of Iron Pipe.
** Tiamat's theme is "Interstice of the Dimention (sic)", which has an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT6p4J9QgMQ&fmt=18 extremely badass rock arrangement], and Mother's theme ("Good Night Mom") is also definitely worth mentioning.
** The short intro riff of that plays right when you first enter the ruins--and never again, unless you start over or use the La Mulana Jukebox--sets the tone of the exploration perfectly and leads into the excellent Fearless Challenger.
** Mr. Explorer, Grand History and Giant's Cry.
** Giant's Rage is considered by many players to be amazingly epic. It's definitely one of the most epic sounding boss themes, with an excellent instrumentation, and fits its boss fight to a T. In The Bottom is also very good.
** Even though it's only a short loop, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1nwuEEiKQI Requiem]. It plays in the boss room when you have met the requirements to fight the boss. It's the soundtrack's way of asking, "Are you ''ready?''"
* While we're on the subject of Type-Moon, doujin [[Super Robot Wars]] clone ''[[Battle Moon Wars]]'' has some pretty amazing music as well.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkKqBDQMcyI Counter Attack]. [[Original Generation]] character Haruna's theme. While it doesn't prelude any particular moments of awesome, you'll want to turn off attack animations so that it doesn't stop.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d97mgNf23n4 Reprisal]. The theme for {{spoiler|Irisviel and Kiritsugu}}. An anthem to the [[Power of Love]]. Also one of the more challenging boss fights in the game. Probably because of said power.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKGg_KzOxOA RoSHIaKI's theme]. Because even [[Lethal Joke Character|joke characters]] need to have awesome music sometimes.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIoTR5M9dgY Ancient Weapon]. Pretty much cements Kuu's status as a [[Lady of War]] and preludes a beatdown of epic proportions on your characters as she slams her chosen target with multiple, potentially unavoidable [[Wave Motion Gun|WaveMotionGuns]].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzH7PFGyufE Let It Go]. The theme for the final boss. Let's just say it contributes to the entire [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] and leave it at that.
* ''Age of Mythology'' has some great background music (with odd names) but n. d. nile would have to be the best.
* The music in the second half of the [[Chzo Mythos]], especially the [https://web.archive.org/web/20071018093933/http://www.screen7.co.uk/music/midi/scores/tnotes_04dangerloop.mid "you are going to die" theme], could probably be counted as one, if not for their unfortunate tendency of evoking memories of the [[Nightmare Fuel|Tall Man]].
* When you think of ''[[I Wanna Be the Guy]]'', music [[Platform Hell|probably isn't the first]] [[Nintendo Hard|thing that comes to mind]]. Still, it has some very good tracks that make the torture a little bit more bearable. Case in point: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vftk0IcQUas Mecha Birdo's theme].
** Every single song in that game is lifted from somewhere else (even the generic metal-sounding tracks for the file select, first area, and infamous "GAME OVER" jingle, which are all from ''[[Guilty Gear]] Isuka''.) Mecha-Birdo's theme is from Ikaruga. The soundtrack used is amazing and fitting, even if unoriginal, Kayin at least has very good taste in video game music.
** The game uses several songs already listed on this page, in particular The Moon from ''Duck Tales'' and the songs from ''Monty on the Run'' and ''Cheetahmen''.
* Basically ''everything'' from ''Rome: Total War''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cf77-A48jU Divinitus] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmYWIwlSQiA Forever] deserve a special mention.
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d3biTBKtFs Middle Eastern menu music] is a hell of a lot of fun, too.
** True to the name, ''Medieval II: Total War'' doesn't disappoint, and opens the game with some amazing [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49-aBEwPHRY main menu music] - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ7u97lqMmc two of them], actually.
** What about ''Shogun: Total War''? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IU7ia0XIGg the first mobilisation track] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C--UFqAsaEQ second battle track] spring to mind.
* ''[[Iji]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYt-c0ofZ0o The final boss' theme]. Just add [[Macross Missile Massacre]] to it and you'll start bleeding awesomeness from your ears, courtesy of Chris Geehan & Dan Byrne McCullough.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SHOvWhti98 And the regular boss theme]. This is pretty much the sole reason why I wanted to play this game, and it ended up being cool anyway. Also the artist made it a '''looping''' song, meaning if you add the beginning right at the end, it'll loop perfectly. Tom Mauritzon is a genius.
** There's also a fair amount of awesomeness in "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c0Ha-O09aY Kinda Green]" and the strangely named "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9H6ULM-Bwg 3 Cans Later]".
*** Well, one of the other songs is called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zZ9dN9SJXQ "Welcome to the Party, Pal"]
** And then there's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0YebcgbJwg Organ Smash], a song so awesome you'll wonder why the hell it isn't actually in the game.
** To be perfectly honest, the entire soundtrack is made of awesome.
* ''FX Fighter'' is an obscure MS-DOS fighting game from 1995. While the graphics and gameplay left much to be desired, it had a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfuWSZSlZoE surprisingly] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84oalhJRF1U good] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gqdpPdkD8s soundtrack].
* The soundtracks of [[SimCity|2000, 3000, and 4 Rush Hour]] by Jerry Martin. Most of it is jazz or jazz inspired, but check out the pieces for 3000 and Rush Hour and [https://web.archive.org/web/20100324105920/http://simcity.ea.com/coolstuff/music_index.php hear for yourself]
* [[Battle Realms]]: the "pragmatic" Serpent Clan's first theme song, Fall of Serpentholm
** "The Swan's Pool", another Serpent theme, is also kickass.
* Ready to feel your face melt from kickass nostalgia? Yes? Well, here you go: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_QV3lfib_8 The Incredible Machine 3: Progressive (Soundtrack Version)]
* The ''[[Mechwarrior]] 2'' soundtrack. It's probably among the most memorable video game soundtracks ever. It makes even the most mundane activity in the game seem epic. Even listening to them outside the game, they sound like they should be played while something epic happens.
** Especially [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V5Ssig2rQo Rogue Chariot]! This track just gets me pumped for no reason at all.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJHD2icItdY Wednesday 7] from Mechwarrior 4: Vengeance is up there too. In fact, a lot of the Mech' series music is good, whether it's from #4 Mercs, either of the 'Commander games, or the other 'Warrior games. Also in #4 Mercs; Behemoths for the Heavy/Assaults and Skittersprint/Floodgate for the Lights and fast Mediums.
* [[Command & Conquer|Frank Klepacki]] composed the soundtrack to ''[[Star Wars|Empire at War]]''. Three Words: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRyNLNf9BMA Tyber Zann's theme.]
