Video Game Music from the 16-Bit Era

Hybris (1987) title screen from the Commodore AMIGA

My brother always thought it would be a cool thing for me to gather music from Commodore AMIGA. The AMIGA was the most advanced computer gaming system for its time when it debuted in 1985. So, in following his suggestion, I began to do research and tried to remember the best games from my youth. It later came to me and wondered, "What if I tried to find the best, melodic, sophisticated, video game music from the main leading systems from the day AMIGA debuted to the end of the Super Nintendo in 1999?"

During October of last year I finally compiled, and mostly recorded, over 40 tracks from the major video gaming systems from 1988-1996: Commodore AMIGA, Super Nintendo, and SEGA Genesis/Megadrive. I heard these songs extensively, found some sounds to fit-in for interludes as if it was an album made by one musical group. I tried to make it as consistent as possible, in that one track "logically" follows the next, considering that the technological/musical shifts over the years got better and better.

Each song was personally hand-picked in this way as I felt that the song itself stood out, and it didn't require the gameplay to support it. It is amazing that music so old, so stereotyped as music for "big kids", would have so much complexity and sophistication. As you analyze the music, you can tell that the tracks were done by someone who had good taste, and knew what was being composed. Enjoy!

The stars next to the song are my personal favorites.

Commodore AMIGA (1985-1994)

1. Turrican (1990) - Launch (0:15)
2. Turrican (1990) - Title Screen (4:29)
3. Project X (1992) - Title Screen (Rave) (2:11)
4. Hybris (1987) - Title Screen* (2:30)
5. B.A.M. (composer, 1990) - Hack Screen (2:27)
6. Lotus 3 (1992) - Intro/Menu Screen (3:36)
7. Ork (1991) - Title Screen* (3:16)
8. The Apprentice (1990) - Options Screen* (1:17)
9. Neuronics (1992) - In-Game (5:06)
10. Bloodmoney (1989) - In-Game (1:32)
11. Megatraveller 2 (1992) - Title Screen (4:15)
12. Crystal Hammer (1988) - Title Screen* (2:41)
13. Chaos Engine (1993) - Interlude (1:40)

Super Nintendo (1990-1999)

14. Kirby Super Star (1996) - Rude Awakening (ambient) (0:27)
15. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) - Enchanted Forest (2:14)
16. Donkey Kong Country (1994) - Underwater (2:17)
17. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) - Lava* (1:47)
18. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) - Swamp (2:37)
19. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) - Brambles (2:09)
20. Arcus Spirits (1991)- Level 2 (1:27)
21. Kirby Super Star (1996) - Caves of Wind, Fire, and Ice (2:21)
22. Kirby Super Star (1996) - Prologue of the Sun, the Moon, and Nova* (1:47)
23. Chrono Trigger (1995)- Secret of the Forest* (4:46)

SEGA Genesis (32X) (1988-1998)

24. Gunstar Heroes (1993) - Title Screen (1:47)
25.Gunstar Heroes (1993) - Ruins* (1:07)
26. Midnight Resistance (1991) - In-Game* (2:13)
27. Kolibri (1995) - Interlude (0:20)
28. Alien Soldier (1995) - Slap-Up* (1:01)
29. Light Crusader (1995) - What Lies Ahead (ambient) (1:12)
30. Cosmic Carnage (1994) - BGM 05* (1:25)
31. Rocket Knight Adventures (1993) - Level 1 (1:09)
32. Rocket Knight Adventures (1993) - Cave (0:58)
33. Cosmic Carnage (1994) - BGM 03 (1:21)
34. Light Crusader (1995) - Grave Matters (3:03)
35. Dynamite Headdy (1994) - Fly Hard* (1:35)
36. Dynamite Headdy (1994) - Backstage Battle (1:16)
37. Dynamite Headdy (1994) - Breakdown (0:39)
38. Sonic 3D Blast (1996) - Diamond Dust Act 1* (1:12)
39. Sonic 3D Blast (1996) - Diamond Dust Act 2* (1:17)
40. SEGA Sound Team (1994) - Staff Credits (1:56)

??Sequel??

41. Blazing Star (1998)- Endless (Ending 1) (0:54)