Well, of course, you get one good game score CD, you have to get more. I got the CD for 007 Tomorrow Never Dies, but I'd like to have some more leads. What other game score CD's are available? And which should I get? I'm thinking about getting the CD for Grim Fandango? Any opinions on anything?

Thanks,
Bradley

Also check out Jeremy Soule's TOTAL ANNIHILATION, another orchestral score (check out his website for sound clips)

I've always been fond of Lucasarts scores, especially those by Michael Land (THE DIG is a wonderful, ethereal soundscape [released separately]- I think MYST and RIVEN work within the same sphere), plus, of course his MONKEY ISLAND and INDIANA JONES work. Clint Bajakian should be mentioned in the same "Lucasarts" breath - there's FULL THROTTLE and the Morriconeish OUTLAWS with an isolated score track).

I also liked George Oldziey's score for WING COMMANDER III, but I don't think it's available.

PHANTASMAGORIA I and II had some great choral stuff - cannot remember the composer.

As you might have gathered, I am a adventure game lover. Haven't checked out GABRIEL KNIGHT III yet, but the first two were brilliant, especially the second one (delving into mysteries surrounding Wagner and Louis XIV - BOTH entertaining/atmospheric AND informative).

I'd also like to mention Oldziey's music for Ultima IX: Ascension. There's a score cd (although short) available at the website. Fully orchestral, it's a big fantasy/adventure score. Awesome stuff!

Re "Wing Commander III", I also liked that one. I remember Ford Thaxton saying that one of the scores he had on his show was the first real computer game score played by an orchestra. In fact, "WC3" was there before.

Some pieces from the "Final Fantasy" series were recorded using a real orchestra and chorus, and they sound fantastic. Recommended for everyone who likes "Omen" or "Carmina Burana". Unfortunately, the CD has about 4 orchestra tracks and the rest done by synths, so I haven't purchased it yet.

Thor, I remember that Phantasmagoria score. A lot of it was synth, but the orchestra/choral parts were very effective. It's been years, but the main theme with the choir and electric guitar is still fresh in my mind. I never played or heard Phantasmagoria II. Was it much of the same?

And where is the best place to look for these CD's? I know you can find some at Amazon.com but where else?

BTW, I heard some sound clips from the Outcast game score. Is there a CD for this?

His music is incredible - have fun listening.

BTW, how is the Grim Fandango score?

Even after all these great orchestral game scores like MOH, LW, and HEART OF DARKNESS, and all the others people have been mentioning, there's still one (happens to be synthesized) which I have liked more any that came after it... ECCO THE DOLPHIN, and its sequel ECCO: THE TIDES OF TIME by Spencer Nilsen. I have never heard synthesized music this great. They are absolutely stunning. You can get them both (sort of) on a CD called ECCO: SONG OF TIME. Even though it is 60+ minutes long, there's still a lot of music missing, but it is definitely still a great buy.

One more: I only know the demo version of "Rogue Squadron", but from that, the score by Chris Hülsbeck (has been composing great game music for 15 years or so, I already liked his music when I still worked on my C64!) sounds great. Unfortunately all-synth, but it's a fantastic symphonic score incorporating Williams' "Star Wars" themes and mixing them with new ones. It even has end credits that are true to the "Star Wars" tradition, starting with the main theme and then reprising the major themes of the score. Another should-be-recorded-with-orchestra score.

I have MP3 clips of all the game scores that I own. Some I bought the actual CD and some I ripped from the games themselves. So if anyone wants to hear what any of these sound like just let me know.

Microsoft Deadly Tide *****
Shattered Steel *****
Microsoft Hellbender ****
Metal Gear Solid ****
Ecco: Songs of Time ****
Tekken 3 ****
Myst ****
Riven ***
The Dig ***
Warcraft II ***
Command & Conquer: The Covert Operations (Frank Klepacki)
The Lost World-Playstation (Michael Giacchino) ****
Tomorrow Never Dies (Tommy Tallarico) ****
Resident Evil ***

I'll throw in a list of games that have cool music like everyone else here
Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri (Bizarre & gets your adrenaline going)
Mechwarrior 2, Mechwarrior 2: Mercinaries, Mechwarrior 2: Ghost Bear's Legacy
Heavy Gear
Unreal (not Unreal Tournament)
Crusader: No Remorse, Crusader: No Regret
Star Control 2
Final Fantasy 7
Chrono Trigger
Descent 1, Descent 2
Daggerfall
The Secret of Monkey Island 2
The 7th Guest
The Dig
Command & Conquer
Shadows of the Empire (which was ripped from the great Joel McNeely CD w/ the same name)
Shogo: Moble Armor Division (sort of)
Wing Commander 3 (Dramatic, even on an old FM MIDI card "back in the day")
Loom (best PC speaker music ever, heh)

I'd be interested in hearing stuff from Deadly Tide, Shattered Steel, Tekken 3, The Dig and The Lost World. Could you email me a couple of MP3s?

I will contact you via E-mail.