10

Command & Conquer 2: Firestorm

Composer(s): Frank Klepacki
5 star tracks: 0

If the main game had not been released a year earlier, the Command & Conquer-series would be given a more worthy place in this ranking. Frank Klepacki's by now known rock-metal style is less prominent on the second entry in the series, instead techno tones and future vibes dominate the scene. This industrial charm immediately brings back pleasant memories of nights spent playing, but the whole thing might be a little off-putting for those who are not familiar with the game. In my opinion, you just have to give it a bit of a go so that your body automatically starts bobbing along. Due to a lack of highlights, only 10th place, although I personally associate more with it than with ...

9

Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer

Composer(s): Rob King
5 star tracks: 1

Beware of confusion! Even though I always give praiase to the scores of the Heroes of Might and Magic-series, they only have a thematic connection with the dungeon crawler role-playing game template Might and Magic . And since I've never played it, but really love its turn-based strategy cousin (and its music), I thought it would be a good idea to at least give it a listen - and what can I say? It's actually fantasy role-playing music from the 2000s.

Since Rob King is at work here, who is responsible for the HoMM-soundtracks, we can at any rate expect no break with what is familiar to me. The background noise often allows conclusions to be drawn about its kinship, but never reaches the same level. However, because Regna / Plane of Fire with its surging violins reminds me of Heroes of Might and Magic III I award 5 stars once and thus 9th place on my list.

8

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Composer(s): Harry Gregson-Williams; Norihiko Hibino
5 star tracks: 1

Oh Metal Gear, how popular you are. What loyal fans you have who idolize your absurd story, celebrate the increasingly wacky Kojima humor and elevate you to the pantheon of the best video game IPs - ChatGPT was right! But I ... don't know you. We only met briefly when I watched my buddy Richard attempting a record-breakingly fast run of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater . No, for lack of nostalgia, let alone a console, you remain a brand with seven seals and an eye patch to me.

Your music, on the other hand, is also quite familiar to strangers like me, as it was composed by film and game composer Harry Gregson-Williams, who I personally associate with his work on the first Narniamovie. With Metal Gear however, I have less love (except for the fantastic main theme). The suspenseful future vibes, which perfectly capture the agent thrill, are fun, but I don't really connect with them. Or to describe it in Chat-GPT's words:

This soundtrack features a mix of orchestral and electronic sounds that perfectly capture the game’s tense and cinematic atmosphere.

ChatGPT

7

Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force

Composer(s): Kevin Schilder; Danny Pelfrey
5 star tracks: 1

A shooter! A shooter! A shooter in a music top list! Look and be amazed. Well, with only one 5-track, the soundtrack of Elite Force might very well be negligible. However, in my opinion, the theme captures the spirit of the TV original quite well despite the limited resources and presents us with something that can certainly hold a candle to the TV images.

The score is certainly no masterpiece, no all-time classic and would probably not be in 7th place with stronger competition. But it is what it is and I like it. And I guarantee that the lists for the following (or previous) years will be much more differentiated. So for now, 7th place for a shooter.

Number 6-4

6

Final Fantasy IX

Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
5 star tracks: 1

And once again ChatGPT had the right instinct. A Final Fantasy in a (musical) top list shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, as the score was composed by grandmaster Nobuo Uematsu, who delivers his usual high-quality mix of old themes and new compositions. No, it's more surprising that I've only given it the highest marks once - but rightly so.

Court Jesters is great. This lively, mischievous upbeat, paired with the Monaco-like piano and the self-deprecating undertone make the track a piece that you simply have to sway along to. And while the extensive and varied OST is beautiful enough in itself, that in the end the King's Fools guarantee Final Fantasy IX the 6th place on this list - what madness!

5

Age of Empires II: The Conquerors

Composer(s): Kevin McMullan; David Rippy; Stephen Rippy
5 star tracks: 4

As an expansion to a strategy game that many still consider to be the best iteration of the series, Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors not only offered more of the old, but also a soundtrack with some genuinely beautiful pieces that are still synonymous with the brand for me today. AoE .

This cheerful medieval feeling, which is less martial than the Total War-series and at the same time lacks the light-heartedness of a Stronghold , strikes that sweet spot between seriousness and relaxation. Together with the main game The Age of Kings , it would probably be much higher up the list, but (for an add-on, mind you) it's 'only' good enough for 5th place.