* The shareware game ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20130606045114/http://www.3drealms.com/raptor/ Raptor: Call of the Shadows]'' has some great music.
* Every track from the indie game ''[[Aquaria (video game)|Aquaria]]'' is downright beautiful, only magnificently adding to the game's amazing [[Scenery Porn]].
** Examples: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhN4sRXhHeY The Abyss,] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5n_lr4mZdQ Remains,] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjDfISZSUfM Icy Waters,] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0AeY4HX86M The Sun Temple,] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQWJBaWqIVA and Open Waters.] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvBdgCbDQGU All three] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP7nBFk1C20 of them.]
*** The boss music isn't too shabby either. [http://infiniteammo.bandcamp.com/track/boss-fraught Just check out the miniboss music.]
* The ''[[Free Space]]'' series has excellent music, including gems like [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH3KDxZz-60 Chaser], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA72wN8k_1g Monolith], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p87gK9fZAN4 Exodus], and the incredibly badass [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noSZa7glFc4 Revelation]
** The best part is, Dan Wentz did the music for the [[Red Faction]] series too, so if you listen closely, you might hear some familiar themes from [[Free Space]] whilst playing the [[Red Faction]] games.
** The ''[[Blue Planet]]'' mod is known for its excellent soundtrack, which, in addition to several remixes of the original game's music, includes such songs as Nobuo Uematsu's [[Final Fantasy VII|"Those Who Fight Further"]]<ref>Advent Children version specifically</ref> and Immediate Music's [[Ominous Latin Chanting|"Spiritus Elektros"]].
* The music from ''[[Ragnarok Online]]''.
** Here's one from Gonryun. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2a3Se2Dvas&hd=1 'Not so far away'], and another from job changes, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMyV1XWbPyg 'Believe in myself'], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVyehHuTHUk 'Dread and Bold']
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCqHmJsDrxI&hd=1 Din Don Dan Dan Fo] from the second game
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZnoN5o6J7s&fmt=18 We Have Lee but You don't Have] of Juperos, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmufv9bMGo0&fmt=18 Monastery in Disguise] of Nameless Island's Cursed Abbey, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUaZlpsZ7jc&fmt=18 Erebos' Prelude] of Thanatos' Tower (Floors 1-3), [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMaBAvf1ku4&fmt=18 Christmas in the 13th Month] of Nifflheim town, and more songs that just aren't done justice by Youtube's quality.
** Many of the city themes are epically awesome. This troper is particularly fond of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlXCexeWLG8 Juno], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N90K4BtclbM Aldebaran], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C-Anl_n43Y Louyang].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PNgdMcQprs Wanna Be Free!!] deserves some love too.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUi10rlepU4 Especially the vocal version.] Which is three different shades of awesome.
** Though the game is not out yet (and likely will not be played by many) nearly the entirety of the [http://www.imeem.com/metalpanda/playlist/Pyps_FCR/ragnarok_online_2_ost_music_playlist/ soundtrack] (warning: free membership site, sorry) of Ragnarok Online 2 is simply stellar. Of course, it IS scored by Yoko Kanno...
** Special mention to the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVxGmFaNFs battle theme]
** Since one of the last Patches, [[Big Bad|Morroc Satan]] got revived, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_Mo-UmAUe4 this] deserves a place here.
** Don't forget [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSMjsDoeNwM Steel Me]. Newcomers to Einbroch were standing around for ''hours'' listening to it.
* The MMORPG ''[[The Lord of the Rings]] Online'' is starting to amass a seriously impressive backlog of awesome music, with more undoubtedly to come. (Better links will hopefully be posted at some point.)
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9i6T_Innw music at Tom Bombadil's house], which was also awesome because it's right in the middle of a really difficult and scary (at level 10 or so, anyway) forest.
** Most of the songs that play in the Trollshaws are awesome (some play in Ered Luin as well). There's a clip of one of them in the first part of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r-4dB9LZHE this trailer]. And let's not forget [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ6F8x1bgvs Rivendell] itself!
** Most of the soundtrack in the Shire is really good, but this troper nominates the music that plays when trying to cross the Brandywine Bridge (I apologise for the lack of a Youtube, trying to find one), leaving the Shire for Bree-land. This troper has a hard time bringing himself to cross the bridge (hence "trying") because the soundtrack is just so good, and fits the Shire so perfectly.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60WvpPbgzLM Here] is the link for it. It is called Hills of the Shire. And it has a [[Dark Reprise]] called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlwsVWhc9Mo Warpipes,] which is equally awesome and is heard when the Nazgul comes to the shire, as well as in the skirmish 'Trouble at Tuckborough,' during which goblins raid the shire.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcQIn9EhbhA Mirkwood.] Strangely, this music was in the official soundtrack before Mirkwood was added to the game. It is heard during the Ford of Bruinen skirmish, and made this troper participate in it again and again just for the music. This is the PERFECT music for a [[Big Damn Heroes]] moment.
** And we can't forget the Dwarves, now can we? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdKHklzZzy4 Thorin's Gate and Thorin's Hall], the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe3ty6OPc4c Song of the Dwarves], and of course, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1RvebC6Qkk Baruk Khazad].
* ''[[Planetarian]]'' has mostly sweet, extremely melodious tunes for its soundtrack. They are simple, but extremely effective in setting the mood.
* [[Aveyond]]. Anything. From. The. Aveyond. Series. Period.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtWHdYBb_yU Field of Wind], the overworld theme from the first game, a lush and melancholy theme.
* Sierra games are known for having some excellent scores. For instance, the ending anthem to ''[[King's Quest VI]]''. ''Literally'' crowning music of awesome. The ending scores for any of the ''[[Quest for Glory]]'' series also count.
** It says something when the [[Award Bait Song]] is the ''lamest'' things on a ''[[King's Quest]]'' soundtrack.
** [http://www.queststudios.com/ Quest Studios] For those of you unlucky enough to miss out on the awesome. These guys also composed their own [[Crowning Music of Awesome]] for the [[AGD Interactive]] [[Fan Remake|Fan Remakes]]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130323135016/http://www.queststudios.com/quest/kq2rts/kq2music/kq2music.html Their score for the KQ2 remake], especially the Air Gem tests, is on par with Sierra itself.  {{spoiler|The flash-forward scenes to [[King's Quest III]]}} "Daventry in Ruins" and  {{spoiler|"Walking with Connor" (with the ''[[King's Quest: Mask of Eternity|King's Quest Mask of Eternity]]'' character)}} incorporate the [[Leitmotif]] from both games beautifully.
