Compiling a list of the very best Genesis soundtracks.

[Original_Name]

So basically, I'm in love with the Genesis's soundchip and I like to put awesome video game music on my iPod (alongside hardcore, post-punk, ska, jazz, and early-90's rap... I have a very strange iTunes library...) and so far I have the following:

Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Thunder Force IV
ToeJam & Earl: Panic on Funkotron
Streets of Rage 2

I've already decided the following are essential:

Phantasy Star IV
Revenge of Shinobi
Ristar
Comix Zone
Gunstar Heroes
Vectorman
Sonic Spinball
Alien Soldier
M.U.S.H.A.
Sword of Vermilion
Rocket Knight Adventures
Contra: Hard Corps
Earthworm Jim
X-Men 2
Jewel Master
Gain Ground
Socket
Sol-Deace
E-SWAT

Considering:

Shining Force series
Ecco the Dolphin series

What other soundtracks utilize the Genesis's soundtrack well? I'm not really looking for pieces that are remembered mostly for being iconic (i.e. Golden Axe, Altered Beast) so much as the really intricate or intense pieces.

Should I download the Shining Force and Ecco the Dolphin soundtracks? I own copies of them, but I've never had time to get very far in (actually, I've beaten Ecco the Dolphin on the Sega CD, but it has a completely different soundtrack) - are many of the tracks great standalone pieces, or is it primarily atmospheric fair?

[Anubis]

I haven't made it completely through either Shining Force game, but the music is great for the most part. There are some tunes that just great on my ear though.

[IcKy99]

i think your list is pretty much complete dude

[Pingfa]

I'm sure there are many more fantastic ones, but the first one that came to mind that you don't have on the list is Gain Ground. That one pops into my head all the time. Awesome track.

[latenitevacancy]

i've heard that the x-men 2 soundtrack on the genesis is quite good, but having not spent much time with the game i can't really give my own opinion.

[Jrecee]

Socket

[Reverend]

I really like the Sword of Vermilion soundtrack.

http://www.vgmusic.com/music/console/se ... assic.html

[Original_Name]

Sword of Vermilion! Thank you, I knew I was forgetting something!

And I took off Castlevania: Bloodlines... on second listen, there really wasn't anything that I would find myself listening to just for the hell of it. I think I was thinking of Super Castlevania IV's soundtrack.

Thanks for the additions so far, guys! I'd never listened to Socket's soundtrack before; great stuff.

And I came across music for Jewel Master, E-SWAT, and Sol-Deace and was convinced to add them to the list.

[Wurp]

I'm sure there are many more fantastic ones, but the first one that came to mind that you don't have on the list is Gain Ground. That one pops into my head all the time. Awesome track.

Well that's going be stuck in my head all day now.

[Hatta]

Is there some reason you don't have the original TJ&E listed? Excellent soundtrack, and a much better game than PoF.

And yeah, I agree that the Genesis sound chip is pretty awesome. Nothing like a model 1 genesis hooked up to a nice stereo played LOUD.