Every video game leaves an indelible mark on our memories for various reasons, and often, it is its music that captures our imagination. Many enthusiasts have taken the initiative to share these melodies and soundtracks on different platforms, despite the challenges that this entails. Launched in December 1996, the VGMusic portal stands out for offering over 30 MIDI files of video game music. VGMusic stands for Video Game Music Archive. Quite a program!
If I talk to you about Zelda, I'm sure you have the melody that comes back to you! And not only will you have it on repeat all day long, but it will certainly remind you of memories or an era. That's the evocative power of a good soundtrack. So when you feel like listening to these songs again, your first instinct is probably to look for them on YouTube or Spotify. But there is an alternative with the huge library of MIDI files that VGMusic represents.
VGMusic: The largest MIDI library of video game music
The site has a completely retro and really ineffective design. Although updated regularly, it has remained in its original state, which reminds nostalgic people the beginnings of the web ! On the left of the screen, you will find categories dedicated to Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, NEC, SNK and Atari. In each section, video game music is classified by console or gaming system. For Nintendo, for example, you will find all the consoles from the NES to the Switch, including of course the GameBoy.
The site also offers more general sections such as "Computer Systems" (which includes DOS, Windows and Commodore) and "Others" (with ColecoVision, Intellivision, etc.), not to mention "Miscellaneous" for arcade games and the medleys.
No search engine…the site really got stuck in the early 2000s, so you'll need to know what you're looking for and where to look for it.
Once you've found the music you're interested in, the process is simple: locate the MIDI file you want and click on it to download it. No need to create an account, and there's no no daily download limit. However, it is impossible to listen before downloading... the site is not equipped with a MIDI player.
Of course, the collection isn't perfect, and the more popular titles usually offer a richer selection. For example, Undertale has three versions of Megalovania, while for Super Mario Bros., there are nine editions of the Underwater melody. You can also share your own video game music files on the site!
But then, why are some "classics" missing? First, VGMusic does not allow the use of rips of official music, extracted directly from the games. In addition, some conversions to MIDI are not up to par, or even impossible. In addition, VGMusic may be forced to remove some tracks. at the request of the original authors. However, with over 30 files available, there is plenty to explore and rediscover video game music in a new light.
Although totally outdated in terms of ergonomics and technology, VGMusic is a real gold mine for anyone looking to get their hands on video game music again! A real reference that deserves a good refresh… but isn't that what makes it so charming?
What is a MIDI file?
A MIDI file, for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a file format that stores information about the music rather than the sound itself. It contains data such as notes, their duration, intensity, and instrument types, but not the audio sounds. This makes MIDI files small in size and editable. For example, one can change the instrument for a given note or adjust the tempo without having to record the music again. This format was popular in early video games, as it allowed complex music to be created despite the memory and processing limitations of the consoles of the time.
