Revisiting Some of the Best Video Game Music From the 8-bit and 16-bit Era

[Shawn Knight]

Game systems from the 8-bit and 16-bit era weren't graphical powerhouses, but there were other aspects that factored into creating a well-rounded game. Quality games almost unanimously had great sound and music as this list shows.

Read the full article here.

https://www.techspot.com/article/2092-8-bit-16-bit-video-game-music/

 

[Uncle Al]

Just good stuff!

 

[R00sT3R]

I know this is all subjective stuff, like all 'Best of' lists, but to not have any Chris Hulsbeck music from the Turrican games, is an unforgivable sin that deserves to be punished with eternal damnation in the flaming pits of hell..

 

[QuantumPhysics]

When you're a young kid, you are most impressionable in relation to music. Playing these games with these simple Midi beats being repeated over and over allows them to easily be picked up and remembered for a lifetime - no different than nursery rhymes.

I think my favorite game music came from Konami - overall. Contra, TMNT, Gradius, etc.

Newer music is way more complex and it doesn't have the same impact if the hero or villain doesn't have very specific themes.

 

[FPSChris]

No Mega Turrican? DATA EAST!!!!

Here you go,

 

[fadingfool]

No mention of C64 music? A top 8-bit/16 bit music list that doesn't mention Rob Hubbard or Ben Daglish isn't a top anything....

Head over to https://c64audio.com/ and drink the nostalgia....

 

[stewi0001]

Another one I would add to the list would be the title screen music for "The Lawnmower Man" on the SNES:

 

[redhat]

Captain Tsubasa Vol.II: Super Striker.

Captain Tsubasa 2 Nes OST

Captain Tsubasa 2 Nes OST

www.youtube.com

this game is the best one I have ever seen and all that sound in just 32 KB

 

[Jyrkz]

Omg where is Killer Instinct OST
1 of the best of all of them.

I still have original CD somewhere that came with game

 

[Ruthlessracer]

Streets of Rage II at least a mention, awesome drumbeat!! That intro had you hooked!

 

[Aus spot]

Xenon 2 music by the bitmap brothers. Puts all these to shame

 

[Cuchulain]

Zelda music in Japanese famicom disk version was different because it had a better sound chip. NES version still sounds good and is nostalgic but always weird to know the original version was not what we got over here.

 

[thelatestmodel]

I have to say, this list is pretty vanilla and doesn't show a lot of research. These aren't "some of the best", they're just some of the most well-known.

No C64 or Amiga music at all? Sunsoft and Tim Follin NES music? No Streets of Rage 2, Contra Hard Corps? Any of the Castlevania games? Sega's arcade soundtracks (e.g. Outrun, Space Harrier, Hang-On)? I could go on.

I know everyone has their opinion but this article is just so disappointing.

 

[Lontti]

My favorites has to be Contra, TMNT, Mega Man 2, World Cup and Shatter Hand which is less known game. Here it is:

 

[Lontti]

My favorites has to be Contra, TMNT, Mega Man 2, World Cup and Shatter Hand which is less known game. Here it is:

Oh I can't seem to edit my post. Was supposed to add Sonic games musics also to my list. Like Sonic 2 etc.

 

[USAvenger]

Super Metroid's music might be my all-time favorite. It's certainly one of my favorite games.

 

[Nadaud]

Strange that Mega Man 2 isn't on this list.

 

[Mr WW]

Nice and for PC:

 

[Vanderkaum037]

Zelda music in Japanese famicom disk version was different because it had a better sound chip. NES version still sounds good and is nostalgic but always weird to know the original version was not what we got over here.

Wow this sounds incredible. So this version was only available for JDM?

 

[defaultluser]

Decent start, bu you're missing two of the greatest NES game soundtracks:

Caastlevania 3 Japan.

Battletoads

And, an Honorable Mention goes out to Solstice title theme:

 

[Stoly]

Commando C-64 version has awesome music

 

[Stoly]

BTW SFII music on the SuperNintendo is the worst of all platforms, its nowhere near arcade quality.

 

[antgr]

I used to love this

 

[duckofdeath]

My thoughts, too. Those two are legends on chiptune. (Hubbard and Daglish)
The Last Ninja, Thrust, Ace II.... \o/

 

[OortCloud]

The opening theme music to Shadow of the Beast by David Whittaker :

And the legendary opening theme music to The Secret of Monkey Island by Michael Land: