Chrono Trigger
Anyone with an interest in RPGs has surely heard of this game, which is largely considered to be the finest RPG created in the 16-bit generation. Although it certainly contains a well-told story and interesting battle system, the music is the one aspect which I believe propelled it into the running of Best RPG Ever. Each tune was composed with such care rarely seen in gaming, each piece captures the mood of every moment with striking emotion. The adventure, the hope, the pain, the triumph... every scene is driven in perfect harmony of the soundtrack.
A fair that comes only once every thousand years needs to have a suitably monumental tune accompanying it, and this one doesn't disappoint. It's a shame the fair isn't an area of the game where a lot of time is spent, although that is also a testament to the effort behind the game's soundtrack.
With a name as ominous as The Black Omen, I expected something a little more dramatic. The piece starts with an eerie plink, then moves into a somewhat jazzy sequence with a piano. It's a weird mix of styles, but it somehow fits the setting quite well.
Despite meeting this friendly robot in a desolate future, this theme song is particularly upbeat. Its uplifting melody is inspiring to continue the long road ahead, instilling hope that this future can be prevented. The rhythmic beat even sounds like a robot stomping the ground, giving an image of a whole robot ensemble dancing to the music. For some reason, this one reminds me of disco, even though I don't think it uses instruments typically associated with disco. Maybe it has something to do with R-66Y's attack involving lasers...
The self-proclaimed Master of War, Spekkio is a strange creature with an interesting motto: you're only as strong as you think your opponent looks. Spekkio is one of the few living beings who remain at the End of Time, and he's there to provide the party with practice bouts to test their strength. The tune's cheerful flute melody and lively tempo may seem out of place for a battle theme, but it captures the radical nature of Spekkio.
This is the one. The track that has been engrained in my mind almost my entire life. I don't exactly know what it is about it that makes it so pleasant to my ears; it's certainly an apt piece for the kingdom of magic, as it contains a magical quality. The drums provide the perfect rhythm for the sitar to follow, and the opening echo of the gamelan still gives me chills to this day. If there were only one tune I found infinitely listenable, this is it, the track that I could make my theme song for entering a room and never get tired of listening to it.
I've got to agree with a lot of your picks, perhaps excluding Vortex. I don't dig techno.
I loved Super Mario RPG's music. It's memorable to this day, as is all the rest, especially that found in Chrono Trigger...
But I think Super Metroid music is even better than you give it credit for. I find myself "thinking" the music on a regular basis, particular the boss music and whenever a building is going to blow up.
Honestly, if you were to ask me again, I'd probably pick a different five games to highlight here. There were a lot of good choices to write about, and just because I didn't doesn't mean I think any less of even the ones that weren't mentioned in the Honourable Mentions. I could have easily expanded this and wrote about each and every one of those games, but for the sake of readability, I couldn't make it longer than the average attention span. I had to put a limit somewhere, and trust me, it wasn't an easy decision.
Though I can't believe I forgot to mention the Nimbus Land music for Super Mario RPG. That isn't just one of my favourites, it's probably my most favourite. How it slipped my mind I'll never know. The volcano music is another worth mentioning, as it also had enough bass to rattle the speakers.
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