Virtual Vox Pop is a weekly open mic in which we ask you, the reader, to sound off on a particular topic. This week, it’s music.
Music and videogames have been kissy kissy bedfellows almost since the hobby’s inception. Pong-era titles were typically sound effects-laden games that lacked any discernible melody, but by the time the arcade scene began to explode with the introduction of Pac-Man tunes had become integral elements of the gameplay experience.
It was the NES where I first took notice of game music. Contra, for example, had adrenaline-pumping compositions (the pseudo-3D base stages, in particular) that got you riled up to blast alien soldiers back to their homeworld; Super Mario Bros.‘ loopy 1-1 and moody 1-2 tracks didn’t so much get you hyped to play, but pulled you into the Mushroom Kingdom with their extremely hummable tunes.
The 16-bit era moved us away from the bleeps and bloops thanks to hardware advancements in the form of superior sampling and CD-ROM technology. Konami really made the most of the new audio channels my crafting Dracula X: Rondo of Blood and and Super Castlevania IV, games that featured incredible string, hard drums, and jazz piano.
Sadly, I’ve found many games from the 32-bit era forward so atmospheric or just plain lacking pizazz that they aren’t very memorable. Still, it’s an important aspect of modern gaming. What do you consider the best videogame music tracks in 2D games?
