Impressive VGM By Year: 1983
1980-1982｜1983｜1984｜1985｜1986｜1987｜1988｜1989
If you'd prefer a YT playlist featuring the top 40 OSTs, click here. Scroll down for the laserdisc audio list.
Gyruss (ARC, 5x AY-8910 at 1.789 Mhz w/ DAC & 6x RC)(Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor), Medley ver.
Probably the first chiptune soundtrack with both sampled percussion and stereo mixing. While it is a remix of a classical piece split into three parts it is rather detailed and seems to make pretty good use of all the 5 AY chips used, featuring echo and chorus effects as well as noise accompaniment to the sampled drums.
Spy Hunter (ARC, 2x AY-8910 & AD7533 DAC (Cheap Squeak Deluxe board))(Peter Gunn theme)
While this seems to be one of the first arcade cabinets to feature stereo sound, it's used for the sfx rather than the music.
Mr. Robot and His Robot Factory (Atari 8-bit, Pokey)
Ultima III (AII, Mockingboard AY-3-8910, 1985?), C64 ver. (1984), AMI ver. (1986)(Lord British=Rule, Britannia!)
Probably the first game soundtrack where the player can manually trigger most of its songs by moving back and forth between areas in-game, and its length and variety was unmatched at the time in terms of original chiptune-based VGM. The style is mostly appropriate to a medieval fantasy setting, featuring old european folk song pastiches (possibly covers since the Lord British track is one and it was pretty common at this point in game history). Technically, it's pretty barebones and there's no percussion but we do get some effective use of echo in the mysterious Dungeons track.
The Tail of Beta Lyrae (Atari 800 XL, Pokey)(Gary Gilbertson - Passionately), Intro
Archon (C64) - 1984?, Apple II ver., Atari 8-bit ver.
Mappy (ARC, Namco 8-channel WSG) - Ragtime
Libble Rabble (ARC, Namco 8-channel WSG)
Journey (ARC, 2x AY8910 at 2 Mhz)(Journey - Don't Stop Believin'), Tape parts (Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)) recording
An early example of licensed tracks used with permission by the artist in question (years before Goonies and Moonwalker), which is also notable for its variety at the time, featuring 5 different level themes and an intro/stage select track. Furthermore the game uses tape recordings for the intro and ending tracks that would play in sync with the game, a very rare example for arcade games period as they would later switch more and more to digital streaming audio files.
MULE (C64), Atari 8-bit ver.
Aztec Challenge (C64)(added reverb & stereo)
Jammin' (C64)(in-game, mostly covers?)
Notable for being partially interactive (the music changes depending on which instrument you are carrying)
Forbidden Forest (C64)
Frogger (C64)(Medley of covers?)
Turtles (Odyssey 2, Voice)
Frantic Freddie (C64)(All covers)(in-game)
Donkey Kong (NES)
Tapper (ARC, 2x AY-3-8910)(in-game)
Notable for being one of the first games with stereo music.
Spy Hunter (C64)
Mad Planets (ARC, DAC)(in-game)
A very early, if not the first use of modulation in a chiptune-based game OST, heard in the short and simple loop which makes up the in-game and high score theme (sadly it is cut off by the sfx during gameplay).
Rise Out from Dungeons (MSX PSG)
Mr. Do's Castle (ARC, SN76496)
Slalom (C64)
Super Pipeline (C64), In-game - 1984?
Dragon's Den (C64)(Edvard Grieg etc.)
Pole Position II (ARC, Namco 6-channel stereo WSG) - no in-game music
Notable for being one of the first games with stereo music.
Elevator Action (ARC, 4x AY8910)(in-game)
Mario Bros. (NES)
Up 'n Down (ARC, 2x SN76496 at different clocks speeds)
Moondust (C64)
User generated music?
Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man (Intellivision)
Water Ski (ARC, 4x AY-3-8910?)(in-game)
Protector 2 (C64)(Classical)
Killerwatt (C64)(Bach)
Digger (PC, PC Speaker PWM)(Popcorn cover, Overture to Wilhelm Tell cover)
Pac & Pal (ARC, Namco 8-channel WSG)
Ski Hunt (A2600) - polyphonic, 1983
Trooper Truck (C64)(YMO or Terminator cover?)(in-game)
Chack'n Pop (ARC, 2x AY8910?)
Roc'n Rope (ARC, 2x AY8910)
Donkey Kong Jr. & Donkey Kong Jr. Math (NES)
Frogger (Colecovision, SN76489)(in-game)
Jr. Pac-Man (ARC, Namco 3-channel WSG)
10-Yard Fight (ARC, AY-3-8910)
Bobby is Going Home (A2600) - polyphonic, 1983
Baseball (NES)
Markham (ARC, 2x SN76496?)
The Tin Star (ARC, 4x Ay-3-8910?)
Dig Dug (A2600) - polyphonic, 1983
Donkey Kong 3 (ARC, N2A03)(while using super spray)
Pressure Cooker (A2600) - polyphonic intro jingle/monophonic in-game, 1983
Strawberry Shortcake: Musical Match-ups (A2600) - polyphonic jingles, 1983
Laserdisc Audio:
Interstellar Laser Fantasy (ARC, Laserdisc)
The longest and most varied OST up to this point and the Laserdisc format allowed a giant leap forward in terms of production and instrument quality. Stylistically it's also quite forward thinking for its time, featuring a number of ambient tracks (sometimes pure ambient noise), sweeping atmospheric synth parts and some semi-orchestral fanfares, while also having a distinctly game-like feel by incorporating "laser" sfx and playful staccato notes into some tracks. Good stuff.
Dragon's Lair (ARC, Laserdisc)(in-game), Intro
This seems to be the first orchestral game OST besides some of the earlier tape-based music, though it does sound mostly synth-based to me and there are no longer tracks without SFX or VA playing over them.
Galaxy Ranger/Star Blazer (ARC, Laserdisc)(in-game) - 1984?, orchestral opening and ending tracks (no in-game music?, synthesized instruments?)
Cliff Hanger (ARC, Laserdisc)(in-game, mostly jingles; based on Lupin III) - Jazz/Jazz Fusion, Funk Rock
Astron Belt (ARC, Laserdisc)(in-game)
Cube Quest (ARC, Laserdisc)(in-game)
Esh's Aurunmilla (ARC, Laserdisc)(in-game) - 1984?
M.A.C.H. 3 (ARC, Laserdisc & AY8910 at 2 Mhz)(in-game)
Space Ace (ARC, LD)(in-game), Ending (later HD release)
Bega's Battle (ARC, LD)
Interestingly the aggressive hook here is reminiscent of some techno music
Albegas/Cybernaut (ARC, Laserdisc)(unreleased, in-game)
1980-1982｜1983｜1984｜1985｜1986｜1987｜1988｜1989
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