** And while on the subject of Sierra games, let's talk [[Gabriel Knight]], shall we? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_9Bb7kpNtc Here] is a small sampling of the music from the first game, which includes the main theme. In addition to that: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEg8DDg-BP0 GK1 Intro + Credits], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZZHLlbBvP0 GK1 Wolfgang's Theme], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIkh8WdrDeU GK2 Chapter 1 Intro], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8CTF6mSuRc GK3 Intro].
*** And while not a Sierra game itself, the music for [[Gray Matter]] was done by the composer for Gabriel Knight, Robert Holmes, so the music is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u5G_V0NjBQ similarly] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45UrPRE0qmY awesome].
* MDK's soundtrack. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsmjUBRAWFg Facing the Inevitable] is amazing, as is most of the game's music.
* [[Deceased Crab]], who did a [[Let's Play]] of ''[[Cave Story]]'', says "Anyone who doesn't love [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNk6OtebN5Y&fmt=18 the Outer Wall music] is a monster." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZU_f3QaX68 Geothermal] is also pure awesome. And it's amazing that all this was made by one guy.
** It's easier to list the tracks that do not qualify for this list. There are none.
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20101114003050/http://tigmn.com/2010/10/cave-story-remix-project/ There was also a remix project], which managed to make them even more awesome. Sadly, the original links to the music at Shack Space are gone, but other people have been able to upload mirrors, [http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V2KRG800 such as here]{{Dead link}}, as a ''huge'' bundle of more or less every song listed in this entire [[Crowning Music of Awesome]] section! Some standout tracks:
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLGqWkZkrus Grass Stains], a remix of the Grasstown theme with some awesome guitar.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tryNTGCnTHk Island of Eden], a medley of various songs with epic guitar.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA05eYXF6qc Ball of Ballos], the already epic Sacred Grounds theme but even more awesome.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itic-HgzFg4 Never Die], the final boss theme made ''ridiculously'' awesome.
*** The Last Battle [[OverClocked Remix]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1GDKk_lQA Polar Star Overdrive], while not on the Cave Story Remix Project, may be even ''better'' than Never Die.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-6Slt3T8eU White,] King's theme song, barely sliding into the actual game as a secret track.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1VTkwllQ8Q Running Hell], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0pFBWAMvo4 Last Battle], and particularly [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1GKfCyoRZY Living Waterway]. And -ahem- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL3xqOexk6w the main theme].
** And let's not forget [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvs1aMxm-DI this amazing OCRemix of Moonsong].
** What about the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDnnZD2ZWpA Cave Story Medley]? The pianist makes a few mistakes, but it didn't stop this from being a great listen.
*** His rendition of Moonsong in the Medley is so emotional that he eventually redid it as a ''[[Up to Eleven|four hand version]]''. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRpVQTsF1g8 Hear it here].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJsF9DbS1Dc Tsuki No Uta by Akineko]. Let me put this straight: metal remix of ''Moonsong''. And it works.
** There's also the kickass [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-RdTjI5bmg Wind Fortress], which is unfortunately a [[Cut Song]].
** Someone named SBK made [http://doukutsu.rdy.jp/stored/tsukinouta_trance.mp3 this cool trance remix] of "Moonsong".
** [http://wearethelayabouts.com/content/cavestory This guy]{{Dead link}} made an album's worth of ''Cave Story'' mashup songs. "Oppression vs. Genesis" and "Mimiga Town vs. Harder Faster Better Stronger" are the best.
** Leaf Xceed did some very cool metal remixes: [http://rtnario.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/leaf-xceed-music-division-core-oppression/ "Core Oppression"], [http://rtnario.wordpress.com/2009/05/30/leaf-xceed-music-division-cave-story-war/ "Cave Story War"], [http://rtnario.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/leaf-xceed-music-division-winter-sunshine-contradanza-town-of-leaves-v2/ "Town of Leaves"], and [http://rtnario.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/leaf-xceed-music-division-huzzah/ "HUZZAH"].
** DrellisSkiad tought that the Wii version soundtrack was atrocious. What better revenge than [http://il.youtube.com/user/DrellisSkiad to recompose the entire soundtrack her/himself?]
*** Ah, but now the the Wii version has been updated, and the new music sounds wonderfull. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xqA6nU2_Ok Take a gander at the new version of Egg Corridor] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31dHd8kYdsQ Balrog's Theme] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWCCOnTXN48 and Gravity with the drum track]. You didn't know what was missing until you've heard this.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBSv5ewodI8 Meltdown 2] sounds much, much better in the new fixed rearrangement.
** The 3DS version of Cave Story has some pretty awesome remixes. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBqE9xMJtMc&feature=related On to Bushlands] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEVo7kqUOCM Plantation] are a couple of good examples, and the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np8CYBL1DCs&feature=related Last Battle] is also totally epic.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynoKGz0IHdI Charge] is one of the best boss themes you'll ever find in any game. It also happens to be ''less than fifteen seconds long''.
* [[Bonesaw]] has some ''awesome'' tunes. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140502164444/http://music.jwmusic.org/album/bonesaw-original-soundtrack Listen to the OST here.]
* Doujin shmup ''[[EXceed]] 3rd: Jade Penetrate'' brings to the table "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CN78ourvr8 Intersect Thunderbolt]" and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwayroaCac4 The Fate of...]", the themes of the final boss and her [[One-Winged Angel|super form]].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xngxNjqNVEI The original theme song to the Nancy Drew games] was pretty awesome by itself, as it caputred the mystery, suspense, and overall mood of the games. For that reason, many fans were unhappy when it got cut from the opening halfway through the series. When the theme song finally ''did'' return a few games later, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0QZQNwLYVE it came with an all-new level of awesomeness.]
* And let's not forget [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS3znI-X2Yg the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHJSWOOp3aE various] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b5BYVTZWtg scores] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhqy1O1tZX4 to] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzDzKY4wrIo the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_V5RQakcrA games.] And those are just a ''few'' examples. Kevin Manthei has a knack for capturing the mood in each game ''perfectly.''
* ''[[Seiklus]]''' soundtrack consists entirely of a bunch of previously-existing [[Demoscene]] tunes. But the thing is, ''they're all good''. What Clysm lacked in composition skills, he made up for in the ability to find incredibly catchy music. Particularly noteworthy are "[http://modarchive.org/index.php?request=view_by_moduleid&query=67590 Rainy Summerdays]" and "[http://modarchive.org/index.php?request=view_by_moduleid&query=59161 Believe in Yourself (Extended Remix)]".