4

The Sims

Composer(s): Jerry Martin; Marc Russo
5 star tracks: 7

And in 4th place, 'without add-ons' is probably also crucial for the positioning: The Sims. Yes, The Sims. A soundtrack that masterfully captures the essence of life - not to mention meaning - with its fusion of nimble optimism and calm thoughtfulness. Composer Jerry Martin has created art worthy of appreciation, especially from an innovative perspective.

Never before has there been music for a life simulation game in this form, and there probably won't be any in the future. While the brand's soundtracks became more upbeat and suitable for the masses from game to game, the sad moments that are just as much a part of life also play a role in the forefather. If you would like to read more about this, you are welcome to take a look at my corresponding review, for this list the score to Will Wright's simulation lands in 4th place.

Number 3-1

3

Star Trek: New Worlds

Composer(s): Julian Soule; Inon Zur
5 star tracks: 9

We have reached the podium and this much can be said: We are thematically stuck in the distant past. 3rd place goes to Star Trek: New Worlds. A game that probably very few people have on their list, let alone played, but for me its score provides a wonderfully contrasting acoustic for the colonization of alien worlds.

Julian Soule, whose brother Jeremy is particularly known for his work on the Elder Scrolls-series, together with Inon Zur, plays an emotional keyboard that ranges somewhere between a euphoric spirit of discovery and cruel realism. This composition, which is reminiscent of the classic Star Trek-epic is complemented by elements such as a bright electric guitar, which harmonizes perfectly and sounds like a match made in space. This assessment is definitely nostalgia-induced, but I still recommend reading the review and listening to this album: it's worth it!

2

Earth 2150

Composer(s): Maciej Pawłowski
5 star tracks: 11

It's still sci-fi, but this time on earthly terrain and with an absolutely clear warning: this is my list. I understand everyone who hears nothing but orchestral noise in the score of Earth 2150 , which at times blares more or less futuristically from the speakers, or paints a barren, lonely scenery in our ears.

For me, the music resembles an opera production, a performance. Even if the comparison may be too far-fetched or seem amusing, the orchestra in the battle tracks bursts upon us like Wagner and throws us into the middle of the raging battle. In my opinion, this unconventional music of the time, deeply traditional in terms of inspiration, is what makes the score stand out. And, of course, my rose-colored glasses.

Yes, Earth 2150 is unlikely to be a household name. Although the actual game is still recommendable in my opinion, it is the soundtrack that should be remembered. For recreational fantasy enthusiasts, this Fallout-like grimness can be off-putting, but those who recognize the beauty in it will be highly entertained.

1

Star Trek: Starfleet Command II – Empires at War

Composer(s): Inon Zur
5 star tracks: 11

And so we reach the top of the list and once again a game that hardly anyone who isn't familiar with Star Trek will know: Starfleet Command II – Empires at War. This is a ship combat simulation in space in which we take on the hull armor of a variety of ships. The game is set in the era of the Original Series with Kirk, Spock and Scotty and provides a few original creations in addition to the familiar races.

Musically, however, the composition is a less original creation. Once again, composer Inon Zur makes an appearance and introduces us to something that sounds like Star Trek however, is much more brute. With the Klingons, for example, we hear the horns we are familiar with from the series and films, complemented by strings, accompanying us on our way into battle. A feast for fans that goes beyond pure service, as each faction sounds distinctly different.

While the Federation as universe goody-goodies cruise merrily through space, the jackal-like Lyrans are wilder, more unruly. The music of the calculatingly cold Romulans seems correspondingly more ominous, while the lizard-like Gorn (hopefully we are all familiar with Captain Kirk's legendarily dramatic fistfight with a comrade of this species) seem lumbering and warlike.

Yes, unlike New Worlds, Starfleet Command II is pure fanservice - but it's good fanservice that adapts and duplicates the familiar in a high-quality way. I simply enjoy the soundscape that this universe offers. Is it any better than the music in Final Fantasy or Metal Gear? Not at all. I simply appreciate different qualities here. In another list with different criteria, the order would probably be different - but I'm not dissatisfied with this ranking. Nostalgia alert level red? Sure. But also a well-deserved first place!