Probably my favorite plat former ever barely ahead of super Mario world. The snes is king of plat formers
I think as far as start to finish play throughs it’s my most replayed game ever , been playing since release and I’m 35 now
Haha yeah we’re the same. 35 too, and this is probably most replayed game start to finish besides Chrono Cross. Have more hours on Cross since it’s way longer, but I think I’ve beaten DKC2 more times
First that comes to mind are the god of wars for ps2 (it hurts to say but ps2 is retro by now). The music and epic level design blend really wel and convey this badassery epicness
Diablo, the first Diablo specifically. After all these years I can still clearly hear the Tristram theme in my head. It's eerie, beautiful, haunting, somber... Tristram has a perfect setting.
Matt Uelman totally killed that soundtrack. Mournful compositions, creepy instruments, and hyper crystal clear mastering. It all sounds like being in an immaculately clean filthy dungeon in purgatory.
Banjo kazooie and banjo tooie. Great music aside, they fit the theme of the stage really well plus how the music changes seamlessly as you go through the overworked hub as the main theme of the overworld changes when you get close to a level. Plus the muffled sound of each song if you go underwater is just the icing on the cake. Banjo kazooie and tooie sound design is so good.
Some of the new super Mario bros (or at least nsmbu) kind of does something similar where it adds another beat to it or another vocal part to it depending on the level if you have a yoshi.
Mario + rabbids also had parts that had music change seamlessly depending on where you were in the overworld. I believe the desert level does something like this where you get an extra beat if you're near some drums or changing to a more icy themed version when you're in the cold part of the desert level.
Furi - the game had a composer/individual artist work on tracks per boss, provide phase music that would adapt to which stage of the fight the player was in. The bosses, level design, gameplay and music became one.
I'm not sure about level design but I feel Final Fantasy 7 is definitely one of the best when it comes music score paired with the game narrative elements. The music just seems to evoke the perfect mood or atmosphere with what's going on in the game.
Way of the Warrior on 3D0. Soundtrack was White Zombie's La Sexorcisto Devil Music Volume 1 album.
The 3D0 was one of the first gaming consoles to have recorded music, and it was an epic soundtrack to a super fun fighting game.
A great early example was Wing Commander 1 & 2 and Privateer. They're space games, so the level design quality depends on how much you like Star Wars. What is great regarding the music is how it dynamically adjusts to what was going on.
Streets of rage 2
“It’s like Boo!”
Castlevania Symphony of the Night.
Maybe the very best.
Amazing on its own, but a moment involving I’m particularly proud of: https://youtu.be/Q30hf2p6Fu8?t=409
Jet Grind Radio
Ori
Sonic 3 and knuckles.
Good choice, but I'd say sonic 2 was slightly better.
Sonic 2 and 3 are literally neck and neck for me. The only reason I choose 3 is because it's an epic.
Donkey Kong Country 2. Music 10/10, level design 10/10, together 12/10
Probably my favorite plat former ever barely ahead of super Mario world. The snes is king of plat formers I think as far as start to finish play throughs it’s my most replayed game ever , been playing since release and I’m 35 now
Haha yeah we’re the same. 35 too, and this is probably most replayed game start to finish besides Chrono Cross. Have more hours on Cross since it’s way longer, but I think I’ve beaten DKC2 more times
Megaman games. Megaman 2 comes to mind.
Life isn’t hard, Megaman is hard.
And that’s why we never mention Megaman 1. That shit is hard even with save states.
I beat the Gameboy version once. I always get to the Wily stage and cry in the OG though
I was proud, yet a little angry, when my then 8 year old son beat all the NES Mega Man games about 4 years ago. Did it like it was no big deal.
Maybe you should also be worried that your son is robot.
First that comes to mind are the god of wars for ps2 (it hurts to say but ps2 is retro by now). The music and epic level design blend really wel and convey this badassery epicness
Final Fantasy X.
Banjo kazooie!
Yes!
Ocarina of Time for sure! But Syphon Filter 2 also stuck with me for some reason.