* Nuclear Winter's theme from Freedom Force. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8bB90q8vz0\]
* The ''[[Quake]]'' soundtracks are what happens when you ask [[Nine Inch Nails|Trent Reznor]], Sonic Mayhem and Frontline Assembly to work on your game:
** Let's start with the most awesome track from ''[[Quake II]]'': [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6VpX-feA2M&fmt=18 Quad Machine].
*** Then there's of course, the dynamic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5EK2_EGyco Quake II menu theme] which is a whole load of awesome in itself.
*** Another great qualifier is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALBKFB28E0M&fmt=18 Descent Into Cerberon]
** And then, there's ''Quake III: Team Arena'''s intro track (also a ''[[Quake III Arena]]'''s regular track) - [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG6oBC0Ym5c&fmt=18 Quad Damage].
** Two words: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG2g45mZ_fw&fmt=18 Pressure Zone].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6rKcc82mBg Anti-Logic] is EXTREMELY kickass.
* ''Nexus: The Jupiter Incident''. Period.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNfPPu4Mrj8&fmt=18 Raptor] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_HQIJzr_dM&fmt=18 Nexus] are this troper's favorites: the former plays during the first serious space battle of the game while the second comes with brutal [[Scenery Porn]] (translation: Epicness turned [[Up to Eleven]]).
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8wnSmSW9nw Vardrag], the track that gives [[Ominous Latin Chanting]] a new meaning.
** Also, ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkeVknNhZjE Haegemonia]'' and it's expansion, ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4CFMK8_0T0&fmt=18 The Solon Heritage]''. Even better, both versions has the soundtrack in MP2 format without encryption, compression or custom codecs, neatly organized in the game folder!
* ''[[Diablo]].'' The second game's soundtrack never struck much for This Troper, but the first game featured some ridiculously atmospheric tracks. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2evIg-aYw8 Tristram] theme comes to mind.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7ekMFeC5V4 Raise some hell]. Sadly there is no studio version of this.
** That's not to say the second game doesn't have it's good tracks. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YruCuC6gbl0 Case in point].
* The ''entire soundtrack'' of [[Rosenkreuzstilette]], except for most of the talk themes (but not [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXM2HebgiXk Dark Purple Moon], which was instead [[Wasted Song|wasted]].) Of particular note are the intro stage theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxjDa8B04jQ The Ground Which Can Shine], Luste's stage theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efpi4L-a4tc 26], Freudia's ''boss'' theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1w2wgRNO4I 22], which also plays when  {{spoiler|she saves Spiritia from Iris}}, the first {{spoiler|Iris}} stage theme, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUr32cPqxAk Red Pollusion], the theme of the Garden of Time, Space, and Chaos, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afjqHdReg5w Winter Breath], and the final stage theme, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnodQ07VOTs ys008 ~The Final Duel~].
** Mention must definitely be made for the final boss theme, "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1JRNVLx1Ls ~Requiem for Myself~]"
** Its sequel Freudenstachel has been showing strong signs of this: Zorne's new stage theme Eruption Trigger and Sichte's new stage theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u66MvIVbrZ4 The Ancient Cry] are much more awesome than their original stage themes. Sadly, Eruption Trigger can't be found on [[YouTube]]... yet.
* For a Crowning Music of Tear Jerking, the battle theme in [[Rise of Nations]], for when you are losing, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iRz7tJ8M38 really drives home the extent of your failure.]
** This troper particularly enjoyed [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWaW0fqvdgM Waterloo]
* Four letters: ''[[Doom]]''. Check out [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYVX6b9svuE Sign of Evil], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iIrg4DM078 Nobody Told Me About Id], and from Doom II: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbh3ZYuTBDY Opening to Hell] or [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veJp8Qjcymo Evil Incarnate].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEAYqiKFk9c Hiding the Secrets] is also a great "totally ruining shit" theme.
** Ahem. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkhCNx-8Qos Into Sandy's City], anyone?
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSsfjHCFosw At Doom's Gate], which is great for starting off your day at UAC with filling a zombie's face with pistol lead.
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQs48dvebck Hangarmageddon] is an awesome version of it. And whilst we're on the subject, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLEfBVMga0I&fmt=18 the Playstation version intro], whilst the title rises slowly from a sea of flames, still sends shivers up this troper's spine.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW_XDSFdn-4 ZX Spectrum] home port makes you wish you had that music on original version.
** Don't forget [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43aj3ag3H1c Kitchen Ace (And Taking Names)] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RceexU3sM9c the intermission music].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4HEJdTH50s Message For The Archvile], especially the guitar solo at 3:33.
** The Doom 3 heavy theme. Reason being that besides the startup, you'll only ever hear it again when you're victorious, and almost invariably at the end of any Doom 3 mod episode too. It's sort of like an awesome music of crowning.
** "Nobody Told Me About Id" is so good, it was used for the super secret level of The Plutonia Experiment and gets a new remix for every community-made sequel for it. So far we have [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2x1dVkTdvc Nobody Told Me About Plutonia] for Plutonia 2 and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWYAue_uxMA I Already Know About Id] for Plutonia Revisited.
* A little-known game by Apogee called ''[[Rise of the Triad]]'' did this with half the music in the game. Instead of going atmospheric and moody like most first-person shooters of the time, Triad had music that made you want to charge in, guns blazing - and given that almost all the game mechanics revolved around the [[Rule of Cool]], this was not only feasible, but [[So Cool Its Awesome|totally awesome to do.]]
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j9LDQ0Mu_Q Goin' Down The Fast Way.] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6erC93RvZeI Run Like Smeg.] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xeyCgAe66k How'd I Do?] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xeyCgAe66k Oww!!!] And, of course, the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKzn9ZSmASc Fish Polka.]
** It's made even better, somehow, through having a good chunk of the [[Doom]] fan-expansion Hell Revealed feature its music for a good portion of its frenetic stages.
** To put it in perspective, someone [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W2lTT5-foM remixed Goin' Down The Fast Way] with [[Mega Man X]] instruments. Not only is it still awesome, but it would feel right at home in one of the SNES titles.
* ''X3: Terran Conflict'' has a fair collection of "spacey" music, some uplifting, some haunting, most of it just being there, without you really noticing it. But then, one day, you make the jump into Kingdom's End and you get [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXGnou1sOs4 this].
* ''[[VVVVVV]]'' has what may be the best chiptune soundtrack in a new game since ''Cave Story''. For just a sampling, try "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYANYGCgRz4 Pushing Onwards]", "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vjyhx49BIzc Potential For Anything]", and "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUc5bLM3w5Q Pressure Cooker]".
