Best Fantasy Game or Film Soundtracks?

[JRFLynn]

Skyrim is wonderful, but some of the best epic music in my opinion is from a group called Two Steps from Hell. Weird name, but absolutely amazing orchestral music you can swashbuckle to

 

[Ophiucha]

Speaking of swashbuckling, the soundtrack to Assassin's Creed IV is phenomenal.

Others I like,

• Journey
• Eternal Sonata
• Ni no Kuni (composed by the same guy who does most of the Ghibli films)

 

[Sam Evren]

@Mark Stanley, if you enjoyed Skyrim's main theme, may I recommend you listen to Morrowind's main theme, Call of Magic, which is the basis for Skyrim's Dragonborn. Both are Jeremy Soule's work. Absolutely distinct composer, I think the first time I recall his work is from the first Total Annihilation game.

Morrowind's Call of Magic, to me, is the epitome of setting out on an adventure, a long, enduring, endearing adventure.

Call of Magic on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2qDap4hnmk

Edit: Ah, someone earlier had mentioned this, not sure how I missed it. *blush*

 

[Stephyn Blackwood]

I bought Skyrim about two months ago and still can't get it's main theme out of my head. The entire score is absolutely beautiful, moving and just so kickass with it's choral chants. It really catches your imagination and lets you just lose yourself in the world of Tamriel. This has to be my favourite game soundtrack that I have heard.

If you like Skyrim's soundtrack, you should listen to War of the Vikings soundtrack, very similar and equally beautiful.

 

[Rinzei]

I'll second Chrono Cross - I've not played that game in probably 10 years, but I STILL find myself humming songs from it. I also like the Silent Hill soundtracks (games scare the bejeezus out of my though). One that most people haven't played/heard of - White Knight Chronicles. Love the music from that.

For films/TV, .hack//SIGN is really good, as well as Attack on Titan / Shigenki no Kyojin. Howl's Moving Castle is also on the list. Less anime-orientated, the new run of Doctor Who. Does Les Miserables count because it's technically a musical?

 

[Gryphos]

My favourite single piece of music from a game has to be from Dark Souls. The music that accompanies the final boss fight, 'Gwyn, Lord of Cinder'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB6sOhQan9Y

Usually for final bosses the music is big and bombastic, probably incorporating some kind of epic choir. But when you fight Gwyn it's just a sad piano melody. Not to go too deep into the game's lore, but it's very appropriate as Gwyn himself, when you fight him, is a shade of his former self. Essentially you're putting him down, a sad truth that's reflected in the music. I just love it.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Secret of Mana songs still get stuck in my head, especially #4 on this top ten list.

That must be the song they played when my brother, my friend and I killed wolves to level up. The term "grinding" wasn't invented in the early 90s as far as I know, but that's what we were doing.

I'm not sure what you call healing people in a hotel room until you're out of mana so you can level up water magic. I was guilty of that one.

 

[kayd_mon]

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is my favorite film soundtrack. I also love the Back to the Future theme, the main theme from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and the Star Wars scores. Episodes IV, V, and II have the best, IMO.

For video games, Chrono Trigger music still runs through my head. Love that music. Skyrim does have some great music, and Oblivion was good too.

 

[Zero Angel]

Secret of Mana songs still get stuck in my head, especially #4 on this top ten list.

That must be the song they played when my brother, my friend and I killed wolves to level up. The term "grinding" wasn't invented in the early 90s as far as I know, but that's what we were doing.

I'm not sure what you call healing people in a hotel room until you're out of mana so you can level up water magic. I was guilty of that one.

I think everyone was guilty of that once you figured out it was possible.

 

[Svrtnsse]

I came across the Soundtrack for Trine 2 the other day.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxFrGzM-n4Y
The first one is also available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkyhqPjVE0w

In addition, the sound track for Gianna Sisters: Twisted Dream is also very good with a nice old-skool vibe to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KeWID0vmY0&list=PLtjvOGvcaz2kYR3TsAUBBSehzIX-Xr4kj

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I think everyone was guilty of that once you figured out it was possible.

My brother, my friend next door and I played through the game during Christmas vacation. We played straight through for 4 days, but Hotel Healing[SUP]TM[/SUP] was my day 1 discovery. Once Moon Magic came into play, the faerie walnuts were MINE!... except when an owl reversed Mana Steal, then we had to give one up for the sprite.

We only abused Hotel Healing to the extend that we drained my character's mana. We would only stay in the hotel for multiple rest periods when my friend who played the sprite was eating dinner. He murdered wolves when my brother and I were eating.

We only progressed when all three of us could play. Great game! Maybe the only game I could love that much while playing the healer.

 

[Gryphos]

You wanna talk about great game soundtracks? I just finished playing 'Bastion' and dayum, that's a good ost. The ambience some of the tracks give to the levels is amazing, whether it's fast and actiony or slow and mellow. Together with the game itself being amazing and those were two days well spent.

On a separate note: This is pretty much the sound of my childhood…

 

[Bangladeath]

The Elder Scrolls series boasts an awesome soundtrack across the board. xD

 

[Aidan of the tavern]

You wanna talk about great game soundtracks? I just finished playing 'Bastion' and dayum, that's a good ost. The ambience some of the tracks give to the levels is amazing, whether it's fast and actiony or slow and mellow. Together with the game itself being amazing and those were two days well spent.

On a separate note: This is pretty much the sound of my childhood…

The Age of's always had great soundtracks, love the Ballad of Ace Lebaron .

 

[cdgallantking]

How is it that no one has mentioned this one?

 

[Bearman1]

For me, the best gaming music will always be the music played dyring a final fantasy intro screen. I recently got ffvi on my phone and ive not even startrd it yet. Just listened to that amazing music.

 

[Mythopoet]

I just bought the two "Distant Worlds" albums of Final Fantasy music. It's fantastic for writing to.

 

[Gryphos]

Journey is a game with the singular aim of getting to a distant location, amidst the crumbling ruins of an ancient civilisation. It's a very short game that doesn't feature any dialogue or even language at all, so it relies totally on the music to carry the emotion, and that's what it does really well. The game is framed by the concept of the Hero's Journey and the music is perfectly able to illustrate the stages of the journey, creating tension where it's needed and a joyous gleeful feeling where it's appropriate.

My personal favourite track has to be 'I was born for this'. It's comprised of a variety of different languages from Japanese to Old English to French, all talking about preparing for a journey.

 

[Gryphos]

The Banner Saga is a strategic RPG with a choice-based story taking place in a heavily viking inspired world. Thus the music has many Nordic elements.

A great track from it is 'We are all guests upon the land', which plays toward the end of the game at an emotional scene. It's an epic funeral song in every way.

 

[Lunaairis]

Now I know none of you guys have probably heard about this game... But next to Zelda, and Elder scrolls its my favorite sound track. The game is called YearWalk and the music is by Daniel Olsen. You can listen to whole soundtrack here on his website: Year Walk | Daniel Olsén