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Video: Best old school video game tunes of all time

by Daniel Long  on Sep 9, 2008
Tags: games | youtube | pacman | guitar | hero | komat | music
We rank the top 7 old school video game theme songs of all time, with a little help from Youtube.
News that Blizzard is adding the game soundtracks to titles like World of Warcraft on iTunes, had us reminiscing about classics in gaming music. Great tunes never go out of style and that goes for video games as much as any format.

Here at PC Authority, we salute the themes of a lost video gaming generation: a time when 8 and 16 bit pixels ruled the earth.

Here's our countdown of the 7 greatest old school video game themes of all time.

7) Super Street Fighter 2

Version: Original game



The best of the late 80’s/early 90’s platform fighters.

Designed with a kick-ass theme to mimic the popular fighter films of the day including Bloodsport and any number of Hong Kong Kung-Fu films, Street fighter offers a classic fighter soundtrack with which to listen to while your opponent begs for mercy.

6) Wonderboy

Version: Original game



Why? Because we could never get that cutesy synthesizer tune out of our heads.

This was Sega’s failed attempt to capitalise on the success of the Super Mario Bro’s series and a port of the original arcade game. We have to admit, the tune can be addictive, which is another reason you'll either love or hate this theme.

5) Mortal Kombat theme

Version: Guitar and Keyboard



Inspired by the electronic-techno pop phase that was big in Europe and Asia in the early to mid 90’s.

Mortal Kombat serves its notice with a bombastic, keyboard heavy tune that made you wanna dance or throw something at your TV. It would later be used in a remix for the film of the same name. We have to admit though, it's much more impressive when played on both the guitar and keyboard – simultaneously.

4)Pacman theme

Version: Piano



Three words: Short, catchy, repetitive.

Look up video game addiction and you'll find a listing for Pacman somewhere. That catchy, cutesy, strained initial chord repetition would loop and loop until the next level or the game was completed. Let's face it: Pacman was all about the catchy hook, which later formed the basis for the hit song by Pacman fever.

This article appeared in the October, 2008 issue of PC Authority.
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Comments: 2
totoaus
Sep 12, 2008 8:41 PM
 There is something seriously defective with ANY list of video games that excludes the classic wireframe games such as BattleZone, or green on Green Flight Simulator running on an Apple 2. Even Pong is overlooked, sad days indeed.


Comment made about the PC Authority article:
Video: Best old school video game tunes of all time?
We rank the top 7 old school video game theme songs of all time, with a little help from Youtube.

What do you think? Join the discussion.
exitnow
Oct 3, 2008 3:21 PM
 i think you missed the best one - Shadow of the Beast.
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