A lot of the music I listen to regularly actually comes from video game soundtracks. It's nice to see other people who appreciate the contributions a good score can make to a game. :)
Some favorites of mine:
1. The Baldur's Gate series had some really incredible music. I played the second game and the expansion, Throne of Bhaal extensively and got really hooked on the music. Here's a collection of some of the better tracks. Some really sweeping pieces, rousing battle music, even the romantic themes were good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDYEGDrO0mU&feature=related 2. The Civilization games always needed to try and capture a lot of scope with their music. After all, it was supposed to be about shepherding a civilization from its inception all the way to modern times and beyond. That's a whole lot of years. I always thought the theme music for the fourth game did a great job of that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ppZUcfBbeM 3. Descent: Freespace 2 had some seriously haunting music. Which was a good thing. You had a game where you were just one little bitty pilot trying to fight off an enormous alien invasion that would've wiped out humanity, and the music really brought across this feeling of loneliness and isolation while still managing to be extremely tense during all the proper nail-biting moments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3b5L1YnK1s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohKLy59aDVw&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQvwhj17wbM&feature=related 4. Freedom Fighters had some awesome use of chorals. Very stirring music. Almost made me glad the Soviets were taking over New York. Heh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg1__cp9698 < The Intro Movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DKyVmhuDg0&feature=channel_page < The Title Theme
5. Heroes of MIght and Magic series: Always loved the music in these games, and it's hard to pick favorites, but for some really rousing music, I'd have to say this is one of the better ones, in my opinion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQNMA2Yni_I&&fmt=18 6. Homeworld: Good ambient music, but the Homeworld soundtrack makes my list specifically for one track - it can be heard here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb-6it5GKIg This may just have been one of the most gut-wrenching moments I can remember in a video game, and the music was such a huge part of it. Coupled with the voices of S'jet and the Fleet Commander talking about how those cryogenic trays needed to be protected because they were ALL that was left of an entire race... just... wow.
7. Jade Empire: Good music all around, but one of my favorites was the main theme. I got the game via Steam as a Christmas present, started it up, and when the main theme started playing at the title screen, I knew I was in for a hell of a ride. I wasn't disappointed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIXR2jU2U7U&feature=PlayList&p=9DDD8B2CD9248597&index=15 8. Mass Effect: Yeah, another BioWare game. They do good work. :)
I was pretty much hooked from the opening cutscene when you see Shepard standing there staring out the window as Udina and Anderson discuss him/her... there's that little opening crawl describing some stuff, and then the shot of the Normandy flashing by. Cut to Shepard walking up the bridge, passing the crew at their stations on the way to the helm, and you have the theme music playing in the background... just a brilliant moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1fdV37gCB4&feature=related 9. Planescape: Torment. So... yes. Black Isle, good. They pretty much just hit the nail on the head with all of the selections, but I think one of my favorites has got to be this one right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g05awcTskKE&feature=PlayList&p=709CEACB84B8F7FF&index=27 I'm pretty sure someone else mentioned the Torment soundtrack as one of their favorites, but it's worth mentioning again. It's really quite good.
10. Tomb Raider franchise: Some of the games have been a little hit or miss, but for the most part, they've been good. And when they've been good, they've been very good. My favorite pieces have always been the ones that give you that sense of wonder and awe and majesty that -should- come from exploring strange and exotic locales that nobody else has been to in hundreds of years.
The opening theme to the first game: simple and a little understated, maybe, but the use of the Gregorian-style chant just makes it for me. >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zkFW3fzmGU&feature=related Anyway, there's a bunch of stuff for you guys to listen to... since this somehow became a thread for recommendations and what-not and I ended up getting preachy. Whoops. ;)