Hailing from the land of much improved sound, but also a vast difference in style, we have the contenders for region 3. Let's take a look at some of our thoughts on the hopefuls.
1 – Crisis Core – One of the best game soundtracks of all time.
2 – Metal Gear Solid 3 – Puts you on the edge of your seat the entire game.
5 – Bully – First time playing this game I was surprised at how great the music was.
6 – Phantasy Star Online – Has the sci-fi feel that matches perfectly with the game.
7 – Kingdom Hearts 2 – Music is just like the game. Disney meets Final Fantasy.
8 – Shadow of the Colossus – Throws your intensity to 11 during battles.
9 – Wipeout Fusion – Give me them glow sticks!
10 – Sonic Adventure – Kick out the jams!
11 – The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker – I mean it is the most original of the Zelda games.
13 – Final Fantasy X – A great soundtrack but stiff competition.
16 – Morrowind – I just couldn't ever get into the music in Elder Scrolls games.
1 – Halo CE – Martin O'Donnell became a legend after composing this soundtrack. This soundtrack helped set the tone for the original series and gave the game not just an iconic hero, but an iconic sound to go with it.
2 – Crisis Core – A Final Fantasy game not composed by Uematsu, this game still delivers the quality you expect from the series. Ishimoto composed a real winner when making this soundtrack.
3 – The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker – This still has that quality (and very familiar) Zelda feel but in my opinion it truly sounds better than all of the others before it.
5 – God of War – I placed this so high because of my memories playing the game. That doesn't make the music any less epic… just saying.
6 – Bully – I never played much of this game, I don't know much about the composer and the like. I will say the soundtrack is great.
7 – Shadow of the Colossus – This soundtrack matches the beauty and epic feel of the world in which it accompanies.
8 – Kingdoms Hearts 2 – Disney. Square. The combination is as wondrous in gameplay as it is with this soundtrack. You will be humming some of the tunes after you are done playing it.
9 – Morrowind – Le sigh. I have to accept that this soundtrack is arguably better than Skyrim. I also have to pray it makes it far in the voting… muh Skyrim isn't on the list.
10 – Metal Gear Solid 3 – This is exactly what you would expect from a Metal Gear soundtrack.
11 – Phantasy Star Online – The memories I have of this game are cherished. The music was great while I played and is still objectively very good, but I ranked it lower because after having it stuck in my head for so many years I am trying to avoid that again.
12 – Super Mario Sunshine – I love this soundtrack. It is certainly the strangest one for a Mario game.
13 – Luigi's Mansion – This game had two composers, Shinobu Tanaka and Kazumi Totaka. I personally think the soundtrack fits the game.
14 – Metroid Prime – Metroid Prime has a very well put together soundtrack, but it isn't as good as Super Metroid's in my opinion and… well yeah.
16 – Sonic Adventure – Well given my folly with Wipeout Fusion I should have rated this one at 15. I personally feel this is the best soundtrack for any Sonic game.
Time Splitters 2 – I love how this soundtrack perfectly matches the maps each track was made for.
Panzer Dragoon – Should have been on the list anyway!
10 – Sonic Adventure – Generic Rock! Generic Rock! Get yer dollar store generic rock right here!
13 – Phantasy Star Online – Help! Help! I just took 8 tabs of E and I can't tell whats real anymore!