** Most of the soundtrack is awesome, but the one that stands par to "Potential For Anything" in terms of awesomeness is "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18pqyuWqtb8 Positive Force]". It takes "Pushing Onwards" and raise its motive to a whole new level.
** "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0Jk94ri3W4 Predestined Fate]" is also excellent.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAcSg11JIYE&fmt=18 Popular Potpourri], the credits is also pretty great.
* [[Civilization]] IV. This (atheist) troper cries every time he listens to [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGr4g_Knw7k&fmt=18 Baba Yetu].
** Baba Yetu just won a Grammy. The first time ever for a piece of computer game music.
** Especially when combined with the rotating world.. But IMHO the whole game has awesome music. Just the fact that every leader got it's own piece, which is performed by increasingly more (modern) instruments as the civilization advances.
** And especially the tunes that are newer versions of old themes, which give an awesome moment of nostalgic realization, and of course, an opportunity to remember how amazing ''those'' songs were as well.
*** Like [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1H_oyVeoyI Mao Zedong's Theme], which becomes ten times better when you realize it's an new arrangement of Civilization II's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C55Ae3apn5s The Shining Path].
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-IRJzNDU2o Montezuma's theme], an brand spanking new arrangement of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw-ele8Q0iE Tenochtitlan Revealed].
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5m7TSMszl0 Hatshepsut's Theme] every bit as calmingly amazing as when it was [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mH2p-iOr_Y Harvest of the Nile]
*** This troper's personal favorite is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEVNDw90VyI Justinian I's theme]
** Lets not forget the music from Civilization III, which honestly saved the game for me. While only a few of the songs have names, many of them still stand out, like the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_qxPRShwUk Ancient Era Theme] for the... well... Ancient Era, and especially the Modern Era songs: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlknGt-dKVs Smash], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb-30whUbaI Techno Mix], and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyAnyqYmjdo Stars Full]
** Civilization V has a number of great pieces as well, especially [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZSq-lx34ew Russia's war theme] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kpVrmRkPWk Greece's peace theme,] especially considering it is the oldest surviving example of a complete musical composition from anywhere in the world.
*** And then there's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X28q4EMMpW4&feature=related Spain's war theme], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSzzSrCfEqw&feature=related England's war theme], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viePNPx6iVk Persia's peace theme], the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT1VhQHXvDk&feature=related Ottoman war theme] even has a [[Genius Bonus]] by including snippets of Beethoven's Turkish March, the list goes on!
*** Even the ambient music has some brilliant pieces - all culled from some of the best musical pieces from around the world. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1fY94bYAqQ Here's a small sampling. A SMALL sampling.]
***
* Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption has its main theme, available in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOFwYVy37_c&fmt=18 Dark Age] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b4m5NkDie4&fmt=18 Modern Age] variants.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeQw5kNLcJM&fmt=18 Wonderland Woods] from [[American McGee's Alice]].
* Most of the [[Planescape: Torment]] soundtrack is made of awesome. A small taste is the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixv_jRI6VqY&fmt=18 Main Theme] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciElC-u2vno&fmt=18 Transcendent One]. The latter is chillingly awesome in game, with its first appearance being  {{spoiler|1=right after the Nameless One has moved on after defeating Ravel Puzzlewell. The Transcendent One, aka the Nameless One's disembodied mortality (and final boss of the game) arrives and this theme starts up. He and Ravel proceed to have a truly epic battle against one another, which made the previous battle against the Nameless One himself seem like little more than a warm-up. Can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DZAIFQH4fM&fmt=18 here]. There's also a bit of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAiypc2wsOA&fmt=18 Sigil Battle] and the theme from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPm1BpFD83M&fmt=18 Ravel's Maze] to be heard there as well, which are cool in their own right.}}
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxYEJwmMCX4&fmt=18 Smoldering Corpse Bar]
* [[Killing Floor]] soundtrack mostly consists of industrial/trash metal like music. And when you have something coming up against you that has a rocket launcher for an arm, all you could do is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl9IGwoYCms abandon all]...
* The [http://wiki.cohtitan.com/w/images//a/a4/RiktiWarZone_TheCrashSite.ogg music that plays when entering the Crash Site neighborhood of the Rikti War Zone] in ''[[City of Heroes]]''.
* ''Tubular Worlds'', a shmup for PC, Macintosh and Amiga, has an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSosybtBgYU absolutely amazing intro theme].
* ''Pathalogic'': You need not go any further then [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQDRjbxXUmc the Main Menu] to already know that you're in for some mind-blowingly scary stuff.
* [[Princess Waltz]]- The song "Battlefield of Steel" alone is worth the price of admission, and the rest of the soundtrack is pretty catchy too.
* The four-disc soundtrack to the doujin [[Shoot'Em Up]] ''Cho Ren Sha 68K'', which includes the already-awesome in-game songs, such as the music to Stage 4, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lnVCmOqIXA "Infinity"], as well as fan- and self-remixed songs such as [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDAv2QKnAdc this remix of "Impossible One"]
* ''Medal of Honor: Allied Assault''
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMiH1PEQRAg music] that plays in ''Allied Assault'' during the [[Best Level Ever|level]] where you hijack the King Tiger tank and go a merry rampage. ''Awesome.''
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd2iKQZnCVk The Nebelwerfer Hunt], originally from the Undercover in Crete mission in ''[[Medal of Honor]]: Underground''.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1WPfxz0Jdo Schmerzen], a reworked version of the Fort Schmerzen theme from the original game.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg0Tmydj29M The theme to the Battlefield series.]
** This troper thought the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX-3b1DK-4s Armored Fury remix] of the song was pretty awsome.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rbSfCfa2-M Battlefield 2142's theme] sounds even more symphonic and epic to me, on the other hand, the upcoming [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz0v-qixpOI Battlefield Heroes' theme song] is just damn catchy and fun.
** And lets not forget the version of the theme played during the loading screen of Wake Island 2142. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW0t4TBye2M& Played with electric guitars.]
** You want electric guitars? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHszJVyPXVM Battlefield 3's theme] for you. Sounds kinda futuristic... then the Battlefield theme kicks in at 1:16...
*** That track isn't actually the theme, it was composed by Remo Baldi, but is not included in the game. This is the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OECa0y4F9D0 Official BF3 Theme]. It sounds like a thunderstorm.
* StepMania, a free implementation of DDR, holds competitions for songs--composing, writing steps, doing background art. Some of them are at least as good as the tracks in the commercially-released games.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfM2WSqSVmE Vienna Core] by JAKAZiD
* The IIDX-like game ''O2Jam'' has its share of musical awesomeness, such as:
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LBecjIpdj4 V3] by Beautiful Day, a remix of Beethoven's "Pathetique" (the same song that the ''Pump It Up'' song "Beethoven Virus" remixes).
