It’s time to go back to when I was a baby and reminisce about the games my parents used to play. I was brought up on these games, and hearing the soundtracks in the background of my toddling means I acquired a taste for the ‘Bleep Bloop’ music. Yes, I also played most of these games. No, my parents didn’t play every game on this list, but I’ve had 30 years to try and discover other soundtracks. Let’s take a look at some of my favourites.

Here’s the playlist containing every entry, so you can listen along whilst reading the article!

This list is not a definitive list by any means, they are just my picks for older game soundtracks that I enjoy.

1. Super Fantasy Zone (1992)

Super Fantasy Zone‘s soundscape has a very moody tone at first. However, it quickly evolves into a happy-go-lucky soundtrack. Initially, we have ‘Opening’, which, along with the visuals gives a sense of deep sorrow. This is followed by the first stage, where the music literally sounds like summer, and with a title like ‘Picnic’, I think the composer Naoki Kodaka achieved what he was aiming for. When reaching a boss, the beastly tracks make you feel like a small thing facing a large entity, perfect for a game like Super Fantasy Zone.

Armed with a slapping bass and super catchy melodies, this soundtrack invades your brain. It’ll be a great addition to your workout playlist. Whether you’re running through a park or pumping iron at the gym, there is a track to accompany any kind of workout. If that’s not your thing, then consider adding some tracks to your cleaning playlist; it will help you get through the job with ease.

Despite Super Fantasy Zone having one of the best soundtracks of its time, along with outstanding gameplay and storylines, we did not get another entry into the franchise until 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Bros on the 3DS, 22 years later. However, this was only a port from the SEGA System. Worst of all, we have seen nothing from this franchise since, besides a few cameos here and there. Nevertheless, I await the day Opa-Opa returns to our gaming rosters with his very own title and bellowing basslines once again.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Shop
2. Mango!
3. Boss
4. Opening
5. Ya Da Ne

2. Donkey Kong Country (1994)

I know I’m about to get a lot of flack for not including any Mario games on my list, but listen up. Donkey Kong games have slapping music, and not just the later ones. Take Donkey Kong Country for example: ‘Aquatic Ambience’ has been hailed as a cosy gamer’s dream all over the web, ‘DK Island Swing’ has the jazziest vibes, and the theme is just musical perfection. Indeed, I am a Donkey Kong girlie.

The music makes you feel as though you’re traversing through the many landscapes shown throughout the game. As soon as I hear a track from this game, I instantly feel a sense of comfort wash over me. This is great for when I’m not feeling my best and I need something to soothe myself, making Donkey Kong Country one of the most useful soundtracks… to me, at least.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Aquatic Ambience
2. Ice Cave Chant
3. Tree Top Rock
4. Forest Frenzy
5. Theme

3. Sonic 3 & Knuckles (1994)

My brother loves Sonic. In fact, if my household in the 90s was a TV show, the background music would almost definitely be that from a Sonic game, they were played that often. Due to my brother’s love for the blue blur and my mother’s adoration for Knuckles, the soundtrack of this game was inevitably going to be a staple in my life.

I cannot express how often I sing the invincibility track, or how, whenever I fight a boss in any game, I get ‘Major Bosses’ playing in my head. So, if you haven’t heard the OST to Sonic 3 & Knuckles, you have missed out on a lifetime of super-fast, possibly blue, earworms.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Invincible
2. Major Bosses
3. Mushroom Hill Zone Act 1
4. Lava Reef Zone Act 1
5. Minor Bosses

4. Dead or Alive 1 (Arcade, 1996)

There’s no debate that fighting games usually have the best soundtracks, for example, Tekken and Mortal Kombat. Of course, the arcade version of Dead or Alive is no exception. Dead of Alive has some absolutely bopping music. The songs are different to their console counterparts, and unfortunately, the soundtrack did not change for the better. Luckily, we still have access to the arcade OST.

Because the soundtrack has some rock elements, including an electric guitar, it gives the game an upper hand in attracting young boys to play “the cool fighting game”. As a result, it isn’t in the realm of impossibility to say that ‘Legend of the Secret Fist’ attracted quite a few people to take up music as a hobby.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Ketsui no Toki
2. Legend of the Secret Fist
3. Blade of Ryu
4. Power is Beauty
5. Show Down

5. Bust-a-Move 2 (1996)

I mentioned it in our 50 of the Greatest PS2 Games Ever Released article, but I’ll mention it again here. Bust-a-Move 2‘s music really does make you bust a move. For example, we have ‘Monsta’s Theme’, which will get stuck in your head. Consequently, you’ll find yourself walking through your daily life repeating “Mmm Ga, Mm-Mm-Mm Ga, Pow! Pow! Pow!”.

You might argue that this game doesn’t deserve to be on this list. It hasn’t got the same sound as the rest of the soundtracks here. I would like to point out that this is my list. Because it’s my list, I can do what I want.

The OST is tremendously playful, because of this, you tend to grow to enjoy the game much more than other bubble-shooting games. Bust-a-Move 2 is much like Beehive Bedlam in gameplay, but the music is such a great addition to the experience. For that reason, if you enjoyed Beehive Bedlam on the Sky Box growing up, I highly recommend you check out this game and especially its soundtrack.

I took a break between writing the first half of this entry and the later half, and have recently learned that ‘Monsta’s Theme’ is named ‘Qui Qui’. The words are not what I’ve written, but you can keep my naivety.

Favourite Tracks:
1. Monsta’s Theme (Qui Qui)
2. Stage 4
3. New Enemy
4. Final Stage
5. Woolen’s Theme