Poll:
https://linkto.run/p/7BXEZU62

Home computers only, no other platforms.

Consider creativity, sound chip limitations and technical achievement, composition (melody or hook, progression, complexity), dynamics (range between quiet and loud, soft/diminuendo and hard/crescendo), pitch range, punch, instrument and instrument envelope variety and quality, and so on. We're going by original release dates.

Try to say something about your favorite(s), it's more fun to read!


Music links (multiplatform list):
https://minirevver.weebly.com/vgm-1990.html


Previous winners:
1987: Ys 1 followed by The Last Ninja 1
1988: Last Ninja 2 and Ys 2 followed by IK+

Dontcha know bump it up

My vote goes to Monkey Island. One of the most charming game soundtracks ever.

None can beat the awesome music from Ski or Die (1990 PC-AdLib/SB). Rob Hubbard made some really good OST before Frank Klepacki came along: https://retro.sx/music/702 (I think this is the MT-32 version).

The half-pipe (PC-AdLib/SB) had a version that vent a little faster than the title version.

And here's a metal cover mix. =)

Cool, definitely enjoy Ski or Die as well. I'd forgotten to add the OPL2 version so it's good that you mention it. That midi upload actually sounds a bit better than the MT-32 upload on YT.

Robert Prince also made some good, gritty rock tracks for Adlib such as for Duke Nukem 2. I just wish they had more polished drums and bass instruments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YbD6fWv5SA

This year games also started combining OPL2 with PCM from the SB cards:
https://vgmrips.net/packs/pack/4d-sports-tennis-ibm-pc-at

Let`s do this.

https://youtu.be/4f56hiGgMLs vote goes to: Gremlins 2

Played it as a kid on Nes hardware emulator, for some reasons music still sounds ... good for this game, and I like Gizmo ^

I haven`t had a PC in 1990 :D Now I can play it on PC with help of emulators.

I have serious question: is this a PC game in terms of your conditions :
1990` https://www.gog.com/game/konami_collectors_series_castlevania_contra ?

edit: time is the great healer

Not a PC game.

Turrican

I'm getting to this stunning realization that all the games I'm thinking of were post 1990 and happen to be drawing a blank on this year.

The links on the site should help but I realize it's hard to vote on games you've never played or listened to before.

Monkey Island, no contest. None of the others will elicit a crowd reaction in a game music concert, or be played by street musicians in France.

You've never heard Loom, have you? Or Turrican?

Ask me about Loom. ;)

Voted Monkey Islands even though I prefer the sequels music. Surprised Lemmings isn't on the list.

shameless plug by that guy)

but Loom's gotta take this round simply for being awesome (and about music.. sort of)