Activision games had some very nice sound mixes in early to late 90s in their video games. I was listening to some old compositions from Jeehun Hwang for the MechWarrior 2 CDs. His music had subtle tones that appropriately captured the otherworldly feel of the series. I sort of miss these type of themes (not everything has to be cinematic in nature).
It's funny you say that, because it reminded me of what Akira Yamaoka said in a 1999 interview when talking about how he made the soundtrack for the first game; how he avoided trying to make "cinematic" music and also that '
the stereotypical sounds that are often described as "game music" do not apply to Silent Hill at all.'
Speaking of which, I think the Silent Hill series, in particular, Silent Hill 2, is also phenomenal in creating that otherworldly atmosphere. I like how the soundtrack can sound very raw, industrial, but also quite calming and ethereal. Though, most of the people on here are probably aware of that, or have at least heard some of the songs from this game somewhere.
Even the rock tracks are excellently made. They have a distinct 90s, grunge-y vibe, and fit right in with the rest of the soundtrack. Whether it was the result of low budget (I remember Yamaoka said he had to do things like downtune his guitar to use as the bass), and/or sub-par recording/mixing equipment, the resulting "soundscape" created is incredibly captivating.
For example, the drums have a rather sharp sound and metallic timbre (hi-hats and cymbals in particular have a lot of energy and sizzle to them), but that is contrasted with the warm, smooth overdriven guitars. And I absolutely love the guitar riffs on these tracks. Nothing complicated, simple, yet incredibly effective (especially in 'Love Psalm').
But I digress, I think the soundtrack of the second game is Yamaoka's best work. And it feels less like a soundtrack made for a game and more like a proper album that could stand on its own two feet outside of the game. Every single track is a captivating listen.
These are my personal favourites (not including the main theme; being very picky here):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M_2aAIebwo&list=OLAK5uy_lCmbD75XUtYnmI1rKLabzho0dL9tr-L_Y&index=30
