QuackShot from 1991... The first video game I ever bought, and one of the biggest staples of my childhood. It was probably the first instance a game ever gave me the chills.
This eerie theme is short but sinuous. It has a flowing quality to it, and fits like a glove with the dark environment it plays in (as shown in the video). It often floats into my head when I'm sketching spooky environments or strolling through the woods at twilight.
I felt the same feeling of dread swimming around in the depths of Clanker's Cavern. You can cut the atmosphere with a blade, it's so rich. Just listening to the track makes me feel short of breath, as you know you're far, far below the surface, flailing anxiously about in the murky darkness with no air.
As you say, Conker is not scary, yet the grimy, crude, and blurry textures in many old 3D games give off these dark, moody vibes we don't find in today's clean, shiny stuff.
This is the extremely very few things that actually makes me feel this way.What's this? Have we uncovered your Achilles' heel, Hex? What happened to the man who knows no fear?
Mind you, that track would turn the sturdiest boulder into a Ferrero Rocher. I barely made it to the end, myself. Good pick!