So, another topic for your consideration. Feel free to vent on a game you consider got the music wrong, or compliment a game which you think got it right.

I'll go first.

Quake II.
Got it right. The score underplayed the "fun" and fast-paced nature of the experience. This is in direct contrast to its vaunted sequel Quake IV (got it wrong), which took itself far too seriously, with moody orchestral score rather than "charge in guns blazing" music.

Done extremely right: NieR:Automata Simply a wonderful soundtrack, not only do the tracks fit perfectly to every scene or location they also come in a several variations. Hence the game always seem to sound new or refreshing.

Another one done right is the soundtrack from Homeworld and System Shock 2, which is funny because I usually hate electronic music but these games do it really well.

Done wrong: Dragon Age II. Inon Zurs worst work in my opinion. It is rather generic and very boring.

I'll look at the Sega Genesis Phantasy Star games here as my example, mainly because they're the most interesting case I can think of off hand.

Phantasy Star 2: Done wrong. The music in this game is just not that good and not that interesting.

Phantasy Star 3: Done wrong. The music in this game is well composed, and there are some rather interesting things here (including the overworld theme getting extra parts when more characters are added, an overworld theme that plays if the main character is dead (it's worth letting him die (or having him us a Royal Vest) as an item just to hear this theme), an underused theme that plays in the Layan towns (but only early on), and the final dungeon theme). Unfortunately, the game makes terrible use of the Sega Genesis sound chip, and as a result, much of the music sounds quite terrible in-game. The game's music really begs to be remixed.

Phantasy Star 4: Done right. The developers actually learned to use the Sega Genesis sound chip well, *and* the music is well composed.

Done right:

Painkiller: The soundtrack fully fit the tone of the game

Quake 2: I also totally agree with the OP about Quake 2s music

Gothic 3: The music was too good, it made me overlook some of the flaws in the game

Done wrong:

X-Wing/TIE Fighter: I think most people agree with me that they didn't prefer the CD audio

System Shock 2: The music took away from the games creepy atmosphere, the music made me want to run and gun.

Half-Life: I didn't think the CD Audio fit the game at all. The music clashed with the aesthetic not unsimilar to System Shock 2

Done right
Nier: Gestalt and Automata, but durandl already spoke of it earlier.
The Dark Souls series, because there is no music, except for the boss battles. A great idea, for the atmosphere of the exploration, and the epicness of these boss fights.

More Done Right:
- Red Alert: The music fitted the militaristic nature of the game like a glove.
- The Flame in the Flood: A surprising revelation despite my initial distaste for this style of music, but it just works so well with the mood of the game, especially when devs matched up when the music would strike up (ie climbing on the raft to go further down river).
- The Witcher: What can I say? I even enjoy the OST without the game. Sometimes the repetitive "battle mode" music could wear a little thin, especially when it strikes up for say a drowner, only to immediately stop again when you take the monster out with a quick series of blows.
- Warcraft 2, Warcraft 3. Blizzard did well here. Some memorable themes, and in the case of Warcraft 3, the Horde music set a fun battle atmosphere.
- 12 is Better than 6: Despite other misgivings about the game, the music fit well. Set the pace, and was enough to add to the fun of playing. On the downside, not particularly memorable, however I only rarely recall music themes such as these.

On-the-fence:
- Total Annihilation: Although initially feeling done well, after protracted time in-game it tended to outlive it's welcome. Sometimes orchestral can get irritating if it doesn't change pace from time to time.

Done Wrong:
- X-Wing vs TIE Fighter: A very uninspired soundtrack (music sequences directly from the movies). It's predecessor Tie Fighter was done right. Pity there. LucasArts tended to "fall back" to using the original themes too much in the Star Wars series, as if somehow fans would turn on them for "musical blasphemy".
- Supreme Commander: I cannot pick a specific problem with the soundtrack beyond not being memorable at all. The voice overs etc were done well, but the music obviously lacked lustre.
- Limbo: Sorry. The mood of the graphics was A+, but the music had room for improvement. In fact I don't remember much about it (Did it HAVE music? If not, it probably should have).

