ITT Essential Video Game Soundtracks

Great choice

youtu.be/JBwVsgLYP9Y

I knew it was going to be the Guile Theme

youtube.com/watch?v=3vO4oOmVazQ

could listen to it all day

youtube.com/watch?v=ja49mmsx2xo

16-bit console era, five games whose soundtrack is worthwhile in its entirety (as opposed to having one or two very memorable songs).

Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Sample (Sonic 3): youtube.com/watch?v=X6eq03LnQ_A
Sample (& Knuckles): youtube.com/watch?v=hf1UXzrZPMM

Kirby's Super Star
Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=DqUr9Z4yHmw
And most famously: youtube.com/watch?v=FAByWyvuu7s

Final Fantasy VI
Music varies so much it's hard to pick a characteristic "sample", so here's two:
youtube.com/watch?v=MpA3wVUI9Xg
youtube.com/watch?v=cpZDSFitwQg

I'll also throw in support for having a great all-around soundtrack. Probably my favorite take on pirate/buccaneer themes from the era, but had other well-done and catchy tracks.
Pirate sample: youtube.com/watch?v=TMjnDMpoXVw
Non-pirate Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=ZgvsIvHJTds

These are all pretty safe picks, games a lot of people played and so came to appreciate the soundtrack sometimes only for sheer nostalgia. Less respect for its soundtrack in that era, but I find to be chill in an almost "Sim City" way, such that you can zone out to it while doing work or reading or what-have-you: Ecco the Dolphin II
Sample: youtube.com/watch?v=WUvOE1xil7g

Street Fighter 3: Third Strikes soundtrack is fantastic. Here's a few tracks that come to mind:
Character Select Theme:
youtube.com/watch?v=Qw88zQTxq48
Akuma's Theme:
youtube.com/watch?v=v5BB1v50r8k
Gill's Theme:
youtube.com/watch?v=yFR0DDBkR64
Elena's Theme:
youtube.com/watch?v=gWSFAditGyQ

I recommend checking out the entire soundtrack, because it's all excellent.

youtube.com/watch?v=E9s1ltPGQOo

youtube.com/watch?v=bl9dP0CJfbQ

all great choices

sonic 1, 2, 3, and r
daytona usa
streets of rage 1, 2, and 3
all the rest of yuzo koshiro's works (etrian odyssey series, shinobi 2, actraiser, ys book 1 and 2 etc)
mr driller drill land
bomberman hero & saturn bomberman
dodonpachi daifukkatsu black label
tmnt 4 turtles in time
katamari damacy
nier
vib ribbon
final fantasy iv and vi
parappa the rapper
dragon quest (all of them)
guilty gear xx
persona 4
castlevania from 1 through symphony of the night
mother/earthbound series

street fighter iii fight for the future has a few good tracks too (intro, ken's theme, ibuki's theme, akuma's theme)

gta series from vice city onwards (it's all licensed, but excellent)

to name a couple

youtube.com/watch?v=R5R_iflpffc

youtube.com/watch?v=CcxfdDVqUUY

youtube.com/watch?v=Mda-nEem4fM

youtube.com/watch?v=GVfWIgTeeG0&feature=youtu.be

Why did he like that sandwich so much? It's pretty gross!

youtu.be/LjFKWmKxKRM