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While many gamers may look to the visuals or the gameplay when it comes to video games, there’s another very important aspect to consider and that is the soundtrack. From video games like GTA, to mobile games and even slots machines played at mFortune mobile casino, there is no doubt that music makes up a substantial part of overall experience. In fact, the music that we listen to while playing is somewhat integral to not only the enjoyment factor, but to potentially how successful we are at playing the game too. With so many great video soundtracks to choose from, here are some of the best.

Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular and best loved game series of all time. It was inevitable it would get an entry on this list, the only question was which instalment would get the nod. What Ocarina of Time managed to do was to build on the success of Legend of Zelda and A Link to the Past not just as a game, but musically too. The soundtrack was a reinvigorated version of what had gone before, immersing the player deeper into the game. The key with Zelda soundtracks has always been that the music matches up with exactly what is happening on the screen, enhancing the gaming experience considerably.

Streets of Rage 2

Streets of Rage 2 is a side scrolling masterclass which made its name as an arcade style beat ‘em up title. Yuzo Koshiro is the man behind the soundtrack, and he of course needs no introduction. Koshiro took elements of action films from the 1980s and 1990s, house music and Eurobeat, to deliver his own unique soundtrack which wouldn’t be out of place in modern day music today. Tracks such as Go Straight and Dreamer featured on the legendary soundtrack, which always had players nodding along as they played.

Street Fighter 2

We include another arcade style beat ‘em up title in this list, but for an entirely different reason. The game featured eight different characters, all from different areas of the world, and this gave Yoko Shimomura the scope to embrace a range if styles during composition. Street Fighter 2 in many respects is an international game, and this is strengthened by each character having their own individual tracks. Blanka’s Theme was full of percussion, while Sagat’s Theme included bells. There’s also Chun Li’s Theme which has an oriental flavour that includes rapid notes and scales.

Final Fantasy VIII

Like many other game series, Final Fantasy is one which has excelled over the years, especially where soundtracks are concerned. We’ve gone with Final Fantasy VIII on this list, although other instalments ran it mightily close. Nobuo Uematsu composed the soundtrack and he delivered right from the off with Liberi Fatali. The soundtrack features a stunning 74 tracks and each one can take the listener on a fabulous fantasy journey. Every track has been composed to perfection, and it shows, and this is proof of just how important a great soundtrack is to a video game.

author avatar
Bernard - Side-Line Staff Chief editor
Bernard Van Isacker is the Chief Editor of Side-Line Magazine. With a career spanning more than two decades, Van Isacker has established himself as a respected figure in the darkwave scene.

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