Well,I look at it this way.I have no problems with any of the music associated with games and over time have grown to love them all (the one's I know,anyhow) as they grow on you.If there is bad choices out there then I haven't come across them as yet.I really don't play many Gog games mainly because too many are kiddies games (no offense) and I wont talk/name them as I have far more interesting things to do.

Done right
- Red Alert 2 - Frank Klepacki FTW
- Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine: very short tunes play only when something important is happening. It perfectly fits the game IMO and always emphasizes what is happening. Be it a group of soviets arriving, reaching a nice vista or solving a puzzle.
- Titan Quest: some of the music is absolutely stunning. I still remember my first time arriving into Athens or the Silk Road. I still sometimes just skim through the soundtrack and listen to my favorites.

There is a lot more but I could spend hours here.

I can't remember the negative ones. When it comes to music, I remember what I liked and forget the ones I disliked. I can maybe just say that I was not impressed by the Doom 4 soundtrack.

Done right

OutRun: you can just listen to those tunes without even starting the game (tip: buy that Japanese 10 CD music collection, it's worth it, even though it sadly doesn't have any C64 or Amiga versions)

The Secret of Monkey Island: sometimes I watch the game intro on YouTube just to listen to that music and admire pixelarts.

Europa Universalis: classical music works well!

Star Trek: The Next Generation - A Final Unity: the intro/title sequence makes you feel like you are inside an episode.

Superstar SMTown/Superstar JYPNation: if you like kpop, you love these.

+ any game where Disasterpeace has composed the music.


Done wrong

Can't remember any good example here, but at least games which have some menu music that can't be turned off, don't have audio balance settings and dialog gets drowned by music, etc.

Also, KISS: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child has surprisingly little KISS music, practically speaking not at all. That's a licensing issue of course, as the game is based on KISS comics, not the band, but it's a bit weird anyway. And it's a shame too, as that game is like a true hidden gem among FPS games!

I remember playing the demo for that game. Expected something terrible, but to my surprise, the game was not bad at all.

Thanks for reminding me of it. I might snag it from a certain abandonware site.

Done right:
Ultima 7 - the music is a significant part of the charm of the game. Same is true for some other Ultimas. And especially for Ultima 5 -Lazarus. I just love the Stones song!
Max Payne 2 - just wow! The cello music is awesome and fits the atmosphere of the game perfectly.
Quake - Nine Inch Nails + FPS is just a great combination
Gothic - having In Extremo perform in-game was a treat! (Same for the Oblivion-Mod Nehrim and the Schandmaul performance)
Beatbuddy - well, the music is integral part of the game.
Monkey Island - I love the theme!
(and this cover is cool too!)
Diablo - especially the Tristram theme
Loom - ... well, they cheated and used Swan Lake from Tchaikovski

Partially right:
Mafia - parts of the music fit very well. At other times the music is just annoying. (Driving through Chinatown...)

Totally annoying, but still cult:
TETRIS!
And Super Mario on the Gameboy.

The best part is Late Goodbye by Poets of the Fall.
How many people have become fans of the band because of that? At least I went on a cruise to see PotF live, and I wasn't disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzsiE44Lz_w

Oh yes. That was awesome too. All in all it was a near perfect game! :-) A shame, that it isn't here. :-(

Bad music is easy...

Deus Ex: God awful, cheesy music that does not fit the game and shouldn't even be used for a game, it is that poor.

Good music...

Command & Conquer! Some of the best game music, period.

Done right:

The Secret of Monkey Island: best theme ever, and many other great tunes. I love both the original and the re-recorded versions.

Age of Empires I & II: they bring back a lot of good memories of gaming and also evoke past eras.

Gemini Rue: I have a soft spot for this one, very atmospheric.

These are the ones I regularly listen to. I'd recommend them even if you haven't played the games, that's how good they are.