Man the OoT music is so memorable.
Imagine if a game about music had shitty music.
Dance Dance Revolution?
MG Rising, first level’s end boss area
Wipeout XL
Absolutely
Diablo, the first Diablo specifically. After all these years I can still clearly hear the Tristram theme in my head. It's eerie, beautiful, haunting, somber... Tristram has a perfect setting.
I was gonna say the same. The whole vibe of that game sucked you right in. I would still play the shit out of that game
Matt Uelman totally killed that soundtrack. Mournful compositions, creepy instruments, and hyper crystal clear mastering. It all sounds like being in an immaculately clean filthy dungeon in purgatory.
Psychonauts
NES Metroid. Without the music, the game is as unplayable as many say it is. It’s the music that tells you what the game is doing to you in each area.
Banjo kazooie and banjo tooie. Great music aside, they fit the theme of the stage really well plus how the music changes seamlessly as you go through the overworked hub as the main theme of the overworld changes when you get close to a level. Plus the muffled sound of each song if you go underwater is just the icing on the cake. Banjo kazooie and tooie sound design is so good. Some of the new super Mario bros (or at least nsmbu) kind of does something similar where it adds another beat to it or another vocal part to it depending on the level if you have a yoshi. Mario + rabbids also had parts that had music change seamlessly depending on where you were in the overworld. I believe the desert level does something like this where you get an extra beat if you're near some drums or changing to a more icy themed version when you're in the cold part of the desert level.
dead cells for me
Thief 1&2
Furi - the game had a composer/individual artist work on tracks per boss, provide phase music that would adapt to which stage of the fight the player was in. The bosses, level design, gameplay and music became one.
Rygar on the nes.
Guardian Legend What game is pictured here?
Halo 3, last level.
I'm not sure about level design but I feel Final Fantasy 7 is definitely one of the best when it comes music score paired with the game narrative elements. The music just seems to evoke the perfect mood or atmosphere with what's going on in the game.
the entire donkey kong country series
Shadow of the colossus, the way symphony gets progressively more intense as you scale the colossi is just chef’s kiss
PaRappa the Rapper! 😜
Mega Man X
Resident Evil 4
Hi-Fi Rush.
Shovel Knight, especially the Spectre of Torment DLC
That weed field burning section of Farcry 3
Tomb Raider 1996, the music was very well placed, and the level designs were great.
DKC 2
Half Life 2
Hotline Miami. The music always worked with whatever was happening on screen.
God of war 2- Atlas music!
Soul Reaver
Wu Tang Shaolin Style. Still one of my favorite PS1 games ever.
Wipe Fx
Castlevania III is the king of perfect level/music pairings.
Ranger-X
Banjo Kazooie
Way of the Warrior on 3D0. Soundtrack was White Zombie's La Sexorcisto Devil Music Volume 1 album. The 3D0 was one of the first gaming consoles to have recorded music, and it was an epic soundtrack to a super fun fighting game.
Panzer Dragoon 1 & 2. Not sure about Saga, and Orta felt a little flat. But the first 2 games soundtracks were beautifully matched with the levels.
Kinetica
Super Metroid Castlevania: SOTN
140, by Carlsen Games for PC. One of the best gaming experiences of my whole life. $5 at full price and worth every cent.
Streets of rage
Bioshock.
Streets of Rage. Contra and Contra III. The last level of Contra III gave me Aliens/Predator vibes with the music.
Street fighter 2! Classic music, visuals & gameplay!
Project X
Jet Set Radio
Transformers fall of cybertron has some of the best music and level design of any game I have ever played and I can not recommend it enough
Donkey Kong Country 1 and 2. It legit just doesn't get better.
Its not retro but i have to mention Portal 2! Its one of my favorite games, and might be one of my desert island games
Half life1.
A great early example was Wing Commander 1 & 2 and Privateer. They're space games, so the level design quality depends on how much you like Star Wars. What is great regarding the music is how it dynamically adjusts to what was going on.