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Ioi7PYS1w RoseHoliC] by SHK, which is described as "digi-occult" music. No relation to the IIDX song "Holic" or anime series ''[[×××HOLiC]]''.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JF0Qeyz5Ys Beautiful Day] by...well...Beautiful Day.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezzm_Fq2gRE Red Sign] by Kevin.O2sE.
* ''[[Star Trek Starfleet Command]]'' not only neatly avoids [[The Problem with Licensed Games]], it also boasts wall-to-wall [http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E5BBA150F52D8A88 awesome music]. Highlights include the wistful [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFkPKU49k8s Federation theme], the menacing [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAQaOYWX82I Romulan march], and the gleefully retro [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQddUINNyHg Lyran theme]. Go and listen to them. Go and listen to them ''now''.
** Inon Zur did a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nTBIBnvkGM quite] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-O25yIEN8E awesome] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT9JC0AyyvQ job] on SFC II, as well.
* ''Starsiege'' has some meh songs but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzdetJwjato Mechsoul] sticks in this troper's mind a decade after playing the game.
* ''Secret of the Solstice'' 's BGM mostly qualifies for this. But the Magic Forest, and the Jotunheim theme are brilliant.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7bolTpAZsE Crysis theme] was pretty awesome whenever it appeared in the game.
* ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]] 2: Vengeance of the Kilrathi''. Pretty much everything, starting right from the main theme.
** The scramble music from this series in particular.
* Some of the scrapped/rarer ''Hellgate: London tracks'' (one in particular from Sascha Dikiciyan and Cris Velasco) are also decent epic stuff.
* ''[[Action Doom 2 Urban Brawl]]'' has a couple of great tunes, such as the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apxVY-0dcAs&fmt=18 Bridge music].
* ''[[Melty Blood]]'' 's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA4ZKVmJS4U Pe-Ri-Ca] has been the backdrop to many an intense and high speed fight for this troper.
** No mention of Melty Blood's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q2uVK28QY4 World End Roar]?
** Or Melty Blood's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbtu50qsY5I Seijaku no Fortissimo]? 'Bad ending theme? I think you mean badass ending theme.' indeed
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmCgle4xPOc Aoko's theme] from the night version of the Grassy Field stage in [[Re Act]].
* The opening music from ''[[Space Quest]] 1 VGA'' played on an MT-32. Awesome.
** It can be downloaded from Quest Studios' SQ1 digital music page [https://web.archive.org/web/20101231035340/http://www.queststudios.com/quest/sq1cd/sq1cd.html here].
* ''[[Anachronox]]'' is considered by fans to have one of the best video game soundtracks.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ4zJ0WkzHY every] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7tpQouOrL0 piece] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxTvCFLP5Sg from] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNi6ZIT-hIw the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S96zhgsnJh4 MechWarrior 4] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPmgZHcnlDo Soundtrack]. When this troper was learning violin, the first piece I taught myself was 'Aftermath' from this game.
* [[Lacuna Coil]]'s "Swamped" in the credits of ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines]]'', when you (well, at least in one ending)  {{spoiler|walk out of Ventrue Tower that just blew up. With that asshole prince Lacroix inside}}. Crowning Music of Awesome indeed.
** Bloodlines, for all its problems, was blessed with a great soundtrack, both in terms of ambient themes and licensed songs. Chiasm's "Isolated" and Tiamat's "Cain" (the Asp Hole theme) tie in sublimely with the game's theme and mood.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el5yD2Ayokw Da-da, da-da, da-da da-da da-da dah! Da-da, da-da, da-da da-da, MARATHON!]
** How could you forget Marathon's "SPLASH!"? It totally defines this trope!
*** And Rushing, although to a lesser extent.
**** Flippant is also excellent. I'm actually quite disappointed there's so few remixes of the Marathon music, I can't find a single one of the Marathon 2 theme.
* The first two ''Fallout''s. If ''Fallout 2'''s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew13yp8dkzU Beyond The Canyon] doesn't sound amazing to you, then there is <s>most likely</s> something wrong with you.
** Anything that plays on [[Fallout 3|Galaxy News Radio.]] Oh, the [[Soundtrack Dissonance]]...
** Even though it's not the same composer, it isn't surprising that [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl5xbFXrFU4 Fallout 3's main theme] can stand tall with these two.
** On the subject of ''Fallout 3'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifGiqPD3QLA This brief piece] that plays when you step into the wasteland for the first time... magnificent. And then, of course there's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgDF2xfcbv8&fmt=18 "Civilization"] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0i6vmmPJhs "Anything Goes"], for all your [[Soundtrack Dissonance]] needs...
*** The Fallout franchise has always had some crowning selections, and [[This Troper]] is pleased that's one thing Bethesda got right. A mention of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0cZs-X0bb0Mighty Mighty Man] should be included for another beltable example. And [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txPqV0lZaSE Let's Go Sunning] for a [[Soundtrack Dissonance|crown of dissonance]].
**** No discussion of ''[[Fallout]]'' music is complete without the marvellous "Butcher Pete". ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-q9iR80YU0 Hack!] [[Ear Worm|Whack!]] [[Have a Gay Old Time|Choppin' that meat!]]
** ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' has an beautiful [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQa9ebkLiFU main theme] that's sort of a grandiose reworking of the already awesome ''Fallout3'' theme. And of course, you can't have Vegas without [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY1GHtJTKe0 Frank Sinatra]...
** [http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/J.E._Sawyer One of the developers] contributed some surprisingly awesome songs for the different radio stations -- some are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtlcDvqpV5w original], and some are "Fallout''-ified versions of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4CMstGM0ik well]-[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA9izIDhFgQ known] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz30L9NYFf8 tunes]. "Home, Home on the Wastes" is "Did-I-just-hear-that" [[Crowning Moment of Funny|hilarious]], and "Cobwebs and Rainbows" is downright sexy.
** Coming from someone who can't ''stand'' country music, This Troper is forced to admit that "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGmUsJvRv7U Big Iron]" is made of 24-carat badass and win.
** ''[[Fallout Brotherhood of Steel]]'' may have had some ... ''questionable'' ... music choices, but the delightful "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1fLeigCSbE A Nuclear Blast]" is absolutely spot-on.
* ''Ground Control'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1gzRXwVlrU Crayven Theme]. That is all.
