What's your favorite soundtrack from this year? - Results (30 votes)
Power Drift ARC
10% (3 votes)
3
Space Harrier II MD
6.67% (2 votes)
2
Galaxy Force/Galaxy Force II ARC
10% (3 votes)
3
Altered Beast ARC & MD
33.33% (10 votes)
10
Dynamite Dux ARC
3.33% (1 vote)
1
Scramble Spirits ARC
0% (0 votes)
0
Gain Ground ARC
13.33% (4 votes)
4
Super Thunder Blade MD
0% (0 votes)
0
Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair ARC
16.67% (5 votes)
5
Other (Sukeban Jansi Ryuko ARC, Passing Shot/Center Court ARC, Tetris (Sega) ARC, etc - comment below)
6.67% (2 votes)
2
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, 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!
Regarding the links below, the list on my site is more complete (I've listened to every game I could find from each year) and multiplatform, but mainly based on sound design analysis which you can read more about on the main page about retro sound chips. If an OST isn't in the poll list, it's mosty likely still on that page and you can still vote for it (pick Other and mention it here), so don't worry.
Links:
https://minirevver.weebly.com/vgm-1988.html
https://minirevver.weebly.com/impressive-vgm-by-sound-chip.html
For some perspective, besteveralbums' top albums of the year:
https://www.besteveralbums.com/yearstats.php?y=1988
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SMS poll 1988:
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/916382-sega-master-system/79068756
http://minirevver.weebly.com - Mini-reviews, guides and more.
https://platformadventure.weebly.com/ - Platform adventure/Metroidvania history guide