Video Game Soundtracks That Just Didn’t Work 

Over the years, music has had a positive impact on many video games. The same bands you hear from in interviews and the solo artists at major festivals have been featured in a number of leading gaming titles, although it hasn’t always gone to plan. In fact, despite some notable triumphs like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, there have also been some soundtracks that haven’t hit the spot with gaming audiences. 

After all, gaming soundtracks can really enhance the experience. Whether you’re partial to mind-bending puzzle titles like Baba Is You or you tuck into the occasional McLuck social casino game like Rush for Gold, you’ve probably got a preferred playlist you tend to stick on in the background. However, some releases also feature epic music that captures the game’s atmosphere and elevates the overall experience. As mentioned, though, some game-makers can get it horribly wrong. 

With that in mind, below we highlight some video game music that failed to work. Sadly, there certainly isn’t a shortage of examples here when assessing this alluring entertainment category. 

Metal Gear

Back in the day, music in video games wasn’t deemed as important as it is now. As such, while it’s perplexing to hear a poor composition while you’re taking down bosses, it’s entirely understandable once you grasp the fact that video game musicians weren’t deemed as valuable as they are in the modern environment. This was on show in Metal Gear, a game with pitched up music and some strange noises. A title worth playing with the volume down, Metal Gear is adored by many gamers, but even the staunchest supporter of the game will admit the title’s music wasn’t the best. 

Resident Evil Director’s Cut: DualShock Edition

A much-loved series that is capable of sending shivers down your spine, the various Resident Evil games from over the years have been filled with highlights. In terms of Resident Evil Director’s Cut: DualShock Edition, though, the music on offer throughout the game was painfully bad. Sure, there was the occasional tune in there, but Capcom’s use of Mamoru Samuragochi clearly backfired on the whole. In fact, the deaf composer was eventually exposed as a fraudster after it became clear that he’d enlisted the help of a music teacher to compose his work the whole time. 

San Francisco Rush

Sometimes certain gaming releases sound perfectly fine on a specific gaming platform, only to sound completely different when transitioning over to another console. That most definitely applies to San Francisco Rush when it arrived on the N64. For many Nintendo gamers, the title’s music was noticeably terrible. From the poor audio quality to the mind-numbing repetition that could be heard in a number of tracks, San Francisco Rush’s soundtrack didn’t work at all. 

Taz-Mania

(Image via https://x.com/RetroGameGeeks)

A show many people grew up with, Taz-Mania holds a special place in the hearts of many people. However, not everyone sampled the game. Available to play on the Sega Game Gear, Taz-Mania was actually a decent title for numerous reasons, but where it really went wrong was with its music. The audio department most definitely failed here, with incredibly annoying compositions that changed tempo throughout. A confusing inclusion, Taz-Mania’s audio mix up has never been forgotten by some. 

Rocky & Bullwinkle

Ending with a NES release that hurt many players’ ears, Rocky & Bullwinkle might have succeeded in other areas, but its music was a disaster. It felt repetitive due to various glitches and the sound effects alongside it were dire. Overall, Rocky & Bullwinkle’s music was atrocious and it’s still being discussed by some retro gamers right now.