8 Amazing Soundtrack Moments In Video Games

I guarantee you’ll remember how you felt the first time you saw this cutscene unfold as you listen. Aerith’s incredibly sombre theme scored one of the most unexpected betrayals in all of video games, and the impact that it left on a generation of gamers is something that will require some serious work to be replicated.

It's not really a spoiler to tell you that this accompanies the cutscene wherein a polygonal Sephiroth leaps from nowhere to stab his katana, Masamune, right between the ribs of Cloud’s potential love interest in truly harrowing moment of the PlayStation JRPG masterpiece. It’s not a spoiler because everyone remembers that cutscene as soon as they hear this song.

Composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Aerith’s Theme is relatively simplistic, a far cry from anything you’d find ringing out across the Golden Saucer. It is precisely this simplicity which makes it so evocative; the minor chords are only there as background to the horrifying thing that just took place right in front of our eyes.

Playing such a key moment in many players’ utter hatred of Sephiroth, Aerith’s Theme is a perfect example of just how important the soundtrack of a game becomes to the narrative.