*** Listen closely. ''[[Ear Worm|WOOF WOOF MEOWWWWWWW]].''
** The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdXOQbFu9_I Main Theme] starts as march and has quite a bit of shit around the middle.
* ''[[S4 League]]'' has tons of incredible songs-- arguably one of the best parts of the game (if jumping and flipping and shooting don't do it for you).
* ''[[Evil Genius (video game)|Evil Genius]]'' has a surprisingly badass main [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqNs7APC6A8 theme], for such a [[Rule of Funny|light-hearted game]]. As for the pause menu music, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Ln3SSxWYA well]...
** All the music is available for download seperately [https://web.archive.org/web/20140423054452/http://www.n1nj4.com/EvilPlanet/Downloads/Audio.php here] or as a package [https://web.archive.org/web/20210303060701/https://www.fileplanet.com/ here]{{Dead link}}.
* ''[[Nexus War]]'' has no music normally, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhcJIPszqNg this] makes up for it. It won't make sense unless you play the game.
* ''Jets'n'Guns''. Brazillian developer Rake In Grass thought their game didn't feel old-school and PC-ey enough, so they hired Machinae Supremacy, a self-styled SID-Metal band. That's right, a SID chip synthesiser is one of their key instruments. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S766_3MsypU Check it out.]
* Just about anything from ''[[La Tale]]'' qualifies. The game is fun, but nothing amazing. The music, however, is very good. Most of it has a sort of upbeat techno feel, and it's very catchy. (The soundtrack can be found [https://web.archive.org/web/20141126141523/http://wiki.ggftw.com/latale/LaTale:Soundtrack here,] by the way.) This troper has almost the whole soundtrack on her iPod, and her personal favorite is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSSRRywYkXE Bird Against the Storm]. She rarely plays the game anymore, but still loves the music.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbq0hpP4I_0 Distorted Pain] from ''[[Gore Screaming Show]]''. It is the opening song, but still it is creepy enough, matching the atmosphere of the game.
* From the X68000 game ''Mad Stalker'', we have [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTnTTaLRhXY Stage 1's theme]. The game was later remade on the PC-Engine CD and PSX, but this song just didn't sound quite as good in those versions.
* The song 'Stones' from the Ultima games. It's been around since Ultima V (where it was bleep-bloopy, of course), but later versions keep making more elaborate arrangements. The version from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_MyYiO0rqo Ultima IX] and the vocal version from [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSZoRm-4mVM Ultima Online] are probably the best, however.
* The Computer ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxIWg3Tn7As Atari ST],[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN0VIgO3U0k Commodore Amiga] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj6vg0Bf5io MS-DOS - well, MS-DOS if you have a proper sound card then and even then some corners were cut]) versions of The Bitmap Brothers' Gods: Into The Wonderful. Way ahead of its time, even on the PC version if you paid for a good sound card back then. Too bad the SNES and Genesis version used a different theme (and thus sucked), and that's practically the only song in the entire game on the computer versions of the game.
** To make up for it, however, the Genesis version had [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCpy-kWFsg8#t=8m38s an awesome ending theme].
* If [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g39rya7JnZw this] [[Backyard Sports|theme]] is not awesome, I don't know what is.
* ''[[Ever 17]]'' has the tear-jerking [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUMacfGCG74 Karma], the rocking [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0MhRwsum1Q Drittes Auges], and the ecstatic [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6CjxgAzCnk Aqua Stripe]
* Most of the soundtrack of "Outcast" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M26n2gGV7FA\], especially since the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Chorus was used.
* The obscure fangame ''Dizzy Lives'' takes the in-game music from the Spectrum game ''Spellbound Dizzy'' and one-ups it with a remix.
* The ''Realms of Arkania'' games, little known outside of Germany, had quite impressive soundtracks. Case in point: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVfQoSzTN8k the first game's intro theme].
* ''4D Sports Boxing'' already had a nice theme playing on the title screen... [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThsPe7FDxkw&fmt=18 then, somebody made a rock remix.]
* ''[[Star Trek]] New Worlds''. [[The Problem with Licensed Games|Dreadful game]]. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK3tRJ0sFII Fucking] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdrDzluC9Ds FANTASTIC] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATzoBI5k7aM soundtrack].
* The freeware game ''[[Blue Wish Resurrection]] Plus'' has [http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=A166175586BF4A25 some pretty good tracks.]
* ''[[Age of Empires III]]'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOfNw6tz1dc Title theme. Awesome.]
** That's been the title theme since the first game. It's been updated as the era (and the software capability) has changed since Age of Empires.
*** Age of Kings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je3J5AIriTI&feature=related
*** The Conquerors (best version): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VlTKjkDdbs&feature=related
***
* From [[Crashday]]: '''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmWMMwAQWqk Another place, another time, another Crashday!]'''
* [[Maple Story]]: While the first levels have pretty average music, recent updates gave us [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jlnl_qXRxM some] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oR1pzWIMmo really] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vQvol_Opq4 awesome] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqO8Qm0ybTs tunes].
* You might not expect a racing sim like ''GTR 2'' to have some epic music, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Q_PCxAoIE god] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXI0Qq-ZwVU dang.]
* ''[[Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura|Arcanum]]''. Absolutely amazing songs include ''[http://youtu.be/pb9HB3Hb1b0 Demise of the Zephyr]'', ''[http://youtu.be/ftvpi-6Z6qw The Main Theme]'', and the ''[http://youtu.be/vq_6ObzUzog Villages Theme]''. Really though, the entire soundtrack counts. Bonus points for being [http://www.terra-arcanum.com/sierra/media/media-soundtrack.html free to download].
* Three words: [[The Incredible Machine]]. Each of the games has a fair share of amazing soundtracks, such as Rock, Jazz Fusion, New Age, and Progressive Rock. YMMV on the greatness of the songs though, due to different tastes in genre. Overall, these games produce some kick-ass music.
** Hip Hop, Progressive Rock, Experimental Jazz and Old Title Theme are just some of my favourites!
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGMOMkACtn4 trailer] for ''[[The Elder Scrolls]] V: [[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim|Skyrim]]'' ends in some seriously badass lyrics.
** Even the song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9eGtyqz4gY poking fun at it] qualifies
** On the subject of [[The Elder Scrolls]], [[The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion]] has a truly beautiful opening song called [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3kV1QqQIDM Reign Of The Septims].
* S.T.A.L.K.E.R's music is pure distilled nightmare fuel. For your [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an1l2mntMRc post-apocalyptic] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g13cWiGePAc nuclear] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGZHcWybRtE pleasure]!
