Music is a wonderful medium. In addition to expressing emotion and eliciting enjoyment on its own, music is very helpful in enhancing the experience of audiovisual entertainment. Whether it be film scores from composers such as John Williams and Hans Zimmer, or gaming soundtracks from Koji Kondo and Jeremy Soule, many excellent pieces are found within each of these realms. The following pieces are some of the best I personally have heard. Note that these are not ranked and are only numbered for organizational purposes.

1. "Stage 4-2" from "Ninja Gaiden"

This 1988 NES game notorious for its difficulty has plenty of good music. This uptempo track, also known as "Master Ninja" or "Unbreakable Determination" stands out the most because of its catchy melody and fun 8-bit percussion.

2. "The Moon" from "DuckTales"

"DuckTales" is an NES game based on the late 1980s cartoon series of the same name. The music in here is about as catchy as the TV theme song, and this track that plays on the moon stage is a fantastic example of 8-bit music composition.

3. "Wind Scene" from "Chrono Trigger"

The acclaimed SNES role-playing game "Chrono Trigger" is known for many things, one of the more noticeable being its soundtrack composed by Yasunori Mitsuda. This calm, ambient tune plays during the medieval section of the game, and the string-like synthesizers evoke the atmosphere of this section very well.

4. "Prelude" from "Final Fantasy VII"

Love it or hate it, "Final Fantasy" has arguably been the most influential and recognizable role-playing series of the past 30-ish years. Its music especially has been one of the most defining aspects of the games. The "Prelude" has been present as opening in most of the games, but the seventh version, composed by Nobuo Uematsu, is very beautifully done with its dreamy synthesizers and pleasant key signature.

5. "Main Theme (Orchestral Version)" from "Parasite Eve"

Survival horror is not really my thing, so I don't plan to play "Parasite Eve." However, the soundtrack composed by Yoko Shimomura is basically a work of art. The orchestral version of the main theme is very well composed and subdued piece, evoking the ominous atmosphere in the game.

6. "Outset Island" from "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker"

"The Legend of Zelda" has been a fan favorite franchise from Nintendo about as long as "Final Fantasy." One of the more *legendary* aspects of the games is the memorable music. A lot of tracks could easily make this list, but this light-hearted celtic track from "The Wind Waker" really captures the essence of the game's ocean setting.

7. "Baba Yetu" from "Sid Meier's Civilization IV"

This beautiful theme song to the 4th entry in the popular simulation series was composed by Christopher Tin. The lyrics are actually the Lord's Prayer recited in Swahili. This song was so well-received it won a Grammy and was performed for the UN Assembly.

8. "One Final Effort" from "Halo 3"

"Halo" was one of the definitive FPS series of the 2000s, and the music is a contributing factor to its influence. This epic orchestral piece plays during the 8th level of the 3rd game, and has desparate but hopeful tone that reflects the struggle to continue to the end.

9. "Gusty Garden Galaxy" from "Super Mario Galaxy"

While the second "Galaxy" game is my personal favorite, the music of the first one appeals to me more. The background music for this windy level in particular is especially awesome. The full orchestra accompanied by a guitar epitomizes the sense of wonder found in the level, and arguably for the whole game as well.

10. "Adventure" from "Fez"

One of the indie community's beloved gems, "Fez" is an homage to classic gaming on many levels, including the chiptune score by Disasterpiece. This opening track from the offical soundtrack captures the spirit of the game, albeit in a somewhat minimalistic way, as Gomez sets off on his quest to save the universe.

That's it! I hope y'all enjoy!