Sound in Games

Sound in games has to be one of the most important areas when designing a game. Sound can dramatically enhance the gamers experience. The type of genre that comes to mind is horror/thriller. Games such as Doom, Resident Evil and Left4Dead all use the soundtrack to create suspence. For example, in resident evil, you will be walking through an abandoned building which is dead silent, appart from some creaks. All of a sudden you may hear objects being knocked onto the floor and growling. Then some fast paced music starts to play, but nothings happening, you hear moar growling, the music gets faster, you start to run then BAM, evil mutated zombie dog jumps on your face. The game wouldn't be the same if you had Alice in Wonderland playing in the background. Now game engines are becoming more safisticated sounds can easily be triggered at certain events, rather than constantly being played.
As for my own sound history, i remember loving the songs on the Crash Bandicoot games. They made if so much more enjoyable to play compared to if it was played in silence. My favourite soundtrack has to be the Worms 2 theme. Sometimes I would just sit there listening to it and not actually playing the game. The music of Worms has always been good up until it turned 3D. The music on the main menu was HORRIBLE, in my opinion, just so cheezy, just didnt fit the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZGBDYG5aTY&feature=related
Now compare that to this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpV28Jcmdfk&feature=related
I know which one i prefer.
Whilst on the topic of worms, who could forget this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mqrkvc6wS4&feature=related
Anyway, for some games I tend to turn off the music completely. For example, on Dawn of War 2 i have it switched off so i can hear whats actually going on, aswell as hearing my mate speak over Vent which is always a useful thing.