4. Halo 3 (2007)
Halo 3’s ethereal soundtrack was the culmination of composers Marty O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori's work on Bungie's sci-fi shooter series. While the game didn’t introduce the iconic Gregorian chant of the first Halo, it did refine and expand upon the game’s previous instrumental scores. The game's score was produced with a much larger orchestra than the pieces present in prior Halo games, making it a real treat for the ears. We’ll always remember the first time we raced across the Ark’s exploding Halo ring with our trusty Warthog, running down hordes of Flood as the classic Halo theme became more intense the further we got. We still get goosebumps just thinking about it!
5. Donkey Kong Country (1994)
David Wise carefully blended natural environmental sounds with prominent melodic and percussive beats to make Donkey Kong Country’s jungle jingles. The game features a wide variety of different musical styles that attempt to emulate the environments in which they appear. For example, “Jungle Groove” blends beating drums and clarinet chorus with various animal sounds and synths, while “Cave Dweller Concert” delivers distorted drum beats with echoes of dripping water. What makes each of Wise’s tracks so catchy is that they all fit perfectly within the differing areas of the game. The musical tones change to fit with Africa-inspired jungles, oceanic reefs, frozen landscapes, and even dark caverns.
6. Nier: Automata (2017)
Nier: Automata wasn’t just one of the best games to come out of 2017, it was also one of the most thought-provoking games we’ve ever played. Composer Keiichi Okabe, who worked on both Nier and Drakengard 3, returned with his studio band Monaca to help create Automata’s tense and often melancholic soundtrack. Nier Automata tackles some pretty heavy themes and almost every track in Yoko Taro’s masterpiece hints towards a more depressing tone, especially as the player uncovers each of the game’s unique ending.
However, it’s in Nier’s final moments where Keiichi Okabe’s soundtrack really shines. Initially sung by one woman, “The Weight of the World” provides a sad and solemn experience for players making their way through the game’s bullet hell credit sequence. However, the tone suddenly shifts part way through and it gives way to an orchestral anthem, with an entire choir of voices joining in as the player makes their way to the game’s touching conclusion. Nier: Automata’s soundtrack is definitely one to remember.
