Most soundtracks i love comes from 90s games, but, late 80s as well i guess... Mostly from games that have to do with fighting.
That's totally my thing, but, honestly there are so many kinds of music you could fit into a game, but i'd say stuff like...
These from Die Hard Trilogy, late 90s and early 2000s stuff is something i kind of like, the feel and sense of Y2K as if you're entering "the virtual world" and the future is now, very techy.
https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/die-hard-trilogy-psx/ewattdpp/01_Die%20Hard%20Background%20Music.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/die-hard-trilogy-psx/rbzocfhb/02_Die%20Hard%20Background%20Music.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/die-hard-trilogy-psx/lzdduxqs/03_Die%20Hard%20Background%20Music.mp3Doesn't mean that's all i root for.
I like late 80s stuff as well, early 90s too. Hmmm... Terminator for Sega CD, has like, jesus christ, the music didn't had to be this good!
Like, seriously, listen to all of this, ALL of these, not just the start, since it isn't all there is to it, oh my god, this is one of the best... (sorry, if you don't want to listen to all of it, then don't.
)
https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/terminator-the-scd/wnsvylnm/02-taking%20to%20the%20air.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/terminator-the-scd/soxweyhl/03-future%20shock.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/terminator-the-scd/hogpezqg/04-destinations%20unknown.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/terminator-the-scd/elniqbck/05-this%20way.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/terminator-the-scd/dvhdazni/06-visions.mp3Continuing on this... While not very consistent, Double Dragon and its many versions has offered tunes that genuinely makes my mind get back to work some times. Silly isn't it?
Here are a few arrangements of the arcade version, which sounds, oh so 80s, but, so, ohhhhh...
https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/double-dragon-original-sound-of-arcade-version/lofdjrztue/01%20Opening%20%28Double%20Dragon%29.mp3https://downloads.khinsider.com/game-soundtracks/album/double-dragon-original-sound-of-arcade-version/05%2520Setting%2520Off%2520%2528New%2520Struggle%2529.mp3Also level 1's song from Arcade, not arranged this time, might not sound so good at first, but, well, then skip to the NES version under these.
https://downloads.khinsider.com/game-soundtracks/album/double-dragon-arcade/02%2520Slums%2520%2528Arrival%2520of%2520the%2520Black%2520Warriors%2529.mp3Now here's from the NES versions, which made them super fast but feel so, awesome oh my god... I'm not a huge fan of chip-tunes, and, i don't really like Undertale's way of mixing high quality MIDI samples with Famicom chip-tunes, and, i'm sorry, but this one was just that good, here are my favorites:
https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/double-dragon-nes/yrfzatmgdb/01%20Main%20Title.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/double-dragon-nes/swxyzacyiw/03%20Mission%201%20%5BBilly%20%26%20Jimmy%20Lee%27s%20theme%5D.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/double-dragon-nes/jdlawsmwqb/04%20Mission%202%20%5BWilliam%27s%20theme%5D.mp3Tekken 2 PLEASE!
And, well, Street Fighter II i guess, and Alpha 2 of course. Insert Guile's epic theme, M. Bison's funky theme at
Las Vegas (shining eyes)
, and Ryu's and Ken's dramatic yet epic themes...
(well here they are!):
https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/street-fighter-ii-the-world-warrior-arcade/rvphyfcmqf/05%20Japan%20%28Ryu%29%20I.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/street-fighter-ii-the-world-warrior-arcade/bdovgabmic/10%20U.S.A.%20%28Guile%29%20I.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/street-fighter-ii-the-world-warrior-arcade/ylvldevnfk/18%20U.S.A.%20%28Ken%29%20I.mp3https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/street-fighter-ii-the-world-warrior-arcade/qhmsoftcmv/24%20U.S.A.%20%28Balrog%29%20I.mp3Speaking of Tekken and Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter i like very much! Mainly 2 and 3.
Here's one of the all time greatest songs in history, Sarah's theme from VF2!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HZlF-DE0wUIt's, perfect, i don't know what to say, so awesome, yet still quite dramatic, and has all sorts of instruments i like.
I'd say something that is a mixture of 80s, 90s Japanese and late 90s / early 2000s music is something i'd love to hear in general in video game music, while still having emotion that matches the situation, and maybe some rock from time to time, synth as well, 90s MIDI very much as well, gimme those Roland Slap bass samples, gimme Korg M1, gimme house pianos and strings!
Doesn't mean it should be all energy, i like calmer songs that aren't entirely ambient as well, Klonoa Door to Phantomile's full soundtrack is amazing at both, and, yeah, as i said, situation appropriate.
I love majestic and "pleasant" music...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVxlO_Qs0Ho(one from Klonoa here)
https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/klonoa-of-the-wind-door-to-phantomile/wjlbeqipnd/1-13.%20Melancholy%20Soldier.mp3(scrapped, but i love)
https://vgmsite.com/soundtracks/klonoa-of-the-wind-door-to-phantomile/pfwjaesgbb/2-31.%20Demo%20Prototype.mp3(insert Super Mario Galaxy, and many more...)
Truth is... Besides all the rockin' i also really want to add a bit of majestic instruments and feel... Please bring me both, thank you.