Sad (Melancholy) Game Music

[Rurouni_Fencer]

Tonight I felt nostalgic and decided to throw Demon's Crest into my SNES. The music - oh man! As much as I love Capcom's generally upbeat retro tracks and faux-metal riffs, I really think that they outdid themselves with this one!
Sure, a game's soundtrack can get you pumped, intrigued, or at the very least - humming along. But it wasn't until I rented Demon's Crest one weekend in the 7th grade that a video game had ever managed to make me feel completely and utterly somber and otherwise dispirited. I love how well 'Gargoyle's Quest' made the 16-bit transition, but what I love even more is that the sound team at Capcom decided to actually make you feel like you're in a depressing graveyard, or
a somber and otherwise hopeless town.

Anybody else ever feel this way about a game's music?

[CFFJR]

Demon's Crest is fantastic, and the music really is brilliant.

I have a couple, but the style is quite different from that of Demon's Crest. I still think they count as somber though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Oj0iqra9Y

The opening theme from Harvest Moon 64, used as the soundtrack for a funeral. In this original version, the tune picks up about halfway through and it kinda loses itself, but versions of the song used in later games (which refer to it as "64 Memories") loop the sad part. I find it better that way.

Another Harvest Moon song, from a Wonderful Life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbwHHE3eGec

This song only plays inside the home of a character. Unless you have reason to visit him, you won't hear it.

Its also stands out as being moody and reflective considering how happy go lucky the character in question is.

[J T]

I've always been in love with Metroid's odd otherworldly music. Those thin little 8-bit tones, in spite of (or maybe because of) their limitations, capture the sense of isolation and disconnection perfectly.

Intro Theme

Chozo Room

Kraid's Lair

Ridley's Lair

Norfair

Tourian

[AznKhmerBoi]

This is my favorite mello theme from a video game.

At the Bottom of Night: Chrono Trigger Music


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twqsu9bM ... re=related

[Rurouni_Fencer]

This is my favorite mello theme from a video game.

At the Bottom of Night: Chrono Trigger Music


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twqsu9bM ... re=related

Another great song! Mitsuda composed so many brilliant tracks!
My favorite one of all time:
Star-Stealing Girl

[EllertMichael]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykmjwx3PU58

DonPachi stage 1 music. What it feels like to kill your friends...

the player assumes the role of a pilot whose mission is to actually survive an eight years long training mission, where he/she is supposed to prove his/her worth as a fighter and gain entry to the future elite squadron known as the DonPachi Squadron - which is featured prominently throughout the entire series. The twist lies in the fact that the enemies are, in truth, the player's very own comrades, posing as enemies and sacrificing their lives for the sake of allowing only the most skilled pilots to pass the test, and survive.

[Rurouni_Fencer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykmjwx3PU58

DonPachi stage 1 music. What it feels like to kill your friends...

Sounds a bit similar to the Terminator theme, which is definitely pretty doomy and foreboding.. But after reading the premise of the game, it's pretty appropriate.. Shmups and RPGs always seem to have the most emotional music..

[boltfanSD]

Final Fantasy VI really has an amazing collection of melancholy music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TzPDsBNtsw - Forever Rachel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4_ewaO7SA4 - Coin Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nECEuioRb68 - Relm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ru6s85JZZc - Epitaph

Uematsu really knew how to work the snes' sound card.

On a related note, I think music and sound design are some of the most important aspects of game design, and don't get as much credit as they deserve when done well. Then again, the rise of voice acting in games really diminished the effect great soundtracks have on the player. This article from Kotaku really sums up this idea and is a good indicator of why no one has posted tracks beyond the 32/64 bit era. They really had to emphasize emotions through music to help convey the tones reflecting the content of text boxes, sort of a stand in for voice acting.

[dairugger]

Actraiser 2 and Ecco 1 & 2 and Donkey Kong country 1 water theme always had this effect on me. very somber and otherworldly..

[neilencio]

The BG music for various towns in Ragnarok Online.