* ''[[Vangers]]'': [[Crazy Awesome]] music for a [[Crazy Awesome]] game, in particular, [http://www.game-ost.ru/soundtracks/Vangers/08_Vangers_Forever.ape these] [http://www.game-ost.ru/soundtracks/Vangers/11_Crazy_Necross.ape themes].
* Old, obscure DOS game Mystic Towers had little music, scratchy sound effects, and was generally somewhat forgettable, but [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U71G2Dm3Ktw the main menu theme] is just pure early Soundblaster goodness.
* ''[[Transport Tycoon]]''. Transport Tycoon (and Transport Tycoon Deluxe) had some AMAZING pieces of jazz, easy listening, blues and so much more. Amazingly, this music sounds better on the old Adlib and Sound Blaster cards. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FzIevuSvCU Here, have a sample!]
* Also from the same person who did Transport Tycoon's music; [[X-COM]]. This game had some good music, on all the versions (PSX, PC and Amiga). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiBPb1u56tk Here, have a listen.]
* ''[[Earth 2150]]'' has some excellent pieces. Each of the factions have a certain musical theme: the ED is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrJFMddYNb0 militaristic/orchestral], the UCS [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbcSxolJSQo perfectly illustrates] the [[Crapsack World|the state of the Earth]] and the LC is [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sox9j8gAL-M distinctly sci-fi].
** The sequel foregone faction-specific music but in exchange, the soundtrack is '''EPIC''' with a capital E. The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8ymD8Czrwo main menu theme] is simply beautiful with [[Earth-That-Was|the setting's cynical tone]].
* [[Dark Reign]] has eight songs in the whole game. Sounds bad? [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6V79c0__0 Not] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HllozPKt5rY when] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLMnO8u9ozw it's] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWsGEcUD3xo this] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgqaVKihgtc good].
* When you're fighting the final battle of one of the chapters of the MMORPG ''[[Mabinogi]]'', you can pretty much bet that the music which is playing will be awesome.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5vYwQgWpqU Glas Ghaibhleann] from G1, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dACQBOoXcq0 Claimh Solas] from G9, the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckQk-35fXPM Doppelganger] from G10, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyxvvwGZjro Ouroburos] from G11, and especially [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YcIMT2hTeg Nuadha] from G12.
* ''[[Vindictus]]'' is not without its awesome music as well:
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E99HjG1228& This music] is always satisfying to hear, especially after you've gone through hell to complete a mission.
** From Boat 1, the Gnoll Boss theme saw many players through their throwdown with the Gnoll Chieftain.
** From Boat 2, the White Tyrant theme.
** From Boat 3, the Vampire theme.
** The Hoarfrost Depths boss theme.
** And from the most recent chapter in Korea, {{spoiler|Glas Ghaibleann}} makes the jump to Vindictus, and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K0eh7CZuRM his theme is suitably awesome].
** Now we have [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsDa7BU48Bg Colru]
* Psygnosis' [[Novastorm]] for Playstation had forgettable music, but the PC version of it was positively epic - in particular, Stage 4-1's approach to the [[Big Bad]]'s space station, the evasion of the perimeter defenses, entry into the station itself, and a frenetic dodge-and-weave through obstacles are set to a pulsing techno piece that keeps building the energy right up to the stage boss.
* Creepy indie game ''[[The Path]]'' has some great music. In particular, there's the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW8VIhJdJ0o Forest Theme]. It will haunt you.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ4LnPTLXqA&fmt=18 Tearing up Spacetime] from [[Acid Tetris]] is ridiculously catchy
* The soundtrack from ''Minecraft'' (available for download [http://c418.bandcamp.com/album/minecraft-volume-alpha here]) is simple but absolutely outstanding. The entire soundtrack, [http://c418.bandcamp.com/track/sweden Sweden] in particular, really sets you in the mood of being the only human alive.
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NosBHRY2khM Boss Battle theme] from [[Terraria]], much more awesome than the bosses themselves.
** And now that version 1.1 brought more bosses, we have [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiK3BQrHgNI&list=PL9C1E489D453D4A16&index=10&feature=plpp_video more] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZmaYn6VtAI&feature=BFa&list=PL9C1E489D453D4A16&lf=plpp_video boss themes]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=353ccRibvsU&fmt=18 Ni Miedo] from the MMO [[Granado Espada]] . Nice and relaxing
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rAJEDs3PY4&fmt=18 Zoo] from Sleepwalker. DAT BASS
* The music in the third official trailer[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtq2DI1lvUM\] for TERA Online. The second half is just plain awesome.
* Not sure if original works from ROM hacks count, but the overworld themes from the [[Raocow|talkhaus]] production ''[[A Super Mario Thing]]'' are nothing short of excellent. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVeZ_vDvWyQ Judge for yourself.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6BZXz6q9_g&hd=1 Trample Machine] from the freeware FPS game Another Bound Neo. Some really nice piano and violin.
* The [[Steampunk]] MMO ''Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent'' has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0bAxCeRf0Y this theme] playing in Greticos - especially fitting for the PC's first visit to the national capital.
* [[Hearts of Iron]] gave us [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP2kMWANwmw this masterpiece of music for the theme to their second installment,] while the third game arguably topped it with its less intense but no less awesome theme [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukPhrireqZI here.]
* The [[Shoot'Em Up]] [[Hellsinker]] is known for having some rather unusual music but manages to set the mood regardless, such as the multilayered [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKR5b8_plQc Rusted Dragon]'s theme to the [[One-Woman Wail]] driven theme of the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9cEPUOV-GQ Apostle's of the Seed].
** And of course let's no [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkJRLMOClSQ forget] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQE2KGLMLPo the] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b04MDTNMWE final] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvuudQrJJEg boss].
** But on top of the intire soundtrack we have the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iy-F0f_gDI Shrine of Farewell].
* From the shmup game Sora, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVWpFCFdVTc&hd=1 Rendezous], that is a sort of a long song but quite varied but awesome all the way through.
* [[Blood]] has some great pieces of music. The midi version sounds a lot more ambient than the CD. The two that stands out are [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NnUrQiygL4&feature=related The Haunting] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svzMK33PMUk (CD version)], -the creepiest levels in the game- and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LV9D1aFclg Unholy Voices] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IndXRdZLjjg&feature=related (CD version)].
* The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Hop3U2UH0 theme] for the city-building game Cities XL has an unexplainable "Hell Yes!" kind of touch to it.

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[[Category:{{TOPLEVELPAGE}}]]
[[Category:Video Games/Awesome Music]]
[[Category:PC Only]]
[[Category:Awesome Music]]