If there's one thing you could say about most racing games made on the 6th gen and earlier, is that a lot of them had very unique OSTs that stayed with you for decades to come. The soundtrack was pretty much a core element of the games, playing a big role in giving each series an identity beyond their gameplay. Ridge Racer Type 4 is not only stylish because of the cool-looking menus and clean aesthetics, it was stylish because at every point of the game you have banger after banger setting the mood:
Other good ones:
WipEout 2097 was not only futuristic because of the huge anti-gravity ships racing through exotic locations, it was futuristic because of the acid bass, the eerie distorted voices and the always-present kicks:
Other good ones:
Outrun 2 might be arcade perfection, but would the sense of freedom that the game gives you be possible if it wasn't because of the light-hearted nature of its soundtrack?
Other good ones:
SEGA Rally 2, Daytona USA, Gran Turismo 2, I could keep going, but you get the point. Racing games from that era put a lot of thought into what the game should sound like, while nowadays if you try to find an AAA racing game that takes an approach beyond "just put whatever's on the radio", you're pretty much stuck with Gran Turismo which still keeps that "worldwide" feel it's had since the original and Forza Horizon 4 which has a couple of cool songs too:
But it sadly feels like racing games' OSTs died alongside arcade racers. When even a WipEout game like the Omega Collection has like only 4 good tracks you know that something's definitely gone wrong; I really hope that over time racing games start getting more creative with their soundtracks once again, even if it's not particularly likely.
Other good ones:
WipEout 2097 was not only futuristic because of the huge anti-gravity ships racing through exotic locations, it was futuristic because of the acid bass, the eerie distorted voices and the always-present kicks:
Other good ones:
Outrun 2 might be arcade perfection, but would the sense of freedom that the game gives you be possible if it wasn't because of the light-hearted nature of its soundtrack?
Other good ones:
SEGA Rally 2, Daytona USA, Gran Turismo 2, I could keep going, but you get the point. Racing games from that era put a lot of thought into what the game should sound like, while nowadays if you try to find an AAA racing game that takes an approach beyond "just put whatever's on the radio", you're pretty much stuck with Gran Turismo which still keeps that "worldwide" feel it's had since the original and Forza Horizon 4 which has a couple of cool songs too:
But it sadly feels like racing games' OSTs died alongside arcade racers. When even a WipEout game like the Omega Collection has like only 4 good tracks you know that something's definitely gone wrong; I really hope that over time racing games start getting more creative with their soundtracks once again, even if it's not particularly likely.
